The Church at Los Guido

A street festival going on as we left the neighborhood


Dwyndl and Lori Nelms and boys--fellow BMDMI missionaries with us. Dwyndl is working closely with Pastor Gabriel to coordinate the baptism of 30 people in the church.


Pastor Gabriel--he and his family have served in missions in Argentina and Chile as well.



Looking out from the front of the store where the church meets


Precious 6 week old baby, with mom (15 years old) looking on.




Elijah and Molly at the store where the church meets. The children meet for a children's church in one room.



There are sights here that are very difficult for me to give an accurate description of in words. One of those is the neighborhood of Los Guido. As you wind your way into the neighborhood, the trash begins to get thicker on the street, more and more grafitti appears on the buildings you pass, the paint appears duller, dirtier, the buildings dilapidated. The people look sadder, more fearful, and dirtier. And then, just beyond the trees and bushes, an enormous hole opens up as you drive along. You catch a peek of the rooftops of shacks and shanties upon more shacks and shanties. The poverty makes a knot form in your throat. People dump trash in the hole, and others, thousands of souls, live at the bottom of that hole amongst the trash, living their day-to-day lives.
A large concentration of Nicaraguans live in Los Guido. They have come to Costa Rica for a better life, and some have found the greatest thing of all: Jesus Christ. The only thing is that, in Costa Rica, generally speaking of course, Nicaraguans are the minority. Some churches have not welcomed these new believers in and discipled them, because of their nationality. It is to this area that Pastor Gabriel and his family have been called. They have started a church in Los Guido, and my family had the immense pleasure of worshipping with them two Sundays ago. Pastor Gabriel is renting space currently for his church in a storefront in Los Guido, but would like to have a permanent location, of course. Currently, around 30 people are awaiting baptism. A fellow missionary with our sending agency has preached at Los Guido and is arranging transportation and lunch for the ones who will be baptized to a pool nearby for the occasion.
An organization had contacted Pastor Gabriel the week before we were there and told him that they would give him 75% of the money and labor to build the church if he and his church could provide the other 25%. Praise God! There is one small problem, however, well, small for God. . .Pastor Gabriel and his church don't have any land nor the money to pay for a permanent location. As a church, we prayed about that with him. His enthusiasm is contagious, and we left with excitement to watch and wait to see what the Lord is going to do!