Dear friends and family, Once again, we are sending out an e-newsletter to update you on our family. Let's just say that we are not as organized as we should be! As you can see from our photos, we have had a busy year.
Here are some highlights from each of us: Tom - Portantorchas ran smoothly this year and we had 2 great semesters. Over the summer we hosted some mission teams. We added 3 new staff members, Isa Bogarin, and a married couple Diego Marin and Clarissa Rojas. They have all brought new ideas and vibrancy to our program and have been well received by everyone. Tom taught in Colorado in November at two Torchbearers Centers. He continues to work on his Master's Degree through Moody Bible Institute.
Sara - I enjoyed a year with all 3 girls in school. It freed my up to be more involved with staff and students. I became a US citizen in March, which makes life a bit less complicated. It was a fun ceremony and my twin sister Lisa was able to be there with me. I taught my Missions class again this year and was able to be part of the coordinating team to bring the Perspectives on the World Christian Movement course to Costa Rica. I am finally fulfilling a desire I have had for a long time to continue my education by taking a Nutrition course. I am learning a lot, but my girls are sad to hear that some of their favorite foods will be more scarce once I finish!
Rekha - Our big girl turned 9 in February and has been a great help to us this year. We see her maturing into a helpful young girl who still loves reading and horses and friends, but is also starting to enjoy cooking and gardening.
Neena - Our sweet middle child (8 yrs old) remains noisy and fun-loving. She is a great friend and helper. She has enjoyed gardening this year and becoming Daddy's helper with projects around the house and trips to the hardware store. We can count on her to find crescent wrenches, philips-head screwdrivers, etc. in the tool box. She loves to read, and is currently reading the Ramona Quimby books. Her favorite activity still is playing with dolls and dress-up. One day we will be asking her for fashion advice!
Jayna - our little one (5 yrs old)remains a delight to our family. She loved half-day preschool this year with all of its activities and friends. This year she started violin and has really enjoyed it. Jayna says funny things that make us laugh. Our two favorite comments from her this year are, "Neena, I'm going to marry a carrot!" and "If God asks me to be a fashion model, I will go and do that immediately!"
We enjoyed a few trips this year to see family. Sara and the girls went to Chicago in June to say goodbye to her twin Lisa and family who are in India for 2 years. Lisa's husband Edwin is setting up an architecture firm in Delhi.
We also went to Canada this year, for the first time in almost 4 years. It was wonderful to be there, to see Sara's Mom and Sara's sister Priti and family. The girls enjoyed their boy cousins - and their giant train set! Tom's parents flew up from California with our girls' cousin Ella along as a surprise. We all celebrated my sister Priti and her husband Shane's 40th birthdays. We also got to see Sara's childhood friends and their families, one of which we hadn't seen for over 8 years. We enjoyed a week at Capernwray Harbor on Thetis Island, BC. That was a refreshing break from ministry, and a chance to relax and be ministered to. We drove into the USA for a day and even went to Target, which was a thrill for the girls!
We thank all of you who read this for your interest in our lives. We are far away, and I know life gets busy for everyone. Thanks for being a part of our lives and our ministry journey. God has been so faithful to us and we want to be faithful to Him in our daily activities and thoughts. We pray that you will have a blessed Christmas season and that Emmanuel, "God with us", will be part of your celebration and that you would feel His presence in your lives.
With much love,
The Marcus family in Costa Rica