Burgess Road Baptist Church

May 2021

Praises

• Found new rental house!
• Monthly support hit 100%
• 6 new ministry partners lately

Prayer Requests

• Get the Gospel out
• COVID Restrictions
• Transition to San Ramon
• Training Center preparations

Philippians 3:13-14

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

We do not pretend to comprehend or understand the mind of God and often His perfect will brings us setbacks and difficulties, we think. The apostle Paul had his fair share of all the above yet remained steadfast, unmovable, and continued in God’s kingdom work until his death. God does not need our permission as His servants to alter our course. His ways are perfect and he will direct our path as he sees fit and so he gets the glory. A detour with gratitude and thankfulness can enable us to march on and steer us clear of the whats and whys.

We are here with God’s help and will transition to there with God’s help – faithfulness on our part, sufficient grace on His.

In our decision to relocate comes finding a rental house. We spent several days early in the month looking online, contacting realtors, and then our attorney took it upon himself to search for us. He found several prospects and we decided on one in the country on a farm 3 1/2 miles outside of town. We’ve put down the deposit but won’t move right away. It also means switching churches. Our last church service in Atenas was April 11th. Our church there bid us farewell and the Lord’s blessings. April 18th was our first service in San Ramon. The new church gave us a warm welcome and treated us like family. This will make the transition much easier for sure.

We have the vocational curriculum in hand and Kevin is taking each subject as a student to become familiar with it all. We have ordered the medical equipment and supplies for that part of the training and hope to receive it soon. We have been given permission to use the church during the day for classrooms when we are ready. We are now making contacts and building relationships.

A note from Sonya: A good portion of this month was looking for a rental house in the San Ramon area. God really blessed in providing a nice house we can move into soon. Most of my days are spent like many of yours –  laundry/cleaning, meals and, for us, homeschooling. We have had a bit of rain, the first since December, so everything is green again. The kids are enjoying hanging in the mango trees and watching the many iguanas in the yard. On the rainy days we have been switching our school around so the kids can get outside when it is not raining. We were able to get together with a few other missionary families at different times this month and enjoyed the fellowship. A plumber finally came to fix our toilets. They have not been flushing right for a few months.

COVID cases here, according to the health ministry, are the highest yet. New restrictions are now in place and will affect everything in the days ahead – where we can go and on what days, when we can drive and where to. As of right now the airlines are flying and the borders are still open. Please continue to pray for these conditions and our transition to the new town, new church, new everything. Thank you all for your support and partnership. We are truly grateful. Please contact us by phone, e mail, or Facebook.

In Christ,
Kevin, Sonya, Bethany, & Jon McCoy
Email: Mccoysincostarica@yahoo.com
Kevin 850 777-0097
Sonya 850 698-1694

May 2021

Dear Family and Friends,

Wow, time sure flies. It has been a busy month, full of God’s blessings.  I want to start off by sharing the story of one of those blessings, and the doors that are opened because of partnerships in team missions.  Back in January we helped our ministry partners with Medical Missions Outreach host our first surgical team to use the surgical center they have built on the back of the church property.  Because of this surgical team they were able to perform 18 out-patient surgeries (mostly hernia repairs) for people who had been on the public hospital’s waiting list (one man had been waiting for 2 years!).  The goal of Medical Missions Outreach is to introduce people to the Great Physician through the open door of meeting people’s health needs.  This past month I was able to do a follow-up visit with one of the men who received a surgery, and was able to present the Gospel.  His name is Alexis and at the end of our conversation he placed his faith in Jesus!  Praise the Lord for another soul saved!  I know many of you pray regularly that Hondurans would be saved, thank you for your faithful prayers.  Please continue to pray for Alexis as he grows in a walk with the Lord.

Another great blessing was a good crowd for our Easter celebration of the resurrection.  Here in Honduras, Semana Santa (Holy Week) is a five day celebrated holiday.  For the majority of the population, it is one of the more popular times for vacationing.  And culturally it is not a naturally high number day for church attendance like it can be in the States.  We had an early service with coffee and sweet bread fellowship prior to the service.  And our ministry partner, Matt Goins, preached a powerful message on the many declarations that our Savior lives.  The reality of a risen Savior should be such a comfort to every Christian, and the celebration of His resurrection a source of joy.

As we look forward into May, our kids will be nearing the end of their homeschooling for this year, but will run into the first part of June because Aunt Tory is coming for a visit.  Cori’s sister has visited several times, and we are looking forward to having her come again.  Cori and I are also looking forward to our 15th anniversary, and her sister is going to keep the kids for us so we can do a two day getaway.  We had planned this trip last year but COVID locked everything down.  Thankfully Tory was able to get her flight changed and we were able to get our hotel changed for free last year.

As I close out this update I do just want to say again, thank you for your faithful encouragement though prayer.  May the Lord richly bless you this month as well.

PRAYER REQUESTS

• For the Lord to help us continue to grow in our Spanish speaking abilities, and be able to better minister for the Lord.
• For continued spiritual growth in our church family.
• For continued tenderness to the Gospel, and that people would turn to Christ.
• For safe travels for Cori’s sister as she comes down to Honduras, and for a good time for Cori and I as we celebrate our anniversary.

From Honduras,
Nate and Cori with Mykenzie, Grant, Blake and Savanna

Late April 2021

Subic Bay Children’s Home

Dear Friends,

This past week has been a very trying week and very different from anything we have ever experienced. Many of our staff and children were getting terribly sick and then many of our church members as well. Last Wednesday one of our girls in the home gave us a scare when her hands suddenly stiffened and we rushed her to the hospital.  A COVID test was immediately done and we got the results a few hours later which confirmed that she had contracted the virus. At the moment we are in strict lockdown with no one going in or out of the girls’ compound, as well as the boys’ compound, with the exception of one of our staff who does the purchasing of supplies. The virus has spread and nearly all of us are showing symptoms. We have been going out in the yard to get plenty of sunlight and taking vitamin c. The Lord is good and so far we have not needed to go to the hospital including Nanay (Mother) Ligaya or Tatay (Father) Ted. Please continue to pray for us and that this virus would soon leave us and that we will continue to regain our strength.

In Christ Name,
Annalisa Fulfer-Valbuena

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Subic Bay Children’s Home

C/O Central Missionary Clearinghouse

PO BOX 219228

Houston TX 77218

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