McCoy Family in November

November 2022

Qué está pasando

Praises

• Disaster relief work in SW Florida
• Bethany turning 15
• Witness opportunities

Prayer Requests

• Ongoing relief work
• Church moved and settled
• Health
• Safety in travels

Galatians 6:10
As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good onto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

Everyone has needs that can be met by you and I. We all have some resources and some time and some abilities, we can use them to help the brethren and others as we come together in times of need. Many hands make light work!

Want to wish our second daughter Bethany a very happy 15th birthday today. She is really turning into quite the young lady and is such a blessing to everyone and has the sweetest spirit. She is also dad’s best helper many times as she is always hungry to learn new things even boy stuff.

October started out with an insane amount of busy. Hurricane Ian made landfall in southwest Florida about 2 1/2 hours south of our house on Wednesday September 28th. We had watched the storm closely knowing we were really close and could respond quickly once roads were open and local authorities there would allow workers into the impact zone. Operation Renewed Hope had already instructed me to deploy the minute I felt it was safe and had a destination. Our church got word that a personal friend and pastor had to leave his home in an emergency and only take the things with them they could carry in a canoe and evacuated to higher ground close by. Pastor Sheperd and 13 other people fled to a nearby church member’s home and were stranded with no way in or out and running out of supplies. We got a list of necessary items and gathered them quickly and drove them to Arcadia Florida until we ran into the water. At the water that is not supposed to be there we met some church members with a big airboat and transferred all the supplies into the boat and took them out to where the pastor and the others were waiting. Roads and bridges and homes and you name it were all completely submerged in the flash flood waters.

After getting the supplies to this pastor we were able to go to several local churches and do damage assessments on the churches and parsonages and other church properties. Most of the properties did fairly well with the winds but had roof leaks and wet sheet rock and those type things but were in good enough shape to become relief distribution centers. We began contacting other relief organizations obtaining supplies and renting trucks and getting drivers to make the pick-ups and deliveries. This was all day, every day, for the next two weeks until the churches told us they were okay on supplies and were going to change gears to clean up and demo of damaged homes and buildings in their communities. Going through the local churches many people in the communities had their physical needs met and were given the gospel. The churches have another opportunity to be a witness and come alongside their communities in time of need.

Our church got word from our landlord that our leased building had been sold and we had 60 days to find another place to meet and move. This is a small town and there are not a lot of options in buildings suitable for church. After looking all over we found a place after 32 days but the building would need a total remodel. One of those extreme makeover type deals, ha-ha. Once we had the lease signed and actually got the keys in our hands we had 28 days to make a former call center into a church. So for the last few weeks it has been from daylight to midnight every day but Sunday trying to make it happen. As of this writing we are pretty close and only have a little bit of painting and touchup here and there to do prior to bringing all the church’s furniture and sound equipment in and hope to have the first Sunday morning service on November 6th .We are literally living out our dreams and calling because of your prayers and giving and partnership. We get to work full time for the cause of Christ and use our gifts and abilities for his honor and glory. Thank you all for your faithfulness!

In Christ,
Kevin, Sonya, Bethany, and Jon McCoy
Training Center International

Email: Mccoysincostarica@yahoo.com
Kevin 850 777-0097
Sonya 850 698-1694