Shogrens in Costa Rica

"La profesora Karen" prepares her lesson

One of my most vivid memories from my years at Philadelphia Biblical University is Ken Medema’s convicting song, “Moses.” The Chorale performed it multiple times over two years, and Ken Medema himself performed it for us in concert. The first time I heard it, I was fascinated by the way the music explains the words: the basso profundo tone of God’s comands, the scaredy-cat complaints of Moses, the gorgeous harmony of angels singing. Did I mention convicting? Never once did I sing it without God speaking directly to me. After all these year, it is apparently still burned into my brain, because recently I can’t get it out of my mind.

Back in Costa Rica after our extended home assignment, I have been praying that God would give me clear direction about new ministries, and give me the courage to respond with cheerful obedience. Just a friendly warning, both are dangerous prayers!

February 9, 2011. I am sitting in the office of the women’s ministry leader at ESEPA, expecting to be invited to direct short sharing sessions in small groups at several upcoming workshops. The vast majority of my ministry in CR has been in English, with missionary families. I feel totally inadequate to minister in Spanish, especially as a representative of the seminary… Continue reading →

As I mention above, one of my most vivid memories from my years at Philadelphia Biblical University is Ken Medema’s convicting song, “Moses.” The Chorale performed it multiple times over two years, and Ken Medema himself performed it for us in concert. Never once did I sing it without God speaking directly to me. After all these year, it is apparently still burned into my brain.

Go here to listen to Ken Medema singing “Moses”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pC1W9rvqjvU

For years I had dreamed of going on a short-term mission, but I held back. I wanted to go where I could do something substantial, and not just have my picture taken in a faraway place. Finally the chance came in 1994. How would I like to visit Romania and teach a crash course on New Testament Greek? Through a translator? I accepted immediately. Continue reading →

The Shogren kids were aged 12, 10, 8 and 5 when we went to Costa Rica. Here they are today, all grown up! Click below to see video greetings from them and new pictures.

Gary is branching out in his ministry. Besides teaching at ESEPA (two sections of 1 Corinthians this semester), he is speaking at conferences and visiting churches to preach and teach. This month he spoke to a group of missionaries that will be going out from ESEPA to Honduras in April to do evangelism and discipling; his theme was “How to Raise Money for a Short-Term Mission.” Here he is preaching at a nearby church.

We have taken a few weeks off to visit the family in Pennsylvania for Christmas and New Year’s. It’s been a great time to see all the kids, to see some snow and especially to be able to see Tim running his bakery in Chester, PA.

Feliz año nuevo! Gary and Karen

“There are two kingdoms, the kingdom of Satan and the kingdom of God. One works one way and the other another way. And you can really see the difference

"Sí, señor, right on the spot where you are standing!"

between them.” That was how Pastor Flor summed up her ministry. I’m visiting her home and her work in a shantytown (or precario), along with my own pastor, Marvin of Nazareth Bible Church. Maybe the best symbol for the two kingdoms is the holes that pepper the outside of Flor’s church. Marvin sticks his little finger in one and draws my attention: “Do you know what these are? Bullet holes. The drug lords shot it out here one day and this is a reminder.” They make sure that I saw the man seated a few feet from the church, smoking crack cocaine.

We are walking through one of the most notorious precarios of the region. When I mentioned to a friend that I was going there, she exclaimed ¿Por qué? and made me promise to be careful. The name of the place is synonymous with narcotics, violence, prostitution, and murder. In short, the drug lords run the town. To get here, we drove a mere 5 minutes from ESEPA Bible College and Seminary where I teach, a cheerful place with well-lighted classrooms and happy students. Then we entered another planet. It is a village that takes up only 10 acres or so. Yet some 6 to 8 thousand people are crammed in. You have to cross a narrow foot bridge over a river in order to enter. While we waited for the pastor to meet us there, a couple of ladies spoke to us and pointed to the spot where I was standing. “This is where they murdered that taxi driver on Saturday night,” they said. “He drove too close, and they broke in to the car, dragged him out, took his clothes and car and everything and left him for dead.” “Right here?” I said. They nodded. Continue reading →

We celebrated our colleague Enrique Brenes’ birthday at ESEPA. Here’s some of the ESEPA team, with me and Karen!

Greg, Gary and Marcos

Maritza and Karen

We returned to our beloved home in San Francisco de dos Ríos in Costa Rica on Friday Oct 15. All dogs and cats were very pleased to see us!  Thanks for your prayers in getting us back here!

Tim and Ariel were married on Friday, Oct 8, at Ridley Creek Park in PA. Besides their families, many friends from college and from Costa Rica were in attendance. God bless, Tim and Ariel Shogren!