Prayer Letter from the Bickel Family in Costa Rica

Our Christmas Miracle

On the 23rd of December nine of us got on the church bus to take a group of community children on an activity. We had descended only 100 meters from our house to the main road when the brakes on the bus stopped responding. It is a very busy road where buses and trucks pass frequently. Praise God that there was no one coming! The next 100 meters descends on the school where the children were waiting. We were able to slow the bus with the emergency brake and lower gears but unable to stop before the road ended in a metal gate and some very large trees. At the last minute I saw an opening in the fence that leads to a pasture. We were able to turn the bus and go through that fence. The bus was airborne and grazed one of those trees. But, we landed on all four wheels and the bus hit a patch of mud which stopped its movement.

It was quite a local news event, the ambulances came and took most of us to the local clinic. Five of us spent the night in the hospital. But, when all the x-rays where taken and everyone seen we had only bruises. No broken bones and everyone was alive! We praise God for his hand of protection!

The Coffee Harvest is Here!

Right about the first of the year the migrant workers started arriving for the coffee harvest. We look forward to this time every year. There are always new opportunities for special services and evangelization. Each year we get to see souls saved who will return to some of the most remote areas of the reservation in Panama.

Many of our most faithful families have been dispersed to remote locations by the owners of the plantations in which they work for the coffee harvest. But, Praise God, we have been able to coordinate with all but one family to get them to church every week.

Rebuilding After the Storm

Tropical Storm Nate damaged our retaining wall and rendered our boys and girls cabins unstable. We quickly raised the funds to replace the wall. However, because of the storm, it has become very difficult to get building permits processed. A local architect convinced the municipality to allow us to make "non-structural" repairs to ensure that if the wall falls the cabins will not. We placed a large truss under the cabins to support them. Now, if the wall falls, the cabins will not go with them. Now, when we do have permits we can move dirt and repair the wall without fear of damaging the cabins. Praise the Lord we can now use the cabins again!

Our Sending Church

We are so happy to have a supportive and loving sending church that cares about and is involved in the ministry here in Costa Rica. Please read a letter from our pastor here.

Forward