"For He himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier." "And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit." From Paul's letter to the Ephesians

This week we were privileged to host a group from the Great Rivers Region who came to Costa Rica. Together with their new friends from Alejuelita, 9 American Baptists from 4 different churches helped to dig a foundation and build a wall around what will someday be the church building of the Baptist community there. This project was the first of many partnership projects between the Baptist Federation of Costa Rica and the Great Rivers Region since a partnership covenant was signed last year.

Staying in the homes of some of the folks from the church and community allowed the participants to learn and grow together. Many laughs, stories, and tears of parting were shared. It was a good start to a long-term partnership relationship where gifts and resources flowed from both sides. The building project was really only a means to allowing relationships to form and they did. We felt privileged to be a part in the bridge-building process.

As American Baptist International Ministries Missionaries, we were proud to see the quality and character that these friends from the Great Rivers Region possessed. Our Costa Rican partners in ministry felt honored and appreciated by those who represented their churches back home. The openness and trust that was demonstrated by these short-term Christian ambassadors to Costa Rica paved the way for more cross-cultural, barrier-breaking, relationship-building experiences in the future.

God dwells in the fellowship of His people. We saw Jesus working in the faces and embraces of people from different cultures and communities becoming one in friendship not because they share a common language or context, but rather because they celebrate a common purpose and Lord. Thank you for your continued support and prayers that allow these types of experiences to happen and keep us Going Global.

Mylinda and Gary Baits