Januaryi February, March, April 1983

Dear Friends in Jesus,

JUN 20 1983
GOD IS SO GOOD, HIS LOVE IS SO GREAT, HE IS SO FAITHFUL AND WE LOVE HIM. PRAISE HIS HOLY
name The Bible tells is in I Peter that GOD chose to love us even before the
foundation of the world, Isn't that wonderful news for us? What else can we do but
choose HIM to be our LORD and SAVIORi;i...The Bible(John 3) doesn't tell us to be born again
if we want to, or even that we should,.,,it says"ye MUST BE BORN AGAIN, to enter the
KINGDOM OF GOD",.And that GOD loves us so much that HE gave HIS only SON to die for us. If
we know that HE chose to love us even before we were formed,,,.why don't we chose to love
and obey HIM?????,..Our prayer is that we will always be willing to love, obey and live
our lives for HIM,,,,,not only when we have"mountain top" experiences, but in the nitty,
gritty of every day life..,
These past few months have been full and happy..Our days have been busy with many
activities such as:,,. .DVBS's in Jan, and Feb (lots of kids,PTL; )'building a house
for a very needy family in Nazareth.. .putting the roof back on the classrooms at the
San Roq.ue Ghurch(after the winds blew it off)...building benches for the Sun. school in
Nazareth, also a new porch on the front of the Church.....weekend mini Revivals at both
Chiurches,,, ,a whole week of Revival during Easter week at San Roque(it was beautiful)PTL..
Bible studies, baptisims,.seeing many miracles in the lives of many people as they
come to know our tORD and allow HIM to change their lives.,, .PRAISE THE LORD for HIS
faithfulness in honoring our small efforts for HIM here
GOD has raised up two beautiful strong Churches(bodies of Christ) here in Costa Rica
these past few years and has also been faithful in raising up two strong leaders to
help carry on the work in these Churches,.,.,.,.,. GOD IS SO GOOD
We praise GOD for these men....they love the
LORD with all of their hearts and want only
to serve HIM with their lives,.They need
and are worthy of your prayers and support,..
Let's help keep the Churches in Costa Rica,
Central America alive and well....,.,GQD has
placed them here and has choosen us to be a
part of His work What JOY and BLESSINGS
we have received.
THANK YOU LORD
Gerardo is married and has a lovely wife and
three darling children.,,a Christian home and
a li^t for JESUS in his nei^borhood.,,,
Andres is a student at a local Bible College
and will graduate in June...what wisdom in
God's word for one so young....,PTLIi
Andres Rodriguez, Pastor
at the Nazareth Church of
Christ Christian Church,,,
at the San Roque Church of Christ
Christian Church.
Our prayers is that while we are home this
summer we will be able to share with each
one of you the Joy and Blessings and Miracles
we have experienced these past years here in
the lord's work in San Roque, Nazareth,
Costa Rica..Pray for us and for the
workers here,,,,We love you and are always
praying for you and the work the LORD is
doing throu^ you there at home
GOD in HIS love has chosen to use the small,
foolish things of the world (man's preaching)
to confound the wise,.,,I Corinthians 1:20
, JESUS CHANGES Lr/ES,
GLORY AND HONOR TO HIM OUR
WONDERFUL LORD AND SAVIOR.
The Sheltons, His servents in Costa Rica
fEB September, October, November, Dodember 1983
"BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD: I WILL BE EXALTED AMONG THE HEATHEN, I WILL BE EXALTED
IN THE EARTH. THE LORD OF HOSTS IS WITH US: THE GOD OF JACOB IS OUR REFUGE." PSAIMS i^:10-ll
Isn't it good to kno% Lhat our GOD reigns and that His plan is better than ours..He knows
us and loves us and faithfully cares for us..PRAISE HIS HOLY NAME
Time once again to let you know what the Lord is doing here in our part of Costa Rica. Since
we returned Aug. 29* it has been business as usual. We hardly had time to get settled when
we began to work again..Guess you mi^t call September our month of readjusting to the
difference between here and Indiana; speaking English and peaking Spanish; being with our
family to being with our friends. We were pleased to see how well things went in our absence
and to see the continued growth in the Churches here.... What a blessing to be able to see
the fruits of our labors....God is so goodi
October found us giving classes to train Sunday school teachers..Seven received the ei^t
week course. Monday nights were Bible study ni^ts with three ladies, who accepted the Lord
and were baptized.... Scouting a new area was on the top of the list for Bob as we felt
the Lord would have us start again in a new area. The place is called Pueblo Nuevo (New
Town) and the Lord willing, there will be another Church there in the next year or so.....
Bob's busy as usual, making tracts to pass out to the people, making benches and tables
for Nazaret Sunday school...two more baptized......PTL2
November brou^t three more baptisims and another wedding...it is so neet to see the people
come to know the Loxti and then want to put their lives in order according to the Bible
teachings.,..The ladies from both Churches decided to have a Christmas Baazar..,.back to
making rag dolls... we made 30 in all...It is good to learn to plan and work together
and they are so happy to learn that they can make pretty things from very little...
The first week of December was a week of revival in the Nazaret Church...It was held outside
and was attended very well...6 people accepted the Lord...more baptisims. .Praise the Lord,'
The two Baazars went well, with each ladies group giving their 10^ to buy food and clothing
for needy families,..this is such a blessing to see, because they themselves are so needy....
its like the "widow and her mite",. They are so willing to give to the Lord His share.,
and to help others with their needs...Plans are being made for the new Sunday school and
it was decided to begin Jan.8,198^,. .please add this new work to
your prayer list along with Nazareth and San Roque Sally arrived
home...v^at a blessing for us to be able to have at least
one of our kids with us at this time of year...She has a whole
month, that will go by si:q)er fast, I'm sure...She will return
to the U.S. on Jan. 14...to return again in May, Lord willing...
More benches being made, materiales being prepared for Sunday
school,, .plans being made for 3 Daily Vacacion Bible Schools,.,
What a blessing for us to see two more young men from the
San Roque Church going to Bible Institute in January., .Their
names are Luis and Abraham, please pray for them along with
the two Pastors; Gerardo and Andres. .Gerardo will finish
his third year at the Institute and will graduate in June,.. '
Andres will be teaching two classes in the Bible Institute,,
He is a very wise teacher of God's word and it will be a
good year of e3q)eriance for him and a blessing for the ones
he teaches.. .Andres is the young man that visited with us
this past summer while we were in Indiana. Many of you will ^ pot)
remember him, since he was able to visit several of the churches aM^Andres
too....
Time seems to go by so fast and we find it is time once again to fill you in on our finances,.
What the Lord has st^plied and how it has prayerfully been used,..We consider vrtiat ever comes
as God's money and we try to use it accordingly,.always remembering that the Lord expects us
to be good stewards of v^at he sends,..There are many needs here and we try to help in what
ever small way we can.. .MAY GCD BLESS YOU ABUNDENTLY IN THIS NEW YEAR 1984
ffolrtf 3kjtftbtu
SHELTON FAMILY MISSION INCOME AND EXPENSES FOR THE YEAR I983
INCOME $21,529.00.
LIVING LINK
$2,150 TITH (giving back to the
Lord His share of idiat he
gives to us to use.)
($800) LIVING PER MONTH (this includes
$960d groceries, schooling, medicine,
dentist, utilities, postage,
clothing, etc)
$1.266 DOCTOR AND HOSPITAL(Bob's eye
operacion in June)
$1,200 FURLOUGH RENT (Thanks to Christ
PelloK^ip and New Hope member)
$1^.216.00 GRAND TOTAL LIVING
,THANK YOU LORD FOR YOUR CARE:
SERVICE LINK
$2,200
$2,300
$1,700
$1,113
PASTORS PAY(Andres
and Gerardo)
FURLOUGH TRAVEL (gas,
air fare)
CAR. PLA^ (repairs,
gas, insurance, etc.)
BIBIBS, materiales.
Sun. school, supplies^
Christian helps, etc.
bldg. ground, battery
$7.313.00 GRAND TOTAL SERVICE
$1^,216.00 LIVING
7,313.00 SERVICE
$21,529.00 OVERALL GRAND TOTAL... .INCCME AND EXPENSES FOR THE YEAR 1983
GOD is so faithful in loving us and caring for us...We love HIM and want only to do
HIS will each day THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING YOURSELVES TO BE USED OF GOD: