Ministry Update - REFIT®

REFIT® has been trialling REV+FLOW classes for over a year in their home studio and online as a compliment to their regular classes. After many inquiries and a long wait REFIT® instructors were given the opportunity to submit an application and audition video this June. We are happy to share with you that Julie was one of the 130 instructors accepted into their very first training program.

The REV+FLOW format is a low impact, high intensity workout that "can prevent the deterioration of mobility, strength and function" that happens as we age. Since it requires a higher level of instructorship everyone in the training class is required to pass a 3 part exam process, 1) Anatomy & Physiology, 2) Instructorship and 3) Choreography & Video Review. The first 2 exams require a score of 80% or above and can only be taken once. Thankfully, Julie passed the first 2 exams and is currently learning 15 routines & training for her final review video which must be submitted by August 31st.

We ask that you would lift Julie up in your prayers between now and the end of August as she prepares to record and submit her video. If she passes the video review she will officially be certified to teach REV+FLOW classes. We believe this will be a wonderful added benefit to the exercise courses that she will continue to offer in Costa Rica upon our return. This format appeals to women who would never set foot in a dance based workout class.

Beyond that, pray that God would even now begin working in the hearts of the women who will attend these classes. Pray that God would bring women who need to hear the gospel to these exercise classes. Pray also that God would use these relationships as way through which we share the gospel and incorporate new believers into the church.

CLICK HERE is a glimpse of REV+FLOW by REFIT®

Family Update

It has been a whirlwind for the kids. Ana finished up her 1st grade year at Concord Christian School. It was a once in a lifetime experience for both she and Mita (how many Grandparents get to teach their grandchildren?). Bryan graduated Pre-K from Concord Methodist & had two amazing teachers and a really sweet class. He gained some confidence being at a different school than Ana. God knew what both of our kids needed and provided the perfect schools for them.

We are sadly missing the second half of Kindergarten and 2nd grade for Ana & Bryan in Costa Rica, so the kids have begun homeschooling. This will allow them to return to the same grade level as their Costa Rican friends in February. If you know Julie she swore she'd never homeschool again, but life sure does throw us curve balls sometimes. At least this time around it is a family effort & is going smoothly.

Our most joyful announcement is that Ana became a communicant member of Rose Hill Presbyterian church (where Julie and the kids have kept their stateside membership). This means that she met with the Rose Hill Session and was able to answer some very important questions about her faith. Andrew had the privilege of presenting her before the church and Ana was able to partake in communion for the first time. We praise God for the soft heart He has given Ana; she truly brings joy and love to all those around her!

General Information - Support

As we mentioned in our last update, we really hoped to be back in Costa Rica at this time but our efforts simply have not produced what we need to return. We have had to gear up again in the support raising process in order to generate and pursue new leads. Psychologically this is kind of like trying to restart on a bicycle after stopping on an uphill ride - hard!

God continues to be faithful and we have been encouraged in our efforts. We have been referred to some churches and individuals by people and we have been invited to a church for their missions conference in August! We also have several churches that are in the various stages of considering our support application or making a decision about supporting us. These are great steps forward in our efforts and we ask that you would pray for God's leading in each case.

Please pray for our continued support raising. You can specifically pray about opportunities to meet with churches, travel to and from conferences and meetings, and that God would lead us to people and churches interested in partnering with theological eduction in Latin America!

Much love,
Andrew, Julie, Ann Renée and Bryan

How you can pray this month...

Pray for Julie's certification in REV+FLOW and for the women God desires to bring to her classes
Pray for our continued support raising efforts
Pray for our efforts at homeschooling over the coming months
Praise and Thanksgiving this month...  Ana's public profession of faith
God's provision of new support leads
A better experience (thus far) in homeschooling

CLICK HERE to learn more about our ministry.