Where do we start?

Since our last newsletter a little over six weeks ago so much has happened, and we are not sure where to start. However, we will try and share as much as we can without making this newsletter too long.

Time in the states and miracles

As you may recall from the last newsletter, John was needing to have a hernia repaired. We had been asking God if we could please have the surgery scheduled before we flew back to Costa Rica and with enough recovery time that John could fly on May 18th. John did not have an appointment with the surgeon until May 2nd, so we were truly believing for a miracle to get a non-emergency surgery scheduled right away. John saw the doctor on a Monday and the doctor agreed to do the surgery on Friday of the same week. The doctor also said that John would be able to return to Costa Rica on May 18th. Praise God! Of course, John was a little nervous to have surgery and was not too happy about needing it in the first place, but we are so thankful that he did have it done while we were home because the doctor found not one but three hernias that needed to be repaired. John is still recovering and is not able to lift much, but he is happy to be back in Costa Rica. He is also still struggling with head congestion that he has had for the last six weeks. His head congestion is a lot better but he can not seem to get rid of it completely. We are asking you to continue to pray for his complete healing.

Back in Costa Rica

After seven weeks in the states, we were really looking forward to seeing all of our kids that we work with and their families. We missed them a lot and we think that they missed us too because they said it was about time that we came back home. We have enjoyed connecting with them again and hearing what they have been doing while we were gone.

We also had some meetings with the people that owned the land and told them that we were interested in buying their property. At our first meeting, it looked like the owner had all of the necessary paperwork that stated the property was in fact his. Therefore, we took pictures of all of the documents and sent them to our lawyer to make sure that everything was in order. After our lawyer did some checking, she gave us some very disappointing news and that was the owner was missing one very important document: the deed. She said the land could be put in the owner's name, but that it is a very long process and she recommended that we not purchase the property.

At first, we wondered why God had given us the exact amount of money that we needed for the property but then have the property taken away from us. However, we soon started thanking Him for His protection over this purchase, for our lawyer who was looking out for us, and finally that we knew that He had something better in store for us and that maybe it was not this property but that there was a better one out there and so now we wait for Him to show us where we go from here. We trust Him completely!!!

Please continue to pray for us to find the perfect property; not any old property but the property that God wants us to use for His community center.

With God ALL things are possible. Matt 19:26.

Lots of love and Blessings,
John & Cindy Thalheimer
Missionaries to Costa Rica