God Hugs

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Throughout 2021, Pam and I have kept of list of what we are calling “God hugs.” These are specific blessings from God that we’ve experienced in the midst of a whirlwind of change. One year ago, we never fathomed all the changes that we would face. But now as we look back on the tsunami, we can see over and over God’s presence and grace.

We would like to share a sampling of these with you…

  • We had a cash offer on our house in Sparks at the peak of the market.

  • The house sold in six days.

  • The sale of the house provided funds to help us settle in Costa Rica.

  • Dear friends purchased our Toyota Rav-4 months before our move. But they letus continue using the vehicle until the day we left for Costa Rica.

  • The timing of our leaving Summit’s staff was perfect for us and for Bryan and Laura Smith and for the entire church.

  • Dear friends let us stay in their home in Sparks and use their vehicle while we were in transition after the sale of our home.

  • Dear friends blessed me (Steve) with an amazing surprise birthday party.

  • With Summit’s gracious assistance, we were able to set up a tax-deductible US giving portal for English Christian Fellowship.

  • We had a wonderful send-off from Summit at the end of June.

  • Construction of Summit’s new 1,300+ seat Worship Center has continued forward.

  • By God’s grace, Pam’s breast cancer was detected very early.

  • By God’s grace, Pam had chosen a Medicare supplement plan that included cancer coverage.

  • Summit experienced a seamless leadership transition with Bryan and Laura Smith.

  • Summit is healthy, has an amazing staff team and ready to explode with growth.

  • We found an ideal house to rent in Costa Rica in only two days. (It had not been advertised to the public. But after we met the realtor at another potential property, he said, “You have to see this other one!”)

  • We were able to purchase a vehicle in Costa Rica.

  • We were able to secure local health coverage in Costa Rica for minimal cost.

  • We opened a Costa Rican bank account more quickly than most foreigners.

  • There is an Ashley Home Furnishings Store nearby where we were able to purchase much of our furniture.

  • A dear friend from ECF allowed us to stay in her home for several weeks while we settled into Costa Rica.

  • Other dear friends from ECF allowed us to borrow a vehicle until we could purchase our own.

  • By God’s grace, we were able to solve multiple complications related to settling in.

  • We have had amazing help from former Summit teammates related to rebuilding ECF’s website and other ongoing ECF communications projects.

  • Dustin Musselman agreed to serve as ECF's remote Worship Pastor...until God brings us someone to serve in this capacity who lives locally.

  • Within days of arriving in Costa Rica, God assembled a planning team to help plan and execute ECF’s worship services.

  • God provided an excellent interim worship location for ECF while we assessed the church’s long-term vision and strategy.

  • ECF was gifted a house from a former member. The house sold in record time and those resources have given the church modest liquidity after years of scarcity.

  • The customs bill for the 86 boxes we shipped to Costa Rica was modest.

  • Steve has a pool and Pam has a gym within a 5-minute walk from our home.

  • The ECF Council has been extraordinarily receptive to Steve’s leadership.

  • God has been financially providing for ECF’s ministry in unexpected ways.

  • God provided an entire backyard prayer garden for Pam.

  • We are enjoying our new pace of life and our new spiritual and emotional rhythms.

  • We rarely need an alarm to wake up. It is light every morning at 5:00 AM.

  • God has provided an entire house of new furniture.

  • Pam has house help on Mondays to do deep cleaning.

  • Two of the guards in our condominium complex are Christians.

  • Costa Rica is as beautiful as the travel brochure portray. The sounds of the birds and the colors of the flowers are breathtaking.

  • Pam had an amazing time with family members while in the USA for radiation.

  • Pam had very few side effects from the radiation treatment.

  • Pam enjoyed seeing ten sloths on our recent trip to Manuel Antonio National Park. Steve enjoyed watching Pam on the zip line.

  • After 40+years meeting on Sunday evening, ECF transitioned smoothly to a Sunday morning worship time at the Aloft Hotel.

  • There is a sweet spirit of unity, love, mutual respect, and hope within the ECF Church Council.

  • We were able to get cable TV that has several NFL games every week. So, we could watch the Green Bay Packers on Sunday Night Football! What more could we ask for??

Nothing ever catches God off-guard. He’s always at work ahead of us. “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10) We did not know what would be in store for us in 2021, but God knew every detail from the foundations of the earth. If we could offer a word of encouragement, it would be this—keep your eyes open for “God hugs.” Don’t miss the marvelous ways that God is at work all around you!

Pam and I want to wish you a very Merry Christmas! We also want you to know that we have plenty of room in our new home. If you want to visit us, the Bond’s B&B is open!

Warmly,
Steve and Pam