August 2025 Prayer Letter
Dear Beloved Brethren and Co – Laborers,
Have a cordial greeting from your laborers in Costa Rica.
As always, we cannot over state this, we thank and we will keep on thanking our Eternal God, Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for sending us on this glorious mission. It is truly a joy as we do His will even in difficult times. We pray that His Holy Spirit will keep on guiding us in the right path of righteousness, to be obedient and faithful until the end, no matter what. We understand that we are living in difficult times and we do immensely thank you for your support, prayers and we praise the Lord for your faithfulness.
PRAYERS
1). Continue praying for my wife. She is being treated, but she is still losing weight. She saw the doctor last Tuesday the 26 of August, but apparently there has not been much progress.
More tests are being made, such as an Ultrasound, in order to find out the root of the problem. Our next appointment is at the end of October of this year, but the medicine needs to be taken each month. The treatment will take about six months to nine months; perhaps more it depends on her progress. Each monthly treatment will cost about CRC 94,599.36 Colones which is about $189.20 Dollars each month.
As I mentioned in our previous letter, the consultation and the test are not cheap because we cannot use the City’s program. As I also mentioned, the diagnosis of her condition is called “Sarcopenia”. To reiterate, we have never heard of this condition before. He explained in depth of what it was. Well, “Sarcopenia” is a condition characterized by the loss of muscle mass, strength, and function, primarily affecting older adults. It is a progressive and generalized loss of skeletal muscle and is often associated with aging. Sarcopenia can significantly impact daily life, leading to Reduced Mobility, Functional Impairment, Increased Risk of Falls, and a Decline in Overall Quality of Life.
We are trusting in the Lord for His protection and provision (Physical, emotional, Financial, Spiritual).
2). Continue praying for the growth of the church and protection. We are experiencing some spiritual battle and adversity. There is one thing that we have noticed when some people come to the services, after a few times, they get on the defensive when we try to exhort them.
3). Continue praying in regards to the Corporation of the church. It is not easy to find people with integrity that we can trust and depend on. We are trusting in the Lord, if that is His will, and He knows whom He is going to send.
4).We have reached 103 followers on the church Face Book page. Now, we are back on the church page so we can live stream the services.
5). Continue praying about the Lord to send us a missionary family (Spanish and English speaking) from the states with singing capabilities to direct the music/ assistant pastor.
6). Pray about out support level, the percentage that we have at the moment is really putting a big strain on us financially, especially due to the medical expenses for my wife. Everything has gone up, if not to say doubled since we have been here in Costa Rica.
7). Continue praying for Carlos and Nydia Figueroa and the family, Mrs. Alejandra, Gretel and her son Jantzen, Brother Oscar.
8). Pray for the whole area of Santa Ana, people need to hear the TRUE GOSPEL; Satan has them blinded but they continue in their erroneous ways.
9). Continue praying about another location to start the church in Turrialba, San Jose, if that is the Lord’s will, which is about three hours away from where we are.
10). Continue praying for that young man named David Gonzalez, he is from Nicaragua; he has come once to the service. I am speaking to him more often now; as a matter of fact, he calls me almost every day. That is very encouraging. As I mentioned previously, he is having a lot of personal problems. He asked me: “If the Lord can restore his marriage”, and I told him, yes. He has two kids, a 17 year old boy and a 10 year girl. Pray for his wife Miriam, his 17 year old son Fernando and his 11 year old daughter Tesla.
11). Pray for a couple with their children and grandchildren who visited us Sunday the 24th of August. Apparently they are looking for a good fundamental church to attend.
12). Pray for the repair of our car. After we left the mission conference in Liberia, Guanacaste, when we were on the road (4.5 hour drive to home) the car starting acting up, about mid-way, the engine light came on. Praying all the way that the Lord will get us home and we did. But, I took the car to the mechanic that same day to have it checked. Well, the diagnosis was not good, the engine was leaking oil and the oil pan was damaged. The mechanic gave me an estimate of CRC 365,000.00 Colones (which is about $730.00 Dollars) for the repair and he told me to drive the for a long period of time because it will get worse. We cannot repair it because we do not have the money. We can only use the car to go the supermarket and the church which is not far away; it is about 7 minutes ride to the church and the supermarket about 3 minutes which I walk sometimes. We cannot use the car for my wife’s doctor’s appointment in San Jose because it is too far, but we take the bus of which takes about 2 ½ to 3 hours with two transfers, and with unforeseen traffic, it could be more. It is very inconvenient because we cannot go out, as I mentioned earlier, only to church or to the supermarket if we have a lot of groceries. Thank God, everything is close buy, walking distance.
Please pray for the Lord’s provision.
Support Level
We are sustaining an 87% support, by the grace of God; thanks to some churches that have increased our support. By faith we have started this journey, by faith we are trusting in Him for His provision and by faith we will keep on serving Him as we do His work, according to His will. We were at 84% when we moved to Costa Rica on January 2020; it was during COVID-19. Due to COVID-19, many churches couldn’t no longer support us, but praise God for some other churches that started supporting us.
Safety with Travels
Safety as always as we traveled in Costa Rica because it can be complicated and dangerous at times. Costa Rica has changed quite a bit, has become very unsafe during these past three years, especially for foreigners, by being robbed, deceived and taking advantage of.
Schedule of Meetings
Schedule of Meetings We have no schedules meetings. We do not know when we will get back to the states, only the Lord knows. We need to focus on the church here in Costa Rica. We have a lot to do.
Softness of Attitude
To stay close to God and focus on Him and the mission that is set before us, not on our circumstances because it very easy to get discourage at times and Satan, as always, wants to put his nose in God’s business. We press toward the mark, the vision that God put in our hearts according to His perfect will.
PRAISES
1). Praise the Lord for the Mission Conference we attended where I was the guest speaker at the First Baptist Church of Liberia, Guanacaste. There were many decisions made in answering the call to the mission field.
2). Praise the Lord for the visitors we had this month.
3). Praise the Lord for His continued protection and provision as we serve Him.
4). Praise the Lord for the continued faithfulness of some members.
5). Praise the Lord for the continuing support and faithfulness of all the churches. We could not do it without you.
My Beloved Brethren, we are truly and extremely excited to see what God is going to do with us, we are trusting in Him and we are under His wings and His will.
Beloved Brethren, may the Love of the Almighty God, the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you All. Amen!
Brother Jean-Claude & Sister Matilde Guilbaud
Reach the World, Reach for Christ; Under His Wings Reaching the World for His