November 2000

Beloved Brothers & Sisters in Christ,

It is delightful for us to greet you in the name of our Lord Jesus. For the sake of God we send to all of you our thanks for your love and for the faith you have in our Lord and Christ.

Last Sunday’s worship will remain as a memorable experience in our spiritual journey for Christ: brother Erick Bustos, who passed through a long process of neurological death, returned to church and witnessed his new-born life for the amazing power of God. Brother Erick described his moving testimony for our congregation. Although he walks with some difficulty, Erick set his crutches beside the pulpit and started to talk: "For those who don’t know me, I was Erick Bustos, but now, I’m Erick ‘Miracle of God.’ For six months, my body was neurologically dead. The doctors didn’t expect that I would come back to life. I don’t remember anything about the day of my accident except the seconds when I was falling down from the building where I was working. It was such a fast and fleeting experience that ended thirty meters below with my legs, arms, and hip bones broken. My other vital organs—kidneys, liver and lungs—were torn up inside me. What more can I say if all my body was a disgrace? After all of this the only unexplainable truth I know is that I was dead and now I live as a result of the glorious and powerful hand of God.

"…I want to say one more thing for those who do not have faith: I want to thank my brothers and sisters in this church. I know now that their faithful prayers made possible the miracle of my resurrection. I thank also the professional hands of the team of surgeons at the hospital, who couldn’t have done it without the help of the hand of our Lord! Look at me! I was dead, but God has brought me back to life."

Tears filled the eyes of many in the congregation. And then I asked everyone to stand up for a moment to pray and celebrate the presence of God in the midst of his people in Finca San Juan.

Are you people of miracles?

Our answer to this question, without any doubt, is yes. The life of our brother Erick is one more piece of evidence of how God continues to work through the prayers of his children. Months ago, we asked for your spiritual support on behalf of this young man, and now we have seen and witnessed that your prayers have brought the precious miracle of life.

This particular testimony is only a little piece of the greater endeavor of the PC(USA) in proclaiming God’s grace, peace, and reconciliation for all. As Saint Paul said, through Christ, "God chose to reconcile the whole universe to himself" (Colossians 1:20), restoring access to a plentiful life for every human being.

In light of this testimony, we encourage you to continue to be faithful to the firm and sure foundation of the gospel (Col.l:23b), that through its preaching and teaching you may keep alive hope in the everlasting promise of life in Jesus Christ.

Joining us in prayer

• For Gloria and her family in Quito, Ecuador. Her dad, Mr. Segundo Salazar, passed away on November 22, 2000, (just when we are writing this letter) at the edge of 92 years of age. We ask your prayers that the Lord of Life bring consolation to every one in our family here in Costa Rica and there in Ecuador.
• Pray for our son Ofir at the University of Virginia. Your spiritual fellowship will strengthen him to overcome the load of his academic work. Pray also for Varinia, our daughter, that the Lord may provide admission in the right university for her.
• We ask your prayers for our next mission interpretation assignment, during which we will be based in Charlotte, North Carolina, beginning March 11 of next year and continuing for one year. Your prayers are and always will be a vital source for our coming ministry in this presbytery.

For now, sisters and brothers, our prayer is that our fellowship with you as believers will bring about a deeper understanding of every blessing which we have in our life in union with Christ.

May the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

Your servants in mission

Andres & Gloria Garcia

The 2000 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 231