Delighting in God's Creation & Community. (10/27/25)

Hey Support Family!

This month we celebrated our three-year wedding anniversary, and as we look back, we’re overwhelmed by God’s goodness. These years have been full of transition, learning, and through it all, we’ve seen God’s steady hand holding us together. We are so blessed and are continually excited to follow God’s lead.

“Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.

Worship the LORD with gladness;

come before him with joyful songs.

Know that the LORD is God.

It is he who made us, and we are his;

we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving

and his courts with praise;

give thanks to him and praise his name.

For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;

his faithfulness continues through all generations.”

(Psalm 100:1-5)

A couple weekends ago, we had the joy of traveling with our language school classmates for a weekend at the beach on the Caribbean coast. It was such a gift to laugh, relax, and spend time outside of the classroom together, building friendships in a different setting, and practicing plenty of Spanish!

After the school trip, we decided to add a couple of extra days to rest and celebrate our anniversary. It served us through some well needed rest. This trip fostered countless reminders of God’s creativity all around us.

The beauty of His creation there was breathtaking. We saw sloths hanging lazily in the trees, monkeys leaping through the branches, tropical birds flashing bright colors, and so much more. Every moment reminded us of how God delights in beauty, and He invites us to delight in it too.

We were so blessed to be in a place so alive with color and sound. Taking time to pause, breathe, and see the world  is a way of remembering that all of it belongs to Him.

Stepping into our community  

This month, Josh had the chance to help out one afternoon with a local soccer program. It was a fun way to meet people from the community. We’re thankful for opportunities like this that help us connect in everyday life.

We also recently discovered a nearby community garden. It’s a quiet, friendly spot where neighbors grow vegetables and enjoy conversation. We’ve started spending some of our Saturday mornings there, learning new Spanish words for plants. Each week, we’ve been able to donate our kitchen compost to the garden which has been a small way to contribute and care for the community we’re part of. It’s been a simple but really enjoyable way to get to know people and practice Spanish in a natural context.

Serving & Looking ahead

We’ve decided to continue our Spanish studies through the beginning of December. The extra time has already been a real gift. We’re so thankful for those of you who prayed alongside us as we made this decision. Your encouragement and support have meant so much, and we’ve truly felt the Lord’s peace and confirmation in taking this step.

At the same time, we’re excited to begin serving alongside our ministry partners this coming week! It feels like a natural next step, continuing to learn while also beginning to put that learning into practice. We’re grateful for this season of growth and eager to see how God will use it to stretch us, shape us, and allow us to serve more effectively.

Fundraising Update

We are grateful to share that we’ve currently raised about 56% of our needed support, which will carry us through the next six months of this year. We thank God for His provision so far and for each of you who have prayed, encouraged, and given so generously to help us reach this point.

Would you continue to join us in prayer as we seek the remaining support?

Specifically, please pray:

-For potential new donors and opportunities to share our vision, even here in Costa Rica.

-That we would not grow discouraged, but instead keep our eyes on God as our daily Provider.

-For faith to rely on Him each day for our “daily bread,” trusting that He will continue to be faithful.

God has already shown His provision in so many ways, and we are confident He will continue to lead and supply all that is needed for the ministry ahead.

Support us

Prayer requests

-Continued energy and strength through language learning.

-For unity as we begin to serve alongside our ministries ProMETA & Sojourn

-Ongoing provision and new partners to join our support team.

Praise God

-We think we’ve found a local church we really enjoy and we’re especially thankful that it’s within walking distance from our home. The services are all in Spanish, which has been both challenging and fun as we keep learning. It’s a beautiful body of believers, and we’ve already felt so welcomed. Some Monday nights, we’ve also joined a small group with a few people from the church, which has been a sweet way to build friendships

-For the gift of being able to extend our language learning until early December.

-For the progress in learning Spanish and the joy of already seeing some fruit from it.

We are deeply grateful for your prayers, encouragement, and generosity. Your partnership makes it possible for us to be here, learning, growing, and preparing to serve.

With love and gratitude, Joshua & Rachel Swift