No, I Don't want to move! Alli's Heart

First of all, Thank you for all of your prayers! It was a crazy couple of days for the three of us in Costa Rica. We had a safe flight which always helps.

This was my first International trip (for me Mexico doesn’t really count when you grow up two hours north of the border). Everything was so different but wow, it’s beautiful there. Green, mountains, banana trees, pine trees and geckos. Going to Costa Rica with the idea of “I’ll probably be living here soon.”, was not easy. But 6:8 ministries has been something that I have appreciated for almost five years now. So, finally being able to see first hand the Kingdom growth was wonderful! See more what they do here, http://www.68ministries.org/

Here are some highlights of the trip.

 We could find fruit anywhere. Kind of like finding Starbucks on every corner in California or Dunkin Donuts out here in Florida. Anything from mamonchinos, avocado’s, plantains, some of the sweetest pineapple, peppers, to strawberries. It was fun to see the idea of recognizing the farmers and the potential of Josh and I building a relationship with them.

One day a week, Iglesia Celebration, the local Church, has a message and then these homeless men and woman will get a hot meal. One man was able to quit his addiction and return to his family. God has been working through this one ministry and it was great to be apart of it for an hour.

 On Saturday, we went to a Village called Verbana. Josh wrote about it last week, The Joy of Change. I first heard about the poverty and third world conditions when Josh visited back in February. Though the pictures and stories were impactful it didn’t compare to seeing it first hand. In Verbana, an average of 6-10 people live in each tin shack. The houses are packed in like sardines. Not only is there hardly room to walk through the neighborhood but there’s open sewage running everywhere. During the summer, 6:8 and a team of 50 people built a house for a family in much need. To find out more about this family, click this.

Saturday mornings Iglesia Celebration with 6:8 staff host a feeding center for the Verbana neighborhood. The kids bring bowls and they are served a wonderful home cooked meal prepared by their local church. It was precious to see the staff light up when the kid came out to play. The Gospel is being preached and relationships are being built as the unloved are being loved.

We went to the Capital, San Jose. I saw a man almost get hit by a car, twice. Due to car’s being expensive, public transportation is the main source of travel. It’s a very busy city with lots of tourism. San Jose has an interesting history but there is a very dark side….future post.

 While we were there, USA and Costa Rica had a soccer match. I enjoyed gathering with my Tico brother and sisters while we ate and watched the soccer match. We felt loved as so many people loved on Micah. We are excited to join them full time in January.

I was so thankful to finally visit and see all that God has been doing. I’m learning that a lot has changed since 6:8 moved into Alujuaita and became loving on the unloved. God is changing hearts and His Kingdom is being built.

However, I’m scared. I don’t want to pick up my family and move to a new place. I fear learning a different language, money system, new culture, the housing, being away from friends and family AND adjusting to being a family of five where everything is new…I don’t like change. But, apparently it’s good for me, because God keeps pointing me in that direction and I married someone who loves change. When I start focusing on my fears and the challenges ahead, I don’t want to talk about it and put my foot down and in my head I say, “Nope, not going! No way.” Then it hits me, “This isn’t about you, Alli. This is about Someone much greater who wants to use you for His glory!” I start thinking about loving kids in a little neighborhood, discipling people, helping the medical teams and playing in a park with children. When my focus is taken away from my fears, the joy of Kingdom work overcomes my fears. I am even more excited for the children’s ranch and the opportunity to take in kids that need a home and loving them as our own. We get to teach them about God who created them, the dirt that they walk on, the food that they eat, His unconditional love for His children and how from the beginning He planned to send His only Son to pay the price for their sins so that they can be His adopted children.  Our prayer is that they would come to believe this truth.

For this I’m grateful.

The Joy of Change

This was my 5th trip to Costa Rica and probably one of the most significant.  For the first time I was able to bring Alli and Micah with me (Caleb stayed with his Gee and Pah).  I say it was the most significant because I began to look at Costa Rica as my future home.  I looked at the local people as the people I wanted to minister with and to.  I walked through the Ghetto, stepped in dog crap, slipped in the mud, played with the kids all with the mentality of this is where I will soon be.  I was so encouraged by the missionary team that is currently ministering to Allejuita and I can’t wait to work with them during the next year during our training.

I had many emotions this trip but the one that kept on surfacing was joy. Joy filled my heart to see my wife feed children at the local feeding center.  Joy filled my heart to see Micah pushed around in a fruit cart as we walked around the neighborhood. Joy filled my heart as I heard the stories of how God is blessing the ministry.  Joy filled my heart as I heard the stories of people’s salvation.  Joy filled my heart as we planned and talked about moving into a neighborhood in the heart of the ministry for the first year.  Joy filled my heart as I thought about the opportunity of having Tico children in our family.

Joy fills my heart as I think about this next year.  It will easily be the hardest year of our lives so far.  It was easy during this trip to start feeling afraid of the task set before us but we take rest and comfort in the Lord (Psalm 23).  Please pray for us as we try to line up a place to live so we can move early January.  We trust that the Lord will provide the rest of what we need to be there long term.

Know that the Gospel is being preached, stomachs are being filled, homes are being built and disciples are being made all in the name of Christ.  I anxiously await the day my family moves to the ranch and I go from having 3 kids to having 8 to 10!  This trip continued to excite me about the ranch and the important role it will play in so many children’s lives.  There are so many children living in such poor conditions with little to no adult interaction.  Alli and I have been called to give some of these children the joy of having a family. Not only will they have a family but they will hear the gospel, see loving parents, know discipline, go to school, be bi-lingual, learn trades and hopefully grow to the conformity of Christ.  We are honored to take on this task and therefore give up what we know here in the states for the good of the Gospel.

On Saturdays we go to a village called Verbena to host a feeding for the poor. Verbana, is filled with 80% of illegal Nicaraguan people with no job, no health care and scrap metal houses.                                                        

This park was just renovated by a team of Gringos this year.  The park is right next to a community building where we will be hosting a discipleship program for Children through the local church.

Join with us in prayer as we seek to rent this house.  This is directly in front of the community center and next to the park.  It’s small but the ministry opportunity would be great.  We will learn a lot about the culture and language by planting ourselves in the heart of a neighborhood.  Plus we will be in the center of the neighborhood we plan to minister to.

The Walnut Table

           It was the year 1980, My parents as a newly engaged couple were finishing up their college careers at Belhaven Christian college in Mississippi.  On one particular afternoon the college was clearing out an old storage room and selling its content.  My dad spotted an old beat up table top from the library.   Now most people would have past this raggedy gum filled table up but my dad saw something beautiful in it.  He snatched it up for $10 and took it home to his dad.  His dad being a master carpenter told him that the table was most likely 50 years old and made out of pure walnut.  
           His dad then took the table into his wood shop and began measuring it.  A few weeks later he finished the project.  He cleaned all the gum off the table and added handmade legs lathed to perfection. Turning the table from a used gum holder into a beautiful kitchen centerpiece.  

 My parents sold the table when we moved 2005 because it would not fit into the new kitchen.  It was hard for my parents to let the table go but there was no other option, we just did not have space.  Since then my grandfather past away and a lot has changed.  Memories of the table is all we had.  
A week ago my friend mentioned to me that he had bought an old table from my dad at a garage sale.  He no longer had room for it and wanted to give it to me.  At the time I did not want it but gladly accepted it and thought I would sell it at the ministry thrift store.  That was until I got it.  So many wonderful memories started flooding back.  However I did not know the story of the table.  So I called my dad and he began telling the story... How could I not take it to my house?  My dad was overjoyed that the table made it back to the family.

Sitting around our new heirloom table after eating pancakes one morning I started thinking about this story.  This table is one of many heirloom items passed down to Alli and I.  These things are very special to us but they are all crap compared to the heritage passed down to us.  I am not talking about a heritage like our nationality but a heritage rooted from the beginning of time.  This heritage of course is being in God’s family.  Alli and I both have blood families with deep roots in Christian heritage.  For this we are so very thankful.  We both have godly parents who to this day continue to display Christ's love for the church through their marriage. 

           My desire and prayer for my boys is that they will accept the gift of being rooted in Christian heritage because they have parents who deeply love the Lord, where so many children do not.  In fact, this is the driving force for us to move to Costa Rica and be parents for abandoned children.  We want to invite Tico children with little to no heritage into our family where Christian heritage runs deep.  It is by God's grace we have been given this heritage. We feel honored to teach and display the great joy and privilege of being called children of God.  The task is great but the reward is worth it.  Pray that many Children come to know the Lord through the Children Ranch.
          Now as the task may seem overwhelming most days as it is, we have inherited the Holy Spirit to empower us to do His will.  We are absolutely nothing without God and we are forever humbled to serve Him.  Thank you for partnering with us in prayer and support to fulfill James 1:27.

" Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

        With much love and thankfulness for your prayers and support,

       Josh and Alli 

7 Years of change

I loved the year 2006!  It was the year I was waiting for since the age of 6, the year I graduated High School.  I finally was set free from the monotony of going to school Monday- Friday.  Doing things differently than most of my class mates, I put college on hold.

I spent a month of the summer of 2006 in Costa Rica serving along side of a ministry that was led by a older man named Ernie who had a heart for the poor.  His whole life was filled with showing the love of Jesus to the unlovely.  His life impacted mine and the few others serving along side of him.  My mentor and youth pastor Spencer Boulter was convinced that God was calling him to move his family to Costa Rica to show Jesus to the unlovely.   Before returning to the states I was convinced that I would be returning in a few months to be a part of the Boulters transition.  

My brother and I returned a few weeks later to begin our 3 month journey in Costa Rica.  I remember spending a few afternoons out in the central park playing soccer with some rough looking teens.  They and the crack heads were the only ones to occupy the Park.  A spiritual darkness loomed heavily over the park.  We followed Spencer around bringing food to the hungry and building relationships with the local kids. 

The 3 months came to a end quickly and by then Ernie had passed over the leadership to Spencer and (Micah) 6:8 Ministries began to form.  The trip left a huge impact on my life and I desired to go back.  However through God's grace I landed in a Bible College in Simi Valley California.  I would spend the next 5 years there, meet my wife and we would have our first kid before I finished school.  With the new responsibility I was forced to finish school and jump right into the corporate world.  I landed my first "big boy job" as a Xerox Salesmen.  I learned a lot through the job but I did not enjoy it.  After evaluating my life and what Alli and I believed the Lord was calling us to do we decided to move to Florida to help raise funds for 6:8 ministries boys ranch.

With much excitement and we moved to Florida and started to collect and sell donations.  As of January we came on staff at 6:8 and I am the Thrift store manager.  God has been blessing the ministry so far as we are rapidly growing. 

I also volunteered to be trained in leading short term teams to Costa Rica.  I just came back from my first trip back in 7 years.  WOW!  I could not believe the change that I saw!  I was so encouraged by the power of the Gospel.  The Park that once was occupied by drug attics was filled with family and kids playing.  The house we stayed in 7 years ago was transformed into a thriving Church of 400. One feeding center held once a week has now been multiplied to many feeding centers through out the city.  People I met that were addicted to drugs have been set free and are now missionaries in other countries!  The trip was an example to me of God's powerful hand.   

For as much Gospel progress as I saw, there are 10x the amount of Gospel need!  Many of the kids in the ghetto have no parental guidance, prostitution is legal and destructive among the poor, men are leaving their families for drugs and women, kids play in rivers full of sewage.  The need can be so overwhelming and block the view of what God is doing.

As Christians we are called to care for what God cares about and do as Christ did!  Alli and I feel blessed to be able to pick up our crosses, follow and trust Jesus.  It has been a hard journey so far but totally worth it.

Thank you for all of your support and prayers!  We have felt the peace of God and the blessings of your prayers.  As of date God has provided 20% of our goal, We are very encouraged by the response so far.  If you have not considered yet, would you pray about supporting the McArthur family as we serve with 6:8 ministries?

   

Please pray!

Dear friends and family, 

According to the United Nations Children Fund, there are 36,000 orphans in the small country of Costa Rica. In other words 1 out of every 129 people is an 

orphan. While there are many contributing factors, we believe the leading factor is that many of the fathers are not stepping up to the plate and caring for their families. The only way to change this growing problem is through the 

transforming power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

6:8 Ministries is in the process of building a boy’s ranch.  Each child will be raised in a Godly home with a loving and caring family. As part of the family these boys will witness Christ’s sacrificial love displayed by their house parents. The hope is that the boys would be transformed by the gospel, grow to be Godly husbands and dads, and thus be instruments of change generations to come.

As many of you know we have felt God’s call to serve as full-time missionaries for most of our lives, and especially during our life together. The past 4 years we have prayed through different missionary opportunities. 

Eight months ago we moved across the country to Florida. Our plan in moving was to help 6:8 Ministries start a Thrift Store. The purpose of the Thrift Store was to create a sustainable funding source for 6:8. However, it also gave us time to pray and seek God’s will about officially partnering with the 6:8 Ministries. The Thrift Store started small, but through hard work and God’s blessing it has grown to be an incredible asset to the ministry! Encouraged with the progress, the 6:8 Ministries board of directors has asked Josh to continue to build and direct the Thrift Store Ministry, while the Children’s Ranch project continues to be 

developed.

After much prayer and consideration we are happy to announce that we have 

officially partnered with 6:8 Ministries as full time missionary staff. We have 

concluded the application and evaluation process, and we have been accepted. God is so good! Not only has He given us tremendous peace about this decision, He has done more than we could have ever asked or imagined. We started 

serving full-time on January 1, 2013; and it’s our hope to start raising support and be fully funded by August 1, 2013.

Josh’s position is Director of the Thrift Store Ministry. He coordinates 

donations, manages volunteers, and oversees retail sales. Josh also works with local churches in the Jacksonville area to promote the Children’s Ranch Project. He will also make periodic trips to Costa Rica to help lead short-term mission teams. We anticipate that God will call us to serve full-time at the boys ranch, but for now we patiently wait and obediently serve where He has placed us. While we are willing to serve, we need partners to make it possible. When you 

remember us, please pray that: 

• We serve the ministry to the best of our abilities. 

• We model Christ’s love in our own family.

• The Lord will bless the ministry and ultimately use us and 6:8 to bring glory to God by making disciples here and in Costa Rica

• God will swiftly move along the boys ranch project.

6:8 Ministries requires each of the missionary staff families to raise 100% of their personal support. Therefore, we are praying that God will send partners to come along side us and commit financially. We have set our family’s budget at $3,500 a month. We are trusting God to provide for us through His people.  Will you prayerfully consider being 1 of 30 partners to commit $100 a month?  We are also looking for partners who will commit $15, $25 or $50 a month.  Please note that no gift is too small and every gift is greatly appreciated.

6:8 Ministries will oversee and manage all of our personal support. This will

provide us the needed accountability, and provide you with the tax-benefit, as they are a registered non-profit organization. You can give through www.68ministries.org, click on the staff tab, find the McArthur family on the left hand side.  You can either sign up to donate through paypal or mail in a check to 6:8 Ministries PO Box 2174 Orange Park, Fl 32067.

Contact Josh (904) 962-7434 if you have questions or would like to speak about this new opportunity for our family. Please email Josh (joshmc6@gmail.com) to be added to our e-letter list.

In closing we would like to thank each of you for the love you have shown our family over the years.

Love in Christ,

Josh, Alli, Caleb, Micah

Welcome to the McArthur blog

Welcome to the McArthur family update blog.  As many of you know we have decided to come on staff with 6:8 Ministries in Costa Rica as full time missionaries.  Please take the time to read our support letter on the following blog.

It is our desire to keep you updated with what is going on in our family life and the ministry that the Lord has given us.  Thank you for taking the time to pray for us and read what God is doing in us and through us.

-Josh & Alli