Imagine sharing the gospel in a tropical paradise, where scenery varies from mountainous horizons complete with volcanoes, to rainforests with colorful birds and gushing waterfalls, to sandy beaches.

That’s what 20 Quiet Hour teams did, from September 7-23, 2006. Pastor Bill and Jackie Tucker held gospel meetings in the coastal city of Limón, located near the Gulf of Mexico. Five other teams also held meetings near the city. The others were scattered across the country.

Jackie Tucker says, “One unique thing about The Quiet Hour’s teams on this trip was the variety of speakers.” They came from as far away as Friedensau University in Germany, and from around the United States and Canada. Volunteer team members’ ages ranged from 14 to mid-70s, and most were not clergy, but Christians who are committed to sharing their faith, and helping people.

Besides holding health and relationship seminars before the evening Bible teaching, the teams provided a daily medical clinic and distributed eyeglasses. They also visited two orphanages where they gave toys, school supplies, and toothbrushes to the children.

Healing ministry
As part of the initiative to spread the gospel, some of the team participants joined together for a medical clinic, which was held every afternoon at Limón Dos Mills. The clinic included blood pressure and glucose level tests, and eyeglasses distribution.

The Quiet Hour brought along 1,200 pairs of glasses, which had been donated by the Lion’s Club. The team dispensed more than 300 pairs of eyeglasses, and left the rest with eye care professionals to use in their practices. An optometrist evaluated the villagers’ vision needs at the clinic.

One 10-year-old boy visited the clinic, hoping to get a new pair of glasses to replace his broken pair. Jackie Tucker looked through the children’s glasses, but could only find one pair close to, but not exactly, his prescription. As a last resort, she went to the adult glasses to find a pair, and she found a small pair with his exact prescription! She says, “I was so happy I couldn’t help but say, ‘Praise the Lord!’” When the boy looked into the mirror with that new pair of glasses, he smiled from ear to ear.

The Quiet Hour seeks to spread the joy of the gospel by continuing Jesus’ healing ministry—not only healing and helping people physically, but spiritually.

Sergio
Dr. Robert Lang, Patty Gant, and Wanda Czerwinski, who were leading the team in neighboring Limón dos Mills, ran into a problem almost from night one. Sergio, 10, disrupted their meetings by running around, yelling, and influencing other children to disturb the meeting.

The mission team didn’t have a separate location to hold a children’s meeting, so when the five Quiet Hour teams met for worship and prayer, this team requested prayer for Sergio.

God answered those prayers! The next morning in worship, Patty reported that Sergio was “like a different child.” She said he was calmer and quieter, and even helped them with the other children.

Carlos
Kristian Allen of Revelation Pictures, a videographer for The Quiet Hour, had a busy September. First, he joined Pastor Michael Porter’s team in Mongolia. Then he headed to Costa Rica to film the end of the teams’ mission expedition. For the Costa Rica adventure, he took his friend, Carlos, with him. Carlos is a native of Costa Rica, but now lives in the United States. He came to help Kristian with translation and to show him the countryside.

He also had a secret wish. Since he had been studying the Bible regularly with Kristian, he had learned a lot. He wanted to get baptized—but not just anywhere. He wanted to be baptized in Costa Rica.

His dream came true! Pastor Tucker baptized Carlos at the end of the meetings—in Costa Rican waters.

Results
The evangelism work in Costa Rica yielded more than 250 baptisms, and approximately 300 more people are still studying the Bible.

Please continue to pray for those who have begun a new life with Christ, that they will continue to draw closer to God and share the good news with their friends, neighbors, and family. This exemplifies the Seek-Reap-Keep evangelism philosophy of The Quiet Hour.

Pastor Bill and Jackie Tucker are ministering in Ethiopia in January and February of 2007. Your prayers and financial support are vital to the proclaiming of the gospel.