Hi, my name is Jacob Folk and I am from SC, USA on the East coast. Back in 2007 My family and I answered Jesus' call to move to Costa Rica for an indefinite amount of time to reach out to and do discipleship with the Costarican(Ticos) people group. The first year in Costa Rica was spent in a city town called 'San Francisco De Dos Rios' where we acclimated to Latino culture in various ways. We went to a language school called Instituto de Lengua Epanola(ILE). The other things that helped us grow into this Latino culture was the fact that we had no car for that entire year and had to walk. As one walks about they are reading signs and advertisements in Spanish all the while trying to communicate with people on the street and while buying fruits & vegetables in the Farmers Market(La Feria).
At the End of Language School we purchased an old 1994 Hyundai Galloper and so the adventure began. My wife Courtenay became sick and decided to return to the states to see a specialist there while I home schooled our three kids in a temporary home in a town called Paraiso, Cartago. Paraiso is below Irazú and East of the city of Cartago. We stayed in this town for several months until we could find a house for rent on Volcano Irazú. One day after looking for some hours in a town called Pacayas, Irazú and finding nothing for rent, we started heading back when I noticed a sign that said Pesca de Trucha(Trout Fishing). This wasn't the first time I had noticed it as I have always loved to fish for trout this sign had always got my attention. However, this was the first time that I was actually going to investigate what all this was about. So we pulled in and went up the gravel drive way and soon came to a rustic restaurant on the wooded and large property. I pulled in and parked and soon noticed a man entering the restaurant whose name was Jorge Cruz. I asked him if there was a house on the property for rent and he said that there was and to give him a minute and he would get the key to show us the house. The house was on up the drive at the top of the hill and it was an old cabin.
After seeing the cabin on the inside I knew that we had found the house that God had prepared for us as He lured us in hook line and sinker. The lure was my love for trout fishing. We were seeing first hand how God works in mysterious ways after finding this wonderful house in such a way. Now we could be in the middle of all the villages that we had intended on reaching out to with the grace of God. Courtenay was finally able to return to Costa Rica just as it was time to move into the cabin which brought great joy to her and our family and the whole endeavor. Courtenay had been diagnosed with the diseases of dermatomyositis and interstitial lung disease and for the dermatomyositis she would have to receive chemo theropy until God heals her.
The years went by as we held bible studies in various houses all over the volcano teaching that salvation is not of works but comes only from believing in Jesus and His Blood to redeem us. We have seen many lives changed as the grace of God works through the lives of the Ticos on the volcano. Through prayer, we have seen people cured of various diseases including cancer which is another aspect to this journey that helps us keep going as we see the hand of Jesus working.
In May of 2015 Jesus closed the door for us to live on the volcano and moved us into an area called Tejar. Tejar is down and off Volcano Irazú and is on the outskirts of the city of Cartago. The commute for Courtenay to the school is now a lot shorter for her and the kids however, for me it takes a little more time to get to the bible studies but everyone is happy at our new house.
We are very thankful for our home church Mt. Moriah Baptist Church for sending us out and helping support us with Mission Irazú. We are also very thankful for all our other supporters in various churches. God Bless :)
At the End of Language School we purchased an old 1994 Hyundai Galloper and so the adventure began. My wife Courtenay became sick and decided to return to the states to see a specialist there while I home schooled our three kids in a temporary home in a town called Paraiso, Cartago. Paraiso is below Irazú and East of the city of Cartago. We stayed in this town for several months until we could find a house for rent on Volcano Irazú. One day after looking for some hours in a town called Pacayas, Irazú and finding nothing for rent, we started heading back when I noticed a sign that said Pesca de Trucha(Trout Fishing). This wasn't the first time I had noticed it as I have always loved to fish for trout this sign had always got my attention. However, this was the first time that I was actually going to investigate what all this was about. So we pulled in and went up the gravel drive way and soon came to a rustic restaurant on the wooded and large property. I pulled in and parked and soon noticed a man entering the restaurant whose name was Jorge Cruz. I asked him if there was a house on the property for rent and he said that there was and to give him a minute and he would get the key to show us the house. The house was on up the drive at the top of the hill and it was an old cabin.
After seeing the cabin on the inside I knew that we had found the house that God had prepared for us as He lured us in hook line and sinker. The lure was my love for trout fishing. We were seeing first hand how God works in mysterious ways after finding this wonderful house in such a way. Now we could be in the middle of all the villages that we had intended on reaching out to with the grace of God. Courtenay was finally able to return to Costa Rica just as it was time to move into the cabin which brought great joy to her and our family and the whole endeavor. Courtenay had been diagnosed with the diseases of dermatomyositis and interstitial lung disease and for the dermatomyositis she would have to receive chemo theropy until God heals her.
The years went by as we held bible studies in various houses all over the volcano teaching that salvation is not of works but comes only from believing in Jesus and His Blood to redeem us. We have seen many lives changed as the grace of God works through the lives of the Ticos on the volcano. Through prayer, we have seen people cured of various diseases including cancer which is another aspect to this journey that helps us keep going as we see the hand of Jesus working.
In May of 2015 Jesus closed the door for us to live on the volcano and moved us into an area called Tejar. Tejar is down and off Volcano Irazú and is on the outskirts of the city of Cartago. The commute for Courtenay to the school is now a lot shorter for her and the kids however, for me it takes a little more time to get to the bible studies but everyone is happy at our new house.
We are very thankful for our home church Mt. Moriah Baptist Church for sending us out and helping support us with Mission Irazú. We are also very thankful for all our other supporters in various churches. God Bless :)