WE'RE HERE!!

"Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ."
Philippians 1:6

Thank you so much for your prayers. After three long days of travel we have arrived safely to Resistencia, Argentina. We left our home at about 4 in the afternoon on Friday evening and arrived at the Depue's home on Sunday night at 10pm. We have spent so much time talking about Argentina and the ministry here, we can't believe the day has finally come!


We are excited to get settled in here and get to know our surroundings. Our last time here was in March of 2006.

Hoping to get a prayer letter out soon, but at least wanted to get out the basic details of our trip. We were blessed to have our friends see us off at the airport!! What an unexpected blessing. Still processing thoughts, so when we have some more to communicate we will.


Here is a video, to update you on where we have been to this point on the journey.

Making memories!

So here we are waiting for the final word from NY city before we purchase our tickets again, to avoid having to cancel them another time if there is a hang up. We do know that our letter from Argentina that was holding us up is now on the way via snail mail to NY city. Once it arrives in NY it will be about five days to process the documents to finalize the visas. So please be in prayer that the letter arrives on time, and the processing will go quickly and smoothly without any other paper work needed.

In the mean time we are making the most of our time at home. Fall is our favorite season, so we were able to enjoy some special time with friends, family, and visiting churches. We were able to go a pumpkin festival, another birthday party for one of our niece and a local fair. We are content with being here and excited to know when our departure date is at the same time. Steve is enjoying finishing some projects for his mom, and working on remodeling a house with my Dad. I'm enjoying learning how to quilt from my friend Jen while spending time with her.

Thanks for checking in with us! Becky for the Diems

Are we there yet?

For those of you who have not heard, we could not leave for Argentina as planned on October 13th due to problems getting our visa. We had our tickets purchased, our things to ready, and a send off service at our home church. We are waiting for a letter of invitation from the mission in Argentina to be processed by the government authorities in Argentina and then to be sent off to the consulate's office in New York City. This process we were told will take 10 business days. Day 10 is this Friday October 23rd. If the letter is ready to be sent to New York, in the consulate's office, the processing can take 5 business days. Which puts our departure date the first week of November, Lord willing.

What makes this a little frustrating is the BMW missionary who presented the letter of invitation to the foreign ministry department in Argentina, was told that this letter was not necessary, therefore did not sent it to us. But when we had our interview in New York, we were told that in fact we did need it. Also, we were hoping, if for some reason we could not enter into Argentina with a religious visa, we could go in on a tourist visa while the other was being processed. However, the consulate informed us that we couldn't go about it that way.

So, we feel that we have done all that we can do on our end, and all we can do is wait.

Psalm 52:8-9
But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever. I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done it: and I will wait on thy name; for it is good before thy saints.

In spite our confusion, and asking the obvious questions, we are not discouraged. Although frustrated at times, we been home for good preaching and fellowship. We are anxious to be on the field in Argentina, but perhaps God is using this time to sharpen and encourage our faith and cause us to lean on Him more.

Leaving Cost Rica

Leaving Costa Rica was difficult for all involved. We had made a lot of contacts there through language school and in our neighborhood. Graduation was very difficult to say good by to our friends and the teachers who had given us a wonderful gift of being able to bring the gospel in another language to a lost and dying world. If we could be in ten places at once serving effectively we would love for one of those places to be Costa Rica. We know that is not where God has called us for now, but we grew to love the country, people, and church that we attended while there. We made some wonderful friends and memories. We also thank God for all the difficult things that he brought us through while we were there to strengthen our character, and help our understanding of the latin America culture. We were thankful and saw the wisdom in learning the language well before starting in on ministry full time.
Now that we are back in the states, I can’t really put all of our emotions acuratly into words. I am now with the boys day and night, which I love. But that has been a big adjustment on Josiahs end after being around kids in preschool for a whole year, half of the day while we were studying. On our end, not having to study every spare minute gives us more free time. So we are praying that we manage our time home and that we would finish all that God has give us to do while we are here for only a couple more weeks. We are realizing that life goes on for everyone around us, and we are just passing through quickly before the next stage for our family. Finding once again our purpose in who we are through Christ, not in our daily schedule of living in another country and learning the languge.
Thanks again for checking out our blog! Sorry that I have been a little slow the past couple of weeks with the updates. I finally feel like my feet have touched the ground, now that our stay is more then half way done. God bless! Have a great day in Him!
Becky for the Diems

A Testimony of His Faithfulness

One week left of classes and graduation from the Spanish Language Institute is just around the corner (Friday, August 14). We received back our final exams and we did well, Praise the Lord! Becky especially ranked especially high in her oral exam, and received a higher qualification that I did!!

But what is especially exciting about this for me is that the story really begins when Becky and I were engaged. She was particularly self-conscious about her ability to learn a second language, and didn't think she could. One day, she could hold it in any longer and blurted out, "You'd be better off with someone else, I'll never be able to learn Spanish, I could never be a missionary's wife." She assumed because I already "knew" Spanish at the time, that I wouldn't have to go to language school. I remember assuring her to trust in God, and that He would help her.

As she began to her studies at the language institute she felt as though her worst fears were becoming a reality. The academic director discovered through a pattern of her tests, that she was dyslexic. Which made conjugating verbs and knowing where to put pronouns nearly impossible. She was then put in a lower level grammar class. But she didn't give up. God put some great teachers in her that didn't give up on her and pushed her as well, saying "!Si se puede!" (Yes you can!). She found a way that helped her learn, talking and practicing with friends and neighbors and always finding a way to reinforce things orally. She went from barely passing grammar tests in basic concepts, to receiving A's and even a 100% in the more complex mood of the language, the subjunctive! Does he call the equipped, or equip the called? Isn't just like God to take something that looks impossible by human standards and turn it around for His glory?

Oh God, great is your faithfulness!

Another affirmation that Becky is not a missionary's wife nor called to be one, but a missionary, now equipped to share the saving gospel of Jesus in Spanish.

"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me (II Corinthians 12:9)."

Can I phone a friend?

Steve and I finished our final exams! Now we just have to wait for the results. Our grammer exam consisted fourteen pages over three hundred questions, and over three hours long. Needless to say Steve and I are excited to have the weekend to relax. Our oral exams were yesterday, and we feel like they went well. Praise God for what Steve and I were able to learn through our time here, much more then another language. We are looking forawrd with anticapation to coming home and touching base with our family and friends and our supporters. We will be home for a little bit over a month. Pray that God will use us to encourage those who need to be encouraged, and that God will use our time in the states as he sees fit.
(We will be arrivng August 18th.)

Praise God for what he has done through us, and what he will do in our future!

Becky for the Diems

Is that your final answer?

Please be in prayer for Steve and I this week as we take our FINALS. We have an oral exam, and a grammar exam (13 pages) Thursday and Friday of this week. Pray that we will be diligent in preparing for these exams. Also we have home work, and regular tests in our other classes as well. We are happy to be drawing to close here with our language learning, yet sad to have to say good by to our church here, our neighbors and friends.

Cute story, Our nanny who watches Elliott during the week was watching both of the boys because the schools were shut down in CR for the swine flue. Adina was talking to Josiah about how she wanted to come see his Grandma, and Josiah said " you can come on the plane with us, we'll all go see her together" Adina explained to him that she couldn't because she doesn't have the paper work that she needs. Josiah ran and found some old plain ticket stubs that he had been saving and wrote her name on it so that she could go. When she was retelling us the story, she was crying.

Many emotions! Some of great joy as this chapter comes to a close, and others of sadness anticipation of more changes, and saying good by and starting over again in another country and culture. We are excited about this new chapter in our life! Please be in prayer for the adjustments that we will all be going through individually. Pray that he will give us exactly what we need to adjust quickly to the new chapter in Argentina.

Thank you for your prayers!!

Becky for the Diems

All to the Glory of God!

By Gods Grace alone we made it through the week without too many complications while Steve has been gone in Panama on a missions trip. Of coarse there's always fun stories to tell, like when I discovered that Elliott can open doors, and found him typing at the computer while I had been making dinner. All I saw was a blue screen that basically said, if you see this good luck, call your computer agent. God is good, and my friend was able to help me fix it over the phone after trouble shooting for a while.

Next week the school is closing the day care part of the school because of the swine flue out break. The whole country is shutting down there schools for a week to take time to clean them,and try to minimize the contact between children, who are very likely to catch and contain this deadly virus. The Adult section will go on as scheduled.

My language class ate out today, and I think something I ate did not settle with me well. I have a very sharp pain in my stomach, and full body sweat. Pray that God will give me the strength to finish out strong tomorrow until Steve comes home. Thanks!

The boys have been great, we've made lots of fun memories together! I've enjoyed the extra time with them by myself, but we are ready for our Daddy to come back from "nanama."

I look forward to hearing in more detail all about the opportunity's that Steve had to share the gospel. He said they have been very busy, and have had to turn people away, because there was only so many they could help in one day. It's sounds like he's really enjoying it. Look forward to sharing more details with you all soon! Thank you for uplifting the boys and I while Steve has been gone. Thank you also for praying for Steve's safety and the team in Panama.

God Bless, Becky for the Diems

Daddy is in "nanama"

Steve is in Panama for a week with Jack and Jenifer Mitchel (Grace Dental Mission), Steve went to help translate for them, and to share The Gospel to people who will be waiting to have there teeth worked on. Steve thrives in situations like this, I'm so glad that he has the opportunity to use what he has been learning this past year. The boys and I are staying here in San Jose for the week that he is gone, going about life as normal as possible without Daddy around. Josiah and I are still going to school during the day, which is helping us stick to a daily schedule. We are praying for Daddy at night and at meal times that he is safe in "nanama" as Elliott and Josiah have renamed Panama, very cute.

Please do be in prayer for us. There have been several robberies of nationals, and students around our neighborhood. Six that I know of within the past two weeks. We are just trusting for God in our safety, especially while Steve is gone. We are taking steps of safety and walking with people to school and back. God is good all the time!

I wanted to blog a little bit about a book that I have been reading called "NO GRAVEN IMAGE" written by Elizabeth Elliot
In the first chapter she talked about her journey by train to the mission field, and she encounters a women selling little toy suitcases with her children in toe, and no one was buying them from her, so Elizabeth bought one from her for five cents, later she sees her get of the train without having sold any more suitcases. She talks about how the women's eyes pierced her heart, and she thought she should have bought all of them. Later She sees a poor man on the street with no eyes, but head gazing in her direction, and there was a little girl sitting on his lap who looked worn out and unhealthy. At the end of the day she was reflecting over what she could have done for them besides giving them a little bit of money, should she have done something more "If only I could give the man his sight, the child her health" she later comes to the conclusion that all she can do of lasting value is share the Gospel with them. This book has been such an encouragement to me, because she is a Godly women who is experiencing culture shock, learning another language, separating from friends and family, and she is just very open with her thoughts of working through different situations that she has to encounter. Great read!

When Steve comes back we will send out our more formal prayer update! Thanks for checking in with us! Becky for the Diems

Happy Fathers Day!

I am so thankful for my Dad! Happy fathers day Dad! We miss you! Thanks for everything you do for us! I am also thankful for the father that God has blessed my children to have! His day started out with receiving drawings one by one that Josiah made for him. Family breakfast, and off to church. It was really neat at the end of the service today they called all the fathers up and prayed over them. It was really touching to me to hear them praying in Spanish.
We had the pleasure of sharing at our church today,our testimonies, our call to missions and what we are planning to do after language school. It was really great to be able communicate for the first time in front of a group together, in the language that God has called us to serve in. What a blessing that God has brought us to this point, to be able to share our thoughts and emotions in this language.
We are going to spend the other part of our day having a little gathering with one of our Friends because her parents our in town.
Hope that you all have a wonderful day! May we remember that we are here because of the sacrifice that was made by our Father the Savior! And for that reason alone we are able to live the life that he has so blessed us have. May we do all for the Glory of God!
Serving Him, The Diems

Time flies...or Time of flies?

The rainy season is here again, and as we have been told, is the reason behind the fly infestation in our house. But in the meanwhile of swatting our noisy visitors, we've been so blessed by some visitors from the states. Becky's sister Audrey and her husband Ryan came to visit us for a week. It was like old times again when they were here, it was only a year ago that we lived 2 minutes apart in Raymond, NH. They were able to celebrate with us Josiah's 4th Birthday! It was really special for him to have family here on his day and we were all so blessed that they came. My mom has come for another visit this week and is in grandma bliss with the boys and enjoying every minute. She was woken up the first night here by a roar of soccer fans as Costa Rica swept the United States in an eliminatory final....

The beginning of the rainy season also means the last trimester for us. In just three months we will be going back to the states and Lord willing be in Argentina by late September/early October. We have been hard at work in our classes and there is a definite note in the increase of intensity of our learning. We really can't say enough about the quality of our grammar teachers this tri, who display consistently a passion to teach us. At times feeling overwhelmed, but knowing and trusting in God's grace to enable us to finish strong.

Thank you for your prayers for us!
Please continue to pray for:
- Skill to learn
- Our language learning would be a joy
- Safety and good health
- Opportunities to minister to the saints and to share Christ.

San Vito - Where Barbed Wire is For Cattle

After a 6 hour bus ride, we arrived in an old Italian colony. San Vito Costa Rica is altogether a different place. Located on the eastern border of Costa Rica and Panama where the air is fresh, cool and clean. The lush green mountains feed grazing the cattle and bumpy dirt and stone roads lead to homes and ranches on the hillsides. It is here where our nanny Adina bought a home. She plans on retiring this August when Becky and I leave for Argentina and desires very much to escape from city life and be surrounded by her family. Becky and I had a week off from school between trimesters, so we both really felt that the Lord wanted us to help fix up her new house. The house didn't have windows nor doors with good security and was generally in rough condition. It was amazing to think that it had not been abandoned, but actually a family had recently been renting it. When we walked into the house for the first time my head started to spin as I wondered how we could get this all fixed up in one week. Also, not having anymore tools than a small utility bag with the basics. As everyone left the house I prayed and asked God for his provision and wisdom. Realizing the job was too big for one week, we decided to focus on what we could do which was to clean up the land, redo the kitchen by installing windows and a door, and replace the siding in the back of the house. Adina's nephew who works 2 hrs away was happy to loan me the electric tools needed and her brother in law who is a retired security guard said he would help in any way he could. Praise God! Along with working long days trying to get everything done, we had a week of practicing Spanish. Also we were indulged by the Costa Rican cuisine, rice and beans three meals a day. We also tried some new foods that I had never had, a salad from a white flower, cow liver, boiled green bananas, unpasteurized milk, cheese and yogurt, and fried pig skin. We returned back to San Jose, behind our barbed wire. By God's grace we completed everything on our punch list. It was a little discouraging however realizing that there was still much to do. We pray that Adina would be encouraged, a woman who has been serving missionaries for more than 20 years.

Learning a New Tongue While Eating a Tongue

I had heard that before leaving Costa Rica I would have to try "lengua en salsa", so my neighbor offered to teach me how to make it. I had a great time learning but I can't say that I would make it weekly.

We went to our friends house this weekend Steve fixed her washing machine for her, and we met almost her whole family. I learned how to make donuts with her daughter-in-law. She sells them for (15 cents each)extra income for the family. It was really fun seeing how she does everything by eye and by feeling the texture. Our boys our getting so big, so we put some pictures for everyone to enjoy of some of our fun times together as a family. Elliott is potty training, we just started this week. Steve is wonderful with the boys, Elliott went potty first for Steve, and Josiah did the same when he was being potty trained. It's a Daddy thing. Hope you all had a wonderful day!! Becky, for the Diems

Elliott is 2!

We are so thankful for our little guy Elliott! It is really fun to watch Josiah and him grow up together, Josiah loves the "job" of being a big brother. Here is a video for you all to enjoy of his big day! There are some pictures of us making the pinata together, and painting it! And then of the party we had with some of our friends from language school! Thanks for taking the time to look at our blog! Becky, for the Diems

overwelmed by needs

Steve and I have run into lots of opportunities to help people this week. Pray that the Lord would teach us discernment through these situations.

Steve is at a prayer meeting right now at our church, and he has invited the man that he met yesterday, and gave him the bus fair (50 cents) and directions to the meeting. Pray that this man will be a man of his word and meet Steve there tonight.

I met a lady at the library today with her little girl, and she is about to have another baby. She was asking me for a carriage and cloths, when I started asking her about her spiritual journey, she changed the subject back again to the shoes that I had told her Elliott had outgrown. I told her I would meet her at the library again to give her the items. Pray that she would be open to things of the Lord.

As anyone can tell you that has been outside the bubble of the USA the needs of people are overwhelming. Our purpose needs to be to help them for the long term, there eternal destination. How easy it would be just to pass out food, and clothes, and money, but that will not change peoples lives. Only Gods word has the power to change peoples hearts. And of coarse there is the book of James where it tells us to give to those who need food and clothing.

I know that God is growing both of us through our first cross cultural experience. I know that we will experience the same situations in Argentina. So pray that God will give us wisdom in these and many other situations that come our way on a daily basis of living in a different country. Thank you! Becky, for the Diems

That's s-not a fruit...or is it?

This fruit is called - "Guanadilla" but also called "snot fruit". It has a hard outer shell that is yellowish/tan about the size of a tennis ball. The when broken open soft white pulp surrounds a transparent sac of black seeds which are eaten. The typical fashion of eating a guandadilla is by making a small hole, and then quickly slurping as much of the seeds into your mouth as you can. It tastes sweet almost like grapes. If you can get past the texture, they are really health, the fruit contains vitamins A, C, and K, phosphorus, iron, and calcium.

Our other favorite fruits include: mango, white-pineapple, and of course bananas!

Grandma Diem Visits Costa Rica

Thank you for your prayers!

Our family is on the mend now. Elliott was still having some loose BM (day #5) the poor little guy. Josiah still does not have his apatite back, but is loving the fact that he is getting soda, and juice to drink. Steve is feeling much better, we had our first real dinner together since the sickness struck Tuesday night. We had been eating random things for dinner, like oat meal, or crackers, or fruit. We had an adventure today! The key broke when Steve went to lock the front gate, and we were just going to go to the park near our house. We ended up playing at the park for a little bit, going to get another key made, buying our water for the week, and paying our bills. We are the only ones in this city with keys to our house, so we just made an "adventure" out of it, and the kids thought it was great! We were thankful the key shop was open! Hope you all had a wonderful Sunday afternoon, praising God!

Becky, for the Diems

Please pray!

Hello everyone!
Thank you for taking the time to read our blog, I know a lot of people read this and pray for us often. I am posting this to ask you for your prayers for our family. I was sick Tuesday and Wednesday, and now it is going through our family very quickly. Elliott was up all Tuesday night vomiting and has had the "big D" for three days now. Steve and Josiah were up all night last night vomiting, and have not eaten very much of anything to day. I did lots of laundry and disinfecting today. I called the Doctor and he gave me some Spanish names for common things like pidialite is "swadol" and Dramamine is "gravol". I walked to the pharmacy with my friend Leanne and Elliott. The people there were so helpful as I am sure I was butchering the pronunciation of these medicines. Sorry this is not a fun post with pictures! I need Steve's help for that, and right now him and Josiah are snuggling on the couch, as they should be given the situation! Thank you for your prayers!
Becky, for the Diems

Parque de la Paz

Last weekend we went with some friends to a park near us. The boys enjoyed sledding down the hill together in a cardboard box. They love flying kites there too or just watching all the others fill the sky. Elliott enjoyed his first horse ride. Half way through he was talking to the horse as if he could understand everthing he said. Classes are going well, this trimester is a lot more work. The concepts are growing one on top of the other. We trully love the language and enjoy speaking with anyone who has time to. Steve's mom is here for a visit for a week! She just got in late last night, we have tomorow off of school so we are hoping to show her around the city a little and let her see what life is like here. This morning we put some old bananas in the avacado tree to atract different kinds of birds. Josiah said "hey mom, look our avacado tree is growing bananas now too" I think he still thinks that this is the case! Oh to be three again! Thank you for your prayers! Becky, for the Diems

On Sunday afternoon we...

Second Trimester - Here we go!

Becky:
I had to have hernia surgery done January 9 the day after we returned from the States. It went well, the Doctors here are wonderful. I had heard that the nurses speak English, but this is not true. It really helped me get back into Spanish quickly. Steve had the boys for three days by himself while I was in the hospital. I had to stay an extra night there to recover a little more before going home. We have been blessed by our friends at the language school helping out with a couple of meals, and running to the store for us. Our friends Steve and Diane watched the boys while Steve stayed at the hospital during my surgery and to be able to visit me.
I stayed home to rest the first two days of school, but could not stay in the house any longer. I started my classes Wednesday. I am looking forward to the assignments that our language teacher has given us to interview Ticos. This week our topic in language is The Church. I will be giving a 15 minute devotional in Spanish this Thursday. How exciting to be teaching Gods word in Spanish.
Continue to pray for my recovery. I desire to be doing more then I should. Steve has been wonderful, he is doing everything for me. Through sickness and health. I am so thankful for him. Pray that God would give him the strength he needs for the next couple of weeks before things are back to normal.

The Boys:
School started Monday. Josiah was excited to go back, and Elliott is just a love. He is generally the only one not crying when we drop him off, he brings great joy to his teachers and anyone he is around.

Steve:
I started a class this trimester called FARO. It is an alliteration, translated it means: Facilitator, Helper, Route, and Listening. I meet with my teacher once a week one on one to discuss progress, the route and questions I want to ask. The helper is a bi-lingual Costa Rican who checks over my questions and helps me express my thoughts in Spanish. My route consists of 7-10 people that I meet with 2x's a week to discuss the questions I came up with. And the "Listening" is really what it is all about - being able to listen and use the grammar I'm learning in class. I still have 2 hours of grammar each day and then spend the rest of the time I would be in school doing my FARO route. It has been fun creating my own topics and activities to better understand Latin Culture and the Spanish language. It is not really an option for Becky, I'm not entirely comfortable with her out in the city alone.
My friend Brian, who went through the course the last two trimesters (now in Guatemala) reminding me that this course is more than learning the culture and language but provides some incredible opportunities to minister. Pray to that end!


To see Becky's stitches: click here

Do you really think we would post pictures of that? Thank you for participating in our sociological experiment...

A Closer Look at Life and Language School in Costa Rica

This is a video that we showed at our home church for the missions conference in November. We hope that it helps explain a little bit of what our daily life looks like in Costa Rica learning the language. Steve and I were talking today about how when we are around the Latin American culture we truly feel a sense that this is where we need to be. The joy that God has given us, and the love for the people and the language just brings us conformation that this is where God has placed our family. Argentina is going to come sooner than we think as we have put into the works the beginning stages of getting our residential visas! May God bless you all this new year! Becky, for the Diems