November - December 2014

2014 is almost behind us. It has been a year of great transition for us as a family. In March, Robert and David flew to Costa Rica for a three week trip which turned into a permanent one. Feeling more at home here and quickly finding a job, the men of the household decided that they didn’t want to return to the long Canadian winter and the lack of work. Upon the completion of the school year, Julianna and Roxanne joined them in the tropics.  

Robert had secured a job for Roxanne before she even arrived in San José, so she hit the ground running. The day after arriving, we moved as a family into a rented house and set up our humble living quarters. The next day, Roxanne started to work as a Kindergarten teacher at Lighthouse International School, and absolutely loves it!  It’s a lot of work, often consuming extra hours at home, but it is rewarding and the children are a joy.

Julianna attends the same Christian school where Roxanne works. It was a huge adjustment for her at first. The work load is tremendous but she has adapted now and is doing well.

Robert was quickly snatched up as a medical interpreter at a call center when he first arrived and enjoyed his time there. When the school entered into a crisis and needed a quick substitute teacher for Julianna’s class, Robert quit his job at the call center in order to fill that void. Now that a more permanent person has been found, he has possible jobs in two different universities as a part time English professor and as a professor in the Translations department. He is also looking forward to being more involved in Christ for the City again, helping out with short term teams. One team he will be working with arrives in January.  

David’s first month here was a spiritual high and he was doing so well. Unfortunately, that didn’t last. He needs your prayers as he struggles in his spiritual journey. We know the Lord has great plans for him and will bring them to fruition in His perfect timing. David recently started classes at a technical school, taking motorcycle mechanics, and is enjoying it. It is only one night a week, though. Please pray he finds a job to occupy his time during the day.

As this year comes to a close, we are thankful for God’s provision and look forward to a bright future. We witnessed His mighty hand when, just after Robert and David arrived to Costa Rica, we received an unexpected provision, large enough to finally get out of the large debt we were unable to shake off while in Canada. We trust this new year of 2015 will hold much blessing, not only for our own family, but also for yours. The Lord is good. He knows the plans He has for us, plans to prosper us and not to harm us, plans to give us hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). Blessed be the name of the Lord!

Roxanne, Robert, David and Julianna

The Grego Gazette - July, 2014

Looking back on our last letter in February, we realize so much has changed in just a few short months. Our world has been turned upside down, literally. Our family is once again Southbound.

Relocating!

Robert and David’s trip to Costa Rica in March was supposed to be only three weeks long, as Robert was to get paperwork done for his Canadian residency, and also researching some possibilities for the future, while David was going to enjoy his 16th birthday away from the bitter Canadian winter. God had other plans, however. Robert barely got off the plane and was being offered jobs. It’s not everyday that you get offered a job where you are hired at the highest level, doing what you do best (interpreting)! He was also hired on the spot as an emergency substitute teacher at an American high school just outside San José. So he ended up working two full-time jobs for a month! Now he’s back to only one, working evenings as an English-Spanish video medical interpreter, serving hospitals in USA, from a call center in Costa Rica. He’s also back into ministry with Christ for the City and being asked by several friends to consider helping with church planting. Ahhh! To be back into ministry and the latin culture and language! David was thrilled to be back in his tropical home country and was being touched by God. Robert submitted Roxanne’s resumé to three American Christian schools and all three are offering her a teaching position. It soon became clear that our time in Canada was coming to a close. God saw our great financial struggle in Canada, heard our plea, and relocated us. We did see His provision for our two main goals in Canada: our children’s citizenship and securing a permanent and safe living arrangement for Roxanne’s mom.

Reintegrating!

But, wait a minute, you say. What about the plan to set up a Christ For the City office in Ontario, Canada, that you talked about in the last letter? When we discussed this at length with the directors of Canada and the President of the organization, they agreed that it is the best thing for our family to be in Costa Rica at this time, after two challenging years in Canada. We will be in ministry there, just like we always have. But we will be self-supported through the call center and school jobs that God has provided, at least for now. There is so much to do there and the doors are wide open for us. Roxanne will once more be dedicated full-time to her passion: investing herself in the lives of school children, while sharing and modeling the love of Christ to them! Of course she will have many opportunities to minister to parents and teachers as well!

Resigning, Repacking, Rushing…!

Roxanne submitted her resignation at her desk job in London, Ontario and is diligently working on packing and selling everything… again!

Julianna’s school year culminated in a four-day trip and then graduation. She looked lovely! She is sad to be leaving her school and youth group friends. She’s happy to return to her tropical homeland, though, as long as she can take her cat with her! Some generous friends helped cover the cost of Robert’s plane ticket, so he could come up for a week for Juli’s graduation! He also had a chance to see his dad briefly, who was RV’ing through Northern USA and stopped through Niagara Falls to meet up with us. The call center in Costa Rica made an exception and granted Robert the one-week leave to fly up to Canada! God is good… all the time… and His ways and timing are always perfect (though He may often take us by surprise)!

Relatives and Reflections!

Roxanne is cramming in final visits with family members and friends. In July alone she will celebrate her sister-in-law’s baby shower and her niece’s, have a weekend getaway with her sisters, visit her brother, sister-in-law, and niece, four hours North in their new home, not to mention visits with her mother and aunt.  Julianna, her cat, and Roxanne travel back to Costa Rica on July 29th, closing yet another chapter in our adventures with God.

We are grateful for all the wonderful people who have been supportive to us in Canada. Family and friends, brothers and sisters in Christ from different churches, generously sharing their belongings, providing a place to live, or a helping hand, or finances. We couldn’t have done it without you! Thanks for allowing our gracious heavenly Father work through you! May God bless you all a hundredfold!

Please continue to pray for us as we readjust to life in Costa Rica. Pray for David to get the schooling he needs, for Juli to catch up on her Spanish and make new friends, and for a place to live. One thing we all agree on, we won’t miss the long, hard winters of Canada!

In His Care,

Robert, Roxanne, David, and Julianna

February, 2014 Update

New Year, new chapter…
Something has been in the mind of God for a while, but only recently set in motion.  When our friend and fellow missionary, Sharon Pierrot (from back in the days of evangelistic Christmas musicals in Costa Rica!), found out that we had returned to Canada, God put on her heart that Robert might be the answer to her earnest cry for help. She flew over to visit us for a few days from Vancouver, B.C. in December, where she is the National Director of Christ For the City, Canada. She asked us to pray about Robert becoming the Regional Director of Christ For the City International here in Ontario.

…new mission field…
Early January, Robert made a trip to the main Headquarters of Christ For the City, International (CFCI), in Omaha, NE, to participate in the orientation and to meet with the Board of Directors. He was officially extended an invitation to return to CFCI once again as a full time missionary, serving in the role of Regional Representative for Eastern Canada, under the authority of the Canadian Director, Sharon Pierrot. Like they say in Costa Rica, “the tortilla has been flipped over” (an ocurrence now in the opposite direction), since Robert would be yet another case of a Latin American missionary serving in a spiritually needy area of North America!

…renewed vision…
We are excited about this new adventure, as Robert makes church contacts in Southern Ontario, offering the partnership and collaboration of Christ For the City. CFCI’s vision is: “No place without a witness; no church without a vision; no person without hope.” Besides networking with churches to help meet the needs of their cities here in Canada, our goal is for Robert to facilitate at least two short term mission groups to Latin America per year. Though far from “home”, being involved in CFCI again is like having a little of home away from home!  It’s a joy to be “back in the loop” in the CFCI ministry and working with our CFCI family again, after an absence of eight years (we moved to Honduras in Jan.’06)!

…new roles…
Roxanne will continue to work at her job in London as an insurance claims specialist. Her income, however, does not cover our regular monthly expenses. Robert needs to raise monthly support in order to meet our family needs, as well as cover his travel and other basic logistics costs for running the regional office (like a newer laptop and a second vehicle). Now that Roxanne has been through the three month probationary period at her job, she will be able to apply to sponsor Robert for his Canadian residency. For now, he will receive a letter from Christ For the City that will allow him to live here without a visa as a lay minister. Believe it or not, he is a missionary to Canada!

…new family adventures…
Three family highlights: Robert's brother, Tony, came to visit us from Florida the first week of Feb. He saw the Niagara Falls for the first time, quite the bone-chilling experience; an upcoming couple's retreat in West VA for Valentine's Day weekend. Our costs are being waived by the hosts; and Roxanne's 50th birthday celebration with her siblings, who will drive in from different cities on Feb. 22nd for her special day!

We covet your prayers as we set out on this new adventure. We are trusting Jehovah Jireh to provide all of our needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:19) Please pray about joining our regular prayer and financial support team. The info on how to partner with us financially is below.

May God grant you His strength, joy, and peace, as you put your trust in Him!

Robert, Roxanne, David, and Julianna

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• In USA, please make donations payable to:

Christ For the City International

P.O. Box 390395

Omaha, NE. 68139-0395

• In Canada, please make donations payable to:

Christ For the City Canada

P.O. Box 75509 RPO Edgemont Village

3034 Edgemont Blvd.

North Vancouver, BC  V7R 4X1

…and attach a note specifying: for Robert Grego

January, 2014 Update

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

We trust you all had a wonderful Christmas as you contemplated our Lord’s birth, and that this New Year of 2014 will hold showers of blessings for you and your family!

As we look back over 2013, although it was a difficult year for us, there is much to praise the Lord for, especially His faithfulness.  We are grateful for a home in St. Thomas, a job for Roxanne, our kids’ Canadian citizenship, new friends, a good church which we have joined, new ministry opportunities unfolding, and special times with family.  And even our cat!  The Lord is good!

I, Roxanne, was challenged at the end of 2012 to read through the Bible in chronological order over 2013.  I took the challenge and was truly blessed by His Word this year, finishing up with the last chapters with the turn to 2014.  I encourage you all to take up the challenge for this year.  Robert is joining me as we take on the challenge together this year.  “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16, 17)

As we look forward to 2014, we do so with excitement, knowing that God has a plan for us here in Canada.  He is faithful and true to His promises. Be watching out for our next Grego Gazette as His plan unfolds!

“The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people.  Amen.”  (Rev. 22:21)

With love and thankfulness,

Robert, Roxanne, David, and Julianna