Youth, College, Adult and Family Mission Trips to Costa Rica


Visit www.STRONGMISSIONS.com for group info and many more details...

Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Giving Tuesday is Today - We need YOU!!!

You have probably been alerted on social media and have friends or family participating in Giving Tuesday.

We have always been blessed by support from folks like yourselves and for the past couple of years, the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries has been doing a dollar for dollar match of donations given on #GivingTuesday.

Unfortunately, there were not able to continue with this trend in 2016, but that doesn't mean the need goes away. It means we need you more than ever.

VBS Activities in Sector 8, Los Guido
Last year we we raised over $13,000 on Giving Tuesday and IF we can raise the same amount this year, it will allow us to continue our programming through January of next year.

Many pledges have been made, but due to many factors beyond our control, such as the Zika virus, Strong Missions still has a sizable deficit to make up to finish 2016.

Please consider going to www.strongmissions.com/support and donating. No matter how you choose to support Strong Missions, via The Advance or the 501c3, your gift is 100% tax deductible and will go to support our programing!

Instead of focusing on what we are lacking, for Giving Tuesday we wanted to focus on all the blessings we have.

The empowered communities programming is undoubtedly a successful venture where we have seen results beyond anything we could have imagined. We see children receiving love and support that they are lacking in their lives, instilling confidence, discipline, and associating hard work with the pride that comes from practice, dedication, and a job well done.

More than that, we are seeing parental involvement grow, parents are also invested into these programs which creates a social support network within these communities that families didn't have access to before. To say the least, these programs are changing the hearts and minds of those involved. These groups are also doing presentations during parades and at their schools as well as participating in tournaments and competitions, further instilling pride in their performance and their community.

Every donation to Strong Missions Empowered Communities provides support to these programs, to building these communities, and to helping us continue to be a positive influence in the lives of these children and families.

There are many more pictures available here on Facebook but here is a quick glimpse of what your donations support:

Feeding Programs: Strong Missions continues to be dedicated to feeding children throughout Costa Rica who do not have access to a well-balanced nutritious meal at home.


Theater Group in the Grecia Parade
Theater:

Strong Missions supports a theater program offering children the ability to express themselves artistically through acting.












Karate Presentation at a school in Poas
Karate:
Strong Missions has multiple Karate programs in communities around Costa Rica. Focusing on teamwork, discipline, and community, our students are competing in tournaments, winning medals, and there are even kids who have earned spots on the National Team as well as medals in the National Games.









Soccer Program, La Lucha, Costa Rica
Soccer:
Soccer is far and away the most popular sport in Costa Rica, and kids of all ages love to play. We have created a program outside of Alajuela offering a great program for at risk youth.


Dance

Dance continues to be a huge part of the Strong Missions Empowered Communities, with 2 dance teams in surrounding communities. Dancers participate in civic presentations as well as the National Student Art Festival each year.





Each and every one of these communities and these children are impacted by your support, your gifts, and your prayers. If you feel led to help out on Giving Tuesday, or any other day, we are always grateful for your support. Even the smallest of donations, combined with the support of others, adds up to big impacts,

Thank you all and God bless!










Monday, November 14, 2016

Giving Tuesday is in 2 weeks

Howdy folks! 
Charlie here at Strong Missions in Costa Rica and Nicaragua. 

It's that time of the year again, and we hope that so many of you will join us in our work during this time by donating to the Advance on Giving Tuesday in two weeks.  All the info is below and if you have any other questions please let us know.  Please note that funds will NOT be doubled by GBGM this year as it has been in the past.

Such donations will be used for feeding, education, youth intervention activities (arts and sports) and entrepreneurship for women. We really need your help to both maintain the 380 children we currently have in such programming and to add another 150 kids over the upcoming year.  

Thanks so much in ADVANCE. :) Get it?  Couldn't help it.  
Peace and love to you all!  
Charlie

The link to our advance page is below, please forgive the fact that it is out of date, the updates are currently under review and should be up soon. 
http://www.umcmission.org/Give-to-Mission/Search-for-Projects/Projects/3021552

For more updated information visit us at www.strongmissions.com or www.facebook.com/strongmissions

The photos below were taken at a community dinner hosted by a group from High Point University in October

Dancers from our program in Carrillos

Some of our students from the karate class Charlie teaches


Dancers from the Artistic Development Program at Escuela Carlos Maria in Calle Rodriguez