Strong Missions is Hiring!!

The service of Strong Missions continues to change and so does our staff. As we expand into Nicaragua and grow in our service in Costa Rica we are looking to hire a Program Assistant to come and serve with us full time in Costa Rica.

Successful applicant will be organized, flexible, a good communicator with a working knowledge of the Spanish language, and have a heart to serve visiting groups and the people of Costa Rica.

Duties consist of:

Email communication with group leaders to help plan trips

Making all arrangements and reservations for hotels, buses, etc.

Communicating with Strong Missions staff to assist in coordinating cleaning and food schedules

Creation of invoices for teams

Management of blog and Facebook page as well as email contact list.

Serving as guide and translator when groups are in country.

Organizing and dispersing donations.

Possible travel to the US to speak to past and future groups.

A living stipend will be provided and will include housing. In addition, food while groups are in country will be included.

For questions or to apply, Please send letter of intent and resume to darryl@strongmissions.com no later than June 27th interviews will follow with a decision no later than July 15th.

Please pass this information on to anyone who may be interested in the position.

Strong Missions Land Update!!!

Howdy Folks! Charlie Strong here with some important news, updates, and all around great information about the happenings here at Strong Missions.

Over the last 13 years many of you have seen Strong Missions grow and change. We could not be more thankful for every single person that believes in the work and offers their support through prayer and financial support. Some of you remember our humble beginnings, with just a few teams each year and Wilberth, one cook, and myself handling everything.  Up to date we’ve hosted right at 6000 trip participants and have brought almost 6 million dollars to the Costa Rican economy, with a significant part used directly for the projects themselves. Now we’re also searching out and applying for government and private grants for NGOs in order to both improve and expand upon our programming and perhaps relieve our individual donors a bit regarding the ongoing responsibility of supporting such costs.  We are not there, yet, however.

As you all know, Strong Missions has purchased land to build a permanent home and we couldn’t be more excited. In addition, our feeding, education, and extracurricular programs continue to improve and expand.

Today we write to ask for your support once again on behalf of those who have so much less than do we. Things continue to progress for our work, but 2016 has had its share of challenges.

The Zika virus has created a hysteria in the United States and this has affected our team attendance. It is no secret that Strong Missions runs on the time, energy and money donated by folks just like yourself. We understand that group safety is of the utmost importance to you and traveling to a foreign country always brings some risks with it. We will continue to be vigilant and informative, but at this time, we do not see an imminent threat to our group members.

Strong Missions has already lost 60 trip participants due to concerns over Zika for the 2016 season. Though that means we have lost the labor and a chance to share our mission and vision with these folks. It also means that we have lost roughly $30,000 in our operations budget as well.

This deficit comes on top of a budget hole that already existed due to building the Strong Missions center. Every spare penny is going into the building to make sure that it is ready to host groups starting this fall and even with the groups still coming this year and the beginning of 2017, we are looking at a large deficit to finish phase 1.

All of this being said, I am writing you today to ask for your prayers and for you to prayerfully consider financial support. Our needs are 2 fold, and are as follows:

Operations – The lose of 2 large groups has left us with a deficit for the end of the year. Barring the lose of any more groups we will be looking at a shortfall of about $60,000. We now have a mortgage and the utilities that will need to be covered. If we do not fill this budget hole, we will face the reality of cutting salaries or laying off current staff in order to make ends meet.

Building Construction – The overall remaining budget for all of phase 1 is roughly $135,000, however, for the purposes of this Capital funds drive we have set a goal of $70,000 to get through 2016. Between material money from groups and this additional boost, we should near completion of phase 1 by the end of the year.

For a full update on the land and to learn more about the project go here – Strong Missions Permanent Home Video  - PLEASE NOTE: The budget presented in the video was completed before the loss of these these teams and therefore has the previous shortfall of $120,000.

In addition, you can see more pictures of the land and track the progress here – Strong Missions Facebook Page

Capital Funds Drive

We know that with a fundraising goal of $130,000 we certainly have our work cut out for us. But we also know that with your help we will be able to not only reach this goal, but continue offering quality programs for years to come.

For as many as 13 years you have faithfully supported the endeavors of Strong Missions and we continue to be blessed by you financially and spiritually. We send you our eternal thanks and love, and we appreciate your concern for us.  We promise to remain faithful to the cause for decades to come.

Paz, Charlie

Click the link to learn more about the Capital Funds Drive