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
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