Oscar's house....almost done

A seed was planted on June 6^th as the demolition of Oscar’s house began. This project was accomplished by 17 different groups/families and is expected to be finished at the end of August. Lives were transformed while building and we all know that Oscar’s family has been transformed…..a full circle effect which warms everyone’s hearts. As groups would leave, Oscar would pray over them and many cried as they heard him speak. Sometimes God has to break our hearts to see what is breaking his heart. The seed(s) couldn’t be planted without all of you doing what God called you to do while you were here. Strong Missions would like to thank each group/family for all of their hard work this past summer. Enjoy the pictures and video and we hope to see you again next year. Blessings.

An awesome year....so far!

Thank you so much to the following teams for coming and serving the people of Costa Rica this year. We look forward to working with each and every one of you in the future. It was a blessing to serve alongside of you. These teams account for 500 people so far this year!

Wesley UMC & WIU Wesley Foundation, Macomb, IL

Akron UMC, IN

Minnesota Annual Conference UMVIM

Edwards Family, Ohio

Mauston UMC, Wisconsin & Eliz. Rusnak (Rebecca's mom- 1st mission trip at the age of 60, and not the last. An extra thanks for letting her join your team)

Oakwood UMC, Pleasant Hill, Iowa

First UMC Carthage, IL

Kingsbridge Youth, St. Peter's Parish, Goderich, Ontario

Stonebridge UMC, Marietta, GA

Whobodies Sr. Class Mission Trip, Mt. Pisgah UMC, Greensboro, NC

Mile High Academy Senior Class, Denver, Colorado

Peace UMC, Brookfield, WI

Carver Family, Kentucky

West University UMC, Houston, TX

Morley Family, Christ's Church, FL

University UMC, San Antonio, TX

Plainfield UMC, IN

St. John's UMC, Kansas City, MO

Alamo Heights UMC, San Antonio, TX

First UMC of Elkins, WV

Varrell Family, MA

Chickasaw UMC, AL

King-Bendler Family, Fall River, WI

First UMC of Celina, TX

Fortville UMC, IN

Davidson UMC Sr. High Youth, NC

Heart of the Rockies Christian Church, Ft. Collins, CO

Valparaiso FUMC, IN

University UMC, San Antonio, TX

Baylake UMC & Oakgrove UMC, Virginia

Gillette First UMC, WY

Windsor Village UMC, Houston, TX

We are still accepting teams for the fall. Remember the fall discount of $100 off per team member. Please email us at info@strongmissions.com if you are considering a fall team ASAP.

Administrative Staff Photo Update

Summer administrative staff


The "true" summer administrative staff, organized as always- Thanks for keeping us on our toes!

The full-time administrative staff :
Rebecca Rusnak, Charlie Strong, Alvaro Torres, Scott Andrews

Farewell from Killian....

(Volcano Poas with Molly)

(Cooking with Caroline)

(La Paz Waterfall Gardens with Lacey)

This summer has gone by faster than I could have ever expected and I am saddened by the fact that I am going home in just a few short days. Coming here two months ago, I had no idea what to expect, but I have met wonderful people, made amazing friends, and worked on some incredible projects.

In the past two months, I have met many people that have all contributed to my experience here in Costa Rica. I met people from various states in the US that I would never have had the chance to encounter. Each of them have shown me how much people across our country care about helping those in need.

Of these people I have met, I have made some incredible friends. Spending two months in a foreign country with someone really helps form a special bond. The other interns and I have become closer than I ever would have imagined, but I guess that’s what happens when you spend almost every waking moment together. We have laughed together more than anything and I cannot picture it being any other way. I have also formed wonderful friendships with the full time staff here and it saddens me that I don’t know when I will see them again.

I have helped work on three amazing projects this summer--Oscar’s house, the Pentecostal Church, and the Methodist Church. The groups have done amazing work this summer! I am sad that I am not going to be around to see any of these projects finished, but I know the groups that come after I leave will do a great job finishing them.

I wish everyone at Strong Missions luck in the years to come and hope that many groups find their way to Costa Rica to help carry out their wonderful mission.

-Killian

Farewell from Caroline.....

(Vacation Bible School)

Its insane to think that the summer is coming to a close...well, my summer at least seeing as its "winter" here. Out of a total of 9 weeks here in Costa Rica I only have 5 days left. It is so surreal.

So much has changed in these last two months. Oscar's house has been torn down, leveled, and a new one built in its place. We've made great progress on the feeding program areas in both the Methodist and Pentacostal churches. My spanish has grown...I can actually talk my way around a construction site now. And last, but most certainly not least, I have met some of the most amazing and influential people of my life...the workers, the cooks, the staff, the other interns, and the people of Costa Rica, I love them all!

It has been an awesome opportunity to spend my summer here working with Strong Missions and I can't wait to come back!

-Caroline

(Methodist Church-wall for 1st story)

(Oscar's house)

Los Guido update

Groups always have the opportunity to visit the feeding program we fund in Los Guido, one of the most impoverished areas of Costa Rica. 50 children receive one nutritious meal a day, although there are approximately 1000 needy and deserving children within three blocks of the church where they're fed. The cost to feed a child for a month is $28, and that also covers the pay and insurance for the one full-time cook as well as gas and other kitchen supplies. We would love to be able to feed an additional 50 children, but we simply do not have the funds to do so at this time.


The groups help distribute meals to the children at lunchtime, eats lunch themselves, and then follow with time spent with the children. This can be VBS activities, a simple craft, or just playtime. The children's ministry team also begins this time with upbeat songs for the the groups and the children to sing and dance to, and teams generally have one of the powerful experiences during their time with us.


In addition, we're helping educate 69 students every Saturday by paying a retired teacher to give age appropriate classes throughout the whole day. This program cost us about 700 per month, and we need help in order to continue this service to students. We hope to have several more feeding programs and education centers up and running within the months and years to come.

Groups also have the opportunity to hold VBS with local children here in Carrillos. This is a great opportunity to interact with the local children on a daily basis, and the kids never want the time to end!

Busy summer......

We’ve had a busy summer so far! Lots of work has been done and there is still plenty of work to be finished before the summer is over.

We have officially moved into our new home! Our office building is completed with the group this week doing some final paint touches on the railings. Scott, Rebecca, and our 4 lovely interns have been safely living there for a month now! We are also now completely in control of a great house that can sleep 35 people and a hotel that we can change to accommodate the needs of the groups!






Along with completing the office, we have had three other projects this summer: Oscar’s house, the Methodist Church, the Pentecostal Church.

Oscar’s house is coming along great! Six weeks ago, our first group started by demolishing his existing house. In the weeks that followed, the ground was leveled, ditches were dug, the retaining wall was built, and cement walls were put up. This week the group will be pouring the cement floor and finishing the roof! We hope to have the house finished in August for Oscar and his family to move into.

The Methodist Church is a project where we are adding on to the existing building to make room for a feeding program for 100 children. Groups worked on this project a year ago building the retaining wall. This summer the groups helped lay block on an entire side of the building. This week the group will continue laying block for another side of the building.



We have made significant progress on the Pentecostal Church where we are adding a second floor to give room for another feeding program for 100 children. This summer the groups have dug holes that will one day be the base for the pillars holding up the second floor. We also worked with lots of rebar! Groups worked hard to make rebar cages and columns to reinforce the strength of the concrete in the holes.