Happy New Year

The Strong Missions family would like to wish everyone a peaceful and joyous New Year full of hope for things to come in 2012 and love for oneself and ones' neighbor.

We have faith that God will continue to bless our work in Costa Rica in 2012, and we give heartfelt thanks to all those who continue to partner with us. Thank you for all your generosity in 2011. You have truly helped grow God's kingdom.

May God bless you abundantly in 2012 and may you be a blessing to others by showing His love through your actions. Que Dios les bendiga!

Amor y paz de Cristo,
Strong Missions

Looking for summer interns....

Yes, I know it's December.

Do you speak Spanish? Do you know someone who does? Would you like to spend time in Costa Rica serving the Lord by serving teams coming to work and serve with Strong Missions? Apply to be a summer intern ASAP! If interested, email Rebecca at freiburgerose@hotmail.com to receive an application. Applications due Feb. 1st.

Education and Feeding Program News

God's grace to all!

With the cooperation of the bishop of the Evangelical Methodist Church in Costa Rica, Strong Missions is opening up 2 additional educational centers at the end of 2011. Approximately 200 students will receive an elementary and high school education in the Methodist churches located in Alajuela, Palmares and Los Guido de Desamparados. The 3 centers will cost a total of $19,058.82 for the 2011-2012 year. Additionally, we will offer 15 educational grants, from elementary school to college students. The total cost of these grants is $8250.

In addition for the feeding programs to continue, one year round in Los Guido feeding 50 children, plus an additional 50 children during the summer school break, and 2 programs in Carrillos during the same break feeding 100 additional children, we will need $23,600 for the food, cooking gas, electric, water, and salary for cooks, not including repairs/replacements of kitchen items.

We absolutely need your help with this work. There is nothing more important than education if we really want to break the cycle of poverty and it's very hard for students to concentrate on their studies if their stomachs are growling. Every donation counts, whether big or small, and God will take your gift and multiply it. To see more visit: strongmissions.com, and to partner with us, contact us at: info@strongmissions.com.

Thanks so much for your consideration and your generosity for those who have so much less than do we.

Paz y bendiciones, Charlie

Sign-up for 2012!!!!

Hi Everyone,

Make sure you are signing-up early for 2012, especially if you want to lodge at the Strong Missions House or Hotel Horcones. We are filling up for some dates. Remember, based on team size, we can host multiple teams at once.

So get your info sheet in please, so that we can hold your dates and your lodging request, and start to make reservations for your fun trip too.

Hope to see you back in 2012!

PS....check out the educational blog post from 2 days ago.

Strong Missions Fishin' Mission

Hello friends and family, the Strong Missions Fishin' Mission is now up and running. Check out the new page at strongmissions.com for details, and come and enjoy some of the best fishing in the world, fresh and saltwater.

Education News

I need to say a few words about the ever-growing education program we are sponsoring for the Bishop of the Evangelical Methodist Church, Fernando Palomo, and the churches for which he cares. In addition to the Education Center we opened the beginning of 2011 in Los Guido, and its success this year, we are at the end of this 2011 opening two additional sites in Alajuela and in Palmares.

2011 is ending with 58 young to older adults studying all day every Saturday in Los Guido, with 32 taking exams the end of October. Others are still working on their legalization papers, and until those are finalized they cannot take such exams. Regardless, the education they are receiving is helping them to better educate themselves and the children in their households as well as providing the example to those children and to all the community that such education is important and necessary. Ideas and mindsets are being changed, and that is a miracle in and of itself.

Now at the end of November and beginning of December 2011, education will be provided in Alajuela and Palmares Methodist Churches, each open two nights per week. We expect between 100 and 200 students to participate in these two programs, based on those who have already signed up. Depending on their economic situation, some students are asked to pay a little for material and exam costs, which also helps cover the costs of their fellow peers who are less fortunate. We are providing the remainder, including salaries and travel expenses for the teachers, books, and other expenses when the students cannot afford them. Of course this is the case for the majority of Los Guido students, who cannot afford much if any to offset material and exam costs.

The overall cost for the 3 education centers, beginning the end of this year and carrying forth until October of 2012 (exams are held in April and October) is $19,058.82. In addition, we now have 7 students signed up for educational grants, ranging from elementary school to college students, and we expect as many as 15 total by January of 2012. We begin the scholarship program the 1^st of January to help with uniforms and supplies for the new school year, which kicks off the first week of February. To provide scholarships for all 15 students, it will cost approximately $750 per month or $8250 for an 11 month year, with our last scholarship payment to families falling at the beginning of November.

We absolutely need your help with this work. There is nothing more important than education if we really want to break the cycle of poverty. Do not believe for a second that a small donation does not help us in this work. Everything counts, and God will take your gift and multiply it. Believe it! We certainly do. Let us know if you want to partner with us. These folks are working hard to better their lives, they deserve it, and you and I are called by our Lord to help. I look forward to hearing from you…

Paz y bendiciones, Charlie

A short greeting from Charlie.....

Hello folks,

First I want to thank all of our partners in 2011 who helped to make it a successful year for the project recipients. We certainly were able to get a lot done, and it looks like with so many returning and so many new partnerships being made, we’ll be able to accomplish even more in 2012. God is so good!

I also want to say a special thanks to the folks who helped us construct our own office and dormitory space for our U.S. full and part-time staff, and I hope you know that your work is helping us to work more effectively and efficiently. How nice it is to have an office, and not have 8 people working out of a closet! Thank you for your work and your continued faith in us as we work to meet needs here in Costa Rica all year long.

Paz y bendiciones, Charlie