2017 Teams
––February––
This year we kept our tradition of starting with our wonderful friends from Michigan. These hard-working "snow birds" always bring high spirits and great dedication to their work, and it's been a great blessing to develop friendships with them over the years. Our first team was from FUMC Kalamazoo. Some folks had come as part of other teams in the past, but this year the church was able to send its own complete group. Work resumed on the second floor of the multi-purpose building, specifically laying block and pouring the walking track. Our second team was from our old friends in Ann Arbor, a mix of folks from First United Methodist and West Side UMC, some of whom have come to Costa Rica for many years. Both teams also had a great time doing Vacation Bible School activities at the Children's Home and at the Llano Grande church. One member of the Kalamazoo team, a retired teacher, also brought funds to buy new school shoes for the children, a real blessing at the start of the school year. All in all, they were three busy weeks and a great start to the year!
This year we kept our tradition of starting with our wonderful friends from Michigan. These hard-working "snow birds" always bring high spirits and great dedication to their work, and it's been a great blessing to develop friendships with them over the years. Our first team was from FUMC Kalamazoo. Some folks had come as part of other teams in the past, but this year the church was able to send its own complete group. Work resumed on the second floor of the multi-purpose building, specifically laying block and pouring the walking track. Our second team was from our old friends in Ann Arbor, a mix of folks from First United Methodist and West Side UMC, some of whom have come to Costa Rica for many years. Both teams also had a great time doing Vacation Bible School activities at the Children's Home and at the Llano Grande church. One member of the Kalamazoo team, a retired teacher, also brought funds to buy new school shoes for the children, a real blessing at the start of the school year. All in all, they were three busy weeks and a great start to the year!
The Kalamazoo team:
The Ann Arbor/West Side team:
–––July–––
Our summer season got off to a great start with a joint team from two of our partner churches in the Florida Panhandle: FUMC Panama City and Cokesbury UMC in Pensacola. These two returning churches joined forces for a great week of service. They worked hard on finishing the retaining wall at the entrance to the multi-purpose building, as well as finishing the header beams for the first office on the second floor. They also brought a fun children's activity to the children at the Home and at the Llano Grande church.
Our summer season got off to a great start with a joint team from two of our partner churches in the Florida Panhandle: FUMC Panama City and Cokesbury UMC in Pensacola. These two returning churches joined forces for a great week of service. They worked hard on finishing the retaining wall at the entrance to the multi-purpose building, as well as finishing the header beams for the first office on the second floor. They also brought a fun children's activity to the children at the Home and at the Llano Grande church.
–––August–––
Our final teams of the year came in August, both returning teams from partner churches of ours. The first team was from St. James UMC in Atlanta, joined by two couples from Texas who have visited Costa Rica before and wanted to serve. The second team was from our friends in FUMC Gulfport, Mississippi, who are fast approaching their tenth anniversary in Costa Rica, along with the pastor and a church member from Diamondhead UMC. We appreciated the chance both teams gave us to see old friends and make new ones as well. Everyone worked on finishing the two retaining walls at the front of the multi-purpose building, as well as bringing creative activities for the children at the Home and in Llano Grande.
We thank the Lord for another wonderful year hosting teams from the US! Their sacrifice, hard work, and friendship are a priceless blessing both to the church here and to our family personally. We look forward to 2018!
Our final teams of the year came in August, both returning teams from partner churches of ours. The first team was from St. James UMC in Atlanta, joined by two couples from Texas who have visited Costa Rica before and wanted to serve. The second team was from our friends in FUMC Gulfport, Mississippi, who are fast approaching their tenth anniversary in Costa Rica, along with the pastor and a church member from Diamondhead UMC. We appreciated the chance both teams gave us to see old friends and make new ones as well. Everyone worked on finishing the two retaining walls at the front of the multi-purpose building, as well as bringing creative activities for the children at the Home and in Llano Grande.
We thank the Lord for another wonderful year hosting teams from the US! Their sacrifice, hard work, and friendship are a priceless blessing both to the church here and to our family personally. We look forward to 2018!