Southside Christian Church – Harrodsburg, KY

We welcomed back our good friends from Southside Christian Church in Harrodsburg, Kentucky.  Southside was in Costa Rica for a two week stint so we took advantage of the “extra” time and took them to to Rincon de Osa to rebuild a church.  This particular church received warning from the Ministry of Health that their doors would be closed if they did not upgrade the building to meet the new standards.  Although it was extremely hot and humid, the trip was a great success as we were able to reconstruct the building from the footers up to the top of the block walls.  Basically, the remaining portion is putting the trusses and metal roof on.

Church in Rincon de Osa

 In addition to the construction, the group was able to participate in a youth service and the mission pastor was able to preach on Sunday morning.  There was some time for relaxation as we ventured out to fish in a bay on the Pacific Ocean and I must say the fishing was very good!  Not only did we eat fish, but we were also surprised when they served iguana one day.  Like anything else, it tasted like chicken!

                                                                                   

THANK YOU SOUTHSIDE!

Bellvue Presbyterian Church – Seattle, WA

This week, we have enjoyed a team from Seattle, WA. They were a group of high school students who came with a lot of vigor and willingness to work. They put a lot of insecticide on the wood and re-organized the bodega and the wood they took out to cure.

Several of the young men on the team took time to pressure wash the fence and the sidewalks and Luke even helped a little! Luke “helped” one of the young men write his name on the sidewalk:

Redeemer Community Church – Little Rock, AR

Last week we had a first-time team visit us from Redeemer Community Church in Little Rock, AR. Two interns from this team were here last year for four months and returned for one week as a part of this group.

These guys did a special project this week: they helped tear out old grass and put down new sod. It was a huge endeavor and we were so grateful for all of their help and excellent work.

A few of the guys also finished up painting the church roof! It looks great! Thanks to all of the teams that contributed to the final product!!!

One very skilled carpenter on the team worked on a shelf that will go in the lawyer’s offices.

The team was also very involved in teaching in the daycare. They provided a variety of activities for the children and performed a skit that was very captivating and the kids really seemed to love.

We are very grateful for all of their hard work and the grass is looking great!!!

Grace Community Church – Indianapolis, IN

We were happy to have a return team with us this past week from Grace Community Church from Indianapolis, IN. The team did a lot of work with the wood, by putting on insecticide and organizing the bodega (the warehouse where we keep the wood).

A couple of the members of the team finished up pressure-washing the roof, so that we could finish painting in order to protect the metal.

The team leader, Mike, also worked on a special project all week. It’s a rail for a “big-boy” bed for one of the kids in the Children’s Homes.

Due to some VERY heavy rains last week, these guys had to make some last minute travel changes for their fun activity day. Instead of going to the beach, as planned, the team ended up going to the Volcan Arenal and they had great weather there and got to see the top of the volcano.

Faith Community Church – Elkhart, IN

We were so glad to have the returning team from FCC here this past week, led by Dr. Randy Smith and his wife Tammy. This team is the home church of another of our missionaries here at the Project, Candace Brown and her husband Aarón.

While at the Project, the team worked on putting down sand so that artificial grass could be added as a final touch on the playground.

Some of the team members also spent some time welding and others were in the basement of the multi-purpose building putting ceiling tiles in the rooms where the lawyer’s offices will be located.

A really great thing that the team did while they were here was an outreach to an indigenous group of people called the Cabécar Indians who live in a remote area in the mountains in Turrialba. While there, the team painted the church building, did a kids’ outreach, enjoyed a service in the local church and slept in a three-room house for one night, that had to have been about 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the church where the outreach was held. It was, from all accounts, a great experience for the team members and the Cabécar Indians as well.

 

Playground Roof

At long last we have a roof covering the newly installed playground, so the kids can play outside rain or shine! Thanks to everyone who helped from putting insecticide on the wood to sealing the trusses. The workers have finished up the tin this week and it looks great!!! Below are a few pictures of the process from start to finish.

Vintage 242 – Dallas, GA

Last week we hosted our team coordinators (Jonathan and Amy Griffith) home church and close friends. They were a huge blessing to the Griffith’s as well as the Project.

Most of the team worked on putting insecticide on boards that will be used later on at the Project.

The rest of the time was spent organizing that wood inside the bodega, once it had the insecticide on it.

A few guys also worked on the roof of the church building painting one side and getting the other side prepped and ready for paint by pressure washing it.

Thanks again for all of your hard-work and support!!!

Paintings

This week, we had a very talented artist come to the Project to paint a couple of murals on the walls of the playrooms in the Children’s Homes. She worked for three days to give the kids a more colorful, happier place to play.

We are very grateful to Mandy Antoon for all of her hard work and effort!!!

Fence!

We now have a fence all the way across the river side of the property! It has taken a few months and a lot of hours to complete, but it is now finished. From the first pieces of aluminum that were sanded and primed back in January, to all of the effort that went into welding and painting. Many team members played an integral part in helping this fence come to fruition and we are very grateful for everyone’s hard work.

The last step of the process was putting on the small roof to help with watershed and give a more decorative look.

Thanks to everyone for all of their hard work!

NGCSU Wesley – Dahlonega, GA

We were blessed to start the month of May with a great group of college students from North Georgia College and State University’s Wesley Foundation.

There were only seven members of this team, but they moved enough dirt for at least three times that many people. A whole lot of soil was moved from one side of the Project to another in order to level out the playground area. It was a lot of really hard work but they did everything with great attitudes.

They also worked on treating wood, and painting pieces of metal that will be put together to form a roof over the playground so the children can play outside, even in the rainy season.

The hardest part of the week though, was probably for the guys who pressure washed and scrubbed one entire side of the church’s roof. Sadly, and oddly, there are no pictures to document the actual transformation of the roof, but trust us, it looks great!!!