PIM has selected a new project in Costa Rica beginning in 2013. Teams will be traveling to the town of Nicoya to work with the people of Iglesia Evangelica Metodista Peniel (Peniel). Nicoya is located in northwest Costa Rica in the Guanacaste Province. See the attached map. Teams can fly into Liberia (approximately 1 hour drive to Nicoya) or Alajuela (approximately 4-5 hour drive to Nicoya).
The pastor at Peniel is Pastor Walter Pena. He and his wife Maria are so excited and appreciative of the plan for volunteer mission teams to come and help them and the congregation at Peniel. Teams will spend much time with Walter and Maria and all the people of Peniel during their week in Nicoya.
The congregation at Peniel has grown in the last few years and they need to expand their facilities. The primary project for 2013 is to add a second story and access ramp on to an existing building. The second story will be 5-7 rooms that will be used for children’s Sunday School and other small groups. There will also be a few other small projects for some teams, depending on when they are there.
Teams that spend a week in Nicoya will also have the opportunity to worship with people of Peniel on a Sunday and week nights. Teams are strongly encouraged to attend as well as participate in these services through a group song, team member leading a prayer or giving a sermon, team skit, children’s lesson, etc. Also teams are encouraged to do activities such as VBS, Bible studies, and more during their week in Nicoya. Building a relationship with the people of Peniel and Sharing His Love is what will make this mission special and life changing.
While in Nicoya teams will stay in local hotels that are near Peniel. Peniel has invited teams to eat meals at their church that will be prepared by Maria and others during the work week. Some team meals will also need to be taken at their hotel.
Typically teams travel to Costa Rica on a Saturday and then return home on Sunday of the following week (i.e. 8 nights and 9 days). The first 6 nights will be spent in Nicoya. The last two nights are typically spent at an R&R location chosen by the team giving them the opportunity to enjoy this beautiful country and the multiple activities available.
Costs for this mission are estimated to be $1700 – $1800 per person assuming a team size of 10. Costs will vary depending on airfare, length of stay, team size, and R&R destination and activities.
To learn more about going to Costa Rica on a PIM mission, leave a reply on this site and I will contact you via email. Dates for the summer of 2013 that are already reserved are shown on the adjacent page titled “PIM Teams Schedule“.
Jack Aulick; PIM Project Coordinator; Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church
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