CONSTRUCTION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES- Strong Missions constructs and remodels classrooms and additional structures, creates playgrounds and gardens, builds wheelchair ramps and rails, and paints buildings and murals in orphanages, rural and special needs schools in various areas of Costa Rica. During such work there is ample opportunity for teams to spend time with children, teaching VBS, doing crafts, or just playing, which is often as important as the construction itself. Strong Missions also constructs new homes and repairs existing homes for poor families, mostly in the neighborhood of El Eden in Purral. A suitable 3-bedroom home, without luxuries, costs approximately $10,000 in materials, labor and permits. A two-bedroom house costs approximately $8,000. Depending on the amount of land preparation (leveling, retaining walls, etc.), a house could cost an additional $2000. Church repair and remodeling also takes place every year so that existing churches have adequate space for worship, education, fellowship, and community outreach. One such church is in Los Guido, where over the next two years (2008-9) various construction efforts will take place. These will include classroom space, an adolescent center, dormitories, a sewing shop, etc. Another large project over 2008-9 will be at a special needs school for children with Cerebral Palsy, where we will be building classroom space, cafeteria space, new emergency doors, two-story wheelchair ramps, and restroom remodeling to better accomodate the kids. Various projects continue in El Hospicio de Huerfanos de San Jose (orphanage) and Fernando Centeno Guell, the largest and oldest special needs school in Central America, serving over 600 children with a variety of challenges.

FEEDING PROGRAMS, DISTRIBUTION OF DONATIONS, FAMILY MEDICAL CARE, EDUCATIONAL GRANTS, ETC.- In 2007 Strong Missions linked up with the Evangelical Church in Los Guido of Desamparados, and the Ponces, the pastoral family, to better assist them with a feeding program they put in place a few years before. The program needs to grow, but the funds are not there as of yet. At this time as many as 70 kids are fed breakfast and lunch daily, 5 days a week, but we are trying to get that number up to 100. In addition we have started other feeding programs in other areas over the summer (here it's December & January) when kids do not have school meals to depend on, and we are in communication with various churches interested in beginning new feeding programs in various parts of the country. Many donations are accepted and distributed by Strong Missions, including medical equipment, clothing, school and church school materials, books, first aid and hygiene products, toys, money, etc. Such donations are distributed in various areas of the country by Strong Missions and area pastors, including special needs schools and orphanages, families, church congregations, and other rural and poor urban settings, many of which are mentioned above. There are also numerous families needing help for surgery and other medical care, special construction for medical reasons, safer housing and food, and monetary donations help us take care of such needs. Strong Missions already cares for various families, and 7 children are continuing their education due our assistance and the generosity of people such as yourself.

ALLIANCE ORGANIZATIONS, ETC. Strong Missions works in conjunction with various organizations and individuals in order to organize both teams and donations. These include Hope (www.hopeunites.org), Volunteers on Call, Inc. (www.volunteersoncall.org), The Give a Book Foundation (www.giveabookfoundation.com), and The Wheelchair Foundation. Excellent books are as little $2 a piece and a wheelchair can be bought and shipped for only $75 your part. The foundation matches that amount and buys in large enough quantity to bring a chair to a deserving recipient for only $150. In addition certain churches and organizations assist families and Costa Rican institutions directly through monetary donations. Strong Missions is always seeking additional alliances to provide needs for Central American children and families, so we appreciate your input. It is easy to see that there are more than enough projects to go around, and Strong Missions is always in need of more teams and donations. For more information inquire about our newsletter, and then come and make a difference!

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