Methodist Rural Center

Quesada, Costa Rica C.A.

Centro Rural Metodista

Apartado 303 ~~ Ciudad Quesada 4400
Costa Rica, Central América
Phone & Fax 011-506-460-2162
mymwoods@racsa.co.cr

Ministries

A Letter from Marion

To Our Costa Rica V.I.M. Teams in 2006
Dear, Dear Wonderful Companions,

Greetings from us Costa Rican Methodists. Some of you will have come since the Christmas season to now, July, as members of the wonderful 35 VIM Teams to build, teach, to ease pain, to share your faith, and to offer your special fellowship with us. The last team for this year’s schedule just left. Some of you sent letters to us that came while, I, Marion, was working in Tamarindo on the Panama border after having been in Los Chiles on the Nicaraguan border. The last teams have helped us in five different congregations in a multiple ministry. Praise God for all of you who started coming in December and have finished in this month of July; around 500 of you.

"My Lord, what a wonderful crowd you call, send, and use down here to your honor and glory and to establishing of your growing church down here. The Church is the people and we are His together."

It is impossible for us to express adequately just what your tremendous ministries and fellowship mean to all of us here. We come to the end of your coming, but the warmth of your love and fellowship live on forever. Yes, we are tired and worn. We are glad for the excellent help of Gil Hoffman now as we get our machines back in order after the electrical storm visited us. Please forgive us, for the delay has been long.

All of your work has been important. We are always left with some uncompleted projects. We continue as we are able with the funds that have been left and the work of our staff and local church companions.

We are desperately trying to catch up to be able to leave August 2nd for Pennsylvania for the family reunion of Mary’s father’s family. Papa is 92. We joke a lot; I’m less than five years his "junior".

It is not possible for us to write to all of you personally but we love you and thank you for accompanying us and our helpers, pastors, families and lay workers for the glorious adventure in the multiple Ministry that all of us represent - all thirty five teams, congregations and all.

"Thank you, Father, for the endless Methodist train of folk in our work and journey."

The schedule for 2007 is filling up rapidly. We would like to write more in detail to all of you but we are in the race against time. Thank you, thank you, thank you! You are all precious to our hearts and lives. There is nothing that can beat Christian Love in Action. It’s results go beyond deeper wells, new floors, new homes, new chapels, new Sunday school rooms, new training in sewing, sewing machines, singing, musical instruments, clothing, tools, equipment of all kinds, repair of autos, additions, newly painted everything, and additional property. Materials for Sunday school, funds for continuing work, oodles of wonderful Christian joy and fellowship have been provided. There is no end.

"Thank you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit for your presence."

Some of you who receive this letter will not have come on work teams, but you have helped us go forward in other ways and our prayers for each other have mingled on the way to the Father of us all. Each and every one of you, all of you, are dear to our hearts. Come again and we will get better acquainted in His endless multiple ministry as He uses us.

Bless you, keep you and love you in Him,

Mario, Maria and Papa
Our staff and all others

Click on picture or caption to see more.


Ministry Outreach	Prison Ministry

Vacation Bible School	New Church Establishment

Medical Outreach	Eye Glasses Outreach

The Wood Work Shop	Four Corners Camp

Embryo Ministries	New Construction for Others
Camp and Retreat Center A Look Into the Future At the beginning of the Rural Center's life,the camping and retreat program was almost exclusively for the Methodist youth of the churches in the San Carlos and San Jose areas. Through the years, it has developed into an ever-increasing program that serves both the Evangelical congregations, the Catholic churches, and other community entities. The practice at present is that of a rental of the facilities of the camp. This allows the group to celebrate their own programs. The center is enjoying a time of refurbishing and reconstruction of the facilities. This is seen in the modern kitchen and dining room, which is used as well for worship services and general meetings. Cabin number three has become a two story living quarters for nearly sixty campers. Cabin one is being renewed and secured at present. The other buildings will follow taking their turn in the updating program. Plans call for the finishing of the multi-purpose building where the basketball clinic was recently held. It is hoped that the roof over the gym construction will be completed this next year. In the planning stage also is added sports space plus quarters for the medical, dental, and ocular ministries. The additional construction anticipates, as well, a floor of sleeping space. Future evangelistic meetings will be held in the newly constructed space. The future may well anticipate the holding of the Annual Conference at the Methodist Rural Center. The renewal program anticipates the installation of a good PA system for the dining room and chapel building and of a speaker system for the grounds, which will include equipment for chimes, music and announcements. This means the purchase of portable CD players. Plans are being drawn for the restoration of cabin two and the restroom facilities. Plans have already been drawn for the remodeling and enlarging of the white house residence where at present the arts and crafts are sold and where the laundry center is located. Once completed this building will have facilities for a small group to be self-contained for sleeping, meal preparation, and conference sessions.