Fear, death and hope

We learned that this weekend one of our Jane Jones Beca Students, Marlon lost his little brother. Carlos was 16 years old and was at the wrong place at the wrong time. He was killed when a bullet from battling neighborhood thugs went his way. He was struck in the chest and died quickly.
Marlon is grieving, scared, and weighing the decision to go to Nicaragua, where part of his family is living. Please continue to pray for Marlon, his family, the situation, and the decisions that need to be made. Missions Impossible International helped pay for burial costs for his brother, which, in a poor family like his, is over a month's wages.
Thanks for your support. Without it, we could not financially support those in need in times of crisis, like Marlon's.

Spring renovations at the rancho!

New artwork and a new partnership with Acción Social de Clínica Bíblica has begun!

The Jane Jones Community Center can once again begin to help promote health and healing in the community of Los Triangulos. Medical professionals along with people trained in social services from Clinica Biblica have offered to help out by volunteering their time and services to all individuals, regardless of their ability to pay.

Fixed and ready to go! Christmas Miracle Number 1

We found a mechanic to fix the van (thanks for the answered prayer!)
...and now our volunteer army (the only one allowed in Costa Rica) is busy wrapping, sorting, and loading the gifts. Tomorrow morning is GO!

One small community. Hundreds of gifts. Small alleys to navigate filled with cats, dogs, and the occasional chicken. Hope someone takes pictures!

Christmas/End of School Year Party for the Beca Students

The Jane Jones Beca students had a great time at their end of school year/Christmas party on December 18th. The students enjoyed good food, games, and presents for all, along with a memento/photo of the late Jane Jones, for which the scholarship is named. She loved to celebrate with family and friends at occasions like these.

At right, our top three winners of the English language exam (our own exam, not the school's!) are shown. Tatiana took first prize. Juan Carlos took second prize, and Marlon took third prize. They got to choose between mp3 players and a cd player, but the real prize was learning....how sneaky of us!

Reading is fun!

More photos from the first day of reading class.

Learning to read

Here are photos from the first day of reading classes that were hosted in the Jane Jones community center in Los Triangulos de Solidaridad in San Jose, Costa Rica.
The class was open to any and all residents of this small community. 4 women attended. It was the first attempt at learning to read (in Spanish, of course) for them.