Short-Term Teams

Greetings from Costa Rica. This is an informative letter to prepare you for your time at the Home of Life in Costa Rica. Trust this answers most of your questions. Feel free to contact us with any further questions in regard to your upcoming trip.

The Home of Life is located in Atenas, Costa Rica, 45 minutes drive from the international airport in Alajuela. Atenas is located approximately an hour west of San Jose, the capital.

The home was established to provide a safe place for children at risk. We receive children from birth to 7 years and they come from all parts of Costa Rica. We have had children from other countries in the past. Currently there are representative children from Nicaragua and Guatemala. Our home is transitory. The children are there for a time frame of at least 6 months, but typically longer. Julio has been at the home the longest. He has been with us almost 8 years. Currently there are 23 children at the home placed there by the government and 5 staff children. The children are situated in three different homes, divided in sibling groups and somewhat by age. Currently the oldest child is 13 years old.

The green house is staffed by house parents, Enrique and Olga. They have two children. In that home live 13 children. The blue house is mothered by Marielos and there are 10 children in that home. There are an additional 2 staff in each home as well as a part time psychologist whose position will become a full time position this year. In addition we have a full time teacher who helps specifically with homework for the 13 children that are in the public system. Our permanent missionary, Barb Kofski, heads up the early childhood stimulation and preschool/kindergarten programs. Frannia is our secretary and oversees the books and a multitude of other responsibilities. At the end of this letter I will attach names or staff and children.

The language spoken in Costa Rica is Spanish. The staff understand a little bit of English and are always wanting to learn more. The currency is colones. The exchange rate changes daily and currently is around 510 colones to one dollar. We travel by van and the luggage goes in the back of a pickup. The roads are not bad, but not straight. If you are prone to carsickness you will want to come prepared with Dramamine. The weather is beautiful. There are two seasons, wet and dry. The dry season is approximately from November to May and can get very dry, dusty and at times very windy. The rains begin around the beginning of May and normally the wettest months are September and October. Atenas is coined the “best climate in the world” because the temperature varies the least in 365 days in the year. The average temperature runs between 75 and 85. If you are in the sun obviously you will feel a lot hotter. It is very important to drink a lot of water while in Costa Rica. You will want to wear sunscreen while in the sun as it is very intense that close to the equator. We have a large variety of bugs, anything from ants to spiders all different sizes. That can be very stretching for some people. Mosquitoes are seasonal, usually around the beginning of the wet season. Flies are also seasonal, usually in July and August. Drinking water is chlorinated through the city water system. We do have filtering systems in all the houses that take out the chorine taste and other “unwanteds.” We can also buy bottled water in town, if needed. You will eat a variety of Costa Rican and American food. The general diet included lots of rice, beans, fresh vegetables and fruits. The large meal is at noon and we eat lighter for suppers. Daybreak is about 5 a.m. and it gets dark about 6. There is very little variation in the whole year. By culture the kids are usually in bed by 7 or so and the adults are close behind them. But the days start early, usually by 5:30 at the latest. There is a washing machine at the house where you will be staying. No dryer, we hang our clothes outside in the sun. The toilets are flushing but the toilet paper needs to go in the trashcans. There are hot showers. We will be going to the beach for our outing and we’ll also have a day to do shopping for Costa Rican souvenirs. You will be involved in a variety of activities, including work projects, time with the children, devotion times, helping in the homes, outreach into the community, church on Sundays (at least), and times of sharing and processing as a group. As your team comes together we will hear what your strengths and hearts are for the outreach and then facilitate that as much as we can inside of the ministry to children the Lord has given us. We are looking forward to your coming, have been in prayer for the forming and preparation of your team and will continue through your experience and returning home.

DRESS CODE: Females can wear shorts but they must be 1-2 inches above the knee. They may also wear long pants. Shirts or blouses cannot be spaghetti straps or show your abdomen. For church a skirt or dress needs to be worn with length below the knee. For the beach a modest one- piece bathing suit is needed. It would be good to bring one set of clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty and even stained in work projects.

Males: You may wear long or short pants and tee shirts. For church you will need to wear a collared shirt and nice pants, not jeans. Work clothes would be good too.

IMMUNIZATIONS: Tetanus should be up to date. We have emergency facilities locally and if needed an hour away in San Jose. We do not have malaria in our area. There have been some cases of Dengue Fever during mosquito season.

BODY PIERCING: We do not permit nose rings for girls or earrings for guys. Also other body piercing is offensive to the culture. Tattoos can also offensive to the culture.

LUGGAGE SPECIFICATIONS: Most airlines will allow 2 checked bags weighing up to 70 #’s and one carry on. Please double check with your airline as there has been talk of some changes. We often have needs in the home and ask that you be willing to bring one check in for home supplies. There are also needs of the missionaries at times where hand deliveries are needed and a blessing.

ELECTRICITY: Same as the United States, 110 watts. No problem with electricity usually.

You will all be staying in one house. There is a fully equipped kitchen. Your team will be responsible for preparing breakfasts, lunches and suppers will be prepared by myself or the Costa Rican staff. I will have done all the shopping prior to your arrival so the shelves will be stocked.

STAFF: Olga, Enrique, Girlany, Vanesa, Coni, Alejandra, Kemberlin, Lourdes, Marielos, Nancy, Yaney, Frannia, Barb, Tim, Dena, Elester, Asdruel, and Sergio.

CHILDREN: Boys: Estif (14), Julian (13), Ben (13), Josh (13), Andres (11), Jose (10), Julio (9), Carlos (8), Elester (5), Josef (4), Eduardo (1), Milton (1), Josef (1)

Girls: Wendy (13), Melisa (12), Veronica (11), Gabriela (10), Maria (9), Michelle (8), Louchy (8), Angie (7), Alejandra (6), Sofia (4), Mereyn (3), Carmen Lia (2), Isabel (3), Maria (3 months), Sharon (2 months)

Changes in children may happen before you get there. But, this will give you names to begin to pray for and then come to know in your time in Costa Rica.

PERSONAL ITEMS TO BRING:

Bible, journal, clothes, work clothes, Sunday clothes, swimming suit, toiletries, bath towels that you could leave for the ministry, (you DO NOT need to bring bedding), light sweater or jacket, sun screen, bug repellent, hat or head covering to protect from the sun, camera if you want pictures, pictures of your families to share with the staff and kids, flashlights and extra batteries, and a heart to serve.

NEEDS FOR THE HOME: Ideas for how others may get involved and bless.

Shampoo, anti-bacterial soap, lotions, cough syrup, Tylenol and Ibuprophen for adults and children, cloth diapers, diaper pins, plastic pants sizes S,M,L, black, red and blue ink pens, school supplies, antibacterial, anti-fungus and anti-itch creams, diaper rash creams, underwear and socks for children ages/sizes 2-16, lightly used clothes for boys and girls sizes 6-16, taco seasonings, spaghetti spice mixes, chocolate chips, kitchen towels and washcloths, dark colored bath towels, dark colored fitted single bed sheets, good reading material, Christian music in English and Spanish, wooden clothes pins, tooth brushes, and tooth paste.

We are excited about you coming. Our heart is to see the Kingdom of God expanded in Atenas and surrounding areas and in your lives also. We will be continuing in prayer and ask the same from all of you. Feel free to send questions via your team leaders.

Blessings to you all,

Tim and Dena Stromstad

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