Will Hasley joined us in ministry in June 2008. Will is a 2008 graduate of University of Virginia with a degree in accounting. He spends much of his time with mission teams ministering both in Puerto Viejo at the Children’s Worship Center and in Coronado at the Children’s Home. Will is also involved in ministry at the Methodist School. He speaks frequently during Chapel Services and spends time meeting with the high school students. Will is a tremendous blessing to us and the church; he was only an intern for a few months before the Bishop asked him to be a missionary. He will be ministering with us through April 2010 when he will return home to Texas and begin seminary in the fall of 2010.

In May of this year, Kim Baldwin joined us in ministry. Kim is a nurse from Dallas, Texas. Kim first came to Costa Rica in 2008 on a short term mission trip with her home church. It was only a few short months after this first trip that Kim answered God’s call into fulltime ministry. For several years we have been planning to open a medical clinic in Puerto Viejo as part of the Children’s Worship Center ministry. We had just received start-up financing for the project when Kim approached us about fulltime ministry. Kim will be the director at the medical clinic, scheduling doctors, clinics, appoints as well as attending to patients. She is currently attending language school in San Jose.

Two months ago, the Tatum family from Madison, Alabama arrived in Costa Rica. Bryan and Beth along with their triplets: Drew, Jesse and Kirsten will be house parents at the Methodist Children’s Home. Bryan and Beth began coming to Costa Rica several years ago with their home church where Beth was on staff. Approximately two ½ years ago they felt the Lord leading them into fulltime missions ministry. So, after raising their financial support, packing up their home and saying good bye to family and friends, they have begun to put down roots in Costa Rica. Bryan and Beth are currently attending language school and Drew, Jesse and Kirsten are attending the Methodist School. .

We’re in our 15th year of ministry with the Methodist Church. Ray is an ordained elder and serves as a professor at the Evangelical Methodist Seminary. In addition, Ray is serving his 10th term as president of the Board of Directors of the Methodist High School and Elementary School; and, we continue to work with approximately 25 short term mission teams each year to develop the ministry at the Children’s Worship Center and the Children’s Home. Our children Sarah, 10 and Emma, 8 are students at the Methodist School and the joy of our lives. We rejoice at the ministry God has entrusted with and it is an incredible blessing to see others answering God’s call and joining us in ministry.

Lidia is a native Alabamian. She attended the University of Alabama at Birmingham earning a B.A. in English with a minor in Marketing. While attending UAB, Lidia worked full time in financial marketing and advertising. It was while Lidia was attending UAB that she became a Christian and felt the Lord leading her into full time ministry. Lidia also graduated from Asbury Theological Seminary with a Master’s of Divinity degree in 1994. During Lidia’s first year in Costa Rica she attended language school in San José.

Ray and Lidia have been ministering with the Evangelical Methodist Church since January 1995. We serve in a variety of areas; you can view the entire list here on our webpage. In the midst of our areas of service with the church, several years ago, we entered the greatest and most challenging for of missionary service, as we became the parents, first to Sarah in 1999 and later to Emma in 2001.

Our Personal Statement of Faith:
We would first and foremost affirm the historic statements of our Christian heritage as found in both the Apostle’s and Nicene creeds. In addition to these summaries of belief, we would add a particular emphasis to the ongoing task of all Christians to fulfill our Lord’s Great Commission to share the good news of the Gospel both at home and abroad so that all might come to know Him as their personal Lord and Savior and become mature disciples in the faith; ever increasing in their love for God and their neighbor through lives of personal and social holiness.

Ray and Lidia Zirkel

Ray has been a member of the Board of Directors for 10 years and is currently serving as its President.

www.metodista.ed.cr

Seminary students attend intensive one week sessions held the first week of every month.  Two morning and two afternoon sessions are held daily.  In addition, visiting professors or invited speakers will conduct workshops or special training seminars during the week.

Ray serves as a full professor teaching classes in Church History, Wesleyan Theology, Inductive Bible Study, New Testament, the Pentateuch, Biblical Doctrine of Holiness, Missions and Anthropology.

We’ve been working on this newsletter for several weeks now.  Three earthquakes, two trips to the car mechanic, one small forest fire, and a couple of trips to the hospital later – we may actually get this in the mail!! And, these are just a few of the things that have occurred in our personal lives this past month – not to mention all of the exciting things happening in ministry!  Needless to say its been a real whirlwind since we returned from our eight week furlough during December and January.  After celebrating Christmas with Lidia’s family in Alabama and Ray’s family in Texas, we began our journey. On several occasions, Ray preached during Sunday morning church services.  At other times, we shared a presentation of our ministry with Sunday school classes and Wednesday evening services.  We even spoke at a few dinners and a luncheon or two.  Plus, we were able to attend a missions conference in Texas. We are most grateful to all of you who hosted us while we were in the States.  It was such a pleasure seeing everyone and spending some time with you in your churches, homes, and with your families.

The Methodist School begins it’s  88th year of Ministry
In 1921, only four years after the first Methodist church was started in San Jose, Rev. Louis Fiske and his wife Marian began the Methodist School in a small upstairs room at “El Redentor” (The Redeemer)  Methodist church in the heart of downtown.   Today, 88 years later, the Methodist School is located just outside of San Jose on several beautiful acres of land over looking the city.  The school is well known throughout the country as an outstanding Christian bilingual  institution. We give God great thanksgiving for the school, its teachers, and students, and for the opportunity we have to worship Christ in an academic setting.  We also rejoice that Ray was re-elected president of the school board for this school year; this will be his 10th term. Ray spoke to the teachers and student body at the anniversary celebration and the entire 4th grade class preformed a “Slapping Leather” line dance, complete with cowboy boots and hats.  We would like to ask you to please pray for wisdom for Ray as he continues to lead the school.  And, most importantly, please pray that many of the students will come to know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior during this school year.

Ground Breaking Service held at the Methodist Children’s Home
On Monday, February 23, we held  the official ground breaking ceremony at the Methodist Children’s home.  The morning of the service we had two mission teams visiting us, one from Florida and one from Texas.  These teams attended the service along with some of our local pastors, district superintendents, board members, and Children’s Home employees.  Ray lead the ground breaking service and the turning of the land, and Dr. Luis Palomo, bishop of the Methodist Church of Costa Rica, presented the devotional. We sang, prayed, and celebrated not only all that God has done to get us to this point, but all that is to come!

We currently have fourteen mission teams scheduled to come and work on the first home this year.  We will also continue work on the wall which surrounds the property and may begin work on the multi-purpose building throughout this year.  For the past several weeks heavy equipment has begun moving more than 500 truck loads of dirt in order to level the ground for the five homes and multi-purpose building.  The dirt is being taken down the new road on the property alongside the river where we are building a soccer field. We’re also in the process of digging the ditches for the water and electrical system which runs throughout the property.

Work continues at the Children’s Worship Center in Puerto Viejo
Due to last year’s  increase in the price of steel, you may remember that we have been raising special offerings to assist with the completion of the roof at the Children’s Worship Center.    With the generous gifts that have come in from around the country and the recent drop in steel prices, we believe we’re now at the point of being able to complete the roof before this year’s teams arrive in Puerto Viejo.  This summer we have ten groups  scheduled to work at the Center, which  should enable us to get very close to finishing up at least  the Sanctuary and  Sunday School room phase of this project.  As many of you know, the Center is currently home to a local Methodist Church and a Continuing Education facility where over 60 students are enrolled in a GED program.  Once completed,  we plan to  have a pre-school, feeding center, clothes closet, and medical clinic on the grounds.

In just a few short weeks, Kim Baldwin, a nurse from Dallas, will be joining our ministry team with a special focus on the Puerto Viejo region.   If plans continue to develop,  Kim will be the director of the medical clinic, scheduling doctors, dentists, ophthalmologists, and special clinics for the community. Plus, she plans to work with the volunteer in mission teams who are going to being ministering in the area as well as assisting the local pastor and congregation in all the various ministries of the church.

The 2009 School year begins at the Methodist Seminary
On March 2, we began our  academic year at the seminary with eight new students from across Costa Rica.  This brings our monthly enrollment to  35 fulltime students.  Ray began the year teaching a class on  Methodist History  and was once again delighted to see the excitement and passion among his students as they discovered the richness of our Methodist heritage from John Wesley to present day Methodism in Costa Rica.

Besides teaching , Ray has continued to oversee the ongoing construction/remodeling projects on the seminary grounds.  In particular we are working on transforming two classrooms into dorm rooms, the construction of  two additional bathrooms and a second large meeting area.  This will  allow us to house volunteer in mission teams and students attending seminary at the same time.  Currently, we do not t have any teams scheduled to work at the seminary this year.  But if you feel you heart being pulled—please contact us!

In closing, we should tell you that we all were safe during the earthquakes. We have a few  new cracks in our home and the girls now have earthquake drills at school, but all is well. The reserve in front of our house which was on fire threw a lot of ash our way, but nothing that won’t wash off.  Our cars are out of the shop and running. And, regarding the hospital . . . Emma’s infection is much better.  Sarah took a really bad tumble at school and had an emergency room run.  But, she too is healing.  We are most grateful for God’s continuous mercy and love for it is only in Him that we find peace when all else seems to be “out of control”.

We want each of you to know how profoundly aware we are that we could not be here without your love and support.  Thank you all so very much for your prayers on our behalf and for your financial support of us and our ministry.   Have a Wonderful and Blessed Easter!!

“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. “Phil. 1: 3-5

In His love and for His glory,

Ray and Lidia Zirkel

The Methodist Children’s Home:

1. We ask you to please pray for all of the teams who will be working with us on this project.  Ask God to richly bless them and their churches.

2. Please pray for building permits; our meeting with PANI, (the child welfare agency)  the health ministry officials; good weather; and for everything related with this project to go smoothly.

Children’s Worship Center:

1. Please pray for the teams who will be working here this year.  It is our desire that God richly bless them as they serve on the mission field.

2. Pray for our new intern, Kim, as she begins language studies and ministering with teams this summer.

Methodist School: The school needs to make improvements in its technology  equipment and other parts of its infrastructure.  Pray that God will lead us in how we may accomplish this task.

Methodist Seminary: Pray for all of the classes to be taught this year at the seminary.  In particular, we ask you to be in prayer for all of the new students who are having to make serious adjustments to their schedules at home and a church as they come to San Jose one week every month.

Interns: We are most grateful that Will Hasley will be with us this year.  Pray God’s blessing on him as he leads our teams and ministers at the Methodist School.

Our Family: We consider it a great privilege to be serving God with the Methodist Church in Costa Rica.  We are most grateful for all the many ways He has and continues to provide for us.  Please pray for our financial needs as well as those of all missionaries and ministries during these difficult economic times.u

Ministry Interns-we would love to have two fulltime interns and two summer interns each year. You will work with our missionary teams in Puerto Viejo and at the Children’s home. Write us for an application.

Methodist School Teachers—the school is interested in having native English speakers teaching classes Science and English. You need to have an undergraduate degree in Education and a valid teaching certificate. Write us for more information.

Financial Support for our Ministry-we are responsible for raising our personal financial support. Ray does not receive a salary from the church or the seminary. Please prayerfully consider supporting our ministry monthly or with an annual financial gift.

Financial Support for Seminary Students—all of our student pastors are currently serving local congregations. We need sponsors to help underwrite the cost of their seminary education. Write us for information if you are interested in this ministry.

Financial Support for the Children’s Home—today we need help building the orphanage. Once the buildings are up we will need groups to sponsor rooms at the homes in order to furnish them. And, we also need individuals, groups, churches, to help with our ongoing expenses to raise 40 to 50 children. The Hands of God Foundation in Fairhope, Alabama is helping us raise an endowment. For additional information you can contact us or

Steve Pearson, president
Hands of God Foundation
558 Washington Drive
Fairhope, Al 36532
(251) 402-0391

www.handsofgodfoundation.org

During the past seven years a number of churches from the USA have helped us to plant 13 new congregations. Because of their ministry with us, today there 14 active congregations in this area with approximately 500 new Methodist serving in their local communities.

Yet, the work is not finished. We are currently building a Children’s Worship Center in La Guaria just outside of downtown Puerto Viejo. This facility will serve as home to a local Methodist church, a feeding kitchen, a clothes closet and educational center.