Meet Iglesia Luterana Sola Fe in San Jose, Costa Rica, and learn about the meaning of our churches mission trip.

1. Central American Lutheran Church

3. IglesiaLuterana“Sola Fe” San Sebastián, San José, Costa Rica

4. 2 1 San José 3 N W E S

5. Church Council

6. What do we do? We seek to be faithful followers of Jesus Christ in our own context. This means: * Studying the bible together and relating life questions to biblical narratives. * Modeling and encouraging devotional life * Teaching Lutheran theology and outlook on life: “In Latin America, Lutherans are made, not born” (no nacen, sino se hacen)

7. * Workingtoimprovethequality of lifeforourpeople, mostlyNicaraguanimmigrants. * Serving as a safe place wheretheirculture can beexpressed and celebrated. * Valuing Costa Rican culture and teaching immigrants how to take advantage of educational and other opportunities available here.

8. Other important topics that we try to work on especially with women and young people, are: * domestic violence * Gender equality * Responsible use of the gift of sexuality, prevention of unwanted pregnancies, STD´s, HIV * The importance of getting an education in order to break the cycle of poverty.

9. Sola Fe. Some faces!!!

10. Christmas play

11. Beach camping trip: Juan Felipe, Johann, Rebecca

12. Julio Cruz, KattisSequeira, KarisSequeira, Marta Cruz

13. Wedding: Zaida Sevilla and Gregorio Gonzales

14. Baptism of Izsani and Josuan

15. More activities TriptoChildren´sMuseumwith S.S. Youth sorting through donated supplies for the Costa Rican earthquake victims at the Costa Rican Red Cross

16. Ourfutureplans Where the church and member homes are currently located is a squatter´s settlement/shanty town, and may be evicted in the near future. We need to move and build a * Church * Single family homes * Guesthouse and playground. The guesthouse will provide employment opportuni- ties for members as well as income for the church. We hope this effort will provide greater stability for families and contribute to the wholistic development of all.

17. Ourdream: buy land

18. Some details about this plot of land: The price for the land today is $367,000 * Salem Lutheran Church in Fremont, Nebraska has given us $25,000from the Endowment Fund; certain individuals have given $2,000. * Susquehanna University $5,000. Meanwhile, we are looking in to the possibility of forming a cooperative to provide more and better paid work for our members. We hope to be able to negotiate a lower price, and we are also looking at other pieces of land. Once land is purchased, our members will be able to obtain help for building homes from the Costa Rican government.

19. All Saints Lutheran Church, Hartland, Michigan Visit to JNR in February 2009

20. Some pictures of our relationships Nicaraguan Evangelical Lutheran Church German Lutheran Church Susquehanna University Latin American Council of Churches C Rica

21. Some final words… We are eagerly looking forward to meeting the members of Christ Lutheran Church and are praying fervently that God would bless our preparation for the trip and work His will during our time together. We look forward tosharingourfaith, ourmusic, ourfood, hopes and dreams, ourlaughter and culture. And weawaitreceivingyourgifts: of time, skills, music, friendship, laughter, culture, faith, and more. Weprayforanenriching time together and a continuedrelationship of encouragingeachother in faith, hope and mutual service in Christ.

22. MayGodblessyouall!