It is very important that this clinic is started as an extension of the Methodist church of Costa Rica, more specifically, the local church in Sarapiqui. The Agape church has a history of outreach and service to the community. This project has been a vision of the pastor for many years. They hope to reach more members of the community and share the love of Jesus with them through meeting some of their physical needs. There are many members of the church that have already been involved in the planning phase of the clinic and will continue to be a part of their church’s ministry to the community. I look forward to working with all of them to get this clinic up and running.

Christianity is also something new that they have been exposed to in recent years. Some of the pastors in more populated, mainstream areas have “adopted” these people and are bringing them supplies for churches and training pastors to bring the Word to their villages. The people that we spoke with feel that they are trapped inside a country that doesn’t care about them and they have been neglected. They raise and grow their own food, make their own houses, and deliver their babies at home. They have been promised a lot of things, yet few have actually come to fruition. There is a definite need for medical attention and ongoing education in this area and I look forward to finding out how the Methodist Church can be involved in making that happen.