Oansa

Awana Costa Rica

• US Missionaries• Help youth share

their faith• Mission Trips

around the world

Who are we?

Where is Costa Rica?

• Located in Central America

• Population- 3.5 Million– US Population-

307,006,550– State of Washington

has 6,830,038• Borders Nicaragua

and Panama • Language- Spanish• Nickname for people-

Ticos

Costa Rica

• People greet with a kiss on each cheek.

• The family unit is very important.

• The people are friendly and hospitable.

• Moderation is valued.– Slow decisions.– Event based society.

• Extreme poverty exists, but most of the population can be called “middle class.”

Costa Rican Culture

• Many times, lunch is the biggest meal of the day.

• They eat less meat in their diet than we do.• Rice and beans are typically served with

every meal.• Drinking coffee is a national past-time.

– One of the nation’s biggest exports is coffee.• A “Fresca” or sugary juice drink is also

typically served with each meal. Drinking only water with a meal is uncommon.

Food

Food

• Name for Awana in Spanish-Speaking Countries.

• Taken from 2 Timothy 2:15• Obrero, Aprobado, No Se Avergüenza

Oansa

Awana Missionaries in Costa Rica

The Day Family: Mike, Noribet, Rachel, Nathan, Gabriel, and Joshua

• Mike has lived in Costa Rica for 20+ years

• He originally moved to Costa Rica to study Spanish.

• He fell in love with Noribet, who is Costa Rican. They were married and then felt called to missions.

• They joined the Latin American Mission which evangelizes in Latin America.

Day Family

• Then they discovered the AWANA ministry and felt called to help churches reach kids through the program. So, LAM loaned them to Awana.

• Mike and Noribet serve God faithfully through organizing clubs and training leaders. It’s a family ministry for them, as their four children regularly help with the trainings.

Day Family

• Awana is our main responsibility. We are in charge of the national office for Awana Costa Rica, and we currently have over 30 churches that are actively using the Awana program.  This represents over 1,000 kids that are being discipled each week!

• As you may know, the Awana program usually runs with the school year.  Costa Rica’s school year goes from February to December.

• Awana Costa Rica currently offers the Cubbies, Sparks, Flame, Torch and JV programs.  We hope to offer Expedition 24/7  this year.

In their own words…

• Through evangelism and long-term discipleship, children are provided a chance to develop into the people God wants them to be

• Provides training and equipping for leaders to reach these unreached children

Leader Training

Leader Training

• Less curriculum-based than US clubs

• Focuses on “Leader-Based Strategy”, which trains and equips leaders to reach their communities in the ways they know best

• Reaches children by oral instruction

Awana in an International Context

• 98 International missionaries representing 101 countries

• 31 Country coordinators

• The majority of Awana missionaries are indigenous

International Awana Missionaries

• Founded in 2007, YMI provides mission trainings and opportunities for youth

• In 2008, YMI sent youth to Brazil, Ukraine, and South Korea to partner with Awana missionaries

• Since 2008, YMI has continued sending to Brazil and Ukraine while partnering with other Awana and non-Awana missionaries

Awana International and YMI

• YMI has sent teams to Costa Rica for the past 3 years.

• Teams have helped Awana in Costa Rica, shared at schools, in parks, and towns.

Awana International and YMI

Past YMI Teams in Costa Rica

• This year, we are offering trips for individuals to South Korea, Mozambique, Peru, and Brazil.

• Seattle Training –March 13-17

YMI 2013 Trips