Costa Rica

Josue & Nicole Sanchez

Josue Sanchez is a Salvadoran who obeyed the voice of God, and left everything to go to Costa Rica to serve as a missionary. On that trip, he met Nicole, a Costa Rican who decided to give up her life and profession in order to serve God and become a missionary.

Both met within God’s purpose, and together they have a heart to support, help and serve people with the greatest need, proclaiming the name of Jesus to those who do not yet know Him, and giving a voice to those who have no voice through their skills and professions.

Enrique Carrillo & Kattia Marin

Enrique is a missionary in Tirrases. A community in the eastern part of San Jose, Costa Rica. He is a Costa Rican and has been married to Kattia for 27 years. They have 2 children, Daniela (22) and Gabriel (25). Kattia and Enrique oversee a Discipleship program called Nueva Vida (New Life Discipleship) and The Multicolor Robe (La Tunica de Colores in Spanish) where they collect clothing for the homeless and others in need. Enrique is also teaching Basic and Conversational English for advanced students and leading the Youth group (Youth of Hope). He is a certified counselor helping the youth and works with drug addicts (Charlas ministry). Enrique is also part of the Translators Team and has helped with several short-term teams in Costa Rica. He also hosts a monthly Popcorn and Prayers Nights ministry, a night to watch a Christian-oriented movie and pray.

Damaris Estrada

Damaris has been with Christ For the City International for over 25 years, with a passion and heart for women’s ministry. Each day she travels more than 2 hours by bus, carrying all her supplies, to meet and minister to the hurting and impoverishes women of Pavas, La Carpio, Tirrases and others in Costa Rica. Damaris ministers to women living in poverty, many of whom can not provide for their families, are single mothers, or are living in situations of domestic abuse.

Damaris runs “the art house” which teaches women art and craft skills, including sewing, embroidery, clothes making, crochet, painting and other arts as vocational skills. Along with the skills training, she provides food for the women who often come hungry (an expense which comes out of her own support), as well as prayer and Bible teaching. Through her ministry she has multiplied her program to several locations, and 13 shops have come about as a result of her training.

“Many times we have to stop class to take a lady outside to pray for her. Many times they ask for something to eat, as they have nothing in the house. Many are under domestic violence situations,” shares Damaris, “this is not so much about teaching as it is about loving.”

In addition to personal support, Damaris is in need of resources to sow and make crafts, as well as sowing machines.

Fernando Bolanos

Fernando Bolanos Guevara has developed “Impulso Vital,” [Vital Impulse] a ministry that serves high school students living in extreme poverty and high-risk communities. The goal of the ministry is to prevent students from dropping out of school, by working to prevent student pregnancies, helping students deal with the situations of their daily life through discipleship and pastoral counseling, and assisting them to finish their studies.

Jessica Carter

Jessica has been serving in Costa Rica with Christ For the City International for 10 years. She leads Kairos, a program providing a home for young women overcoming addiction and seeking a new life in Christ. Through the transformative power of Jesus, these women are experiencing healing, hope, and renewal. “I am excited to be a part of CFCI, and the amazing ways God is using us to transform Costa Rica”.

Cristian Leon

Christian Leon grew up in a poor family in the community of Pavas, growing up to be a dangerous and well known drug dealer within the area. At the age of 18 he was met by God in a powerful way, and has been pastoring for 15 years, 7 of which have been back in the Pavas region.

Now, he heads up a number of incredible ministries within the area. He evangelizes gang members, has a pastoral training and a pastoral unity ministry, he leads a church, feeds around 250 street people and hungry children every week, organizes mercy ministry, health programs and counseling to those in need, hosts concerts, crusades and rallies and organises ‘extreme’ camps for gang members where they see radical lives changed (such as the mass exchange of weapons for Bibles). He also hosts a morning radio show, mentors a large amount of people, and works part-time as an uber driver to support his family and ministries.

The Parsons Family

The Parsons family lives and works in San Jose Costa Rica.

Amy is a full time homeschool teacher of 4, and Michael is the Youth Director for AMCA international youth group.

AMCA is an international youth group consisting of 30-50 youth, located in San Jose Costa Rica made up of missionary kids, international students, and Costa Rican students in middle school and high school. The aim of AMCA is to disciple the students and support missionary families in their endeavors to advance the Kingdom. The transition for many youth and families into the foreign mission field is a very difficult process. AMCA exists to help with that transition, to give students a welcoming place where they can belong, and to come along side them and work with their families to build strong and healthy communities and relationships in this new phase of their life.

The healthier the missionary family, the more they are able to do on the mission field.

The Parsons family thanks you for your support and for your prayers!

Susan Grosser

Susan Grosser has served with Christ for the City since 1988 when she and Sara Bautista began the ministries in Pavas, a poor community on the outskirts of San Jose. From there they moved to La Carpio in 1995 to begin the ministries there. Presently she works as nurse at the Carpio Christian Clinic, helps with programs for children, leads women’s Bible studies, and helps and mentors refugees from Nicaragua.

Sara Bautista

Sara is currently in Costa Rica serving in the areas of leading Bible studies and tutoring programs.

Marielos Ramirez

Marielos has been serving with Christ For the City International in Costa Rica since 2000. She works in the area of La Carpio, the largest slum in Central America. At just over 1 mile squared, La Carpio is home to almost 40,000 people, half of which are children. The poverty and overcrowding in the area have led to a wide range of social issues including sexual abuse and incest for up to 90% of the female children, and an equally high percentage of the male.

Marielos is a psychologist who works with the girls at risk in La Carpio, mentoring them with programs and therapy. In 2015, she also began the “Las Gradas” ministry within the slum, which has around 60 children who come for games, Bible studies, song and snacks each week.