The new millennium takes us back to a familiar place in Costa Rica, the Indian village of Tonjibe in north central Costa Rica.
Our main project this trip is to add a lunch/ multipurpose room on to the new school we built the last two times we were there, in 1995 and again in 1998. This room will have a space for teachers “offices” and a start of a library for the new books we have gathered.
The project will require adding three walls and a roof to the existing school building, with electrical service for stove and refrigerator.
The second part of our project will be our outreach program that we try each year. This includes Vacation Bible School for the children and Bible study and craft program for the women of the church community.
What is Tonjibe?
Tonjibe is an Indian community. It is rural, it is isolated, and it is inhabited solely by a tribe of people indigenous to Costa Rica.
Is this similar to the Mayan and Aztec Indians found in Mexico?
Yes. These people were native to Costa Rica at the time Columbus. Their tribe name is MALEKU. The population is minuscule: Columbus and early Spaniards attended to that.
Are they Spanish speaking?
Yes, Spanish is their usual language. However, they do use the Maleku language among themselves.
How large is the Maleku population?
Tonjibe has 32 houses occupied by 35 families.
Kind of crowded isn’t it?
Yes, it is not unusual for several families to occupy the same house.
They must be big houses?
No, the houses are only 490 square feet about the size of a small garage.
Being Indian, they must get a lot of government help.
Actually they have been rather ignored by the government. They didn’t even have citizenship of their own country until about 10 years ago. This disenfranchisement prevented them from receiving any type of medical, health, or social assistance.
That’s strange isn’t it?
It sure is! But, if you don’t want to have Indian problems, then one solution is not to recognize that you have Indians. No Indians - no problem! Simple no?
Didn’t our team work in Tonjibe before?
Yes we did. In 1995 we completed the Methodist Church sanctuary and built the Sunday school addition. We also worked on the local elementary school. In 1998, we built a second classroom on the one room schoolhouse. A second teacher was hired.
What is our project?
To build a multipurpose, one room building next to the elementary school to be used as a lunchroom/ study room/ library and teachers’ office. In addition, there is always work to be done on the Methodist Church, in which we will be living while we are there.
Since our first visit to Tonjibe, we have been instrumental in buying school uniforms and school supplies needed by Tonjibe kids going to secondary school. Believe or not, $100.00 supplies one kid for one entire year. Tuition is free but supplies are not. High School in Costa Rica is called Colegio. Since Colegio is not required, Colegio students must provide their own school uniforms, school supplies, and be willing to commute to the nearest town with a Colegio, in this case about 10 miles.
When does the team leave?
January 17, 2000 with a second group going on January 31, 2000
What can we do as a church?
- Help our team raise money for the project, that could be $30,000.
- Pray for our success.
