In the summer of 2003, four Volunteer in Mission teams traveled to Costa Rica to begin building a Methodist church in Mansiones. The church is known as Faro del Este, "Beacon of the East", and it is located in Mansiones, a small village outside the capital of San Jose. The only "church" in the village consisted of a Methodist congregation of 45 adults meeting in a rented house.
Faro del Este was built in memory of Geoffrey Gessert, son of Ann Littleton and grandson of Ruth Littleton, members at FUMC Birmingham. Geoffrey died at the age of 26 as a result of a car accident and all the monies used to build the church in Mansiones were donated in his memory.
Four separate teams of volunteers spent one week each during June and July of 2003 laying the foundation for the church. The volunteers first produced the iron framework for the church and then began the construction of the cement walls. There were 45 volunteers from the United States, family and friends of the Gessert-Littleton families - and members of a variety of Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian and Catholic congregations. The volunteers were joined by six Tico workers and when the last VIM team left in July of 2003, most of the walls of the church were at least five feet high. Prior to leaving Costa Rica, the members of the work team shared communion within the walls led by Dr. William Ritter, senior pastor of FUMC Birmingham.
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The lot in Mansiones, prior to the arrival of the first VIM teams.
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The Americans learn how to re-rod and level the floor.
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Team Leaders Bob and Joan Suda
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July of 2003 - The Americans leave and the Ticos continue the work.
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In February of 2004, two VIM teams returned to Mansiones and were amazed at the first sight of the church. Our Tico brothers had completed the walls and tower and had begun the construction of the roof. Amazement however soon turned to alarm when we realized that we only had one month to complete the church in time for the dedication. With the help of twelve Tico brothers, we finished the walls, laid the flooring, covered the roof, installed the electrical wiring and lights, laid the sidewalks, and painted the church inside and out.
On the day of the dedication, the church radiated with joy and spirit. Over thirty people from the United States were in attendance. Dr. Luis Fernando Palomo, Bishop of the Methodist Church of Costa Rica, dedicated the new church and Dr. William Ritter, senior minister of FUMC Birmingham, gave the first sermon. The church was filled to capacity with an overflow crowd sitting in the windows and standing in the doorways. Thanks be to God for all the blessings He bestowed on us all.