A Work & Witness Team from Chicago First Nazarene ministered in Liberia, Costa Rica November 20-21, 2011. The team did construction work for a local church with which First Nazarene is developing a five-year partnership.
Below you can find photos and information about our team members. And on the right, you can click on more pictures from the trip to see larger views.
Jim Hair
Jim Hair was our team leader. We missed having Pat along, but Jim helped keep us on track, and did just about every job there was to do. At left he is laying the first row of concrete blocks on the footer tie beam.
Debbie Caruso
Debbie Caruso is a member of our medical team, and watched out for the rest of the team, but was a tremendous force on the job site as well.
Don Compton
Don, a part-time Californian, and part-time resident of Lemont, is a miracle story. He met a bruising wall early on at the worksite, but kept working (more than we wanted him to) and was a significant part of helping the team complete this phase of the project.
Jeff Conrad
Jeff was down most of the week, as in down in the trenches, tying steel, and pouring footers. A hard worker, a great attitude, and a gracious spirit.
Jean Edwards
Jean is on her first Work and Witness trip. What a special team member she is! Her energetic spirit, her exhuberant worship, her smile and her sensitive heart for this church in Costa Rica made this a richer experience for all of us. She is a really hard worker, and made friends easily. She is seen here with her friend, Lucrecia.
Ryan Krestel
When it came to reaching the heights with steel and blocks, Ryan was the go-to guy. For some reason he was also a distraction to the young ladies at the Jesus Film showings. Ryan has shown keen interest in returning for longer periods of service in Costa Rica. We join him in praying for the Lord's direction and open doors.
Pat and Kim LeGrand
Pat and Kim are on their first Work and Witness trip. Kim was a tireless and consistent worker and was affectionately called "la maquina". Pat worked almost as hard but was quickly given to water fights with the younger church members.
Dan Magdziarz
Dr. Dan is on his first Work and Witness trip. An ER doctor, his presence on the team, along with the rest of the medical team was a reassuring factor. He is pretty skilled at tying rebar now as well. There was no doubt his participation on this trip was ordained by God.
Jeff Melvin
Jeff formed part of the worship team Friday night, along with Kim LeGrand And Ryan Krestel. He was an awesome wheelbarrow driver as well, hauling dozens of loads of concrete from the front of the church to the site behind the church.
Lenny Olivares
Lenny's bilingual skills came in handy as a member of the medical team and at the construction site. Here he shows us the perfect form for straightening the steel rebar before forming columns.
Jerry Tramutolo
Jerry was the strong man when it came to mixing cement. 110 pound bags of cement usually required the brute force of two men. Jerry is shown here with Danilo, of Liberia.
Brian Wilson
Our fearless DS had to pose for this photo, but someone has to be the journalist, right? He also scouted out the second project site in Los Chiles and is giving direction to the five-year partnership.
Pete Zeman
Pete was a jack of all trades as he jumped in and did whatever was asked of him. With a great attitude, sense of humor and hard work ethic, he was the exemplary Work and Witness team member.