Costa Rican Children's Ministry

Enrique & Charlyn Mejia are the heads of the Costa Rican Children's Ministry. They are missionarys with International Outreach Ministries (I.O.M.), whose offices are located in Mobile, Alabama. I.O.M., founded in 1986 by Paul Petrie, is a mission organization that works with local churches to equip, send and cover missionaries around the world.

Enrique & Charlyn's vision is to establish a children's home which functions as a family group where every effort is made to supply the educational, medical, psychological, and spiritual needs of each child. The children receive love, concern and discipline from their caregivers. Emphasis is placed upon individual attention toward each child's need. In May, 2000, Charlyn married Enrique Mejia, a faithful friend and godly man who has worked alongside Charlyn in the ministry. He has a deep burden for children as well and is a wonderful father to the children. Over the years they have had up to eleven children in their home. They now have adopted five of these children who are all brothers and sisters. They all arrived with just the clothes on their backs and holes in their shoes. In 2002 Enrique and Charlyn were blessed with a baby girl of their own, Maebel.

Charlyn and Enrique Mejia's vision for the future is to obtain land and a facility that could house many more children. One social worker said that she is often overwhelmed by the amount of children who need to be placed in a home. Many times, they have to return children to an abusive or neglectful situation because there is no place for them to go.

All of the missionaries affiliated with I.O.M. must raise their own support. That is why Charlyn and Enrique desperately need help from people in the United States in order to accomplish the vision that the Lord has given them.

There is a lot of work to do. They are working to improve the house where eighteen children that they support are living. Right now, they only have one small bathroom. Martha, their friend in charge of the home says that many accidents happen in the line for the bathroom, especially in the morning. So, we want to build another bathroom as soon as possible. We have found a good spot for the men to build.

Each child they take in has a story, and their story is being changed because of you. They have months when they wonder if they will make it through, and then they receive your support and another child is helped. God is faithful!

Ministry Objectives: Establish a children's home which functions as a family group where every effort is made to supply the educational, medical, psychological, and spiritual needs of each child.

Sphere of Influence: Costa Rica

Prayer Needs: Prayer & Financial support.