Dr. Denny Williams, President of Life Management Ministries, an IRS 501 (c) 3 not-for-profit organization incorporated 1991.

Our Goal: $507,000.00

Our Beginning: Recently, at a garage sale, I noticed an old object that brought me back to my childhood years. Gazing at that multicolored globe bank I remembered the day my Sunday school teacher, Mrs. Andrus, gave me one to take home. Our assignment was to collect coins for the coming year so our class could support the missionaries over seas. My eyes were glued to the outlines of countries as I dreamed in my mind about daring jungle adventures. Perhaps it was the lingering stories of Jim Elliott and his missionary colleagues who died at the end of a spear that motivated my mind to drift into foreign lands.

I have always had a heart for mission work. God has blessed me with the special opportunity to travel those “little boy dreams” on dozens of trips that have literally taken me around the circumference of the globe and has allowed me share many of those experiences with Judy. Every time we have returned to the United States, we knew that a piece of our hearts remained behind in those far away lands. Somewhere buried inside, we have known that we belonged on the mission field and that the Lord would open a door in His time. My own time clock was saying that it would be nearer our retirement years, which are now fast approaching!

Little did we know that His timing or which country He might select for us to serve Him. With despairing sight of the poor in Haiti; to the putrid smells of the lowest cast in India; to the Buddhist worshipper in Thailand; to the terror of those in the Land of God’s chosen people of Israel; we have experienced a lot of the world’s pain and suffering. In fact, we have both considered in our own ways, how God might have us serve Him within the boundaries of those colorful continents represented on that little globe bank.

From those childhood days of fixating on that metal globe bank with bright colors and a vast area of blue ocean, the real world has exploded with growth in both numbers and technology. With my past experiences as a pastor, teacher and counselor, I have known many of the hurts, trials and discouragements many in the ministry experience; I have seen the need for a quiet and tranquil place (retreat) that offers rest and restoration; a place for encouragement and inner healing in nature’s setting for those who are hurting emotionally and drained mentally. The 24/7 grind on pastors, missionaries and Christian leaders can be costly. In addition, I have experienced the joy of transformation in local churches as individuals get a taste of how foreign mission work integrates into the body of Christ, inspiring a revitalizing affect for action when back home.

Through a number of different conversations with key people and a lot of prayer over the past sixteen years with Life Management, I believe the Lord would have us embrace a plan that has been literally placed in our lap. Recently I returned from Costa Rica with several good men who love the Lord. We spent five grueling days tracking around this small country to get a firm sense of the possibility to establish that little boys dream from Sunday school. As a result, Alex, (one of our team members) connected us with Roberto Lumbago, a former politician of the Costa Rica government, who is now a general contractor developing thousands of hectors (acres) between Santa Cruz and Nicoya, in the Guanacaste Province (the Northwest area of the country). After driving through the wooded mountains we settled near the top, facing South on a point that offers a 180 degree view overlooking the valley below from 1,500 feet. Wow, what a peaceful and breath-taking place to embrace the Lord’s creation as eagles soar overhead, howling monkeys squeal in the near distance and exotic birds sing their songs in the woods. Roberto showed us the land survey and we walked the bluff of this mountainous acreage to pray and get a better feel for the value of the property. With some lengthy discussion in Spanish and English through Alex, Roberto quoted an unbelievable price for two separate lots of 3 ½ acres. After more dialogue with Alex over his error, Roberto maintained the Costa Rican tradition of honoring his handshake when we were standing on the property. That sealed the deal and we were agreeing to purchase the land for $56,000. That’s half the going rate for a breathtaking location that elevates the soul and calms the mind in the midst of today’s fast-paced, complex, microwave society.

Wow! What a real deal! Since the Costa Rican exchange rate is at American $1.00 to their 525 Kalona’s, the cost of living is extremely low. A good lifestyle in this tropical land runs about $10,000 a year. In fact, if you deposit $100,000 or more in a government bank, you are guaranteed a 10% return on your money. No wonder they are calling this the golden retirement paradise. With an average age of 26 and a ranking of #7 in the world for medical care (America is #11), this country is not only beautiful, but in need of knowing the real beauty of Christ in their lives who is #1 for successful living!

Now for the real challenge: for God to bring in the funding so we can begin building