​I was blessed to be able to participate last weekend in a wonderful learning opportunity in San Antonio organized by the Texas Methodist Foundation.

The title of the conference was "Stewarding the Potential."

Throughout the afternoon on Friday, we were reminded of the boldness of John Wesley who proclaimed "What religion do I preach? The religion of love, and the law of kindness, brought to light by the Gospel."

On Friday evening, Bishop Gregory Palmer encouraged us with the reminder that, "We have everything we need to take the next faithful step."

On Saturday morning, we were encouraged by Pastor Richie Butler to "Go big for God!" The capacity and promise of God are HUGE!

As disciples of Jesus Christ, we need to be ready to show up and fulfill the purposes that God has for every one of us each day. Going big for God is an exercise in faith. And we have "everything we need to share the love, hope and grace of Jesus Christ with a world desperate for it!

Blessings, Beth

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​Thank You!
Thank you to Ray Dunton and David Newberry for their leadership with organizing volunteers to help flood survivors on their road to recovery and with renovations to areas at Light on the Hill.

Last Sunday, unpaid servants helped get the chapel renovation at Light on the Hill kickstand and this week volunteers will be helping at the home of a flood survivor.

If you want to be a part of what this team is doing, contact Ray 210.781.9886 or David 512.663.6998.

Thank you to everyone for making a difference in our community!

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​Two Months Away!
We are only two months away from out Costa Rica Mission team trip!
Please continue to pray for our team as they prepare to go and serve. God has big plans in store for them!

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Picture of Tiffany and Juanita

20 Years of Miracles | March 8, 2026

​Dear Friends and Family,
It is incredible to look back and realize it has been 20 years since we first purchased the plot of land in Coronado and broke ground on the Children's Home. I've spent the last few weeks sifting through two decades of photographs—a sea of smiling faces from mission teams who traveled from Texas, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, Michigan, Arizona, Colorado, and the Carolinas. As I looked at those pictures, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude. While I hope I haven't missed a single state, it is truly impossible to count the number of churches and individuals who have poured their hearts into this ministry. What a sacred blessing it has been to watch God's plan unfold, brick by brick and life by life.
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20 Years of Miracles
Since our doors opened, we have welcomed over 160 children. We have walked beside them as they moved into forever families through international and domestic adoption, or as they were safely reunited with extended family. Our staff has grown from just the two of us to a dedicated team of 25, all holding fast to our mission: providing a safe, loving haven where every child's spiritual, emotional, and educational needs are met. We have witnessed miracles as these children heal from the wounds of abuse and abandonment. Truly, there is no reward quite like watching a child learn again, seeing them play freely, and witnessing the moment they enter a personal relationship with Jesus.

We Couldn't Do This Without You
This milestone would simply not have been possible without your prayers and your generosity. To every person who spent hours in the sun pouring concrete. laying blocks, or painting walls: thank you for building a home. To those who give financially: you are providing the food, clothing, education, and specialized medical care these children deserve. Here's to the next 20 years of changing lives together!

Education:
The Methodist School and Seminary kicked off the new schoolyear in February with a wonderful increase in enrollment. Ray is serving his 25th year as President of the Board; he is deeply humbled by the chance to help shape the academic and spiritual foundations for these students.

Medical Outreach:
We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Douglas Mejias to the clinic staff full-time! He is working hard to expand the clinic's reach to the undeserved population in Puerto Viejo and beyond. Dr. Mejias is partnering with local and U.S. medical/dental teams through community health fairs. In February we kicked off the "Health Fair" season with an amazing team of ladies from Texas in which we saw over 140 patients! Our prayer is to see these fairs grow into monthly events in puerto Viejo and beyond.

​Mission Teams:
Our 2026 season is off to a busy start! Teams in January and February have been working tirelessly on sanctuaries in Limon, El Tigre, and Guapiles, as well as the pastor's home in Limon. If the summer schedule holds, we will be back to our pre-pandemic numbers if not slightly higher. A big thank you for all who continue to bless the Costa Rican Methodist Church through your service here!

A New Chapter for Juli and Dayana
As we celebrate our 20th year in the Home, we are also standing at the threshold of some very significant transitions for two of our precious girls. These moments are filled with both the pride of seeing them grow and the natural anxieties about what comes next.

Juli is preparing to turn 18. For any young person, this is a daunting milestone, and Juli has been understandably worried about her future outside of the Home. However, we believe we have found a beautiful solution: a local widow has opened her home to Juli. This transition will provide her with the stability of a family environment, including room and baord, as she navigates early adulthood. The cost for this transition is $300 a month, and we are seeking a six-month commitment to ensure she is well-established.

We are also overjoyed to share that Dayana's prayers are close to being answered! We are currently awaiting the final word from the government, but it looks as though she may be able to live with her brother, Joshua, and the family he is currently with. To make this reunion possible, the family has asked for a contribution toward her living expenses for one year at $350 a month. To see these siblings reunited would be a true answer to years of prayer.
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​An Invitation to Partner:
Because these transitions are unique to this year, they represent unbudgeted expenses for 2026. If you feel led to help provide a bridge for Juli or Dayana as they step into these new homes, please reach out to Ray or me at the address below. Your support is quite literally the foundation upon which their new lives will be built.

32 Years if Blessings:
In January, we quietly marked a milestone: we have begun our 32nd year of ministry with the Methodist Church in Costa Rica. From the first day we arrived to this very moment, your partnership has been the constant thread running through this story. We are so grateful that you have chosen to walk this journey with us. Thank you for loving our family, the members of countless Methodist churches in Costa Rica, the children at the Home and Methodist School, for supporting our staff, and for being the hands and feet of Jesus in Costa Rica.
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With love and gratitude
Ray and Lidia

Dear Friends,
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Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
May the peace, joy, and love of Christ's birth fill your heart and home this Christmas season. Wishing you a blessed and Merry Christmas and a New Year filled with God's grace.

An Abundance of Gratitude and Shared Blessings
Words cannot truly express the depth of our thanks. Ray and I want to extend our deepest, most sincere gratitude to each one of you for your faithful and unwavering support throughout this past year. Because of your incredible generosity and prayer-ful partnership, the ministries here in Costa Rica are doing well!

Here is a glimpse of the impact your love has made:
The children’s home is growing and has now begun construction on its third house! To date we have had the privilege of ministering to over 160 children. The clinic is expanding its capacity and will be welcoming a full-time doctor starting in January. We are overjoyed to be building two new churches and a parsonage in the country's northeastern sector, wonderfully supported by dedicated mission teams from churches in the States. Enrollment at both the Methodist school and seminary is up, a fantastic sign of growing faith and education!

Looking Ahead to 2026
As we look forward to the coming year and all the exciting new work it will bring, we also want to share a practical challenge. Our personal vehicles, which are essential for the daily ministry, are getting quite old. Ray drives a 2006 Tundra, and Lidia has a 2007 Sequoia. We truly love our Toyotas—they are workhorses that stand up to the ruggedness of the Costa Rican roads, and parts are easy to find. However, we have now reached the point where the yearly maintenance and repair costs are exceeding the cars' value. We are prayerfully moving forward to begin a Car Replacement Fund. The wonderful folks at the Methodist Church in Uvalde are assisting us by receiving and setting aside financial gifts for this specific purpose. Gifts for that purpose can be designated “Zirkel Car Fund.”

Family News and Continued Prayer Requests
Our family is doing well. Sarah is just days away from graduating with both of her master’s degrees! (MDIV & MBA) Please continue to pray with us for God to open the right door for her future career, as she is actively seeking employment. Emma begins her final semester in her master’s program in January and will start working part-time in a hospital Emergency Room in College Station. We are so proud of her dedication!

Ray’s recent health issues have persisted, and he has undergone a variety of medical exams at Houston Methodist. (A few more to go!) While he is feeling somewhat better, the mystery of the "good days and bad days" continues. We ask each of you to please keep praying for a clear diagnosis and complete healing as we place this fully in God’s hands.

As the year ends, we want to thank you for your incredible generosity and investment in our lives and ministry. We are grateful for each one and look forward to seeing many of you in the States over the holidays or in Costa Rica during 2026.

Praying your Christmas season is richly filled with the peace, love, and profound joy found only in the presence of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

With Deepest Love and Gratitude,
Ray and Lidia