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Charleston-Atlantic Presbytery
South Carolina
Members of the Rockville Church mission team construct a new home in El Mirado.
The people who lived there called it El Precario, a dangerous and precarious place, with streets dark and dangerous and homes little more than hovels made of trashed lumber and tin. The neighborhood of squatters was on a hillside that seemed to threaten disaster at every turn. Five years ago, on Rockville Presbyterian Church’s annual mission to Quesada, Costa Rica, the team developed a relationship with Seidy, a single mother struggling to work, be a parent, and keep her dilapidated shack standing. Each year, Rockville transforms several homes. That year, Rockville rebuilt Seidy’s home as a small, simple, and safe structure. Since then, Rockville Church, other mission teams, and Rockville’s mission partners Mary and Marion Woods have worked diligently, sharing Jesus Christ and building a community. Recently, through the work of volunteers, proper titles and deeds were established for all the residents of El Precario. A community center has been built that houses a new congregation. Men in this community help as construction leaders for mission teams; the neighborhood association determines whose home will be rebuilt next. After much work, clean, fresh water and electricity are now available to the community.
In a profound moment, the residents of El Precario changed its name to El Mirado — the view — after their home had become a beautiful and safe place to be and the church of Jesus Christ had gained a foothold for God’s kingdom. The mission teams from Rockville Church are blessed to be a part of this remarkable mission and can confidently say that as lives have been changed in El Mirado, lives have been changed as well in Rockville Church.
Rockville Presbyterian Church is one of Charleston-Atlantic Presbytery’s 49 congregations, which have 18,170 members.
The Rev. J. Michael Castronis, member, GAMC
Presbytery Staff
Donnie R. Woods, presbytery executive and stated clerk
J. Decherd Guess, congregational life
Jessie A. (Pie) Mikell, congregational nurture
Deborah C. Guess, campus ministry and mission
Sue S. Mathews, resourcing and communication
Eddie Soto, Latin American ministries
Devia P. Phinisee, campus minister, Orangeburg campuses
H. Arnold Haas, treasurer
Barbara Burger, office manager
Miriam Ortiz, office secretary
Caroline Gast, campus ministry assistant, Charleston
Lula DeBose, campus ministry assistant, Orangeburg
PC(USA) General Assembly Staff
Cecelia Siebert, PILP
Evan Silverstein, GAMC
The Rev. Peter Sime, BOP
Help us to recognize our own needs, Lord, as we seek to serve the needs of others. Guide us as we work together to accomplish your mission here on earth. Thank you for the people of El Mirado and their witness. Amen.
Ps. 96, 147:1–11 Ps. 132, 134
Ezra 6:1–22 or Lam. 2:8–15
Rev. 5:1–10; Matt. 13:10–17
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