Costa Rica To Hold Presidency of the International Criminal Court
Bruno Stagno Ugarte, Costa Rican ambassador to the United Nations, will be presiding over the next year's session of the International Criminal Court.

Today's Stories: Costa Rica To Hold Presidency of the International Criminal Court Gasoline Prices to Increase Tomorrow Independence Torch Arrives Today Costa Rica Church Sacrifices to Send Missionaries Did You Know?

Costa Rican Franklin Chang Díaz was present at the "V Feria Regional Científica y Tecnológica" in San José. The NASA astrounat told those present that it is refreshing to see children interested in science. Chang was invited to review some of the 118 science projects prepared by primary and secondary school children from all over the country. The winner of the Fair will receive a trip to NASA with his or her parents.

Did you Know? It took a national effort against American filibuster William Walker to change Costa Rica’s view of their own nationality and their relationship with the rest of the world. American filibuster William Walker enjoyed immense popularity and was considered a visionary, although today he would be seen as racist, egocentric, and destructive. Walker was defeated on April 11, 1856, in the battle of Rivas, when in a heroic act of bravery, a young Costa Rican drummer Juan Santamaria volunteered to torch the building where Walker and his men were hiding, and withdrew from the city of Rivas.

Stagno was chosen by the Assembly of States  in it's last session held at The Hague, from September 6 to 10.

Stagno has bee a permanent representative of Costa Rica and the UN since 2002.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) was established by the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court on 17 July 1998, when 120 States participating in the "United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court" adopted the Statute.

This is the first ever permanent, treaty based, international criminal court established to promote the rule of law and ensure that the gravest international crimes do not go unpunished.

Gasoline Prices to Increase Tomorrow
Tonight at the stroke of midnight, gasoline prices will increase a whopping 7% or ¢23 colones for a litre of super gasoline.

The price will jump tonight from the current ¢326.5 to ¢349. Regular gasoline will go from ¢312.5 to ¢335.

What does that mean to your pocketbook? It will cost ¢1100 colones more to fill a 50 litre tank of gasoline after midnight tonight.

A recent report by the Ministerio de Obras Publicas y Transporte (MOPT) says that Ticos are consuming more gasoline, up to 40% more in the last two years, notwithstanding the rise in prices.

RECOPE, the state owned oil refinery, attributes the rise in prices to the rise in the world price of a barrel crude oil.

The latest price increase was approved by the ARESEP, the regulating body over public prices and services, which can only come into effect following the publication in the "official" newspaper La Gaceta.
 

Independence Torch Arrives Today
Following more than 2.500 kilometers of travel through Central America, today the Antorcha de Independencia - Independence Torch - is expected to come to Costa Rica.

The flame is expected to get to Costa Rica around 10am, which will be carried by studends of the seven provinces that make up Costa Rica.

The torch is coming from Nicaragua, entering at the northern border point of Peñas Blancas in Guanacaste.

Along with all of Central America, Costa Rica on September 15, celebrates its independence from Spain which was achieved in 1821.

Patriotic parades take place throughout every town and city and all the children have lantern parades with lanterns or faroles which they make during the preceding weeks.

The festivities actually begin at 6pm the day before when the whole country comes to a standstill as the Independence torch is lit.

As will all Costa Rican festivals, the celebrations are loud and colourful and well worth catching.
 

Costa Rica Church Sacrifices to Send Missionaries
By Stan Jeter & Mishelle Mitchell, CBN News

Today's missionaries are just as likely to be Nigerians or Costa Ricans as they are to be Americans or Europeans.

These 'Third World missionaries' often go to countries where Western missionaries aren't welcome. They live modestly, with very little support.

Why are they willing to go? A small church in Costa Rica reveals the answer.

That small church is the Lilly of the Valley Church, a small community of faith that has overcome great obstacles to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth.

Pastor Gilbert Rowe has given up nearly everything-including his own salary-to support a growing number of missionaries from his church.

Pastor Rowe said, "First we support the missionary work, then we live on what's left over, with what remains. Some months there's a surplus, other months there isn't. But God is always faithful to supply all our needs."

Pastor Rowe's Call from God is not a matter of chance. Eight years ago, on a visit to Senegal, he 'caught the Vision' of sharing the Gospel in Africa. That same Vision has now taken root in the hearts of the 100 members of his church-even though they live in Desamparados, one of San Jose's poorest neighborhoods.

Even when they'd like to have a nicer building, their priority is providing for their workers in Africa.

For the past eight years, this fellowship has faced their challenges, one day at a time. They don't keep savings from tithes and offerings. Instead, they invest up to 80 percent of their income in preparing future missionaries and supporting those already on the field.

Costa Rica's churches are catching the 'missionary vision', thanks in part to the work of FEDEMEC, an interdenominational missions agency.

Cristian Castro is President of FEDEMEC. He said, "We've already seen churches planted by our workers in the Middle East, in Africa and Spain. But I believe we still owe more. Really, for the quantity of evangelicals in our country, Costa Rica should contribute more."

About 120 Costa Rican missionaries are now serving overseas.