Taking Back Hollywood (Costa Rica, that is!)

By Teresita DeAngelis

Yes, we have a Hollywood in Costa Rica, and just like its namesake in the States, it is full of tragic stories.  No one around here likes to talk about the grim situation in Hollywood, near central Nosara; perhaps, because it would soil the vision of paradise we have of Nosara (or the one we try to sell to visitors.)  The plague of drug addiction, poverty and crime in that particular neighborhood is our dirty little secret, but the good news is that there are people here, both local and visiting, who are working to improve the living conditions and lives of the people living there.

Nosara community leaders, Ronulfo R and Pastor Eduardo Lara, are leading a group of church leaders (people like Seidy, Carmen and Russo) along with local missionary groups like Pura Vida Ministries, and even international missionary groups from the East Coast Christian Church, based in Florida, USA on projects to create a Center of Rehabilitation and Restoration– along the street heading towards the river from Nosara Centro.

The first step of this process was to restore a decrepit building, and christen it the new Iglesia Viola de Pacto.  Therefore, the entire first week of December local and visiting church members, community members, and missionary groups basically re-built this neglected church together, as a symbol of re-birth, hope, and community intention to improve the area.

On December 6, 2009, the community held its first service at Iglesia Viola de Pacto.  This was a celebration for the Hollywood community.  A local, former addict gave testimony at the service, confessing that he had been one of many that regularly slept behind the abandoned building during his struggle with addiction.  He affirmed that he and his family would be regular Sunday service attendants.

Now that the church is back, worship services are Sunday 9:30 am, and Wednesday and Saturday 6:00 pm.  For further information about the church and future projects in Hollywood, call Eduardo Lara 2-682-0056, Russo 2-682-0763, Seidy 2-682-0325 or (in English) Teresita 2-682-0240.

Pura vida for everyone.