Portland Christian Center Advances
Construction on the LARTC
By Rod and Sherry Boyd

In just a few short weeks, from December 2015 to February 2016, the Latin America Resource and Training Center building site changed from a jungle-like hillside to a two-acre clear, flat parcel!  Column footings and foundations were laid, columns erected, cross-beams placed and welded and metal-deck panels laid. Within days the Lincolnton (GA) MAPS Team arrived and laid most of the first floor block and some bond beams.  After they left our local workers finished the bond beams. Within days, a mixed team of 20 men, women and youth from Portland (OR) Christian Center MAPS Team arrived mid-march, giving two weeks to continue construction of the LARTC. We were so happy to have Randy and Lynne Forsyth back working with this team. The first three days were spent on the first floor, blocking above the bond beams, blocking storage rooms and installing plumbing in the two multi-stall restrooms. At the same time our Panamanian crew was installing the first half of the roof. The team moved upstairs on day four to begin block work on the administrative area. Multiple dividing walls, window openings, formed columns and bond beams made for tedious and challenging work. But the team nearly completed blocking the inner office area, leaving the simpler back and hallway walls for our Panamanian crew. A crew also brought the first floor bathrooms nearly to bond beam level. A group of five high school students and youth pastor Aaron added a special touch the the group.  They were willing and dedicated to the task, often doing the harder jobs... more difficult for some of us more "seasoned" team members.  We missed PCC MAPS Construction Director David Martin, but Sherry and Jim Swee did a fabulous job filling in. Our farewell service at the Getsemani Church was very special.  Pastor Aaron preached a great message, with one of the bilingual highschoolers translating his message.  Getsemani Pastor Otilio thanked the team and reminded all of us of the strategic role that the LARTC will play in enabling leaders, training thousands of teachers and provided them with needed resources.  And this not just for Panama, but for all of the 20 Spanish-speaking countries in the Latin America and Caribbean region.  Thank you, Portland Christian Center MAPS Team for your hard work. We hope to see you back next year! 2016 GOALS Our goal is to move our office to the new building before the end of the year. There is so much work that still needs to be completed! We are believing God for $100,000.00 in special offerings for this project by the end of the year to completed the followint work:  electrical (cable, transformer, wiring), septic, drainage and erosion control, blocking, stucco, plumbing, doors, windows, finish work and furnishings. And this is just the first phase of construction! Please join us in “praying in” funds and teams for the Latin America Resource and Training Center. Please visit www.lartc.net and www.boyds.org for updated reports and information. If you are able to help, please send your offerings to: Assemblies of God World Missions LARTC Project 14295 1445 Boonville Ave. Springfield, MO 65802 Thank you for standing with us and for being a part a long-term vision... a dream in the making!