Christian Immersion Spanish Academy
Language, Community, and Purpose
Christian Immersion Spanish Academy (CISA) was born out of a very practical need and a deeper calling.
In the early years of our ministry, beginning around 2003, we welcomed many people from North America who came to Costa Rica to serve alongside us. They brought generous hearts and a strong desire to help, but most did not speak Spanish. As a result, much of our time was spent translating—between cultures, between languages, and between people who sincerely wanted to connect.
It was in that space that we saw an opportunity.
Instead of constantly translating, we asked a simple question:
What if we taught Spanish in a way that was relational, immersive, and meaningful—and at the same time created a sustainable way to support our ministry?
That question changed everything.
What if we taught Spanish in a way that was relational, immersive, and meaningful—and at the same time created a sustainable way to support our ministry?
FROM A DREAM TO A SCHOOL
Between 2003 and 2006, we dedicated ourselves to writing Spanish programs with great care and enthusiasm. We were not interested in creating a traditional language school, but rather an immersive experience rooted in real life, community, and relationship.
In 2006, that vision became a reality with the founding of Christian Immersion Spanish Academy (CISA).
From the beginning, CISA was designed to be more than a place to learn grammar and vocabulary. It was created as a space where students could learn Spanish while living in community, building relationships, and experiencing Costa Rican culture from the inside.
We were not interested in creating a traditional language school, but rather an immersive experience rooted in real life, community, and relationship.
TWENTY YEARS OF IMPACT
In 2026, CISA will celebrate its 20th anniversary.
Over these years, we have:
- Graduated more than 2,000 students
- Welcomed people from many countries and backgrounds
- Provided meaningful employment to many individuals in our local community
- Become a source of economic development in Tuis, a small rural community in Costa Rica
CISA has allowed us to remain rooted in this place for nearly two decades, creating stability not only for our ministry, but also for families in the surrounding area.
Graduated more than 2,000 students
LANGUAGE AS A BRIDGE
For us, teaching Spanish has never been just about language.
It is about connection.
About slowing down.
About listening, learning, and sharing life.
CISA became a bridge—between cultures, between people, and between faith and daily life. Through the school, students support the ongoing work of La Misión while gaining tools that allow them to engage more deeply with the people and communities around them.
CISA became a bridge—between cultures, between people, and between faith and daily life.
TODAY
Today, Christian Immersion Spanish Academy continues to be an integral part of La Misión. It sustains our work, strengthens our community, and allows us to live out our values in a tangible way.
CISA is not a side project.
It is part of our calling.
And after all these years, we remain grateful—for every student, every teacher, and every story that has passed through our classrooms and into our lives.
