About Hands of Love Foundation

Hands of Love Canada Organization is a recently established non-profit ministry in Vancouver, Canada, working alongside the Manos de Amor Canada Association in Costa Rica. The ministry desires to bring hope, healing and the love of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to communities in Costa Rica. Hands of Love works with the local church community and pastors in Colonia Libertad. Hands of Love’s vision for the future is to purchase a property in Colonia Libertad that will be a working farm and retreat centre that will bring healing and hope in God’s creation as people are encouraged and disciplined in their relationship with God.

Mission

Hands of Love Foundation is a recently established non-profit organization in Vancouver, Canada, working alongside the Manos de Amor Canada Association in Costa Rica.
The organization desires to bring hope, healing and the love of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to communities in Costa Rica & Canada.

Vision

to build meaningful and mutually transformative relationships with team members & the people who live in the community of Colonia Libertad
to cultivate healthy relationships and help to build strong families both locally and in Costa Rica
to build resilience through personal learning, growth & heartfelt transformation
to grow in faith and discipleship while developing a Christian character
to practice servant leadership and hospitality in Canada and Costa Rica

Core Value

Relational
We value people over programs, building authentic relationships rooted in compassion, dignity, and respect.
Transformational
We strive for lasting change by addressing needs holistically and empowering individuals to grow and flourish.
Spiritual
We believe in the power of God’s love to heal, restore, and guide, offering hope through faith in Christ and the truth of Scripture.

Our story

Greivin’s story begins in a small, humble town in Costa Rica, where he grew up in a family of nine. His parents were passionate pastors in a community of just 20 families. Life was tough, but it was the unwavering support of international teams that kept his family going. Without their help, survival would have been a daily challenge. From a young age, Greivin learned the true meaning of community, service, and faith.

In 2005, Greivin’s life took a transformative turn when he met Lisa while she was volunteering for Christ for the City International. It was an instant connection – two hearts united by a shared mission of service and compassion. Their bond grew, and in 2007, they married—committed to walking this path of love and purpose together.

Just a year later, in 2008, they were given a life-changing responsibility: to oversee a visiting team of 12 from Canada in Costa Rica. They took charge of organizing activities and accommodations for the team, partnering with six local families in their community to make it all possible. It was an incredible experience, but little did they know that this moment would mark the beginning of something even greater.

Among the team members was Barbara Murphy, who was deeply moved by the work Greivin and Lisa were doing. That spark of inspiration set the stage for something beautiful: Hands of Love Foundation. In 2018, Barbara decided to join forces with Greivin and Lisa, uniting their hearts and vision for a bigger purpose. And so, the foundation was born—fuelled by love, compassion, and a desire to make a difference.

Now, in 2025, Hands of Love Foundation is alive and thriving, bringing hope and support to communities across Costa Rica. The foundation’s work has spanned from Siquirres to Liberia, and today, they are relocating to Colonia Libertad, bringing their mission of service and transformation to a new community in need.

But the story doesn’t stop there! Eduardo and Vivian, Greivin’s relatives and devoted pastors, are also key pillars of the Hands of Love family. Their leadership and dedication continue to inspire, as they work alongside the foundation to spread love, kindness, and faith to those who need it most.

From the streets of Costa Rica to the hearts of people around the world, Hands of Love Foundation is a testament to the power of faith, community, and selfless service. Greivin, Lisa, Barbara, and the entire team are proof that when you open your heart to others, incredible things happen.

Board of Directors

Canada

HOL board member and member of Valley Church

Greivin Gonzalez Chaves

Greivin was born and raised in Guanacaste, Costa Rica and his heart has always been to serve those in need, especially in smaller, resource-limited villages. During a visit to his aunt and uncle’s place, Greivin felt a clear calling from God that Colonia Libertad would be the place for this ministry. With unwavering faith, he is stepping out to follow that call.

HOL board member and member of Valley Church

Lisa Nicholas de Gonzalez

Born and raised in North Vancouver, BC, Lisa has always had a deep passion for working with the Latino community. Her first trip to Costa Rica in 2002, as part of a student team, sparked a lasting connection to the country and its people. In 2004, she took a sabbatical from teaching high school to live and serve in Costa Rica — a transformative year that not only deepened her ministry but also led her to meet Greivin… and the rest is history.

Lisa loves taking student teams to Costa Rica, where they can connect with local communities, experience village life, and immerse themselves in a new culture. She’s especially excited to witness how God is at work in people’s lives, both locally and abroad.

HOL board member and member of Willingdon Church

Barbara Murphy

Barbara was born and raised in Montreal, Quebec. She later moved to Vancouver with her son and has always had a heart for working with people from all walks of life. She first met Lisa and Greivin on a team trip to Costa Rica in 2008, and they instantly became friends. Since then, Barbara has participated in several team trips to Costa Rica and now passionately serves on the HOL board as both treasurer and secretary. She loves food, culture, people, and teaching English as a second language to newcomers in Vancouver.

HOL board member and member of Valley Church

Kent Langworth

Born and raised in White Rock, British Columbia, Kent has always had a heart for overseas missions. He and his wife, Edda, met while attending a Discipleship Training Course with Youth With A Mission (YWAM), which led them to serve in Alberta, across various provinces in Canada, several U.S. states, as well as in Grenada, New Zealand, and Borneo, Malaysia. After marrying in Iceland, they continued their journey by joining mission teams in Norway and Africa.

Kent later connected with Lisa and Greivin at Lynn Valley Full Gospel Church and now serves on the HOL board. He has also led teams from Valley Church to Mexico and Costa Rica. Kent has a deep love for meeting people from all walks of life and enjoys engaging in meaningful conversations about their faith journeys.

HOL Board member and administrative pastor at Valley Church

Melonie Boser

Born and raised in Saskatchewan, Canada, Melonie has been a dedicated member of Valley Church for over 25 years, serving children, teenagers, and young adults. She has a deep passion for missions and has participated in numerous trips across Latin America, Mexico, and Quebec. Costa Rica holds a special place in her heart—she has visited four times and loves its traditional breakfasts, warm-hearted people, and stunning coastline. Melonie is deeply committed to sharing the hope we have in Jesus and believes wholeheartedly in the power of missions to transform lives.