GUATEMALA MISSION TRIP

Transcription

1 GUATEMALA MISSION TRIP INFORMATION PACKET LOCATION: GUATEMALA CITY, GUATEMALA DATE: JUNE 16-JUNE 23, 2018 WHO CAN PARTICIPATE? Current ( school year) 9 th -12 th grade students WHAT WILL WE DO? We will travel to the capitol of Guatemala City, Guatemala and stay at a secure guest house of Give & Teach Ministries ( While in the country we will travel on the Give & Teach van and be with a Spanish translator at all times. Our housing site has plenty of clean water and will feed us our morning and evening meals. We will be assisting our partner organization, Give & Teach, in projects meant to help stabilize families in the local village of Vijaques. While there we will build a small home, a few chicken coops, and some outdoor stoves. Homes are built to give families without adequate shelter a place of safety. Chicken coops are built and given away to create a sustainable source of income and food for a family. Outdoor stoves create a safer way for families to cook meals. We will also have the chance to support the local church and its ministries in the village. One way we will do this is by leading a Vacation Bible School (VBS) for the 350+ children in the village. In addition to the service, we will also get to spend some time learning about Guatemalan culture. One afternoon we will get to dine at a local restaurant for lunch and do some site seeing and purchase souvenirs. After working hard all day, our evenings will be spent at our housing site relaxing and processing the day s events. It will be a stretching experience, but one that will cause you to grow in your living relationship with Jesus Christ. 1

2 TYPICAL WEEKLY SCHEDULE Saturday - Arrival Day - This is a time for you to get settled. This includes making your bed. Linens and towels are provided but all guests make their own beds and clean up. Sunday - On Sunday, we attend church in the morning and then spend the rest of the day in Antigua. There are opportunities to participate in various activities at Finca Filadelphia and then make purchases in the market in Antigua. That night we eat dinner in Antigua. Monday-Friday - During the week plans can differ depending on the schedule and activities that the group is participating in. A normal schedule is as follows... Early AM - Wake up and prepare for the day. Some make a cup of coffee and enjoy an early morning devotion in the garden. 7:00 AM - The whole groups meets in the living room for group devotion and prayer. Breakfast follows. 7:30/8:00 AM - The team sets out for the day. Make sure to have a small bag to take everything you will need for the day. We will also take lunches with us. 5:00/6:00 PM - The team arrives back for showers and rest. 7:00 PM - Dinner is served followed by evening devotion, reflection, and prayer 9:00 PM - Community quiet time begins (to respect our neighbors.) 11:00 PM- Lights Out Saturday - Departure Day - All guests strip their beds and clean up their rooms upon departure. On Saturday, flights are leaving at different times so it is similar to arrival day. It is a great time to catch one last glimpse out at the mountains and give hugs good bye. WHERE WILL WE STAY? Give & Teach, our partner ministry, has a secure local home where we will be housed with all the usual amenities of our homes in the states. Sleeping Arrangements - Team members will share sleeping spaces with other team members. There are 5 bedrooms with twin-sized bunk beds. All beds include a mattress, pillow, and linens. Bathrooms - All bathrooms are modern bathrooms shared with several other team members. There are hot water showers. 2

3 Meals - Most of your meals will be provided at the Mission Team house and will be prepared by our talented staff. Breakfast and Dinner will be ready for you each day. Pairs of team members will work together to prepare each day's lunch to take to the work site. Internet - The Mission Team has free Wi-Fi for team members as well a Magic Jack phone. Recreation Space - There are several areas around the house available for fun and games, as well as team meetings. There is an open living/dining area, upstairs terrace, and walled garden/eating area. You can see pictures and learn more at: HOW WILL WE GET THERE? We will be flying from Charlotte to Newark and on to Guatemala City. We will secure tickets when the team has been selected and all have paid their deposits. While on site, students will be transported in Give & Teach s vans by one of Give & Teach s staff. WHAT SAFETY PRECAUTIONS ARE TAKEN? All of the leaders from Good Shepherd are screened and background checked. The Give & Teach staff are CPR and First Aid certified and review all service ministry sites for safety. The Mission Team house is located in an upscale neighborhood in Guatemala City with wall and high security. HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? -$1500 Here is how it breaks down. - You pay a $100 deposit when your application has been accepted. - Good Shepherd Mission Fund will provide $500 toward your trip. - You can raise support for the rest of the cost. $1500 -$100 deposit $1400 -$500 GS Mission Fund $900 Amount of support to raise Raising support is not as hard as you think. How many people do you know? -9?- 13? - 35? It breaks down to: 9 people giving $ people giving $75 3

4 Or 36 people giving $25 We will provide all the resources to write and send support letters including a support letter template that students can use and follow. DO I HAVE TO DO ANYTHING BEFORE WE LEAVE? Yes! We will have 5 team meetings so that we can be prepared to serve. Attendance is required at team meetings, but we understand that sometimes there are scheduling conflicts out of your control and you may get sick. You can miss one team meeting without any repercussions. Team Meeting Dates: Sunday, March 11 Sunday, March 25 Sunday, April 15 Sunday, June 3 Thursday, June 14 *Team meetings will be in Living Room 423 at the Moss Road Campus from 7:00pm-8:30pm* I WANT TO GO, BUT I DON T HAVE THE MONEY. Where God guides, He provides. As you pray about going, God will lead you in decisions on how to save, make extra money, and ask for support from friends and family. He will also surprise you with financial support from people or places you would have never imagined. I M NOT SURE WHAT I CAN DO OR HAVE TO OFFER. Can you smile, listen, pray, and care about people? Your presence and prayers make all the difference in corners of the world where there is no witness of Christ. Additionally, during your pre-trip training, you will be equipped and prepared for the activities of that mission trip. I VE NEVER THOUGHT I WAS CALLED TO DO MISSIONS. You may not be called to spend the rest of your life living overseas, but we are all called to serve God near and far. Your experience on a short-term mission trip will help you grow in your living relationship with Jesus Christ and discern God s plan for your life. 4

5 WHAT S NEXT? 1. Pray. Talk to your parents and family. Ask God to show you if He wants you to take this step of faith. 2. Fill out the online application and pay $100 deposit. *The deposit is refundable until March 25 th with written notice to Devin Tharp, Student and Family Pastor, that you will not be attending the mission trip. After March 25 th your deposit and any support raised will go into the team fund, but you will not be held responsible for the remaining balance. 3. Attend the weekly HS gatherings on Sunday nights and join a LifeGroup (which meet during the HS gathering time), if you aren t already in one. 4. Attend all training meetings. 5. Raise support, pray, and prepare for departure June 16th! 5