CBC YOUTH COSTA RICA 2017
What is missions NOT? 1. NOT for your RESUME! This is not a trip for you to add something extra on your resume to make you look awesome. If you just want volunteer hours, please do not come. 2. NOT for you to feel better about yourself. This isn t a trip for you to go and do something nice for others, try to boost your social media score, and come back to your normal life. 3. NOT a vacation. This isn t a trip with friends nor is this to get away. We have those trips, but this just isn t it. Sorry.
What is missions? 1. Missions is about God and his Gospel. The goal of missions is worship. We participate in missions because we are worshippers of God and we want others to join us as we worship him. We partner with other God worshippers in order to bring more worshippers to God. 2. Missions is about partnership. We want to partner with other Gospel churches in order to equip and resource those who have a greater opportunity to minister to their own people. 3. Missions has an effect. Our hope is that this trip affects all of us in a variety of ways. We hope that it expands our community of faith to the ends of the earth. We hope that we get to leave with a renewed passion for the gospel back in our own community. We hope to encourage the locals and their leaders with the Gospel.
Why is CBC YOUTH going? 1. A big reason why our youth group is going is because we want to partner with other churches around the world in ministry. We have a chance this year to go minister alongside our brothers/sisters in Christ in Costa Rica. 2. We ll be working at a High School build and repairing fixtures, painting, and light construction. Our hopes is to go in and do a little bit for the students there in effort to build relationships and allow the locals to minister to their students after we leave. 3. We want a light, intro trip for the hopes of exposure and our own team unity. We ll also be bringing our resources to equip the youth pastors in that region.
What should I expect? 1. Expect to grow - spiritually, personally, emotionally, and in unity. Growing demands that you are humble to learning, asking questions, being led, and sensitive to God s voice. This trip will challenge you in more ways than you ll expect. Growth will come from the pre-assignments, working with our team, being uncomfortable, and serving others. 2. Expect to serve - ultimately, our goal is to serve in anyway we re able to. We serve others as Christ served us. So we serve others spiritually and physically. 3. Expect a balance - although this is a missions opportunity, this won t be as tough as other mission opportunities out there. That doesn t mean it s a good thing or bad thing. There s a reason why we chose this trip and why this trip is designed to be what it is.
itinerary Day 1 Arrive in San Jose 8pm and travel 2 hrs on a private bus to L A Ranch. Days 2-3-4 Breakfast and then head out to Colegio Pangola (high school) to work on the project (to be determined by the size of the team). We can work from 7am till 5pm, actual work hours will be de determined by Pastor Justin. Lunch will be served at the school. Once we come back to the ranch will be dinner time. Diner will be every night at 7pm Day 5 Breakfast then private bus to La Paz Waterfall tour (google it for more info) Lunch buffet at the tour site. If we have enough time we may do a canopy tour at Hacienda Pozo Azul on the way back to the ranch Diner at the ranch at 7pm Day 6 breakfast then we will departure to a town called La Fortuna doing a stop at The Iguana Bridge for amazing sightseeing, we will arrive by noon and have lunch in town then will spend the afternoon at Baldi Hotsprings Resort. From there we will leave around 5 back to San Jose which is a 3.5 hours drive and stop for diner in San Ramon (half way). Arrive at the hotel (once we know the size of the group we can tell you which hotel they be staying at) around 9. Day 7 Departure to houston at 9am
FINANCIALS Cost per person: $1800 What does $1800 cover? The Breakdown -Roundtrip airfare Deposit $100 -Hotel accommodations Personal Contribution $100 -All inclusive trip Remainder to be fundraised $1600 -Private transportation -All meals -Lodging at LA Ranch -Access to all services at L.A Ranch (Pool, games, activities in the river, volleyball, tennis, soccer, etc.) -2 Excursions -Mission trip supplies -Internet & Wifi Access -Medical Personnel -Tshirt
Information Sleeping You will be sleeping on very comfortable bunk beds. All bedding will be provided. It is generally warm at night; however, it is cool on occasion. Accommodations will be dormitory style with male and female sections. Showers Hot showers will be available for your team. Water Purified water will be made available for your teams at all times. Electricity There is electricity at the facilities, no need for any adapters. Security Your rooms can be locked, and trustworthy locals will be keeping an eye on the building. Food LA Ranch Staff will provide a banquet style breakfast, lunch and dinner that will be mostly Costa Rican food unless otherwise requested by the team leader. Your team will experience authentic Costa Rican cooking that we have found to be popular with most Americans
Information TRANSPORTATION Upon arrival to San Jose, Costa Rica, all transportation IS INCLUDED.Transportation to and from San Jose and to/ from mission site will be by chartered bus TRAVEL Destination Airport: San Jose Juan Santamaria International Airport, Costa Rica (SJO) PASSPORTS & TRAVEL DOCUMENTS Passports - Each team member must carry a valid passport. If you have further questions regarding required travel documents we advise you to contact the US State Department - www.travel.state.gov If you do not have a valid passport, it is of the utmost importance that you apply as soon as possible. The processing time for a Passport can take several weeks once your application has been submitted. An expired Passport is not considered valid.
Information Other Required Travel Documents - All team members under the age of 18 must carry a written, notarized letter from their parents giving them parental permission to leave the country. They must carry the original notarized copy of this letter. It cannot be a photocopy of the letter. 1) If the minor is traveling without parents, both parents must sign the letter. 2) If they are traveling with one parent, the parent that is not traveling with them must sign this letter. 3) If their parents are separated or divorced and both parents do not want to sign the same letter, they must have a notarized letter from each parent giving them permission to go. The letter that must include the following: 1) The full name of both parents and their formal signatures 2) The full name of the child 3) The full name of the Adult Chaperone serving as the Team Leader 4) The specific traveling dates for each country 5) The destination country 6) The reason for travel to the destination country (example- "youth group function") 7) The Airline itinerary (if applicable) Medical kits: Medical kits that include first-aid supplies for general accidents and ailments are provided for each site. At L A Ranch we will have medications like Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Benadryl and Imodium on hand. We make these available to adult team leaders for their sole discretionary use with their team members. LA Ranch Staff will not dispense any medications.
Information Emergency response plan: Based on the severity of each emergency, LA Ranch has a plan for appropriate response. - If a team member becomes seriously ill, they will be taken to a local doctor to receive appropriate medical attention and medications. If they are a minor, their Team Leader along with our staff will accompany them to the clinic. If needed, their parents will be contacted. Their recovery will be carefully monitored by our staff. - If there is an accident that requires a doctor, but is not life threatening and does not have the potential to cause permanent damage, LA Ranch staff will locate the Team Leader, contact parents or guardians (providing the injured is a minor) and provide safe but quick transportation to a local clinic. We have a local doctor on call 24/7 during the period of the mission 10 minutes from LA Ranch.
excursions La Paz Waterfall Gardens http://www.waterfallgardens.com/index.php La Paz Waterfall Gardens is the #1 Most Visited Privately Owned Ecological Attraction in Costa Rica featuring the best hiking near San José, the most famous waterfalls in Costa Rica, rescued wildlife preserve with over 100 species of animals, and an environmental education program. Baldi Hot Springs https://www.baldihotsprings.cr/hot-springs/ Baldi is located in La Fortuna de San Carlos, Costa Rica on a privileged site at the base of the imposing Arenal Volcano and surrounded by exuberant nature, is the largest resort of the world with its 25 pools of thermal water, rich in minerals and healing properties.
Training Dates November 12 @ 10am December 11 @ 1:30pm January 8 @ 1:30pm February 8 @ 10am March 4 @ 10am *participants must attend at least 75% of training unless they are out of town.
Information Airline: Southwest Airlines La Paz Waterfall Tours: http://www.waterfallgardens.com/index.php Baldi Hot Springs: https://www.baldihotsprings.cr/hot-springs/ LA Ranch: https://www.facebook.com/laranchcostarica/ & http://laranch.org/ Main Contact: Luis Artavia (luis@laranch.org) Phone (281) 917-3093. During travel or working hours the team leader may be contacted thru Luis Artavia (281)917-3093 or +506 8538 6223 this will be for emergencies only. LA Ranch has wifi so you can call and text while we are at the ranch, we recommend WhatsApp,Skype or FaceTime.
Registration Step 1: Pray a few times asking God whether this trip is for you at this current moment in your life. Be honest with Him and allow Him to honestly guide you in this process. Step 2: Talk through it with your parents, boss, and community. Ask them if this is something that you should do. Step 3: Check all logistics to see if you can commit (calendar, training dates, etc.) Step 4: Apply online at: https://goo.gl/forms/xctq6h2g1wmvcbrh3 by Oct. 31 Step 5: Pay the $100.00 deposit at the end of the online registration Step 6: Attend the first training date Step 7: Begin asking people you know to start praying and consider supporting your trip.