Kirk of Kildaire Intergenerational Guatemala Mission Trip 2006

Kirk of Kildaire Intergenerational Guatemala Mission Trip

July 15-22, 2006

We are planning our 2006 Intergenerational Mission trip to Guatemala to work with 'PRESGOV -- IGLESIA EVANGELICA NACIONAL PRESBITERIANA de GUATEMALA' for July 15th through the 22nd. Below is information about the organization we will be working with, as well as information about the mission trip itself.

PRESGOV is the program of the National Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Guatemala (IENPG) responsible for facilitating ties between the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and the IENPG through receiving mission delegations and coordinating the work of volunteers for short or long-term service. PRESGOV provides to mission groups the opportunity to share and participate in activities with agencies, programs and leaders of the national Church, and with local Presbyterian congregations, communities and families within a variety of cultural realities.

The members of the Presbyterian Church in Guatemala look forward to working with you to make this experience special as we share and grow together. We hope the time you spend in Guatemala will be one of enrichment for your spiritual life and increased understanding of mission and social justice, as well as a time of making significant connections with a world and people beyond the boundaries of the PCUSA. Your ministry of accompaniment and presence will be a great encouragement to people in Guatemala.

TOURIST OR CALLED SERVANT OF GOD?

As short-term mission workers commissioned by our church and/or presbytery, we will go to Guatemala with expectations, values and concerns quite different from those of the average tourist. As we plan together, it is important to de-emphasize some of the �tourist� aspects of our visit. While we are in Guatemala, we will be both the guest and a companion of the Presbyterian Church and its members. As we visit and interact with the Church, we will be visiting areas where tourists seldom go, and will experience conditions and accommodations that are more spartan, so it is important to focus on our role as servant-accompanier and member of the community of Christ in full fellowship with the Church in Guatemala.

What to expect from our Guatemala trip

Daily Bible reading, reflection and spiritual development: An important segment of each day will be devoted to the reading of scripture and reflection including what we experience each day. This is an integral and important piece of our group�s experience here, for it allows us the time, space and freedom to reflect on our faith and spirituality within a different cultural context. There will also be opportunity for interaction with host groups through Bible study and worship.

Orientation, education and reflection: The PRESGOV staff provides orientation at the beginning of the visit, educational input during the visit, as well as a time of reflection at the end of our stay in Guatemala.

Opportunities for theological dialogue and insight: Because we are given the gift of being with brothers and sisters in community in a different cultural context, PRESGOV staff facilitates explorations and discussions of theological issues that impact and influence understanding of mission, spirituality, social justice, culture, community formation and nurture, and partnership.

Music is an important part of life in Guatemala, and we will have many opportunities to share and participate in formal worship and in community gatherings through music.

A work project: Roles and responsibilities will be discussed during our pre-trip meetings.

Logistical arrangements: In order to insure that our group may focus on the people we encounter and the activities of each day, PRESGOV staff makes all logistical arrangements and provides care for our health and security.

Pre-trip Planning

Before coming to Guatemala, it is important our group begin the formation of a supportive and interactive community.. In order to become a strong faith community, we will be meeting a number of times during the spring of 2006 to:

Learn more about the country and culture of Guatemala and the sites we will be visiting;
Learn a bit of conversational Spanish, as well as some Spanish songs;
Get to know one another;
Discuss packing and clothing guidelines and restrictions, physical security, health and sanitation issues, etc.;
Understand what we will be doing in more detail and share expectations and responsibilities of the trip;
Gather information, including a written release from liability from each member of our group, a health history (including

any chronic health condition, prescription medicines, health insurance information, immunization records, blood type, allergies, and special food concerns)
copies of current passports;

Develop a communications tree (as we will not be able to call home easily);
Share recommended reading material and internet sites about Guatemala;
Develop a short statement of our common goals, priorities, and expectations for the trip
Fundraising activities
Age guidelines -� 16 years old and older (anyone under the legal age of 18 needs a parent)

Financial Considerations

The cost per person is estimated to be between $1200- $1500, which includes travel, housing, food and in country transportation. (If you are interested but the cost is too high, please discuss with one of the trip leaders. We want to work with interested members in helping to make this trip a possibility regardless of income.) The final cost depends on air transportation and possible assistance from the Kirk budget.

�Although all basic costs are covered in the group rate, individuals will need spending money for personal incidentals. This amount may vary from $50 to $200, and would include soft drinks, personal purchases, souvenirs, admission fees (e.g., museums, etc.), and church offerings. Plan on having the money you need for an offering during worship services (and there may be more than one worship service on a given day). The amount of your offering is between you and God.

We will be having fund raising projects to help keep the costs down, and hope each participant will help with these efforts.

Why we want to go on this mission trip

Jesus asked Peter three times �Do you love me?�, and Peter responded, �Yes, Lord I do love you�. Jesus told Peter �feed my sheep�. We are called to serve God. Being Christian is not about going to Church every Sunday, but instead it�s about service. This trip allows us to become brothers and sisters to the people of Guatemala by going down and sharing in their culture. Going on this trip will allow you to experience what it is like to live in Guatemala, to share in their community, to work in their community, and to live as God has commanded us by sharing, growing, and serving. If you think you are being called to be part of this then I hope you will decide to get involved.

Important Dates to Remember

January 22^nd � Informational Meeting at 5pm in the Session Room at the Kirk . This will be a time where you will be given details of the trip, and you will be allow any of your questions answer.

February 12^th � All applications are due in to Bonnie Pendleton at the Church office. There is a limit of 15 participants for the trip. Non-refundable deposit* of $150 due with the application. Check should be made to �Kirk of Kildaire� with �Guatemala Mission Trip� on the memo line.

* Exception: If an application is not approved, the deposit will be returned.

Spring � 4-to-5 pre-trip planning meetings. Exact dates to be decided by the group

Further Information

Contact one of the leaders (click the contact's name to send her/him e-Mail):

� Linda Hale

� Virginia Anthony

��Jody Welker at phone # 467-4944

Mission Trip Application Mission Trip Application Mission Trip Application

Links to other sites

PCUSA Guatemala Information

PCUSA Mission

U.S. Embassy in Guatemala