1
Put Your Faith to Work
Training Workshop
TABLE of CONTENTS
United Church of Christ
Central Atlantic Conference
September 29, 2012
NOTE: These outlines and examples amplify the extensive guidance maintained by the
United Church of Christ on their web site at (http://www.ucc.org/volunteer/mission-tripopportunities/mission-trip-planning-ideas.html).
15-12 MONTHS AHEAD: Begin Planning………………………….……………………pg 3
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WHERE would you like to go and WHY? Planning Ideas [ATCH 1:UCC site, pg. 4]
WHAT would be the focus of the trip? Work camp? Service/learning? Disaster relief?
WHO might be attracted/called to the trip?
WHAT ORGANIZATION might sponsor the trip? Help w/costs? Prayer support? Other assistance?
Follow-up assistance?
WHO might help with planning & leadership? [ATCH 2:Group Formation, pg. 7]
Avoid pitfalls of short-term mission trips [ATCH 3: Pitfall Articles, pg. 8]
Decide WHERE, WHEN, HOW LONG and WHAT would it COST?
[ATCH 4: Online Resources, pg.14]
Checklist for trip planning [See WORKCAMP booklet and ATCH 5:Checklist, pg. 15]
12-6 Months Ahead: Build a Team and a Budget……………………………………….pg. 17
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Create a budget [See WORKCAMP booklet and ATCH 6: Budget Outline, pg.18]
Identify a registrar and response to interested people
Plan publicity – think through age, health, experience needed [ATCH 7: Publicity, pg.19]
Brainstorm fundraising ideas
Create a selection process; be prepared to say “no” if necessary [WORKCAMP booklet pg. 10]
o Sample registration and release forms [ATCH 8: Sample Forms, pg. 21]
6-3 MONTHS AHEAD…………………………………………………………………...pg. 25
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Identify the group. CDC health conditions & entry requirements. Get shots; plan for other physical
needs; make sure several team members have first-aid experience; plan first-aid kit.
Get plane tickets. Make sure passports are current.
Begin cultural preparation – reading, websites, films. Become acquainted with foods, cultural
practices in destination & identify your own cultural norms to prepare for differences. Include
sponsoring organization in publicity [ATCH 9: bulletin board, pg. 26]
If group is local, meet regularly to identify special skills/gifts among participants; learn songs or skills
to offer on trip.
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Overview
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3 MONTHS to DEPARTURE: Get Ready to Go……………………………………….pg. 27
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Begin weekly contact by email if group is not local [ATCH 10:”Preparation Prompts”, pg. 28]
Create a “Bio Book” so trip members can know something about each other. [ATCH 11: Bio Book
Sample, pg. 40]
Create or share norms for behavior on trip. [ATCH 12:Sample Covenants, pg. 41]
o Decide policy on electronics (phones, i-pads, etc.)
Share packing list … PACK LIGHT! [ATCH 13: Sample Packing Lists, pg. 42]
Practice needed skills (putting up tents, cooking, clean-up)
Receive food donations (if participants will be cooking together) [See WORKCAMP Booklet pg. 21]
Emphasize packing light … practice pack
Provide safety tips for travel & in-country time
Remind about policy on electronics
Share plane schedules; meeting places – have back-up plan
Bring needed materials for worship/reflection times. Provide or encourage journaling.
Bring gifts/materials for host group or family
Plan ahead for currency exchange; room arrangements
Call bank, credit card company; make copies of passport and cards. Leave one copy with stateside
emergency contact person.
Baggage delivery information inside luggage; recognition signs for meeting in airport.
Commissioning service [ATCH 14: Sample Services, pg. 45]
ON THE TRIP: Plan for the Unexpected………………………………….……………pg. 48
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Schedule and room assignments.
Orientation is critical; make space for the Spirit [ATCH 15: First Gathering, pg. 49]
Hand out Trip Journal with daily questions & schedule [ATCH 16: Journal, pg. 51]
Accompany newcomers to orient the group; use experienced members to share information/rooming
assignments
Be clear about daily schedule. Start on time to get the group accustomed to being places on time
EVEN IF THAT IS NOT THE LOCAL NORM
Share responsibilities for different parts of the daily schedule if you can. It helps the group discover
internal strengths [ATCH 17: Morning/Evening Reflections, pg. 52]
Encourage mixing for bus time, meals etc. to help the whole group discover points of connection
[ATCH 18: Conversation Starters, pg. 53]
Head off complaints by naming what to expect (i.e. the same food every day, using an outhouse, or
bugs in the evening)
Emphasize “Where did I see the face of God” in evening reflections --- vary sharing in pairs, triads,
whole group. Return to theme of “Love one another as I have loved you.”
AFTER THE TRIP: Planning for Follow-up…………………………………….……..pg. 54
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Evaluation forms – be clear about what you want to know. [ATCH 19: Evaluation Form, pg. 55]
Sharing pictures – creating a “common story” to share with donors. [ATCH 20: cd covers, pg. 56]
Action steps, engaging others and encouraging mission as a source of strength and leadership
development in your church.
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Overview
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PUT YOUR FAITH TO WORK
15-12 Months Ahead: Begin Planning
Leading a mission trip begins with your own sense of call. Before you lead others, you will have
experienced a mission trip yourself. Preferably, you will have gone to this place as a participant and
“caught the bug” to make it available for others.
Gather information on potential destinations. Will it be a one-day local volunteer effort? A weekend
nearby? A week away involving travel? An overseas trip? The UCC website is a great place to start:
www.ucc.org/volunteer. They have trips organized by focus and location. Most are service/learning
projects. Here is a planning outline from the UCC website: [ATCH 1, pg. 4]
The WORKCAMP booklet inserted in back of this manual is a great place to start with adults and teens in
your church. It includes a covenant, budget, fundraising ideas, schedule, food preparation, packing list,
medical release form, devotions and testimonials.
Share leadership. Ideally, gather 2-3 other people who will carry responsibility for the trip with you.
Together, you can decide WHO might be attracted to the trip and begin to plan your invitational strategy.
At the same time, you will want to identify a sponsoring organization, usually a church or campus
ministry, which will be responsible for handling money and being your spiritual support base. [ATCH 2:
Calling a Support G, pg. 7]
Avoid pitfalls. If you are not familiar with the pitfalls of short-term mission trips, ask an expert to come
and talk with your group. Read “5 Pitfalls of Short-Term Mission and How to Avoid Them” and
“Misguided Missions: Ten Worst Practices.” Talk with others who have gone on mission groups and try
to deepen your knowledge base by including people with experience. It will help the trip go more
smoothly for everyone. [ATCH 3: Articles, pg. 8]
Select a site and make contact with the destination, to make sure your group will be welcome to come
when you want to go. Destination sites have their own needs to consider before scheduling visitors, and
they are frequently stretched thin. You will need to be flexible … or plan far ahead. Educational trips
focus on cultural exposure and staying with families. Participants often return with a strong social justice
commitment. Service-learning trips offer hands-on experience of working with local people and may
result in long-term relationships between the sponsoring organization and the destination site. Think
about the capabilities of your group. [ATCH 4: On-Line Resources, pg. 14]
Use the planning checklist to select a site and plan for your group. [See WORKCAMP booklet and
ATCH 5:Checklist, pg. 15] Another useful checklist is available from “Adventures in Good Company at
http://www.adventuresingoodcompany.com/Checklist_for_travel.pdf
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15-12 Months Ahead
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PUT YOUR FAITH TO WORK
Mission Trip Planning Ideas
United Church of Christ
(http://www.ucc.org/volunteer/mission-trip-opportunities/mission-trip-planning-ideas.html)
1. Gather information. Use this listing to explore the opportunities that are available. Explore websites. You
can also access volunteer opportunities on-line at www.ucc.org/volunteer. Feel free to call the Volunteer
Ministries office. Talk to others who have participated in mission trips. What do they suggest? Are there young
people or adults from these groups who would be willing to come and talk to your group about their
experiences? Hearing first-person stories can generate enthusiasm within your group for the trip you are
planning.
2. Attend or Coordinate a Mission Trip Leaders Training event in your UCC Conference or Association.
Invite experienced mission trip leaders and "newbies" to share experiences and ideas. Contact the UCC
Volunteer Ministries office for resource materials. (E-Mail pettigrewt@ucc.org)
3. Select the site. Involve the members of your group in the decision. Consider where the passion of your
group lies. Consider how this mission trip can encourage your congregation in current directions of mission or
open the possibility of new directions and the development of a 'culture of mission.'
Host sites have different emphases in their ministry and opportunities for groups. Educational immersion trips
often focus on meeting people, hearing their stories, and being equipped and empowered to return home with a
strong justice advocacy commitment. Service-learning sites offer opportunities for 'hands on' service and
acquaintance with the local people and issues. Disaster recovery mission trip sites are developed in areas
affected by natural disaster several months after the disaster and continuing for the long-term.
Other considerations in finding a good match for your group is geography, cost, and age of the participants in
your group.
4. Prepare the participants. Encourage leaders to attend a training event for leading mission trips - or host a
training event in your Association or Conference. Contact the Volunteer Ministries office for ideas. Utilize
resources from the bibliography listed on the UCC web site at> (http://www.ucc.org/volunteer/mission-tripopportunities/mission-trip-resources.html)
Gather the group for trainings on cross-cultural skills and familiarity with social-economic-faith issues in the
area where you will serve. If your host site engages in construction ministries, practice basic skills with all
members of your group.
5. Determine a budget. The major categories to consider when determining a budget are transportation,
lodging, food, special events (i.e., amusement park, tours, museums), insurance, donation toward materials,
and cost for leadership expertise (i.e. crew bosses, adult sponsors). You may find it easier to figure the cost per
person, multiply by the number of participants, and then add other discreet costs to it. Transportation costs will
depend on whether you rent a van, charter a bus, or fly. Food costs per person per day averages between $10
and $15 when you prepare your own meals. You may wish to plan for at least one dinner out.
6. Raise the funds. Many groups use this task to help build a team spirit among the group members so that
they get to know one another and learn how to work together. Building this spirit can help to make the trip
more meaningful and fun. Do not let finances be a deciding factor in who is able to participate in the trip.
Strive to make the trip as affordable as possible. Find scholarship support, if necessary, so that everyone who
wants to go is able to do so.
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There are many great fund-raising ideas. Here are a few: service and talent auction, talent show dinner,
pledges, gift wrapping service, parents' day out, homemade candy sale, and selling "stock" in the trip. Fundraising events can be a good experience in learning to know one another better and how to work with each
other.
7. Determine a schedule. Determine the schedule before you depart so that the participants (and their
families) know what to expect. Include realistic work hours and free time. Have devotion, Bible study, or
worship time every day. Attend worship in the host community if possible. Plan, plan and then be flexible.
Mission trips tend to take on their own time flow and mission happens in the unexpected spaces of our days.
When you are on the trip, schedule teams to lead worship, shop for food, and prepare meals. Other tasks to
assign are: treasurer, photographer, first-aid person, and secretary/correspondent (to send thank-you notes,
etc.).
8. Plan Safe. The UCC Insurance Boards suggest questions to consider and safety precautions to implement.
See http://www.insuranceboard.org/safety_solutions/default.aspx Summer2009 newsletter, page 3.
Transportation:
 Will you borrow or rent vehicles? Are the vehicles insured? Does the church have a "hired and nonowned vehicles" endorsement for its general liability policy?
 Have you vetted the drivers? Are they licensed and do they have acceptable driving records?
 Are you using 15-passenger vans? Are the particular hazards understood and managed? Do drivers
have a CDL (Commercial Drivers License)?
Permission:
 Have you obtained written permission with reasonable releases and disclaimers from the correct
parents or guardians? (Consult attorney.)
Medical Emergencies:
 Are medical accommodations, allergies, special diets and medication requirements recorded?
 Have emergency contact instructions been provided by guardians?
Facilities:
 Have overnight facilities been inspected for cleanliness, safety and security?
 Are communications channels open with the facilities?
Activities & Supervision:
 When trips are prolonged and involve relative isolation of children, careful attention must be given to
those who are supervising - for their protection and the protection of the children.
 Are adult-to-child ratios adequate to the activities?
 Have background checks been conducted on non-clergy employees and volunteers?
 Have employees and volunteers received training in abuse prevention and detection?
 Are they First Aid/CPR/AED trained?
 Are there clear rules regarding contact with children?
 Are intended activities understood and age appropriate?
 Are children able and qualified for the activities? (e.g., swimming)
 Is safety equipment sufficient and properly sized? (e.g., flotation devices)
Custody Transfer:
 Is it clear for each child who is authorized to pick up the hild upon return home?
9. Connect with the Congregation. Before you leave, plan to have a covenant and commissioning service for
the participants. You can find a sample covenant and commissioning liturgy in this booklet. This helps the
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congregation participate in the mission trip with those who are traveling through their prayer, support and
openness to new ideas when the group returns. Try using the idea of "care Cards" to involve the entire
congregation. For a more complete story, go to www.ucc.org/volunteer under Mission Trip Opportunities and
Mission Trip Planning Ideas.
When you return, find creative ways for the participants to tell the story of the trip. Use pictures, words, songs,
skits, displays, and sermons.
Look for local mission projects that the congregation can become involved in to continue to foster the spirit of
service and actions of advocacy that the trip generated.
10. Become advocates for economic and social justice. When you return to your own community, become
advocates who speak out against the systems that oppress persons and who work to encourage change. For
more ideas, contact the Volunteer Ministries Office www.ucc.org/volunteer; Global Ministries
www.globalministries.org or Justice and Witness Ministries of the United Church of Christ,
(www.ucc.org/justice/)
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Attachment 1
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PUT YOUR FAITH TO WORK
Calling a Support Group
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PUT YOUR FAITH TO WORK
Challenges and Pitfalls
5 Pitfalls of Short-Term Mission
and How to Avoid Them
(Shared from Short Term Missiions)
(http://www.shorttermmissions.com/articles/avoid_pitfalls)
by Hannah Nielsen and Jenny Collins
A person doesn't have to do much reading about short-term missions (STM) to discover criticisms leveled
against it. Rather than despairing, though, because mistakes could be made, let's focus instead on avoiding
those pitfalls.
Just as the people who go are not perfect, so the trips themselves are not without fault. However, with
forethought you can help your STM experience be a good one. Individuals going on a short-term mission
trip can help by examining their own hearts, approaching a trip correctly (preparation) and choosing
wisely.
Below are five common pitfalls facing STM, along with ways to steer clear of them.
Pitfall 1. Thrill seeking
The ease of travel and the number of agencies eager to accept short-termers has made it possible for
“experience junkies” seeking an adventure to participate, even though they may not be truly interested in
selfless cross-cultural service. This can leave the nationals or long-term missionaries embittered, feeling
as if they have been used to host a glorified vacation that used up valuable time, energy, and finances.
How to Steer Clear
While there is a certain adventure to STM, it's important that one's focus remain on ministry. Check your
heart. Maintain a servant attitude.
For more information about avoiding this pitfall, see Standards of Excellence in Short-term Mission
(SOE) Standard 2, Empowering Partnerships. (www.stmstandards.org/standards/2)
Pitfall 2. Lack of Preparation
Teams may arrive with proper motives but inadequate preparation. They may be sincere but lack the
cohesiveness that develops through team preparation and are therefore prone to interpersonal difficulties
and lack of focus. They may also lack cultural sensitivity and an awareness of their own
ethnocentrism―which can cause offense, giving negative impressions of Christianity―and have a
diminished capacity to understand the people and their needs.
How to Steer Clear
Teams should be prepared prior to arriving on the field. They need team-building, spiritual and cultural
exercise, as well as possibly training in skills they'll use on the field. All that without touching on the
potential need for language skills. Proper training not only helps remove roadblocks to ministry, it also
paves the way for valuable interaction with national hosts and others. Is your team prepared? Are you
prepared? Perhaps you need to research the place you're going, or maybe in all your busyness you've
neglected time with God. You can remedy that.
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For more information about avoiding this pitfall, see SOE Standard 6, Appropriate Training.
(www.stmstandards.org/standards/6)
Pitfall 3. Self Focus
Mission trips today are often used to bring about change in the participants. A trip to another part of the
world may well change how a visitor views that world or how that visitor understands God. Life change
of the goers, however, was not the motivation for missions in the past.
These groups might also spend large amounts of money on souvenirs without any thought to how this
appears to nationals who struggle under incredible economic difficulties. It is possible that such teams,
though sincere, may cause more harm than good.
How to Steer Clear
Remain focused on God and His purposes for the trip, rather than being focused on yourself. Ask
yourself, "Why are you going on this trip?" Although experiencing and serving in a different culture may
open a participant's eyes, this result should be secondary to the ultimate goal for the trip. How can you see
what God's doing when you're focused on what's happening inside yourself? This pitfall often also reveals
itself in how you talk about your just-completed trip. Focus on what you saw God doing, rather than
emphasizing how you were changed.
For more information about avoiding this pitfall, see SOE Standard 1, God-centeredness.
(www.stmstandards.org/standards/1)
Pitfall 4. Project Selection
Not all service projects are created equal. In the book The Short-Term Missions Boom, Michael J.
Anthony describes one 10-day trip where his team did nothing but work long hours digging a trench on a
Caribbean island. They did not experience the culture or meet any nationals. Worse yet, he found out later
that the trench was filled in and never used. His point is that each project should be evaluated carefully
beforehand.
In the case of the trench, a national worker could have been paid a few dollars a day to dig the ditch,
enabling him to feed his family for months, according to the book.
How to Steer Clear
To safeguard yourself against having this experience, it's vital to choose your trip well. Ask questions of
the organizers. Look for trips that are connected with the local church and/or long-term workers. If you're
interested in a work trip, perhaps you can select one that places you side by side nationals. In the case of
evangelism work, is there a way for the local church to follow up with contacts that are made?
For more information about avoiding this pitfall, see SOE Standard 3, Mutual Design.
(www.stmstandards.org/standards/3)
Pitfall 5. Dependency or a Quick-fix Mentality
Sometimes short-termers introduce methods and technology that create dependency. Well-meaning
groups may bring equipment and techniques that are not locally sustainable, leaving nationals dependent
on ongoing assistance rather than empowered and confident to do things for themselves when the group
leaves.
Some nationals discover quickly that many short-termers would rather give $5 than five minutes to assist
them, and get great satisfaction from giving away clothes and other supplies, creating an expectation of
receiving material support.
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How to Steer Clear
Creating dependency is best prevented at the trip planning or selection level. Choose your trip carefully.
Ask questions. A quick-fix mentality can occur on both planning and individual levels. Examine your
motives and actions.
While the best prevention of dependency and a quick-fix mentality is on the trip planning and selection
level, one way to greatly reduce your risk of falling prey to this pitfall is to select a trip that is associated
with long-term workers. They're aware of the culture and how things will likely be viewed.
For more information about avoiding this pitfall, see SOE Standard 2, Empowering Partnerships.
(www.stmstandards.org/standards/2)
Short-term missions can make a significant contribution to God's global purposes with long-term results.
Avoiding these five pitfalls will go a long way to ensure your STM will produce lasting Kingdom fruit.
Jenny Collins is the director of Lighthouse Short-Term Missions and an assistant professor of intercultural studies at Taylor University, Upland,
Indiana. She has been involved in short-term missions for more than 14 years and is a member of the national committee that developed the SOE.
Hannah Nielsen is Content Editor for Mission Data International.
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Misguided Missions
Ten Worst Practices
Reprinted from:
The Christian Century Magazine
http://www.christiancentury.org/article.lasso?id=8440
May 18, 2010
by Mark Wm. Radecke
Short-term mission trips continue to rise in popularity. In leading such trips and researching their impact,
I've found that they can have a profound effect on the faith and life of participants, and good work is often
done: people living in poverty have their needs addressed by energetic and caring people.
But the liability of badly implemented mission trips far exceeds the missed opportunities of staying home.
Poorly conceived trips can distract hosts from their primary ministries, use up significant sums of money
and energy on low-priority tasks and create unreasonable expectations for visible results in a short period
of time. These are familiar criticisms; it's well known that short-term mission trips can be done poorly or
well. Here is a brief inventory of the worst practices that can undermine the best intentions.
Here to ogle: Participants in short-term missions routinely report that what affects them most profoundly
is getting to know their hosts, enjoying their hospitality, hearing their stories and witnessing the vitality of
their faith. Hosts and partners are not like animals in a zoo. We visitors do not go to observe them; we go,
at their invitation, to enter into their world and to experience—however briefly and incompletely—their
realities. Dean Brackley writes eloquently about the potential impact of norteños' encounters with the
campesinos of El Salvador:
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If we allow them to share their suffering with us, they communicate some of their hope to us as
well. The smile that seems to have no foundation in the facts is not phony; the spirit of fiesta is
not an escape but a recognition that something else is going on in the world besides injustice and
destruction. The poor smile because they suspect that this something is more powerful than the
injustice. When they insist on sharing their tortilla with a visiting gringo, we recognize there is
something going on in the world that is more wonderful than we dared to imagine.
This is the sort of encounter we want for short-term missionaries. But taking photos of makeshift
dwellings and ill-clad children without permission—and without inquiring into the conditions that compel
human beings to live in such circumstances in the first place—turns a mission trip into socioeconomic
voyeurism.
It's all about me: Martin Luther described the essence of sinfulness with the phrase homo incurvatus in
se: the person curved in on himself or herself. Of all the potential ironies of a short-term mission trip,
objectifying people is perhaps the most spiritually damaging. When we fail to become acquainted with
our hosts and their communities, we not only forfeit rich opportunities for accompanying them but
inadvertently commodify the very people we intend to help. We take interest in them only insofar as they
can help us achieve something else—which, too often, is feeling good about ourselves and what we're
doing. With our culture's values as part of our baggage, we treat the mission trip as a thing to be
consumed for our entertainment, edification and enjoyment.
If this is 2010, then we must be in Tanzania: Tanzania this year, Bosnia next year, Nicaragua the year
after that, and the Philippines in year four: a different country on a different continent every year!
Changing the mission trip location each year may provide variety for participants, but it subverts the goal
of establishing deep and lasting relationships. Better to make a commitment to one community.
Naturally, team members will change from year to year. Different leaders may take turns. Reciprocal
visits by members of the host communities may or may not be possible, given the ever-tightening
constraints of border controls. The goal, however, should be to establish meaningful, mutual and ongoing
relationships.
Ethnocentrism, or "that's dumb": When the teams I take to Central America complete their home
stays, they give each host family a small gift. Their hosts often react in a way that seems unappreciative to
Americans—which has prompted more than a few participants to take offense. But that's simply the way
people in that culture respond to gifts. They regard they way we gush at the mementoes they give us as
peculiar, even childish. This is ethnocentrism: each is judging the other's actions by the standards of his or
her own culture.
The gifts we take on these trips often have to do with time: an engraved clock, a photo calendar of
Pennsylvania. But punctuality is not valued in Latin America the way it is in North America. "Where's the
bus?" a participant might ask. "The driver said she'd be here at 3:00. It's already 3:15!" I encourage
participants to turn their perturbation into a question, to suspend judgment and simply ask why things are
the way they are. Maybe a friend stopped by as the driver was preparing to leave home and pick us up. In
her culture, it would be unthinkably rude for her to abbreviate that visit just to pick us up at three on the
dot.
Who am I to judge? On the other hand, it's a false sense of multiculturalism that suggests that it is
always inappropriate for participants to form any moral judgment about another culture. This cultural
relativism is the flip side of ethnocentrism: both preclude actually taking another culture seriously.
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To be sure, two weeks is far too short to understand another society's complexities. But that doesn't mean
that participants must suspend all moral judgment. If the goal is to promote global awareness, then we
need to equip short-term missionaries with the tools required to think critically about what they
experience abroad.
I see what your problem is: Having an engineer on your mission team can be a mixed blessing.
Engineers are trained to diagnose and repair problems; it's part of their professional DNA. They will
typically go to a service site and immediately begin to calculate the most efficient approach to the tasks at
hand—most efficient, that is, in their world of meaning and reference. This won't always work in another
culture, and it may even be offensive.
A team I led a decade ago agreed to help lay the foundation for a modest new church. I sent a check ahead
to hire someone to dig the foundation trenches before we arrived—a half day's work at most, with the
proper equipment. When we got there, there was no such equipment to be seen, the job was less than half
finished, and I was less than half thrilled. But as my Costa Rican friends saw it, it would be crazy to give
the money to someone already rich enough to own a Bobcat; there were six unemployed adults in the
community who were eager to do the work with picks and shovels for the same sum, even though it
would take all six of them three full days to do it.
When we enter into our hosts' world, we do things their way.
I have, you need: A truck pulls into a poor community, and visitors open the back door and begin to
distribute whatever it is they've brought: vitamins, food, toiletries, clothing. This may be a good model for
first responders to a natural disaster. It is seldom if ever an acceptable one for mission teams. For one
thing, it is undignified. For another, it casts the norteamericanos in the role of beneficent givers and the
recipients in the role of charity cases.
A better model is to give the donated materials to a local congregation or social-service agency and ask
that local leaders distribute it. They may know the people of the community and their degree of need; they
may also be familiar with unscrupulous individuals who might attempt to exploit the opportunity. What's
more, this approach feeds two birds with one crumb: along with getting the donated materials to the
intended recipients, it enhances the local group's ministry.
Let's see some results: Noel Becchetti of the Center for Student Missions tells of a local pastor in
Mexico who tries to get visiting teams to help with his mission of outreach to men. Some teams, however,
are dead set on building something: they want to see some (literally) concrete results. So the pastor has a
wall that he has such teams work on. He has no idea what the wall will ever be or become, but building it
keeps the visiting teams busy and out of his hair, and at the end of their time they can rejoice and be glad
that they accomplished something tangible.
I have the privilege of seeing projects grow over the years. Team members, however, have only the
perspective of their two weeks, and it isn't wrong to want to see results. When I sent photos of the church
that was eventually constructed to the team members that did the foundation work described above, they
were delighted and got a new perspective on the value of their labors. I now try to manage expectations,
so that team members know if they are likely to begin, advance or finish a project; few are the projects
that can be begun and completed in a week or two. As Paul wrote to the Corinthians, "I planted, Apollo
watered, but God gave the increase."
Where did you go to grad school? It is certainly appropriate to draw on the expertise of local professors,
pastors and others with advanced degrees. Some of our most powerful learning experiences, however,
have come through presentations by Nicaraguan refugees and immigrants living in Costa Rica, only one
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Attachment 3
13
of whom has completed high school. These friends have told us powerful stories of civil war and
unemployment in their native land, and they have eloquently explained to us what Christ and his church
have meant to them in the midst of tragic, trying and life-altering experiences.
Carbon footprints in the sand: The apostle Paul describes an irony that lies close to the heart of shortterm mission trips: we want to do what is good, but various forms of evil can compromise our efforts. The
air, bus and boat travel for one Central American trip may generate more than 41 metric tons of carbon
dioxide. Contributing to the degradation of the environment is hardly consistent with the Christian faith.
In an effort to offset our carbon emissions, we have made tree-planting—directed by local officials—part
of recent ventures. (We're aware, however, that experts disagree as to how effective this is.)
Or consider the practice of purchasing T-shirts for team members. How ironic would it be if such
purchases supported companies that operate sweatshops exploiting the very people whose lives the
mission team seeks to improve? It requires only a little research to make sure you're buying sweatshopfree materials.
They'll figure it out: When I began leading mission trips, I assumed that participants would naturally
come to new understandings and integrate them into their faith and life. What I failed to appreciate was
the importance of reflection—so critical that some practitioners refer to it as the "hyphen in servicelearning." When reflection is minimal or missing—when those involved in short-term missions do not
ruminate on their experiences, ponder the situations of those served and relate them to their own faith—a
precious opportunity is lost.
Often because of time constraints or the simple disinclination to expend mental and spiritual energy, we
complete each day's work, say a prayer and go our separate ways. Like the servant who buries the
master's treasure, we play it safe. We know we have encountered something that can challenge our
convictions, deepen our discipleship and shape the contours of our own and others' lives. Such encounters
disturb our spiritual status quo. It is one thing to work alongside people living in humble circumstances; it
is quite another to ask why the prosperity of a relative few is predicated upon the existence of a
permanent global underclass.
We often consent to dispense with reflection or at least keep it superficial, preferring the comfort of
knowing that we have done a good work—which, in most cases, we truly have—and that those we have
served are at least a little better off. Their need is addressed, our guilt is assuaged, and all can return to life
as we know it. But this is not transformation; it's deformation.
Short-term mission teams travel down roads paved with good intentions; it's important to avoid these
wrong turns. Instead, those of us who lead such trips can foster solidarity and Christian friendship with
the partners alongside whom we serve, and we can create space in which all participants—guests and
hosts—can ponder, reflect and grow.
Mark Wm. Radecke is chaplain and associate professor of religion at Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania.
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Attachment 3
14
PUT YOUR FAITH TO WORK
On-Line Resources
MISSION TRIPS – UCC
The UCC has a very comprehensive web sites with detailed information on a variety of service
opportunities and mission trips and helpful tips for planning.
 UCC Mission Trip web site - http://www.ucc.org/volunteer/mission-trip-opportunities/
 UCC Handbook for Mission Trips - http://www.ucc.org/volunteer/mission-tripopportunities/MISSION-TRIP-2012-2.pdf
o UCC Mission Leadership Guide - http://www.ucc.org/volunteer/mission-tripopportunities/mission-trip-resources.html
o UCC Mission Trip Planning Ideas - http://www.ucc.org/volunteer/mission-tripopportunities/mission-trip-planning-ideas.html
(Locations recommended by Barbara K. Daniels)
H.O.M.E. Inc., Orland Maine
Emmaus Homes, Marthasville and St. Charles, Missouri
Franklinton Center at Bricks, Whitakers, NC
Old First Reformed UCC, Philadelphia, PA
Appalachian South Folklife Center, Pipestem, West Virginia
(Many programs recommended by Scott Winnette)
Heifer Farm in Rutland, Mass. - http://www.heifer.org/visit/overlook-farm
Disciples Home Missions (Disciples of Christ)
Disciples Home Missions is committed to equipping disciples for Christ and connecting people to the life
changing love of God. It is the enabling and coordinating division of the Christian Church (Disciples of
Christ) in the area of congregational program and mission in North America.
 Disciples Volunteering - http://www.discipleshomemissions.org/pages/Volunteering
 DVM Resource Book - http://www.discipleshomemissions.org/files/VOL-DV_book_2011.pdf
U.S. Standards of Excellence in Short-Term Mission
This Christian organization is an accrediting and resourcing body for those who send, receive, facilitate
and support short-term mission (STM) endeavors.
 Standards of Excellence - http://www.soe.org/
 Seven Standards of Excellence Booklet –
http://www.soe.org/explore/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/The7StandardsBooklet.pdf
Short-term Missions.Com is an on-line resource for mission trips. Currently they have information on
over 1,000 mission trips sponsored by 109 organizations.
 Short-term Missions.Com - http://www.shorttermmissions.com/articles/selecting_a_mission_trip
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PUT YOUR FAITH TO WORK
Basic Checklist for Self-organized Trip Overseas
Preparation (Before the Mission Trip)
 Identify the host organization (Who we will work with)
o Complete project agreement (formal or informal)
 Identify project and timing – nature of work; dates
 Determine desired number, capabilities and age limits of travelers
 Determine funding needs for project (or host operations)
 Arrange for fund delivery – cashier’s check, wire transfer, personal check, cash, …
 Determine on-site support
o For travelers – tools and equipment, technical guidance, lunches, water, first aid
o For host organization – extra tools, equipment
o Gifts for project site community
 Yes – soccer balls (w/pumps), bubbles, enough toys for all children, school supplies
 No – old clothes, candy
 Identify project sponsor
o Secure formal approval by sponsoring organization
o Establish budget authority from sponsor
 Determine availability of scholarship help
 Get sponsor’s agreement to receive and disburse funds (operating loan arrangements
if needed)
o Determine level of sponsoring organization support for project
o Insure sponsor’s support is provided in a timely way
 Plan overall program
o Establish theme for the mission trip
o Prepare background information for publication
o Prepare evaluation form
 Invite participants
o Send personal invitations to veterans
o Maintain contact information – mailing addresses, e-mail, phone numbers
o Include former participants; maintain list of those interested in future trips
o Initiate personal invitations
o Create and maintain web Site – structure, content, maintenance
 Handle registration
o Establish registration and payment timing
o Create registration AND liability release forms
o Maintain forms on line
o Insure forms and deposit are received & processed
o Maintain project budget
o Complete advance payments as needed
 Arrange Trip Logistics (Group arrangements)
o Reserve lodging – make reservations, arrange form of payment
o Reserve transportation – make reservation, arrange form of payment
o Arrange for in-country payment
 Prepare for the Trip (individual arrangements)
o Cultural awareness, group covenant, fundraising as community development
o Make travel arrangements – tickets, passports, immunizations
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Activity (During the Mission Trip)
 Provide guidance for travelers – schedules, reminders, warnings, advice on restaurants
 Oversee lodging assignments
 Lead morning meditation – stretching, prayer, question for the day
 Lead evening reflection – question for the day, personal sharing, journaling thoughts
 Coordinate daily transportation
 Coordinate daily project activity
o Help participants find meaningful work
o Maintain drinking water for pilgrims
o Facilitate lunch preparation
o Coordinate host organization board presence
o Arrange for afternoon snack
o Provide leadership during bus time
 Coordinate special activities – boat trips, visits to other missions, visit to markets
o Arrange for special (boat) transportation
o Establish meeting times and places for participants
 Coordinate evening time with board (if desired) – reception, board presence at banquet
 Pay bills
o Lodging – include tips for room cleaning, night security, kitchen help, …
o Transportation – include tips for drivers
o Breakfasts together
o Lunch in the village
Reflection (After the Pilgrimage)
 Consolidate evaluation forms
 Determine future of program – repeat next year?
o If yes – make initial reservations with sponsor, host, lodging, transportation
 Prepare report for sponsor and host organization
 Send thank-you letters – host organization (board & staff), reception host
 Publish results of mission trip – web site, e-mail to former trip veterans
 Create and distribute photo collection
 Facilitate letter from sponsoring organization for tax deduction
 Confirm all payments
 Draft and insure sponsoring organization sends tax-deduction letters to all participants
Staff Support (Several roles may be performed by one person)
 Trip Leader
 In-country logistics coordinator
 Bursar (treasurer)
 Daily meditation/reflection coordinator
 Communications team
o Maintain web site presence
o Produce periodic “preparation prompts”
o Produce introductory booklet (BioBook)
o Produce Trip Journal
o Produce photo collection
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PUT YOUR FAITH TO WORK
12-6 Months Ahead: Build a Team and a Budget
Before you publicize your mission trip, you need to create a budget, decide on registration dates and plan
your selection process. If the traveling group is local, fundraising can be a group-building activity. Make
it fun! See the WORKCAMP booklet for suggestions.
Planning a budget will help your core group think about the trip in more detail. Considerations include
limits on the size of the group: How many people can be housed and fed at the destination site? Or maybe
the bus-size will limit your group. How much will go to support the local project? How much to allocate
for food, lodging and transportation? Other expenses (tips, boat ride, dinner out)? Local coordinator? [See
WORKCAMP booklet and ATCH 6: Budget Outline, pg.18]
Decide on a registrar. This needs to be somebody who can deposit funds, respond to inquiries and direct
questions to the right person. This person does not have to be traveling on the mission trip, but should
represent the sponsoring organization. If the registrar does not go on the trip, you will need somebody to
keep track of local arrangements and payments on-site.
You will also need to discuss a selection process. Are there age limits for your trip? Fitness
requirements? What about people who are overly anxious or afraid? We have found that people who are
overly anxious should be encouraged not to go at this time. While you want people who are appropriately
aware of potential hazards or safety risks, high anxiety is often a sign that the person is not ready for this
kind of an experience. For ideas, check the WORKCAMP booklet (pg. 10).
Plan your publicity. Begin with an announcement of the trip, including destination and dates, by email to
your target audience. If your church or conference has a pool of seasoned travelers, use that list too --because they will be your best advocates. The best way to recruit people is in person, but you must have
something in print to give them. Older people respond to print materials – brochure, poster, email. You’re
your registration process on the web and in print. Try Facebook and other social media to reach younger
people. [ATCH 7: Publicity, pg. 19]
Brainstorm fundraising ideas. If you have a local group, you can offer your services through the
sponsoring organization both to publicize the trip and garner prayer support from a wider network of
interested people. Be creative about what you have to offer, individually or as a group. Sponsor a typical
dinner and photos of your destination. Invite people to collect supplies for the destination. Keep track of
interested people “at home.” Ask for scholarship funding from the church budget. Fundraising is a chance
to involve others!
Application forms. On the website and in print, have application forms, a release of liability and the
expected covenant available for registration. [ATCH 8: Sample Application Forms, pg. 21]
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Attachment 5
18
PUTTING YOUR FAITH TO WORK
CREATING A BUDGET
INCOME POSSIBILITIES
 Registration fee
 Support from sponsoring organization
 Outside gifts (through sponsoring organization)
EXPENSES
Expense Category
Travel to and from project
location
Daily travel during project
Meals
Lodging
Trip staff cost coverage
Support for recipient
organization
Trip supplies (first-aid, tools,
etc.)
Gifts and souvenirs
EXPENSE CATEGORIES
Group Budget
(Include in Registration Fee)
(If travel is consolidated for
entire group)
(If contracted through trip
leadership)
If contracted through trip
leadership or meals will be
prepared by participants (*)
If contracted through trip
leadership
If any staff costs are covered by
other participants
Can help provide materials &
supplies for project
Common-use items, shared tools
not available from recipient
organization
If presented to recipient
organization by group
Individual Expense
(Alert Participants in Advance)
(If participants come from
different locations)
(If provided by sharing
participant’s vehicles)
If purchased by participants
during “free time”
If purchased by participants
individually
Consider individual contributions
before and after the project
Personal medications, extra tools,
etc.
All other gift and souvenir
purchase
*For suggestions on food for preparation by participants see WORKCAMP manual, pg. 8
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Attachment 6
19
PUT YOUR FAITH TO WORK
Sample Publicity
Seekers Church Flyer
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September 29, 2012
Attachment 7
20
PUT YOUR FAITH TO WORK
Sample Brochure
Seekers Church 2013 Pilgrimage
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Attachment 7
21
MISSION TRIP APPLICATION
United Campus Ministry - University of Maryland
Name: _____________________________
Address:
__________________________
__________________________
Email: __________________________
Phone: _____________________
Emergency Contact: _________________ Phone: ______________
Age (on date of trip): _____ years old
Date of Birth: ___/____/______
Major: ___________________________
College Year: _______________________
Campus Activities or Clubs: ___________________________________________
Community Activities or Clubs: _________________________________________
Religious or Spiritual Affiliation (if any): _______________________________
Church Affiliation and Pastor (if any) ______________________________
(For the questions below, please use more space if needed)
Why are you interested in our mission trip? What do you hope to gain?
Do you have other mission trip experience? (If so, please list dates and places and comment
about your experience.)
What (if any) skills or experience do you have with building/home improvement equipment?
(Not required to go.)
What other skills or interests do you have that could be helpful on a mission trip? (Ex. Speaks
more than one language, etc.) What personal gifts/talents do you bring to a group experience?
Are you interested in any team building events before we depart on the mission trip?
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22
COVENANT AND RELEASE OF CLAIM FORM
Catoctin Association, Central Atlantic Conference of the United Church of Christ
Journey Name: _______________________________________________________
Date of Journey: ______________________________________________________
Participant’s Name: ____________________________________________________
The guidelines listed below are recommended for those participating in this journey. You go not as a
tourist, but as a guest of another church or church partner. It is very important to be willing to adjust to
the expectations of your host.
Therefore, in consideration of the opportunity to participate in the journey described above during the
dates given, and in consideration of other obligations incurred, I hereby agree as follows:
1.
I agree to share my faith in an appropriate Christian manner.
2.
I agree to cooperate at all times with the journey leader concerning our work and life
together, including daily assignments, food, lodging, transportation, participating in worship
and other faith building opportunities, and to stay with the group from beginning to end.
3.
I agree to abstain from habits that may offend our hosts and other group members while on
the journey such as the use of alcohol and tobacco and gambling.
4.
Further, I hereby release and discharge the organizations that helped in these arrangements,
their agents, employees, and officers, from all claims, demands, actions, judgments, or
executions that I have ever had, or now have, or may have, or which my heirs, executors,
administrators or assign may have or claim to have, against the organizations, their agents,
employees, and officers, and their successor or assigns, for all personal injuries, known or
unknown, and injuries to property, real or personal, caused by, or arising out of, the abovedescribed journey. I intend to be legally bound by this statement.
5.
I hereby acknowledge that by engaging in the above-described journey, I am subjecting
myself to certain risks voluntarily, including and in addition to those risks that I normally
face in my personal and business life, including but not limited to such things as health
hazards; potential injury while working; and inadequate medical facilities.
With respect specifically to the travel group, I also agree as follows:
1. I understand that group cooperation is essential to the success of the journey; I hereby agree to be
present at all group orientation events prior to the journey unless prohibited by illness or another
commitment that has been cleared by the group leader, and I will be responsible for information
given at events I must miss.
2. I understand that every group member is expected to share freely from their particular blessings
and talents, whether that is skills such as interpreting, music, art, carpentry, or basic hard work. I
hereby agree to participate in these ways as fully as possible.
PARTICIPANTS SIGNATURE: ____________________________________________
ADDRESS:__________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
PHONE: ___________________________________ DATE: ______________________
(Adapted from material from the Presbyterian Church, USA)
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September 29, 2012
Attachment 8
23
SAMPLE
GUATEMALA PILGRIMAGE
July 14-24, 2012
Application Form
The pilgrimage is physically demanding, with long bus rides, teamwork on site and
shared accommodations. We encourage you to apply as soon as you are clear about
the rightness of this journey for you. For couples who are applying, we ask that you use
a separate application form for each person. Applicants between 16 and 18 years of
age must have a parent or responsible adult guardian participating with them on the trip.
Name
___________________________________________ Age ________
Address
_______________________________________________________
Phone
________________________
Emergency Contact Person:
Phone
Email ______________________
______________________________________
________________________
Email ______________________
1. Please tell us something about your reasons for wanting to join this pilgrimage....
2. Do you have any health concerns that might inhibit your participation in this trip?
If so, please be specific. It may influence room assignments.
Please mail this application, release form, and your deposit of $200 by April 1st 2012
to Seekers Church (ATTN: Guatemala Pilgrimage)
Balance trip expenses due May 15: $900... Airfare is a separate expense.
Seekers Church
276 Carroll Street NW, Washington, DC 20012
E-Mail: pilgrimage@seekerschurch.org
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Attachment 8
24
SAMPLE
GUATEMALA PILGRIMAGE
July 14 - 24, 2012
RELEASE of LIABILITY
This RELEASE is executed on, _______________________________, 2012
by __________________________________________________________________
who reside(s) at _______________________________________________________
in the city of _______________________________________ state of _____________.
In consideration of traveling to Guatemala with the assistance of Seekers Church, I (we)
hereby voluntarily and knowingly release and discharge Seekers Church, 276 Carroll
Street NW, Washington, DC 20009, its officers, agents and employees from all claims,
demands, actions or causes or action which may or do arise out of the travel or trip from
the continental United States to Guatemala, from the date of July 14, 2012
over a period of eleven days, ending on or about July 24, 2012.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I (we) have hereunto set my (our) signatures:
______________________________________________
Sign Name
_____________
Date
_______________________________________________ _____________
Sign Name
Date
Seekers Church
276 Carroll Street NW, Washington, DC 20012
E-Mail: pilgrimage@seekerschurch.org
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Attachment 8
25
PUT YOUR FAITH TO WORK
6-3 Months Ahead: Plan, Prepare and Process
As people register for the trip, include them in all planned activities. In addition to suggesting reading,
films and websites, the group should gather monthly to share a meal and identify different gifts among the
members. Fund-raising can also be a group-building exercise.
Identify the group. For longer or foreign trips, you will need to select the group earlier than you would
for a shorter in-country trip. And if your group is not local, you will need to plan for some way to
introduce the group to each other.
If this is an overseas trip, begin with Passports, visas and shots. Visit the US Centers for Disease Control
website (http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/list.htm. ) for local conditions and entry requirements.
Help people feel safe and confident about your leadership by providing them with factual information.
Get your plane tickets. If the group is traveling together, look for group fares. Set up an “Alert” on
kayak.com or whatever website you use. If the group will be forming at the destination, be sure
everybody knows the meeting time and place for arrival and departure so they can make their travel plans
accordingly.
Begin cultural preparation. Depending on your destination, suggest books, films and websites for those
who want more background. Introduce people to the food and social norms of your destination. Invite
people who have been there to speak to your group, but don’t overwhelm people with facts and figures.
Sharpen their awareness of our own culture: consider 3 things you’ll miss about our culture; and 3 things
you won’t miss. Consider 3 things you are looking forward to; and 3 things you are worried about.
Questions like that quicken perceptions. They won’t like everything, but the trip will enlarge their
framework of God’s work in the world.
Create a bulletin board for the sponsoring organization. Invite other people to attend cultural expansion
meetings in order to build a wider network of support. If two churches have joined to sponsor a trip, be
sure to include both churches in all efforts to develop support. [ATCH 9: Simple Bulletin Board, pg. 26]
Special gifts. By email or in person, identify special skills/gifts that people will be responsible for
offering on the trip. One group traveling to Kenya for a month identified these needed skills: cooking for
the group, camp organization, computer training in country, crafts, dance, discussion, drama and word
games. What you need will depend upon your group and its purpose for being at the destination.
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September 29, 2012
6 – 3 Months Ahead
26
PUT YOUR FAITH TO WORK
Sample Publicity
Pilgrimage Memory Bulletin Board
at Seekers Church
Bulletin Boards Need Not be Fancy!
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September 29, 2012
Attachment 9
27
PUT YOUR FAITH TO WORK
3 Months to Departure: Get Ready to Go
If the group has been meeting every month, this is the time to “get practical” with packing lists, practice
putting up a tent, food preparation and identifying special skills within the group. If the group is not local,
we suggest a weekly email that will progressively get more detailed. [ATCH 10: Preparation Prompts, pg.
28]
Create a Bio Book. If the group is not local, identify what you would like to know about each other in
order to create a small booklet which can be sent out ahead of time. Here are the questions we’ve used:
 Who are the people you live with or regard as “my family?”
 What is your work or primary vocation?
 What is your local faith community?
 Why did you decide to come on this pilgrimage?
 What is something about you that would surprise us? [ATCH 11: Bio Book, pg. 40]
Create or share a Covenant. What are the expected behaviors on the trip? If the group is local, you can
develop this together. If not, be sure everyone understands what is expected. If this includes a statement
about electronic-use on the trip, be sure that is conveyed clearly. [ATCH12: UCC Covenant, pg. 41]
Packing List. Especially if people need special supplies for the trip, share this early rather than late.
Always PACK LIGHT. Frequently luggage has to be carried on top of a vehicle. Check baggage weight
limits on your flight. [ATCH 13: Packing Lists and Travel Aids, pg. 42]
Final Month Before Trip. Revisit checklist. Encourage prayerful preparation for this new experience,
both with the travel group and at the destination. Provide safety tips for travel and in-country time. Share
plane schedules; meeting places and have back-up plans for missed connections or lost luggage. Receive
food donations and check menus. (See the WORKCAMP booklet for ideas (pg. 21). Bring needed
materials for worship/reflection times. Bring gifts/swaps for host group. Plan ahead for currency
exchange & room arrangements.
One Week Before Departure.
 Call your bank and let them know when and where you are traveling.
 Call your credit card company and let them know when and where you are traveling.
 Go to the bank and get a supply of new $1 bills for incidental tipping
 Arrange to stop mail and newspaper if needed.
 Make 2 copies of your passport and credit cards. Leave one set with your emergency contact; take
the other in a secure place separate from the originals.
Commissioning Service creates a prayerful bond between the “home base” and the travelers. Encourage
some small token (like a ribbon) which can be carried on the trip. [ATCH 14: Commissioning Services,
pg. 45]
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3 Months - Departure
28
PUT YOUR FAITH TO WORK
PREPARATION PROMPTS
(NOTE 1: These e-mail messages are sent to all participants to help them organize and get
ready. Underlined words invite your specific input. Preparation Prompts begin about 3
months before the trip. Always put the prompt number in the subject line so participants
can keep track of them.)
(NOTE 2: These prompts were developed for a group of pilgrims who would meet for the
first time in the airport at the destination. If your group is from the same organization or
community, much of this information could be shared at advance meetings of the group.)
Prompt #1 (12Weeks Out)
Travel arrangements
Destination weather
Health advice
Food and money
Group life – the introductory “BioBook”
DATE
Dear Pilgrims,
This is the first of a series of emails to help with your preparation for our work-pilgrimage to _______.
We have a good strong group of_ #_ pilgrims, who come from California, Texas, Colorado, Iowa,
Washington DC and Canada.
TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS
You need to make your own travel arrangements NOW. Check __airlines___, _____, for flights to _____,
arriving close to airport meeting time on arrival date.
Some people use frequent flier miles; some fly from the nearest large city for better fares. Unless you are
staying in country to do some sight-seeing, you should plan your return for mid-morning on departure
date. We will be staying in _____, which is an hour's drive from the airport. When you have made your
travel arrangements, please let us know so we can set up the transport to and from the airport to
destination.
You must have a valid passport to enter country and return to the US or Canada. No additional visa is
required for US citizens.
CLIMATE
In July, the weather in destination is describe weather during the day and night. No bugs. We can expect
some rain every day, usually late in the afternoon. Evenings can be cool, so you will need a fleece vest or
jacket and a poncho or small umbrella. We will send you a packing list later on.
HEALTH
We will be staying in destination, which is at 5,000 feet – about the same as Denver. There is no malaria
danger and you do not need any special shots, but be sure your immunizations are up to date, including
tetanus.
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Attachment 10
29
It is never safe to drink the tap water in Guatemala, but we will have a large carboy of water so you can
refill your own water bottle. Staying hydrated is important. And if you take prescription medications, you
will need to bring them in their original container with the prescription label.
MEALS & MONEY
Your registration fee of amount covers room, board, transportation and tips in country. It also includes a
specific amount to help cover costs for building materials in the village, so the entire fee is tax
deductible. We will send you a separate letter for your tax records at the end of the year.
We have an arrangement with a local restaurant to change specific amount in food money from your
registration into local currency so you will not have to stand in a long line at the bank.
Extra money for shopping (the textiles are beautiful!) will be up to you. Remember that whatever you
spend there will help to support the local economy and this is your chance to buy directly from local
artisans. There are ATMS in city names , the two small cities where we will be staying and most stores
will also take a credit card.
We’ll be sending more information regularly, but if you have questions now, don’t hesitate to let us
know. We’ll see you in Guatemala in 3 months!
Blessings on your preparations,
Marjory & Peter Bankson
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September 29, 2012
Attachment 10
30
Prompt #2 (10 Weeks Out)
List of participants
The “BioBook”
Travel information reminder
DATE
This is the second of a series of emails to help with your preparation for our destination & dates of the
trip.
PARTICIPANTS
We’ve attached a list of all of the participants on this year’s pilgrimage. We are teachers and students,
pastors and accountants, poets and hockey fans from five states, the District of Columbia, and Ontario,
Canada. To know each other a little bit before we meet in person, we will be creating a “bio booklet”
which you will receive about a month before we leave.
BIO BOOK
This year, name of person, who’s been on many of our pilgrimages, will create a booklet with pictures
and a brief description of each of us. You will receive that before we leave, so we can begin to pray for
each other and spot each other at the airport as we arrive in country.
Please respond to the following questions and send them along with a picture to name and email
address:
1. Why do you want to go on this trip? What do you hope to learn?
2. Who do you consider your family? Your community?
3. What is your work or your "call" at this time of your life?
4. Anything that might intrigue or surprise the group to know about you?
It will help if the picture was a "passport style" image of your head and shoulders, a high quality
“portrait” image in “*.jpeg” file format (resolution up to 1600 x 1200). Of course, any picture is better
than no picture at all.
TRAVEL INFORMATION
Please send us your travel information as soon as you have it. Details are needed to connect with each
other at the airport and arrange for our transportation in country. When we know those details, we’ll put
together a list with flight numbers and scheduled arrival times so we can watch for each other.
Blessings on your preparations,
Marjory & Peter Bankson
ATTACHMENT
Pilgrim Address List
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September 29, 2012
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Prompt #3 (8 Weeks Out)
Registration payment reminder
Background on registration money uses
Background on the use of “Pilgrimage”
Suggested reading
BioBook reminder
DATE
This is the third in the series of emails to help your preparation for our work-pilgrimage to destination,
which is coming up on date. If you haven’t already done so, please send us your travel information now.
And send _name & email address your information & picture for the “bio booklet.”
REGISTRATION
The remainder of your registration fee of amount is due date. Please make the check payable to
sponsoring organization and put “destination” in the subject line. The mailing address is: mailing address
and/or PayPal account.
WHERE DOES YOUR MONEY GO?
The entire amount of your fee and your airfare is tax deductible. The sponsoring organization will send
you a letter after the trip to document your gift for this mission trip. To help cover the cost, much of the
work to organize this trip is done by volunteers and the sponsoring organization has generously provided
a scholarship fund. If you need scholarship help, let us know NOW. Here’s how your registration fee will
be spent:
 ___ goes directly to ___ to purchase building materials for the project
 ___ is for food. ___ of that will be changed into local currency and returned to you so you can
purchase your dinner at a place of your choosing.
 ___ is for lodging (identify places)
 ___ covers bus transportation in country
 ___ is for tips, boat rides, extras
 ___ supports our logistics coordinator and fellow pilgrim (name of coordinator)
 ___ is a cushion for unexpected needs.
TOTAL: ____
WHY “PILGRIMAGE” ?
As you make preparations (passport, shots, bio-book), it’s also time to prepare your heart and soul for this
as a sacred journey. We call this a “pilgrimage” rather than a “mission trip” because we want to go with
open hearts and open hands, not a “we know what you need” mindset. In fact, we go as learners, not
teachers. You will be amazed at the warmth and generosity of the people in destination. To see images
from recent projects, check out their website: website address. For background reading, we suggest ___________________________________.
Blessings on your preparations,
Marjory & Peter Bankson
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September 29, 2012
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Prompt #4 (4 Weeks Out)
BioBook update
Travel information
Work site update
Tools & boots
DATE
THE BIO BOOK is COMPLETE!
Name reports that all pictures and texts have been received, and he is proceeding with publication. When
it is finished and mailed, you will be able to see the others who will be sharing this amazing experience.
We hope that you’ll use the time that we have together to observe, ponder and share your thoughts over
meals and on the bus-rides. This will be your chance to “go naked” and leave your electronics at home!
TRAVEL INFORMATION
Thanks for sending us your travel information. Here is a list showing our arrival and departure
information to and from destination. Please check it carefully and make sure we have your up-to-date
flight numbers and arrival times and let us know of any changes.
Note that half of us will be arriving before arrival date & time. We’ll work with names arriving on flights
that day to make sure we know where to meet each other. We’ve made a sign you can print and have with
you, to help us find each other in the always-crowded destination Airport exit (attached).
ARRIVALS
DEPARTURES
WORK SITE
Visit the website at ______ to get an update on the work site. Read more about the background and
socio/economic situation in _____ at _____.
TOOLS & BOOTS
Although local organization will provide basic tools for us (shovels, pliers, wheelbarrows), many people
have found it helpful to bring a special kind of plier for twisting wire to make the rebar “packages” which
are used to reinforce the poured concrete foundation. These are commonly called “end nippers” or “end
cut pliers.” They have a rounded head which gives you more leverage for tightening the wire ties. We
usually bring these for our own use and then leave them with organization for other projects. You will
also need a pair of snug-fitting gloves to keep your hands from getting blisters.
Wearing a sturdy pair of shoes or boots on the worksite will give you both comfort and protection from
accidental injuries. If new, break them in now. And if you have questions about your physical condition,
see that as part of your spiritual preparation for the trip!
Blessings on your preparations,
Marjory & Peter Bankson
Put Your Faith to Work
September 29, 2012
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Prompt #5 (3 Weeks Out)
BioBook & travel update
Packing advice (carry-on and checked bag)
Photos & picture taking
Water bottles & tools
Sanitation
First Aid
Journal
Recognition sign
DATE
BIO BOOK & TRAVEL INFO
Our copies of the “bio book” arrived earlier this week. It was a delight to see your faces and have a bit
more background. There will be lots to talk about as we get to know each other better. And thank you
_____, for this year’s effort to produce and mail the books. It is a gift to us all!
We’ve attached a roster so you can match names, faces and addresses. There have been a few changes in
our arrival and departure information, so an updated chart is also attached.
All of us should plan to meet at the airport at _____________.
_____ has asked bus company to have our bus at the airport by 12:30, so you can look for a ____ tourist
bus in the arrival parking area. ____ will be there with the contact sign. (attached again so you can print
one out to have with you.)
PACKING
CARRY-ON BAG
Here’s the list of items for your carry-on bag or backpack, so you’ll be able to cope if your checked bag
doesn't arrive with you:
 Prescription meds
 Health supplies like Pepto Bismol tabs (one/day prevents most bouts of “tourista,” immodium,
dramamine, cipro etc.
 Basic toilet articles -- include nail clippers and ear-plugs (you will be sharing a room with
others); bar soap if you like that for showers, an extra toothbrush, in case you absentmindedly
stick yours under the tap water.
 Hand sanitizer or moist towelettes
 Camera & batteries or charger
 Sunscreen, dark glasses and a hat
 Water bottle with a wide mouth (for refilling) and a tight lid
 Dark glasses & hat (days are bright)
 Small bottle of soap (to rinse out underwear)
 Umbrella and/or rain poncho.
 Small flashlight. (Sidewalks are uneven and many streets don't have streetlights. We're on the
equator, so it gets dark by 6:30)
 Snacks & gum – for plane and bus rides.
B OOTS. Wear your work boots on the plane. They're heavy and take up lots of room in your suitcase.
Bring a couple of trash bags to wrap boots or dirty clothes in for the return trip. Do not plan to leave
clothing in the village. You can leave used clothing (bagged) at the mission where we’ll be staying at in
_____.
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September 29, 2012
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34
CHECKED BAG ---PACK LIGHT!!! You MUST be able to handle your own luggage. We will
probably be loading all of our luggage on top of the bus at least 3 times. The bus driver will cover that
luggage with a tarp, so you do not need to wrap it in plastic.
Packing List
 Toiletries (shampoo & conditioner, sunscreen, clothesline & pins, vitamins, etc.)
 Moist towelettes, handi-wipes or sanitizer. You can buy a roll of baby wipes and keep some in a
small plastic bag for daily use. They are easier on your skin than the hi-alcohol wipes and can
double as TP.
 1-2 pair jeans/long work pants that you don’t mind getting paint-spattered
 5 clean T-shirts for work site
 Work boots or sturdy tennis shoes. (They’ll get really dirty.)
 Cushiony socks for work boots
 Work gloves (close-fitting leather, cotton – or vinyl for painting)
 Any tools you want to bring (paint brush, pocket knife, multi-tool…)
 Small backpack to take water bottle, camera, gloves etc. to work site
 Sneakers or walking sandals for evenings. (Expect them to get wet)
 Underwear
 Lightweight jacket or shirt (waterproof/resistant is a plus)
 Fleece vest or sweatshirt (mornings/evenings can be cool)
 Casual clothes for evenings and time in _______. (no shorts for women). Nothing dressy or
flashy.
 Sleepwear (we'll be sharing rooms with other pilgrims)
Towels and bedding are provided. In the past, for a nominal fee, we could have washing done. However,
rain sometimes makes drying difficult so be prepared for that.
Your bag will be delivered to the baggage claim area inside the terminal after you pass through
immigration. It helps to mark your checked bag with a colored ribbon to distinguish it from all the others.
And, in case your bag doesn’t make it onto your flight, we have attached a blank baggage destination
form to this e-mail with contact information for the where we will be staying. It really helps to put one of
these, filled out with your name and flight number, INSIDE every checked bag.
PHOTOS & PICTURE-TAKING
We have several excellent photographers on the trip, and we will be gathering the best photos from
everyone to create a summary CD which will be sent to everyone as soon as we can compile it. So, if
you'd rather leave your camera at home, you'll still have pictures of the trip. _____ is one of the most
beautiful countries in the world, and there will be many great shots in the village. We'll offer some
coaching on local customs regarding picture-taking once we get there.
SANITATION
Do carry a small bottle of sanitizer and a packet of baby-wipes or kleenex, because TP is sometimes in
short supply. We will be using an outhouse in ____. There probably won’t be running water at the work
site.
Even in the nicest restaurant or the airport, TP goes in a wastebasket because earthquakes have jostled the
sewer pipes enough so TP is NEVER flushed down.
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35
FIRST AID
We will have a first-aid kit with the usual supplies, but if you have some regular remedies for motion
sickness (for bus travel) or "tourista," do bring them with you. We will do our best to keep you healthy,
but you can probably expect a touch of something that will cause diarrhea while we are down
there. Remember, we will be miles from any regular medical supplies.
JOURNAL
Peter is working on a journal booklet that you will receive once we get there. It's geared to our daily
itinerary with pictures, questions, a few simple phrases in Spanish, and room for your reflections. It will
make a good record of the trip.
Be holding our group in prayer and let us know if you have any last-minute questions.
Blessings on your preparations,
Marjory & Peter Bankson
ATTACHMENTS
1. Pilgrim Roster
2. Recognition sign (Bring it in your carry-on bag)
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September 29, 2012
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Prompt #6 (2 Weeks Out)
Daily schedule
Arrival coordination
Credit card & ATM preparation
Personal safety
Local cultural background
DATE
This contains final preparation information. PLEASE READ CLOSELY.
Part of the challenge of a trip like this will be to discover the gifts that our differences will inevitably
bring. In these preparation e-mails we have tried to give you some basic information that will make the
trip easier for everyone.
EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBERS
We have attached a daily schedule showing where we will be working or visiting, along with emergency
contact information for each of the locations where we will be spending the night. You may want to
leave this information with someone who will be at home while you’re away.
ARRIVAL
More than half of us will be in destination country before our pilgrimage begins on specific time & date.
You should make arrangements to get to the airport with your luggage to meet our group at the specified
time.
___ has arranged for our minibus from ____ to arrive by 12:30 PM. The driver should have one of our
recognition signs so you can check for our bus by showing your copy. _____ will be at the airport in time
to meet the bus and help us all connect.
Since those of us who are arriving on Saturday are coming in on four different flights over a about an
hour and a half it will be helpful to have someone remain inside the terminal to meet the next group.
There are restrooms and places to get something to eat near the gates in the terminal, so you might want
to get something to eat before you go through immigration and get your checked bags. Once we pass
through customs, there is a small waiting area just inside the exit. Our arrival schedule is attached.
Please send us any last-minute corrections!
NOTIFY BANK & CREDIT CARD
Let them know the dates when you will be in _____ so they don't think your ATM or credit card has been
stolen and block any use of the card to make purchases or withdraw cash. Ask what your bank charges
for foreign transactions --- they vary widely. The current exchange rate is _______.
SAFETY
The airport exit is VERY crowded! We need to be watchful and conscious of staying with the group,
especially between the airport and the bus. Keep your money, passport and camera close to your body and
do not let someone "help" you with your luggage!
Put the following in a travel pouch to be tucked inside your shirt or in a zipper pocket:
 Passport & ticket...make a copy to keep in a separate place in case of loss.
 Debit card and/or bank card if you want to withdraw local currency there. You may want to
make copies of these and keep them in a separate, safe place. That way you will have the
bank’s emergency number from the back of the card in case you need it.
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September 29, 2012
Attachment 10
37


Credit card ... can be used safely in most restaurants and stores. (You have already paid
$14/day for dinner which you will receive in local currency on Sunday morning.)
US cash ... $100 or so to buy things at shopping places which would take American money.
Your internal preparation is perhaps more important than all these details. You will be sharing this
adventure with 19 other interesting, intelligent, courageous (and perhaps nervous) pilgrims. We will
discover wonderful and tender things about each other and, given half a chance, grow in our resilience
and ability to love others who are not like your own family or friends.
Blessings on your preparations,
Marjory & Peter Bankson
ATTACHMENTS
Recognition sign
Daily schedule
Arrival schedule
Emergency contact information in Guatemala
Baggage destination form
Put Your Faith to Work
September 29, 2012
Attachment 10
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Prompt #7 (1 Week Out)
Packing – pack light!
Personal electronics
Arrival – Meeting at the airport
Security
Initial schedule (first two days)
DATE
This will be our final "pilgrim prompt" before we meet in destination & time. We have tried to give you
some basic information which, along with the Bio Book, will make your trip go smoothly. Here are some
last minute reminders.
PACKING
Pack light! And be sure to bring a fleece jacket or vest --- weather has been cool (50 at night, 70 daytime).
Also bring a rain poncho and maybe a small umbrella. Don't forget your prescription meds and dark
glasses. If you're planning to take probiotics or Pepto Bismol to counter "tourista," start before you leave
home. Carry your cash and passport inside of your shirt or vest.
ELECTRONICS
This trip is an opportunity to "go naked." Most phones won't work in destination and ear buds invite
thievery. If you use an IPod on the plane, you will need to leave it at the place we are staying while we
are working. We hope you will use the bus ride each day as an opportunity to get to know your fellow
pilgrims. We will have a cell phone on the local network so we can make emergency calls within the
country and there are internet cafes in _____ if you want to contact home during dinner excursions into
_____. We suggest that you take this opportunity to be independent, and NOT to call home.
ARRIVAL
Those arriving by plane on Saturday should coordinate with each other to meet in the baggage claim area
if possible. That will help us collect luggage and move thru immigration and into the public space
together. Police actually keep the crowds outside of the terminal, so the waiting area is fairly hospitable.
The last planeload arrives about 1:30. Remember to bring a copy of the identification sign. It will help us
locate each other in the crowd outside the terminal.
Those who have come in on Friday should come to the airport between 12:30 and 1:30 and go directly to
the bus. _____ has a local cell-phone and will be in touch with the bus company to locate the bus (this is
where your Bio Book and identification sign come in handy for recognition).
Luggage usually goes inside the bus thru a back window, so it will help the bus driver if we load our
luggage as soon as we arrive at the bus. Be prepared to handle your own luggage, and when it goes inside,
please get on the bus and don't wander around.
SECURITY
We will do everything we can to make your trip safe and secure, but you will need to stay with the group
and let people know where you will be if you leave. In the airport, stay with your luggage! It’s important
to watch your carry-on or backpack in the crowd outside the airport. Passports, cameras, wallets and cash
should be secure and out of sight.
SATURDAY SCHEDULE
Once we get everybody and their luggage onto the bus, it will take about an hour to get to _____. Our
rooms have been assigned (couples together; single men and single women together in triads). We'll make
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Attachment 10
39
a quick trip on foot into ______with maps in hand for orientation unless you want to stay at the LC for a
nap. We have arranged to have dinner at the ___________ followed by some "get acquainted" exercises
and turn in early. Many of us will have been up since long before daybreak.
SUNDAY SCHEDULE
Because the retreat center is also a church, we will have an earlier worship service as a group and you will
receive your "dinner money" in local currency. That amounts to about $14/day which should be plenty for
dinner each day. Breakfast and lunches during the week are covered.
After our gathering on Sunday morning, some may want to go to Mass at the beautiful Baroque church,
La Merced. Some may want to head down to the Plaza for brunch (we will give you a list of restaurants
with price range indicated). We'll set a time for a hike up to the mountain above the LC for those who
want an expansive view of the city and surrounding volcanoes.
Sunday will be a great day to rest and relax, visit shops or museums or just roam and take pictures. We
encourage people to stay in groups of 4 (for safety and so you don't overwhelm a small restaurant). There
are several internet cafes if you want to use them, but we recommend that you focus your attention on
being HERE NOW. We will ask everyone to be back inside the gate of the Lutheran Center by 7pm for
some community building, reflection on the day, and guidance for our work schedule on Monday.
Blessings on your final preparations. We look forward to seeing you soon.
Marjory & Peter Bankson
Put Your Faith to Work
September 29, 2012
Attachment 10
40
PUT YOUR FAITH TO WORK
Introducing Ourselves to Each Other
(A sample “BioBook”)
Put Your Faith to Work
September 29, 2012
Attachment 11
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PUT YOUR FAITH TO WORK
Covenant for Participants
From: COVENANT AND RELEASE OF CLAIM FORM
Catoctin Association, Central Atlantic Conference of the United Church of Christ
Therefore, in consideration of the opportunity to participate in the journey described above during the
dates given, and in consideration of other obligations incurred, I hereby agree as follows:
1.
I agree to share my faith in an appropriate Christian manner.
2.
I agree to cooperate at all times with the journey leader concerning our work and life
together, including daily assignments, food, lodging, transportation, participating in worship
and other faith building opportunities, and to stay with the group from beginning to end.
3.
I agree to abstain from habits that may offend our hosts and other group members while on
the journey such as the use of alcohol and tobacco and gambling.
4.
Further, I hereby release and discharge the organizations that helped in these arrangements,
their agents, employees, and officers, from all claims, demands, actions, judgments, or
executions that I have ever had, or now have, or may have, or which my heirs, executors,
administrators or assign may have or claim to have, against the organizations, their agents,
employees, and officers, and their successor or assigns, for all personal injuries, known or
unknown, and injuries to property, real or personal, caused by, or arising out of, the abovedescribed journey. I intend to be legally bound by this statement.
5.
I hereby acknowledge that by engaging in the above-described journey, I am subjecting
myself to certain risks voluntarily, including and in addition to those risks that I normally
face in my personal and business life, including but not limited to such things as health
hazards; potential injury while working; and inadequate medical facilities.
With respect specifically to the travel group, I also agree as follows:
1. I understand that group cooperation is essential to the success of the journey; I hereby agree to be
present at all group orientation events prior to the journey unless prohibited by illness or another
commitment that has been cleared by the group leader, and I will be responsible for information
given at events I must miss.
2. I understand that every group member is expected to share freely from their particular blessings
and talents, whether that is skills such as interpreting, music, art, carpentry, or basic hard work. I
hereby agree to participate in these ways as fully as possible.
Put Your Faith to Work
September 29, 2012
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PUT YOUR FAITH TO WORK
Sample Packing List
This packing list was developed for a 10-day work pilgrimage to Guatemala. Climate, duration
and the nature of the work will affect your packing list.
Packing List
Be sure to double check the weight restrictions imposed by your airline on checked baggage. Not all
airlines allow the same weight for your checked bags! And, remember that most airlines are now
charging for checked bags.
_____ Passport (visa not required)
_____ Copies of passport and airline ticket (to leave at Lutheran Center or hotel)
_____ Money: ATM card or traveler’s checks(Notify your bank of your travel plans!)
_____ Medications (in their original containers)
_____ First aid and health supplies (Immodium, Dramamine, Cipro, Pepto tablets, etc.)
_____ Liquid anti-bacterial soap or moist towelettes;
_____ Camping toilet paper or facial tissue in pocket packs (for use in the village)
_____ Sunscreen and insect repellant
_____ Washcloth and toiletries (shampoo, soap, etc.)
_____ Your journal (for your pilgrim reflections)
_____ Camera, batteries, accessories, film (Film can be purchased there.)
_____ Flashlight and batteries
_____ Sunglasses; backup eyeglasses if you need them
_____ Alarm clock
_____ Water bottle with tight cover can be purchased there. (We take water to the work
site, and you can buy bottled water almost everywhere)
_____ Snacks – granola bars, peanuts, raisins, trail mix, etc. for the bus ride home
(We provide something every day, but if you have a favorite…)
_____ 1-2 pair jeans/long work pants
_____ Work shoes (boots or tennis shoes) They’ll get muddy.
_____ cushiony sox for your work shoes
_____ t-shirts or old shirts for the work site
_____ Shoes or sandals that give you adequate support for walking on cobblestones.
_____ Work gloves (leather or heavy duty). You’ll need them on the worksite!
_____ Hat with a brim
_____ Casual clothes for evenings and sight-seeing
_____ Something to wear while sleeping. We may be sharing rooms with other pilgrims.
_____ Lightweight jacket (water proof/resistant is a plus); umbrella It’s been raining!
_____ Sweater, sweatshirt or fleece vest (nights can be cool)
Pack as light and small as you can.
We will probably be loading these on the top of the bus at least 3 times!
Put Your Faith to Work
September 29, 2012
Attachment 13
43
PUT YOUR FAITH TO WORK
Sample Packing List
This packing list was developed for a month-long work pilgrimage to Kenya where participants
were camping and cooking as a group.
Put Your Faith to Work
September 29, 2012
Attachment 13
44
PUT YOUR FAITH TO WORK
Sample Group Identification Sign
We send a file of this sign to all participants and our transportation company before we
depart. It helps us get together in the destination airport.
Sample Luggage ID Form
We send a file with this form to all participants, and recommend that the put a completed
copy in every piece of luggage. More than once it has helped expedite delivery of delayed
baggage.
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September 29, 2012
Attachment 13
45
PUT YOUR FAITH TO WORK
Commissioning and Covenant Service
(Use this resource to send a group on a mission trip and involve the congregation.)
"Act for Transformation -- Be Transformed for Action"
Covenant And Commissioning Service
For Mission Trip Groups & Congregations
Leader: There are many different gifts, but it is the same Spirit who gives them. There are many different
ways of serving God, but it is the same Lord who is served. each one of us is given a gift by the Spirit to
use for the common good. Individually, we are members of the body of Christ. Together, we are the body
of Christ.
Mission Trip Group Members: We are ready to embark on a Mission Trip experience. We have prayed
and prepared. We have gathered as a group and are ready to be sent out ot be God's servants in the service
of others.
Leader: Friends, you are entrusted by this congregation to embody God's love during this mission trip.
Group Members: We look forward to touching the world with new hearts.
Leader: Friends, you are commissioned by this congregation to share your skills and passions and to
learn from the people you will meet.
Group Members: We hope to participate in buildnig community with new commitments.
Leader (to congregation): We covenant with you and before God to journey with you in prayer and to be
open to new ideas for action when the group returns. We joyfully expect to participate in god's mission
with you through the experience of this trip.
Mission Trips
Seeing people with new eyes
Touching the world with new hearts
Building community with new commitments
Engaging lives in ways that change our own.
--Mary Schaller Blaufuss-Executive for Volunteer Ministries
Suggested Hymns:
"GOD, YOU LOVE THE WORLD!" A Hymn of Dedicaton Before a Mission Trip In Gifts of Love: New
Hymns for Today's Worship by Carolun Winfrey Gillette (Geneva Press, 200) Also used on page 79,
Mission Tripos That Matter: Embodied Faith for the Sake of the World by Don C. Richter.
"WON'T YOU LET ME BE YOUR SERVANT?"
In New Century Humnal No. 539 by Richard Gillard
"O FOR A WORLD"
In New Century Hymnal No. 575 by Miriam Therese Winter
From UCC Web Site: Volunteer Ministries/Mission Trip Opportunities:
(http://www.ucc.org/volunteer/mission-trip-opportunities/commissioning-and-covenant.html)
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September 29, 2012
Attachment 14
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Put Your Faith to Work
Sample Commissioning Liturgy
Habitat Workers
Rockville United Church, Rockville, MD
Since 1990 Rockville United Church has been involved in fundraising and an annual work camp
to build Habitat homes in Garrett County, MD. Next Sunday this year’s group (with all of our
hearts) along with folk from Bethesda UCC and Seneca Valley UCC will set out for a week of
construction work
We are proud that our congregation is engaged in this vital ministry that provides shelter to
families that otherwise would be living in substandard housing or might even be homeless.
Today we commission those who will be representing all of us in the actual physical labor of
making raw materials into homes.
Will those who are going on the Habitat Trip please stand?
In unison:
O God, we pray your special blessing on these workers, our friends, who will be Christ’s
hands and feet doing the same kind of work that Jesus did before he started his
preaching/teaching/healing ministry.
Give them safe travel to and from the work-site. Keep them safe from injuries and
weather-related harm. May they enjoy fellowship with one another. And may they return
with the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant” ringing in their ears.
Amen.
Summer 2012
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September 29, 2012
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Put Your Faith to Work
Sample Commissioning Liturgy
Mission Trip Participant
UCC Seneca Valley, Germantown, MD
We gather today as disciples of Jesus the Christ, whose ministry we seek to follow as a guide to
our own living. This congregation has a history of sending out disciples to be in ministry beyond
an easy commute to Germantown. Many of us have gone to Morgantown, West Virginia with
Habitat for Humanity; Dan Davis, Beth Lauriat, and Susan Pearcy have gone even farther with
their work in Guatemala; Arthur and Jasna Keys frequently travel around the world to extend
care; Aaron Deckenback served in South Africa. Last Sunday, we commissioned John
Deckenback as he travels in the Middle East to observe the work of the church in refugee camps.
Today, we have the privilege and the joy of commissioning Dan Davis once again for ministry in
Guatemala. (Invite Dan to say a word about the work he will be doing.)
Dan, on behalf of this congregation, I remind you as you travel, and in your work and in your
leisure, that you are an ambassador for Christ as well as an ambassador for the United Church of
Christ and for the United Church of Christ of Seneca Valley. Remember who you are; remember
whose you are, especially as you work with people whose needs are great. May you be a bearer
of hope and of peace.
Let us pray:
Holy One, we commission Dan Davis in your name for the ministry of faith and work as he joins
others who will serve through Faith@Work. Guide, inspire, strengthen them, we pray, that by
their service they may be a light to others, and the body of Christ may continue to know your
blessing. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
In the name of Jesus, and on behalf of the United Church of Christ of Seneca Valley, I declare
that you are commissioned for your ministry of hope and presence.
Developed by Rev. Carolyn Roberts
7.13.2008
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On the Trip: Plan for the Unexpected
Once the group has arrived at its destination, your job as leader takes on another guise. You become both
shepherd and participant, encourager and problem-solver. That is made infinitely easier if there are two or
three of you sharing the leadership responsibilities. We have found that having one person to focus on
arrangements, one person concerned with logistics and one person to guide the spiritual dimension means
that everyone gets some time simply to be a participant.
Schedule & room assignments. Once on site, you may discover that your schedule or previouslyplanned room assignments don’t work. The group will be watching to see how you handle those changes.
If you meet those challenges with flexibility and good humor, they will be encouraged to do likewise.
First gathering. Plan your first gathering in-country carefully. Even if people have been meeting together
at home, this is a different situation. Be clear, positive and have your materials ready. Begin with a candle
and a prayer. Leave room for the Spirit to work. Remember that “we are in this together.” [ATCH 15:
First Gathering, pg. 49]
Trip journal. The first gathering is a good time to distribute a trip journal or talk about the practice of
keeping a journal. There will be many new things to note and we will forget them without intentional
effort. Taking pictures is not enough, because it is in the nuances that we will be stretched toward God’s
work in the world. Learning how to “love one another as I have loved you…” will take many forms. A
journal is one good way to track that. [ATCH 16: Journal, pg. 51]
Daily schedule. Be clear about the daily schedule and expected meeting times. Be prompt, even if that is
not the local custom. Begin each day with prayer, simple stretching exercises, and a focus question. Then,
in the evening, return to that question for your evening reflection session. If you are working hard during
the day, it will be a temptation to skip the evening reflections. DON’T DO THAT. [Attachment 17:
Morning & Evening Questions, pg. 52]
Conversation on the bus can be encouraged with a few “Starter” questions. [Attachment 18: Bus
Conversation Starters, pg. 53]
Head off complaints. You can alert people to some of the difficulties by simply naming them: lack of
supplies, changing schedules, same food every day, never drink the water or use ice (made from that
water). Don’t over-react to complaints. Discomfort is often the beginning stage of growth.
Integration. Whoever leads the evening reflection should be knowledgeable about the local situation as
well as comfortable with group process. Each night, the group will be creating its own version of God’s
story here, in this place. Your style of leadership matters a lot.
Closure. It’s really important to have some kind of closing ceremony. We have made that a final banquet,
complete with funny skits and songs, followed by a circle for closing words and prayer.
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On Site Community-building
First Gathering
Introductions
Begin by having each person introduce him/herself into the circle … and say one thing that you
noticed about your destination.
 Leader: speak about following the thread of what you noticed back to your values, your
own cultural perspective and the questions that raises (e.g. if you noticed how many
people have no shoes, your value could be “People need shoes” and the question might be
“Why don’t they have shoes?”) Encourage using your journal to track what you notice.
Singing
If you have someone with a good strong voice, introduce a simple song which might become a
touchstone for your group.
Orientation
In the whole group, brainstorm the differences between tourist and pilgrim. According to Trevor
Hudson in A Mile in My Shoes, a pilgrim come “as learners, not as teachers; as receivers, not as
givers; as listeners, not as talkers.” Acknowledge that we all have elements of both tourist and
pilgrim, but that this trip is designed to develop our pilgrim capacity to “love one another” (John
15:12). That means opening ourselves to each other while we are here, as well as engaging
deeply with the people and place where we are.
 5-minute mixers (in pairs, each person gets 2 minutes to answer the question; leader rings
a chime to signal when the other person speaks; after each person has spoken, invite them
to breathe deeply & silently acknowledge hearing the story.)
o A family trip I remember taking … something I loved and something difficult;
o What I learned about myself on the trip I just told about;
o A recent travel experience that had an element of pilgrimage for me;
o Something on this trip that I am concerned about;
o How I can imagine myself growing from this mission trip experience.
 Talk about being present as a spiritual experience. We have the opportunity to practice
being present to ourselves, with our room-mates and trip-mates, and with those in this
new place.
 Either develop Group Guidelines from what the group knows, or share your expectations
of group behavior.
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Going Deeper
Begin with some background of the local situation. Touch on political, economic and social
events which your group will encounter. Emphasize some of the strength and resilience that you
have seen in the local situation. Even though the group has prepared by reading or earlier travel,
each time and place presents a fresh opportunity for learning and inner growth.
Share a bit of your own story about why this mission trip matters to you.
 Divide the group into quads (4 people) by counting off (to scatter friends who might be
sitting together). Give them 20 minutes (5 minutes each) to talk about “Why this trip
matters to me” and “Some of the things I am worried about.” Use the bell to signal the
end of each 5-minute segment (to get them used to speaking and listening equally).
 In the whole group, name some of the concerns or fears that were shared in the above
exercise and discuss how those might be dealt with.
Guidance, Directions, Details…
Share any details or directions that the group needs for the next day. Answer questions.
 Close with a standing circle and have each person speak about something they
appreciated about the evening. Then close with a prayer (and maybe the same song).
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Attachment 15
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PUT YOUR FAITH TO WORK
Daily Journal Sample
Put Your Faith to Work
September 29, 2012
Attachment 16
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PUT YOUR FAITH TO WORK
Morning and Evening Reflections
Morning Stretches
Stretching together before breakfast gives the leader a chance to gather the group, encourage
gratitude for the day, encourage some touch and laughter, check on people and check on needed
articles for the work-site (sunscreen, water-bottles, gloves etc.) Morning stretch is not a contest.
This is a good time to introduce a song with motions (e.g. “I step into the flow”)
You might end with a focus for the day which you will pick up on at the end of the day. Here are
some suggestions:
1) What touched me about our first day on the work-site? What values do I see in this
community? And among our group of pilgrims? How are they different? Or similar?
2) Where did I see the face of Christ today? How can I describe that? What annoyances shed
light on my assumptions or expectations? How can I grow beyond those?
3) How is this trip a pilgrimage for me? Where did God surprise me today?
4) What gift do I have to offer on the work-site? To the other pilgrims? What blocks me?
5) Where am I being tested on this pilgrimage? What feeds my soul?
6) What strengths do I see among the people here? What structural issues could support
their goals (transportation, education, economic, spiritual, etc.)
7) If God is love, where did I see the face of God today?
Evening Reflections
Bring a candle and matches for a focal point/altar (often these are hard to find on-site.) Begin
with a song or two. Bring a song sheet which can be seen in semi-darkness. Simple camp songs
work best to gather the group together. Ask different people to offer an opening prayer.
A theme which may help embrace highs and lows is this: “God is always a surprise.” Start with
highpoints of the day in the whole circle --- don’t go into a lot of detail. Then ask for lowpoints,
to acknowledge difficulties without getting sidetracked by those.
Then count off or divide the group into triads or quads for 20 minutes of sharing from the
morning question (listed above). Each night, these should be different groupings, so there will be
some depth sharing with everyone by the end of the trip. Use a chime to call the group back
together.
Ask for any “surprises” to share with the whole group. Give reminders & directions for the next
day. End with a closing song and a quiet prayer standing in a circle.
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PUT YOUR FAITH TO WORK
Bus Conversation Starters
Here are some ideas for encouraging conversation on rides to and from your work site. Notice
that these are not “yes” or “no” questions:

I’m interested in why you decided to come on this trip?

Tell me a little bit about yourself? What prompted you to come?

What other kinds of travel experiences have you had?

What are some of the cultural differences that you are seeing here?

What makes this trip a stretch for you?

What kind of reading did you do before we got here? Other resources you explored?

What do you know about the background of our workplace? Political situation here?

How are you doing with our diet here? Or the daily schedule?

How does it feel to be without our electronic connections?

Are you getting some space to reflect on God’s presence here?

As a spiritual experience, how do you see God at work here?

If you could make a single change here, what would it be?

If you could make a single change back home, what would it be?

Who would you like to share this trip with? Why?

How will you share this experience with others?
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PUT YOUR FAITH TO WORK
After the Trip: Planning for Follow-up
Planning for follow-up is a critical part of the trip. The spiritual effects of living and working together can
be helped by planning to share pictures and stories with your sponsoring organization or interested
financial supporters.
If the group is traveling home together, make sure you have a legal hand-off for any minors that you have
been responsible for. Make sure you have shared information about further contact, sharing pictures,
evaluation and any reunion plans.
Evaluation forms. We have found that an evaluation email about one week after the trip elicits the most
thoughtful responses. It doesn’t have to be elaborate. You want to know the highlights, the learnings, the
stretches and the “Next time I wish…” answers. You may also use the evaluation to encourage action
steps after the trip. [ATCH 19: Evaluation Form, pg. 55]
Sharing pictures. Usually there will be 2-3 ardent photographers on the trip. You can ask everyone to
send their best pictures (set a limit on the number if you need to) for a collective CD. Whoever does the
CD will get duplicates of the most picturesque moments, but nobody takes pictures of themselves, so it is
a way to get everyone into the common story. If you create a CD with fewer than 200 pictures, it can be
used to publicize the trip next year. If you have had major donors, it makes a really nice gift. Now that
everyone has access to a computer screen, the CD can easily be shown. [ATCH 20:Ssample CD Covers,
pg. 56]
Engaging others. Telling the story to others is an important part of integrating a mission trip experience.
Writing an article, creating a bulletin board, speaking from the pulpit and/or having a festive meal
followed by pictures can evoke stories in different ways.
If you can identify and encourage those with leadership potential, you may even have planted the seeds of
another trip. And if you are willing to mentor someone else into some part of the leadership team is a
good way to develop new spiritual leaders in your community.
Put Your Faith to Work
September 29, 2012
After the Trip
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Sample Evaluation
SEEKERS CHURCH
2012 Pilgrimage to Guatemala
July 14-24, 2012
Participant Survey
Using your Pilgrim Journal as a reminder of our daily activities, please write a short paragraph about a
highlight of this pilgrimage for you.
Please sign this if you are willing to have it used by PAVA or on our website.
_______________________
Demographic Information:
Sex: (check one) M____
F____
Age: (check one)
18-29____
30-39____
40-49____
50-59____
60-69____
70+____
Are you connected to a Faith Community? If so, what denomination ____________________________
Pilgrimage Information:
How did you value the evening reflection times?
What was an important learning for you?
What changes can you suggest?
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Put Your Faith to Work
Photo Collection CDs
1. On the trip, invite those who love to
take pictures to look for images
to share.
2. After the trip, invite all who
want to share images to
send them to one
“editor.”
3. Select images to tell a
story of the trip.
4. Consider creating a short
slide show for public
presentation.
5. Create a CD label from
select images.
6. Burn the CD and mail to all
participants with cover letter.
Put Your Faith to Work
September 29, 2012
Attachment 20