Intergenerational Mission Trip to
Dominican Republic
June 25 - July 4, 2014
Informational Meeting
December 1, 2013
Agenda for Today
What is Foundation For Peace?
Some thoughts to consider about Mission Trips
When is the trip and what will we do there?
Expectations for
participants and schedule
of future events
Q&A
DR 2014 Planning Team
Pastoral Leader: Aisha Brooks-Little
Youth Ministry Leaders: Andrew Hostetter and
Sarah Hostetter
Global Mission Leaders: Carol Diehl and Michelle
Butler
Foundation For Peace
Mission Statement
FOUNDATION FOR PEACE is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit
organization dedicated to education in the United States
and to working hand in hand with people in materially
impoverished communities in the Dominican Republic, Haiti
and Kenya to provide educational support, healthcare
access, economic opportunity and hope. We work together
as long-term partners in solidarity to enable personal
success and community achievement. We believe this will
result in sustainable and successful initiatives that relieve
the effects of poverty, encourage personal growth, and
overcome injustice.
Foundation For Peace
History
1989: Dr. Ken Culver co-leads youth mission trip
from National Presbyterian Church to the
Dominican Republic (DR)
After such a positive experience, leads more
youth trips to the DR, and expands it to all ages
with the help of his wife and kids
2002: Foundation For Peace (FFP) incorporates
to accommodate the growing number of
volunteers
Foundation For Peace
History (cont’d)
2005: Started DominiKids, a student
sponsorship program
2006: Expanded ministry into Haiti
2007: Expanded ministry into Kenya
2008: FFP begins collecting donations of
medicine, furniture and vehicles to ship to the
island twice/year
Some FFP Stats
Since members of FFP began working in the
DR, short term mission teams have built:
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30 Churches
13 Schools
8 Community Gardens
14 Water Purification Facilities
6 Medical clinics
More than 5,000 volunteers from hundreds of
mission teams!
Key components to FFP Ministry
Medical Outreach includes nursing clinics, one-day
medical clinics, home health visits, medical training,
hearing assessment and disease prevention education
Ministry Outreach includes worship, children’s
ministries (e.g. vacation Bible school) and evangelism
efforts
Community Development includes building latrines,
gardens, houses, basketball courts and playgrounds,
distributing food and clothing, and providing special
assistance to individuals and families.
Why Go on an International Mission
Trip?
Serving, living, and loving people of other cultures and
contexts helps us better see the world through God’s eyes.
Acts 1:8 says “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit
comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and
in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
God never intended his people to
be insular, but interconnected
Why Go on an International Mission
Trip? (cont’d)
II Cor. 8:14-15 says “At the present time your plenty will supply
what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you
need. The goal is equality, as it is written: “The one who
gathered much did not have too much, and the one who
gathered little did not have too little.”
God has given us plenty, but most nations and communities
have not been as blessed, monetarily, as ours
There are ways that God wants to bless us through the
people of the DR
Why Go on an International Mission
Trip? (cont’d)
An American reporter asked Mother Theresa which is the
poorest country she had ever been to; she replied:
“Yes, yes, yes. I have been to many countries and seen much
poverty and suffering. Everywhere I go people tell me of their
hardships and struggles, and ask for help, and I give what I can.
But of all the countries I have been to, the poorest one I have
been to is America.”
Somewhat shocked, the reporter informed Mother Teresa that
America was one of the richest countries and questioned how it
could be the poorest.
“Because”, she replied, “America suffers most from the poverty of
loneliness.”
Why the Dominican Republic?
Same time zone.
A ten day trip is easily done.
Already existing connections in the DR (CURE
International and PCUSA Missionaries.)
Awesome first hand testimonials on FFP and DR.
An ongoing relationship with FFP and the community in
the DR is expected and maintainable.
Why an Intergenerational Trip?
We are one church – not children ministry, youth
ministry, young adult ministry, and adult ministry
There are so many things people of all ages can learn
from each other
The Bible is full of stories where God works through
teams of people where the young and adults worked
side by side
Jesus and disciples, Paul and Timothy, Moses and
Joshua, Eli and Samuel, Elijah and Elisha, etc.
Why You?
Fellowship with believers from our own congregation
Fellowship with new friends and believers in the DR
Use our God-given gifts and talents to help out others and to
share Jesus’ love, as Jesus commands us to do
Deepen our personal relationship with Christ
Broaden our understanding of privilege and generosity
Stretching ourselves to learn about and experience life in
another country
Understanding the Faith-Journey of Christians outside USA
Dates of the Trip
June 25th: Depart Philadelphia at 1:20pm, arrive in
Santo Domingo at 7:10pm
June 26th-July 3rd: Work with Foundation For Peace
partners in the DR
July 4th: Depart Santo Domingo 7:20am, arrive in
Philadelphia at 4:35pm
Details about the Trip
Open to all WPC church members and affiliates
All ages are welcome; anyone under 16 yrs will need an
accompanying adult relative
Stay at accommodations near the FFP partner community
Lodging, food, in-country transport, security, and
construction supplies are included/provided by FFP
Flights to/from Philadelphia have been arranged by WPC
Sample Mission Trip Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive, evening devotion
Day 2-3: Construction project at work site
Day 4: Vacation Bible School
Day 5: Medical Clinic
Day 6: Construction project
Day 7: Tour of Santo Domingo / VBS
Day 8-9: Construction project
Day 10: Trip back to USA
Your Cost to Participate
$1930 per person ($750 for flights, $1180 for all FFP
expenses)
⅓ of this total (approximately $640+) should be received as
financial support from others
⅓ of this total (~$640) will be met through group
fundraisers
⅓ of this total (the remainder) will be your family’s
responsibility
Other expenses may include immunizations, passport,
insurance, luggage fees (extra bag), personal, etc.
Expectations of each Participant
Attend and participate in training classes (see next slide for
tentative schedule)
Actively participate in fundraising activities
Meet all deadlines for application and payments
First Due Date: Complete an application with a deposit of
$250 on or before January 5th, 2014.
Pray for our hearts, our team, our church, and our brothers
and sisters in the DR
Tentative Schedule of Training
Sessions (11am Sunday Mornings)
February 2
April 6
February 9
April 27
March 2
May 4th
March 23
May 18th
What Happens Next?
• Pray about your participation in this Intergenerational
Mission Trip
• Fill out an application and provide $250 deposit to Mary
Lou Kendus before Jan 5th, 2014 (First come, first serve
basis for group flight arrangements and pricing)
• Applications will be reviewed between Jan 5-17, 2014
• Feb 2nd first group meeting!
Other Ways to Participate
• Become a prayer partner with one person or several people
who will be going on the DR Mission trip
• Help organize and then support the fundraising efforts
• Help team learn Spanish, about DR and about mission
• Help collect items for medical, educational and project needs.
• Write articles for newspaper – before and after trip
• Drive team to airport and pick up from airport
Questions?
Thank you for coming
and we hope to see you on the
Intergenerational Mission Trip
to the Dominican Republic!