SARAPIQUE, COSTA RICA - July 17-23, 2024
July 17 - 23, 2024 | Merge
SARAPIQUE, COSTA RICA - July 17-23, 2024
Trip #27043
Trip #27043
SARAPIQUE, COSTA RICA - July 17-23, 2024
Trip #27043
What the Mission Trip Will Be Like
The Global Church is inviting you to participate in what God is doing in the banana plantation region of Sarapiqu, Costa Rica. Our partner is La Iglesia Pueblo de Cristo. The church, in Heredia, set up a mission church years ago and have been working with the Nicaraguan immigrants who work on the banana plantations. The team will be engaged in community-based ministries led by the church. Any age group is invited. Trips are led, staffed and implemented by Costa Rican Nationals.
The village where the church is located is called La Malinche, Sarapiqui. This village is made up primarily of Nicaraguan immigrants who do not have legal status in Costa Rica, and therefore do not receive any government support (except a simple education). The families work in the banana plantations for very low wages. The village is isolated; about 30 minutes down a dirt road and over rivers to arrive in the community. The city of Puerto Viejo is about one hour away.
The following are the primary ministry opportunities in La Malinche, Sarapiqui of Costa Rica, requested by the mission church:
– Educational Classes in public schools
– Children's Ministry
– Community Development
– Women's Ministry – crafts, cosmetology
– Sports Ministry
– Feeding Programs
– Home Visits
Trips are designed by local partners. The local mission, and parent church in Heredia, is deisgning the trip to help them connect with the community in deeper ways.
All trips are led, staffed and implemented by Costa Rican Nationals and Latin American church leaders. Merge is an organization directed by a leadership team made up of non-American Global Church leaders from around the world. Once you register for the trip,you will be contacted and participate in the preparation for the trip. Local nationals will be hired as interpreters, guides, ministry coaches, cooks, and construction supervisors (if needed).
Housing – church housing. It is a very rudimentary location. Participants will need to bring air mattresses/camping pads, sheets, pillows and mosquito netting.
Food – Usually teams are fed two-American/Canadian-style uncooked meals each day, and one cooked Costa Rican meal made by local cooks, although more Costa Rican meals are possible. Purified water is also supplied for teams.
Flights – participants would fly to San Jose, Costa Rica.
Ground Transportation – Merge will hire local van company to drive the team around Costa Rica, and from the airport in Costa Rica.
Learning – Learning activites with local church leaders and Merge staff will be designed into the itinerary.
Cultural Activities – Costa Rica is rich in wildlife, tropical rain forests, volcanoes and beaches. Numerous national parks in the rain forests can be visited. Cascadas de la Paz is one nice location to visit. Volcan Arenal and Volcan Poas can be visited. There are beach areas near Jaco and the Guanacaste area. Zip lines and kayaking are popular as well. There are no tourist activities as part of the itinerary of this trip, but participants are welcome to arrive in Costa Rica early, or leave later, in order to enjoy Costa Rica. The Merge staff is willing to help with planning your own personal tourist visit.
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Relation of Opportunity to National Church and/or Long-term Goals
Merge is an organization directed and led by Global Church leaders, not North Americans. This gives Merge a Global lens in preparing and implementing short-term trips.
All Merge trips are directed, organized, staffed and led by the national church. All Merge custom trips are mutually designed by the national partner in communication with the short-term trip leader. Teams learn FROM the local church leaders and pastors. The local church/ministries are inviting teams from the United States and Canada to participate in what God is already doing in their communities. Teams PARTICIPATE in ongoing ministries within the community of the local church and organization. The goal is to do ministry WITH local partners, not FOR them.
Merge trips to Costa Rica are created by Costa Rican nationals in partnership with the local churches in order to create an opportunity for the team and local congregation/community members to do ministry together, learn from each other, build relationships with each other, and further the ministry of the local churches.
Additional Trip Information
Mission Trip Offered By Merge
The GLOBAL CHURCH INVITING North Americans TO PARTICIPATE IN WHAT GOD IS DOING AROUND THE WORLD. Merge is directed by a team of Global Church leaders from five continents. All Merge trips are organized, led, and staffed by the Global Church. This gives Merge a UNIQUE non-North American perspective on short-term trips.
THE GLOBAL CHURCH INVITING – the initiative and leadership are from the Global Church, not the North American church to GO and lead
TO PARTICIPATE IN – the participation is active involvement and learning through what the Global Church is already doing. The focus is on involvement WITH, not doing FOR – active learning involves participation as well as reflection
WHAT GOD IS DOING AROUND THE WORLD – Missio Dei – God is actively involved around the world – North Americans can discover what God is already doing through followers of Christ around the world
OUTCOME – for participants from North America and the Global Church to be strengthened in their relationship with Jesus Christ, increase in passion for inter-cultural relationships, to implement God-inspired behaviors, and initiate new ministries and social change in their church and communities
Primary Values include:
LEARNING – God is doing amazing things through the global church. There is so much to learn about ministry and how God is working around the world. Come and learn!
RELATIONSHIPS – The kingdom of God is built on relationships, which are the key to a successful mission and ministry. Come and connect with followers of Jesus from around the world.
BRING IT HOME WITH YOU – When you return home, we want your vision and passion for your church, your community, and your own life in Christ to expand