Planning a Missions Trip

As Youth Leaders, Jeanne and I are planning a Missions trip to Juarez, Mexico in August of 2008. This gives us about a year and half to raise the funds and prepare our youth for the trip. As this is the first missions trip we have ever been on, I would like as much advice as possible.

Our trip will be through the Missions Volunteer Program (MVP) sponsored by General Baptist International Missions. The MVP team will be made up of 22 people, actually we can take a few more if some don't mind sleeping on the floor. The team will stay at the Team House located in El Paso, TX and cross the border daily to Juarez for work, and back to El Paso each night.

We are estimating the cost per person at $800 each to include travel, food, housing and the project cost. This price may vary depending on what project we end up deciding to do on the trip.

As part of our preparation I want to plan some local missions projects for the group who is interested in going to make sure they understand we are there to do God's Work and not take a vacation. I was thinking helping at the local Rescue Mission, food pantries, and Habitat for Humanity.

For those of you who have been part of or planned these types of trips I could use some advice. Hear is a few questions I have.

1. What is a good ratio of teens to adults. I am thinking 15 kids (ages 12 and up) and 7 adults for our 22 team members.

2. What types of fund raising events have been successful for you? Any unique ideas would be appreciated.

3. What types of projects have you done on your trips? Would some be better for a group of teens?

4. What surprises should I expect either in the planning, or on the actual trip.


Bill :godisgood:

 

At this point the youngest interested youth will be 13 when we take the trip, and that is my son, there may be one other 13 yr. old, and a 14 yr old, all of the others will be at least 16. Of couse in the time before the trip all that can change. I am concerned that all of the teens not just the younger ones need to understand what they are getting into. That is why I want to work with some local missions.

Great idea on the ATM card. We already have an account with one, but I hadn't thought of it saving on exchange fees.

Thanks for the suggestions on wordless dramas. I'll see what I can find.

To be frank with you it might be better to find a facility that you can stay at in Juarez. It would be far less hassle and probably more productive for the group.[/quote]

I have already been warned about the time it takes to cross the border. It is also my understanding that next year Passports will be required, so that is one more thing we need to have taken care of in advance.

I agree that from a hassle point it might be easier to stay in Juarez, however using the team house in El Paso is how General Baptist International wants things done. The house is set up for the MVP teams to use.


Thanks....Bill:godisgood: