Fall 2021 Mission Trip To Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama
If you want to be the hands and feet of Jesus while getting a behind-the-scenes taste of missional business, this is the trip for you.
Learn MoreNicaragua
LOCATION: Granada, Nicaragua
MINISTRY: REAP Granada
FOCUS: Prayer Walking, Sports Ministry, Community Outreach, Prison Ministry, Community Development
Called "The Land of Lakes and Volcanoes," thick rainforests, rugged highlands, and beautiful beaches define Nicaragua’s landscape. However, hopelessness, addiction, destitution, and poverty plague many in Nicaragua. The poorest nation in Central America, almost 80% of Nicaraguans live on less than $2 a day. One in four Nicaraguans is either starving or suffering from malnutrition. Entire families live on and scrounge for scraps in city dumps. The people of Nicaragua need to know they are seen, loved, and not forgotten by God.
REAP Granada believes that transformation in Nicaragua happens through relationships. These relationships come from various Touchpoints in the community. From meeting people on the basketball court, to visiting them in their homes, to working together on the farm, to discipling men and women in Bible study, Touchpoints drive both the mission and vision to transform lives through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
SAMPLE MINISTRY DAY
A day with REAP Granada would look like having breakfast and a morning devotional at the campus. Heading into the community to visit people in their homes. Joining in sports ministry or a men’s group in the late afternoon. Working on a project at the farm. And enjoying dinner at REAP, prepared by locals.
Costa Rica
LOCATION: Costa Rica
MINISTRY: Ocean’s Edge
FOCUS: Community Development, Community Outreach, Children’s Ministry
A hot spot for surfing, Costa Rica is an adventure-seeker’s paradise. Between its stunning beaches, lush rainforests, and beautiful people, it’s easy to enjoy "pura vida" there. Outside of the tourist destinations, however, are large pockets of poverty and broken families throughout the nation. The country itself is transitioning from self-sufficient farming societies to more urban living. Traditional morals and lifestyles are giving way to a modern, consumer-oriented world.
Our partner, Ocean’s Edge, is showing Jaco, Costa Rica what it means to love your neighbor through a variety of community outreaches. God’s light is being shown in the darkness throughout Jaco through art mural projects and the intentionality of prayer for one another. They also love the beautiful people of Costa Rica through kids programs and surf club, a prenatal center, serving with a local church.
SAMPLE MINISTRY DAY
A day with Ocean’s Edge would look like waking up to the warm weather of the Pacific. Grocery shopping at local stores and preparing meals alongside your teammates. Diving into all of the different ministry opportunities Jaco has waiting for you. Learning business skills and how to take your dreams from ideas to reality.
Panama
LOCATION: Chiriqui, Panama
MINISTRY: Global Food Partners
FOCUS: Community Outreach, Manual Labor
Home to the Panama Canal and the largest rainforest outside of the Amazon, the country of Panama connects Central and South America. And thanks to the Canal, which connects the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic, Panama is one of the leading economies in Central America. But the Panama Canal is a two-edged sword, because it also allows for increased drug trafficking. Panama sits at a place of power of opportunity in the world, as it holds the key to crossing between oceans, hemispheres, and continents. Will you live your faith in this land of possibility and potential?
Global Food Partners’ mission is feeding the world from the organic root level to the refrigerator. Dr. Daniel and Tracy Daves and their young family moved to Panama to build a prototype farm and dehydration center. From here, they prototype growing ideas to help the third world plant, grow, harvest, and preserve food to feed their communities. They are not only empowering community leaders to take initiative over their communities to help their people become “food secure,” but training church planters to plant a garden, a farm, and a church at the same time as they go into all the world.
SAMPLE MINISTRY DAY
A day with Global Food Providers will begin and end on the farm, where you’ll be an active part of a missional business. Serving and evangelizing in the surrounding communities. Receiving training in business and learning how to develop your dreams and ideas of making a difference alongside someone who is walking it out.
Route Description
Staff Pick:
I would choose this trip because it’s tropical. LOL. But really the different vibrant cultures that are similar enough that you can learn the language, but different enough that you can experience the world. The people of Central America are incredibly welcoming, kind, hospitable and generous. I’ve been in international ministry for 15 years and getting to see and experience some ministries that have business and sustainability as a foundation for them is huge to me. This trip gets me really excited.
THIS SEMESTERS TRIP EMPOWERS YOU TO:
1. Grow with God
Let God plant and grow your dreams through the ministries and people you serve. Rely on His strength to fuel your days and His voice to lead the way.
2. Find Community
Discover how to be the church and love each other while living and serving together in Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama.
3. Make a Difference
Come alongside our ministry partners to serve the community you’ll live in. You will focus a lot of your time being the hands and feet of Jesus through outreach and discipleship.
WHAT IF WE HAVE TO CANCEL THIS TRIP DUE TO COVID-19?
We have an experienced risk management team. They monitor political, health, weather, and other risks in the regions where we serve. We continue to confidently plan impactful trips and adjust when necessary. We won’t launch a trip that isn’t up to our standards of safety. In 2020, we canceled our international trips due to safety and travel restrictions with COVID-19 and gave options to our participants to join us domestically or defer to a later date. We currently feel confident launching this trip. If we have to cancel this trip, or you don’t feel comfortable going, the money you’ve raised can be applied to a different or future trip within the next calendar year.
Process
Ever wonder if there’s more to your faith than what you’re experiencing? I can relate.
I understand how it feels to hear that whisper inside you that there’s got to be more to your faith than what you’re experiencing. That’s why I risked it all, quit my job, sold everything I owned and took off overseas to serve God and His people. I got a taste of the ‘more’ God had for me. 10+ years and 30+ countries later, my team and I now help other young people experience adventurous and purpose-filled moments with God like I had ...one semester at a time.
How We Support You
Discipleship
A large part of this journey is growing in your walk with Christ. We desire to model the way Jesus discipled his followers. Mentors, coaches, and fellow Racers will disciple you, while you serve, love, and disciple others.
Training
You’ll spend the first few days of your trip at a training camp here at World Race headquarters in North Georgia.
Community
You’ll get to experience raw Christian community as you travel, serve, and encourage each other. Once you officially join the Race, you will be invited to a private Facebook group to begin getting to know your squad.
Fundraising
We’ll provide coaching, video tutorials, scripts, and ideas for fundraising plus a free fundraising course and a blog so you can tell your story and accept donations. We also have structured deadlines to help you reach your goal.
Risk Management
Our commitment to risk management includes internal and external teams who constantly monitor and manage risk and create contingency plans as needed.
Parent Connect
Our amazing Parent Ministry provides resources and communication so your parents feel supported and informed while you’re on the field.