On Mission
Since 2014, Disciples Church has focused its global mission resources in the beautiful country of Guatemala. We have fostered two main partnering relationships there: Vidas Plenas, a children’s school in Guatemala City right in the center of the largest urban slum in Central America and church planters Erwin and Irma Xicol who lead several churches in the rural countryside about an hour outside the city in Jocatillo.
Next Global Opportunity
Basic Information
Dates: June 18-13, 2024
Cost: $2000.00
Space Available: 10 people
Application Deadline: May 1, 2024
We serve in Guatemala City with Vidas Plenas in the largest urban slum in Central America, La Limonada. We also work with church planting partners in the rural hills of Jocotillo, an hour outside Guatemala City. Led by Pastors Erwin and Irma Xicol, they have served their communities with breathtaking compassion and planted several new churches. We will serve them and encourage their efforts while there.
Ministry #1
Chicos Vivos with Pastors Erwin and Irma Xicol. They run a church and provide life giving ministry to the people of Jocotillo, a town not too far from the church. We will assist with various work projects they need done on the church grounds, play a game or two of soccer with the local children and do prayer/ministry with the people of Jocotillo. We will also be attending their church service on Sunday.
Ministry #2
Vidas Plenas/La Limonada with Tita – a true hero to us! Tita runs four schools within La Limonada, one of the largest slums in Latin America. We will spend a couple of days working with her ministry helping with various projects and praying for the people of this community.
Travel and Accommodations
We typically fly right out of Sacramento through Houston or Dallas. A quick plane change and five hours later we’re in Guatemala City hailing a shuttle. We stay each night at the same hotel, Clarion Suites, a 15-minute cab or shuttle ride from the airport. The hotel is 4-star by American standards. We will fill the hotel rooms with three people to a room, same sex, of course. Each person will have their own bed. If you desire your own room, or if you’re a couple and prefer to room together – that is fine, but costs are figured on three people to a room, so your expenses will be higher – see below in Cost section for details.
Requirements
- Growing relationship with Christ
- Heart to serve
- Current passport
- Minors must travel with a parent/guardian. We recommend 13+ but can make exceptions in rare cases.
Cost: $2000
$2000 covers flights, ground transportation, all meals in Guatemala and hotel (based on triple occupancy, add $40 per night per person for lesser occupancy). You will need to bring additional money for airport meals, donations, and spending money while in Guatemala.
Deadlines
- Application and $500.00 due by May 1, 2024
- Payment Two: $500.00 due by June 1, 2024
- Final Payment: $1000.00 due by June 13, 2024
If you have questions now, or want to get your name in before the trip fills up, email stu@disciples.church.
Apply Now
We are not currently accepting applications. Please email stu@disciples.church if you are interested in joining our 2024 mission team.
Schedule
(All scheduling is subject to change day to day, we provide this simply to give you an idea of what to expect).
Saturday
6:00am – Early flight out of SMF, arrive in Dallas or Houston, connecting flight to Guatemala City.
9:00pm – Get through Customs; catch a shuttle to hotel downtown Guatemala City.
10:30pm – Head out by foot for late snack or dinner.
Sunday
6:00am-7:00am – Breakfast served downstairs buffet style.
7:00am – Team meet up in Lobby to take bus over to Jocotillo for church. Dress is casual but modest.
9:00am-3:00PM – Church and Prayer/Ministry for the people of Jocotillo.
6:00pm – Team Dinner back in Guatemala City
Monday
6:00am-8:00am – Breakfast served downstairs buffet style.
9:00am – Team meet up in Lobby, Daily Offices, and load shuttle
11:00am-5:00pm – Ministry in La Limonada touring Vidas Plenas Academies
7:00pm – Arrive back at hotel, quick shower then walk to team dinner.
Tuesday
6:00am-8:00am – Breakfast served downstairs buffet style.
9:00am – Team meet up in Lobby, Daily Offices, and load shuttle
11:00am-5:00pm – Day 2 in La Limonada, teaching at Vidas Plenas Academies
7:00pm – Arrive back at hotel, quick shower then walk to team dinner.
Wednesday
6:00am-8:00am – Breakfast served downstairs buffet style.
9:00am – Team meet up in Lobby, Daily Offices, and load shuttle
11:00am-5:00pm – Ministry in Jocotillo delivering water to villages
7:00pm – Arrive back at hotel, quick shower then walk to team dinner.
Thursday
6:00am-7:00am – Breakfast served downstairs buffet style.
7:00am – Team meet up in Lobby to take bus to airport.
10:00pm – Arrive back home at SMF.
Fund Raising
We suggest sending out letters to friends and family to raise support, but there are lots of other ways you can raise the support necessary.
- Garage Sale
- Host a Fundraiser Dinner at your home for 10 friends and ask for a $100 donation per plate.
- Send letters to 100 friends/family
Sample Fund Raising Letter
Dear < > ,
You may have heard now about the missions trip I am going on this summer with Disciples Church. We have a long term partnership with a number of ministries in Guatemala that we will be serving while there, June 13-19. Would you make a financial contribution today of $50, $100, or more to help me reach my goal of raising $2,000 for the trip?
Over our years of sending teams to Guatemala we have seen amazing things happen. Disciples has provided two years of clean drinking water to over 700 families in three different villages, through our EcoFiltro outreach – and will again be serving in this way. While in Guatemala we will also be serving three different, but connected efforts:
First, we will be serving at a local church pastored by Erwin and Irma Xicol in the hills of Jocotillo, a church some of our American partners helped start a few years back. We will be helping hundreds of people with food, clothing, water, building repairs and of course, sharing the Good News of Jesus.
Second, we will be meeting with a local cadre of church planters in the region to host a lunch and encourage them in their work of planting churches among the poor.
Third, La Limonada, the worst urban slum in all of Central America, has an incredible ministry there called, Vidas Plenas, with educational programs, food programs and more. We will partnering alongside their founder, Tita, to share with the kids, teach lessons and pray with people in need.How can you get involved? I need to raise $2000 between now and then to cover my travel, accommodations and expenses while there. I am contributing myself from savings to make this possible. Would you be willing to make a donation to help me raise funds? All of your donation goes directly to my trip’s expenses and every cent is tax deductible. Simply use the enclosed envelope and make checks payable to Disciples Church. If you are giving online just indicate in the notes/memo .Thank you!
If you have questions now, or want to get your name in before the trip fills up, email stu@discipleschurch.net.