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From the Pastors at Joy

2016 Short-Term Missions Trip

Perhaps you’ve heard. There is another short-term mission trip afoot. And you ask yourself, “Should this be the year that I go?”

The location for next summer’s short-term trip is Guatemala, Central America.  asesli 8

The country of Guatemala is beautiful and tragic all at the same time. My heart has broken over and over again for these beautiful people and their country that has been exploited and ruined several times in the past several centuries, only to try to rise up again. The people are captive to their strange mix of spiritism and Roman Catholicism – or, like many in the US, they have abandoned all religion and turned to drink, to crime, or to the pursuit of Western comforts.

In the middle of this darkness, the Light shines – through ministries of Christ-followers who have forsaken it all here in the US to go and give the gospel to the lost. aselsi 5At ASELSI, that strategy involves loving the unloved through their ministry to the handicapped and developmentally disabled – kids who are usually cast aside in Guatemalan society, usually disowned by their very patriarchal fathers. It involves providing a location for quality medical care to a community that has almost none – and giving not just medicine, but prayer and the gospel message. And, most importantly, it involves preaching the message, planting new churches, and training up new armies of Christ-followers who will sow gospel’s fertile seeds -- in Guatemala and beyond. ASELSI accomplishes this through their pastoral training program, centered in Chichicastenango, Guatemala, but with extensions in other neighboring countries, including Mexico and the US. Check out the ministry for yourself Aselsi Ministries International .

Chichicastenango (Google it!) is a bustling town/”city” a few hours from Guatemala City. It is the home of aselsi 9ASELSI ministries, and it is the site of our next anticipated short-term mission trip, July 16-23, 2016.

What will we be doing? Well, ASELSI is a ministry that has been hosting short-term mission teams for almost 2 decades. Such teams are a key part of their ongoing ministry. They host 30-40 teams each year, and they really know what they are doing. The options of what WE will be doing as a short-term team are numerous: Construction projects, school outreaches, ministries in their physical therapy program or their infant care program, medical clinics, evangelistic trips, etc. We have sent 2 teams from Joy in years past --- in 2006 and 2007, and ASELSI has made visits to Joy twice in the past 8 years or so, most recently back in February. And, as in the past, what we do on the trip with be largely determined by which individuals from Joy make up the team -- what are collective team’s interests, passions, giftedness and abilities. So, the specific “tasks” of the trip remain to be seen. Just be assured of this – there is a place on this team for people of various interests, abilities and ages.

Those who will ultimately make up the team are determined by a process of application to and interview by the Global Outreach team (GOT) of JCF. Below I have listed some frequently asked questions regarding international mission trips to Guatemala with ASELSI. Of course, details are always subject to change! Let me say that again – when you’re dealing with a short-term mission trip, you must always be flexible and able to deal with change. That’s not the last time you will hear me say that!

How soon do I need to decide?  Application deadline has been extended until the end of November, 2015. We need to have the team pretty much set before we head into the holiday season. Because, once the new year hits, we will be off and running – passports need to be procured, support funds need to be raised, required immunizations need to be received, physician’s approval must be gotten for ALL team members, and airline tickets will need to be ordered by the end of January.  Prepatory team training sessions will begin after the new year.

How much will the trip cost? ASELSI has told me that the cost will be likely between $700 and$800 per person. That does not include round trip airline ticket costs which can range from $450 to $650 dollars – and again, I can’t even be sure about that. It does also not include spending money, which will be another $100-200 depending on how frugal you are and how much you plan to buy while you are en route and when you are in country. Total trip cost anticipated = $1250-1650 per person

How many will be going? We anticipate a team size of 10-12 people. We can probably take no more than 16.

How does the trip break up day-to-day? It will be an 8 day trip. Two of those are travel days, which leaves 6 full days in country. One of those 6 days is typically a rest and sight-seeing day.aselsi4

Ooh, sightseeing? Yes, it is a beautiful country, and Chichicastenango is only a few hours from what is considered the most beautiful lake in the world, Lake Atitlan. That is our usual sightseeing jaunt.

What is the biggest personal obstacle that many folks have once they are in country? That would be the road travel. Guatemala is a volcanic and mountainous nation – the 2-3 hour bus drives can be a bit harrowing if you have a weak stomach. Just being honest. But our God is able to do far more than we can even ask or imagine.

Is it safe? ASELSI has been doing this for a long time. There is no guarantee of safety, but they do an excellent job of making sure everyone knows and follows the rules of safety that are required when you are an American in Guatemala. They watch over us very closely, and they have a staff member whose sole job is to oversee the teams from the US and who pretty much goes EVERYWHERE with us. Remember, Guatemala is a very poor Third World country. But one of the supreme blessings of this trip is to see the life-changing effects of the gospel in another culture that is wholly different from ours.  The gospel of Jesus Christ is for ALL people.gospel 2

Is there an age-limit? Yes, ASELSI sets the lower age limit at 15 years, meaning you must be 15 by the time of the trip. JCF requires that any minors (17 and under) must be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian. There is no upper age limit. I have gone to Guatemala with folks in their 60’s and 70’s!

OK, I think I might be in. What do I do now? If you have any questions please contact Jim Weidner, the trip leader, at jweidner@joycf.org or speak to Jim at church. And download the short-term application now!! Don’t delay. Remember the deadline of November  30.   Once you have printed out and completed the application, either give it to me, Jim Weidner, or place it in the GOT mail box which is found at the base of the stairs in the foyer to your right (as you enter the front door).