January 7, 2017 Dear Families, We are excited to announce that Park Street Church is planning a 12 day missions experience to Medellin, Colombia for families with children 5 years and older. The dates of the trip are set for Thursday July 27 to Monday August 7, 2017. We will be partnering with Gustavo Karakey, a member of Park Street who is serving as a seminary professor at Biblico Seminario de Colombia in Medellin. While in Medellin, our ministry will entail running an ESL program at a local elementary school in which our PSC youth have previously served as well as hands-on work projects on the seminary campus. Time away from ministry will also be offered as we tour the city and countryside to come to understand the context of Colombia more intimately. The total cost of the trip will be approximately $1,700 per person. We will reduce this cost through fundraisers, financial support of friends and family, and assistance from our missions department. A $20,000 grant has been given to us through the Morrison Missions Fund of PSC to reduce our overall costs. We estimate that by the end of our fundraising efforts, the total cost of the trip should be $2,000 or less for a family of 4. The application for your family is due by February 15, 2017. The trip will be limited to 8 families, so all families who apply may not be able to go. A process to decide which families will be able to travel to Medellin if more than 8 families apply will be determined at a later date. A $200 non-refundable deposit per family will be required once the final team has been determined. Experiencing Christian faith and community outside of our culture is invaluable. This setting will foster spiritual growth in the lives of you and your children as we contribute in important ways to outreach efforts in Medellin. We look forward to a wonderful week of ministry in Colombia and hope that you would consider making this opportunity a part of your family s summer plans! With Warm Regards, Kris Perkins PSC Family Minister
Family Name Father s Name (If applicable) Mother s Name (If applicable) First Child s Name Second Child s Name Third Child s Name Fourth Child s Name Fifth Child s Name (children must be 5 years or older) Address: Telephone Number E-mail Does anyone in your family speak Spanish, and if so, how well? Has anyone in your family traveled on a missions trip? If so please describe these settings.
Briefly describe any on-going illnesses, diseases, allergies, medications, or other health conditions that we should know about members of your family (a more detailed health form will be required to fill out at a later date)... Briefly describe why you want to go on this mission trip as a family... Briefly describe gifts, abilities, talents, or strengths that your family members can add to this mission team...
How much will the trip cost? Approximately $1,700 per person. We have been granted $20,000 by the missions department to reduce our costs. We will fund raise a significant port of this. Our goal is to reduce prices to $500 or less per person. On many of our youth mission trips, we have been able to raise funds to cover the total cost of the trip. Where will we sleep? We are working out specifics for lodging. Currently we have rooms booked at a modest hotel near the seminary. There is housing on the seminary campus, but we are uncertain whether it will be open to us until closer to our traveling dates. Within the hotel context, we should be able to lodge one family per room, though this is not guaranteed at this point. There is a possibility that you may be sharing space with another family or two. Is medical care available in Medellin? Yes. Quality healthcare is available in this major Colombian city to which we will have access. We will also carry additional insurance which allows for medical evacuation situations. Are there health concerns traveling to Colombia? All trips outside of the US present health risks, but Medellin, Colombia is a relatively safe location to travel in this regard. There is a negligible chance of becoming infected by a major disease in this setting, though diarrhea and other common travel realities may occur. Water is as potable as in the USA in this city because of their highly developed infrastructure, though we typically take the extra precaution of drinking bottled water. You will be asked to consult your own physician to follow your doctor s recommendation for travel to this area of the world. Also, Medellin is over 5,000 feet in altitude and anyone with heart issues or proneness to altitude sickness should consult their physician. Is Medellin safe? Again there are always risks in traveling to foreign contexts, but Medellin is viewed as a safe city in which to visit. It has gone through a radically positive transformation over the past 20 years and has become a destination for tourists and business investment alike. Are team preparation meetings mandatory? They are as mandatory as can be! Your should attempt to plan these into your schedules, but certainly grace will be extended if you have a major conflict that cannot be avoided. The overnight retreat will be key and hopefully all will be able to attend this. Can my children go on this trip without parents? We are planning a youth mission trip to Colombia which will be run in conjunction with the Family Mission Trip at the same location. Youth can travel to Colombia without their parents through the youth mission trip component. Children 7th grade and younger can only travel to Colombia by participating in the Family Missions Trip with at least one parent. Who will be leading the Family Missions Trip? Gustavo Karakey will be the point person in Colombia. Kris Perkins will be helping to prepare the team in the coming months. We will be seeking out other hands-on adult leadership for the team as the team emerges. Adam Herndon will be preparing the youth and leading the youth component in Colombia with additional adult leadership.
Medellin Facts Medellin is now one of Latin America s safest big cities. The city is home to more than three million people and sits in a valley surrounded by the impressive Andes mountains. It is the 2nd largest city in Colombia. Just 20 minutes outside the city there are many farms and small towns that sit 500 meters above the city itself. Medellin is the only city in Colombia that boasts a metro system. It is an extremely green and attractive town which serves as the industrial and commercial centre for the surrounding region of Antioquia. Medellin is a city known for its cultural encounters, the warmth of its people and the amazing views. Average temperature is 72 degrees and usually ranges from 52 to 86 degrees. Medellín is a beautiful city, modern and yet true to its regional characteristics. It was founded in 1616 in the scenic Aburrá valley, but remained small until the coffee boom. It later became the centre of a textile industry, and today is a modern, vibrant city. Even in super friendly Colombia, the Paisas (people from Medellin) are known for their friendliness and warmth.
February Sun 15 Sun 26 Family Application Due Initial Informational meeting 11 am March Sat 25 Team Dinner Meeting 4 pm April Sat 29 Team Dinner Meeting 4pm May Team Fundraiser TBA Sat 20 Team Dinner Meeting 4pm June 24-25 Proposed Team Overnight Retreat July Sun 23 Thu 27 Family Dinner and Prayer 4pm Depart for Colombia Aug Mon 7 Return to Boston