After 22 years of serving in Costa Rica with Stephen Sr and Georgianna Thomas, we are headed farther south, to Panama, where we'll serve with Stephen Jr and Kendra Thomas. We are among the very first groups to serve with "Abraham Project Panama", where we will work on the site of future children's homes and serve with a feeding ministry that delivers meals to children. We'll travel on Saturday the 21st of June, attend a Panamanian worship service and connect with their church on Sunday, Serve Monday through Thursday, take a fun day to see some of Panama on Friday, and return Saturday the 28th of June.
More information about the Abraham Project is available here: https://www.abrahamproject.org/
Cost:
The actual expenses for each student are approximately $1700 (airfare, bus rentals, lodging, meals, construction cost and Friday activity fees); because of that, the trip cost we are charging is $850 for one child and $750 each for siblings. The remaining funds will come from fundraising and from GHC missions giving. You can register your child with a $200 deposit (that counts toward your $850) to hold your spot, and then you can make payments as suits you through the winter and spring.
Team meetings:
We will have a couple of mandatory team meetings in the spring to prepare our hearts and answer detailed trip questions. Dates to be announced.
Notes of interest:
1) This trip is for our 8th graders who will be going into 9th grade in 2025-26 school year, and through our seniors who will be graduating.
2) We are unable to take students who we don't know and have some connection with - this may sound off the wall - but those existing connections are what assures us if a student is ready to travel out of the country on mission or not. We need trip participants to be regular in their attendance of Sunday morning small groups or Wednesday Night Live. We're also asking for a short essay from kids about what they'd like to serve in Panama.
3) Unfortunately, we don't have the lodging/transportation space or the budget to make this a family trip. Often when we serve internationally we get several well-meaning adults who come out of the woodwork and wish to attend. We have filled our adult team already with adult volunteers who are background checked and who serve with us every week throughout the year. They know all the kids, and I have immense trust in each of these adults and the leadership and chemistry they have together as a team. I'm not able to sacrifice student spots or funds for additional adults to go beyond the number that we actually need to lead the mission; I appreciate the trust you have placed in our team!
We will fly out of Louisville, likely on Delta, and connect through Atlanta before a four hour flight to Panama City. YOU WILL NEED A CURRENT PASSPORT. Rental buses will transport us for the week, and we'll be staying at Casa Paraiso in the Canal District ( https://www.casaparaisopanama.org/ ). Meals will be catered either at Casa Paraiso or on our worksite, or we'll go to restaurants. Spending money will be needed to cover airport food both ways, snacks throughout the week, souvenirs at the market, and if you desire to bring a financial offering to give during worship service.
This is our 30th mission trip together, and our 8th international trip together; the kids have such a powerful experience when stretched out of their hometown, and across the language barrier, into a new climate even - and as they leave what is familiar to them, God has access that isn't granted so easily here at home. So many young lives have been forever changed on mission trips, we're thankful for your trust and support as we begin a brand new chapter in Panama!
Please let me know if you have any questions I can answer.
God bless,
Clark