International Missions
Kenya Mission Trip
Kenya struggles with an overwhelming epidemic of babies and children being orphaned or abandoned due to poverty, AIDS and other diseases. The AGC Baby Center provides a safe haven for these little ones. It is not an orphanage or a children’s home. Children ranging in age from birth to 4 years of age stay at the center only until they can be matched with adoptive partners. Covenant teams on mission at the baby center go to love and nurture the children but our teams are working teams that lend a hand with whatever maintenance or improvements that are needed at the facility. A safari experience is included at the end of the work week.
Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes are so much more than a box of goodies for children. Samaritan’s Purse calls them “GO” boxes – Gospel Opportunities. Many people do not know that every shoebox includes a booklet called “The Greatest Gift” that teaches children and their families (in their own language) that the greatest gift we could ever receive was given to us more than 2,000 years ago in the person of Jesus Christ. Every child that receives a shoebox is also given the opportunity to participate in a follow up 12-lesson bible study called “The Greatest Journey” which teaches children what it means to be a faithful follower of Jesus Christ.
We encourage each of you to pack a shoebox this year. In fact, we challenge you to start now. Believe it or not, if you “pack year round” and watch for after holiday bargains like Easter bunnies for pennies on the dollar, you can actually pack a shoebox for under $20 including shipping and handling. Visit www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child for more information on how to pack a shoebox.
Our mission trip to Belize is an amazing opportunity to participate in the distribution of Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes. Belize is divided into six districts. Shoe boxes are distributed in different districts each year. This is a physical mission trip that involves lots of lifting and bending. The team will spend several days unpacking and sorting shoeboxes for distribution to churches in the district. Then, the fun part, we get to help give shoe boxes to the children usually in several locations!! After a hard week’s work, this team will enjoy some free time on one of the islands! Let us know if you’d like to be a part of our next team.
The Ngobe are the poorest of the poor in Panama. Our teams bring medical and dental care that is otherwise unavailable in the region. Medical professionals and non-medical volunteers are needed. Visiting the Panama Canal is an option at the end of the week. The cost is $1,500 per person and includes airfare, lodging and meals (meals on travel days are not included).
Guatemala and its people are in severe need. Eighty percent (80%) of people in rural Guatemala live in poverty. Many villages are completely deprived of not only basic humanitarian needs but spiritual needs as well. In partnership with World Help and Hope of Life, we can make a difference.
One COMMITMENT ∙ One VILLAGE ∙ One TRANSFORMATIONAL PARTNERSHIP
It is called “Village Transformation”. More than 80 villages have been transformed already but there are hundreds more in need. Every village is different but Village Transformation most often begins with clean water (wells, water purification systems, and piping). Once this most fundamental need is met, schools and churches are built or improved, and pastors are planted and trained. Village Transformation provides the opportunity for a hands-on, long-term mission project with direct on-the-ground personal involvement. Spiritual transformation occurs as relationships are built and hope is restored through sharing about Jesus Christ. It is all about relationship. Imagine the relationships that can be developed over the course of this three year project as we send teams and work side-by-side with Guatemalans to transform their community. We look forward to sending teams to Guatemala when it is safe to do so. Please let us know if you would like to join us.
Covenant supports the international mission work of:
Rhett Thompson (Panama)
Africa Gospel Church Baby Center (Kenya)
April Herschberger (Kenya)
Dan Jacobs (Kenya)
Shalom Mission House (Belize)
Jamie Sexton (China)
Jordan Keyton (Wycliffe Bible Translators)
Toby & Kartina Seay (New Guinea)
World Vision (Bangladesh)