[szumbiel]

Friends Thorugh Guatemalan Adoption in Cincy as coordinated three Moms on a Mission and one Teens on a MIssion trips. You can read about the trips on Friends Through Guatemalan Adoption - Home and get a lot of information. This is the first summer we do not have a group going, but we hope to take another group next summer.

Many aid organizations have mission trips. I will say I have learned quite a bit over the past few years being directly involved and I have come to believe that mission trips are more about changing us than lives in Guatemala. Most of the work mission groups do could be done by day laborers in Guatemala--especially if we send them the money we pay to travel and stay in Guatemala during our mission trips. (The exception being medical trips)

That said, mission trips change the participants and for that they are totally worth doing! It creates a drive in people to continue to give back, to educate oneself on third world issues, to be more aware of issues outside of our own backyards, and to learn from those we serve.

I know I walk away with more than I could ever give each and every time I go! I am more than happy to share any experiences we have had. One goal we did have is to stay on a minimal budget so as to keep the cost of trips to a minimum so that anyone who really dedicates themselves to going could afford to do so with just some penny pinching. Most people did the trips total cost for travel, transportation, lodging and meals for under $1000. Now that does not count shopping!!!

If you want to do a trip that is more learning and really seeing rural Guatemalan life but less actual physical labor I would suggest looking at trips put on my the following:
Behrhorst Partners for Development - Mission Statement (love this organization and I now sit on their board so I am a bit biased, but I do state it up front )
www.coeduc.org (great trip and know several people who have done the book delivery tours with life changing results)
MayaWorks: Home (focus on coops and women's issues)

Love this conversation... Let's keep it going!

Sonya