Trip Dates:The group would need to choose dates, after contact with group organizer in Costa Rica.

Group Size: 8 foreigners + 7 nationals = 15 total Medical/Dental
10 foreigners + 5 nationals = 15 total Construction/Clean Water Project
We are trying to determine solid interest level in trip for planning purposes. Please EMAIL if you are interested in this trip!

History: Students at Central American Adventist University/Universidad Adventista de Centro America (UNADECA) in Costa Rica are required to complete 150 hours of community service before graduation. Two students in the School of Nursing decided they wanted to complete their service hours by doing something no one from the university had done before. These two nursing students, Mario Mendoza and Jairo Gonzalez, made the first trip into the Talamanca area in early 2005. While in Talamanca they did an assessment of the medical needs of the community as well as presented health talks. These two students returned to the area on a second trip in late March with a group of 7 students and 2 professors from the school of nursing. During the second trip they were able to do additional assessments of the needs of outlying villages as well as continue health education and basic medical care. Although Mario and Jairo have now completed their required service hours, God has planted in their hearts a desire to continue the project and to seek additional assistance for the indigenous people of the Talamanca area.

Site: Located in the mountains on the border between Costa Rica and Panama, the villages of the Talamanca area are populated by indigenous Indian groups who have very limited access to medical care and who live in extreme poverty. Many of these groups have been reluctant to allow outsiders (any one who is not indigenous) to share the gospel with them. They are however open to receiving medical assistance and help in improving their community infrastructure. Mario and Jairo have the vision that providing assistance in these areas will lead to the opportunity to share the gospel.

Trip participants would stay at the base village, Yorkin. Lodging is rustic. Beds with thin mattresses and mosquito nets are provided and there are bathrooms with flush toilets and cold water showers. Arrangements will be made for food supplies to be transported in to the site and meals prepared for the group. There is one satellite phone available in Yorkin.

Project: There is a need in the Talamanca area for medical and dental care as well as a need for a clean water project and construction of a medical clinic.

Participants: All participants would need to be in good physical condition as the projects will require hiking.

Medical/Dental Project: This would be a joint project between medical professionals from North America and students from the School of Nursing at UNADECA. The nursing students from UNADECA would assist in translation and would hope to gain knowledge from their North American counterparts. The Medical/Dental Group would be made up of 8 participants from North America and 7 from UNADECA. It is hoped that the North American group would include doctors, nurses, and especially dentists. Permission would be obtained from the Ministry of Health in Costa Rica for Medical volunteers to work on this project. North American participants would need to bring medical/dental supplies and tools with them.

Construction/Clean Water Project: This would be a joint project between North American individuals and students from UNADECA: The students would assist in translation. The Group would be made up of not more than 10 participants from North American and 5 students from UNADECA. At least one person in the group from North America would need to have knowledge of construction and be able to lead a work crew.

Itinerary: This can be adjusted to fit the group.

Day 1: Arrival in Costa Rica. Lodging at Universidad Adventista de Centro America. The university is approximately 10 minutes from the airport. Transportation would be provided from the airport to the university. Meals in the cafeteria.

Day 2: Early morning departure for project site. Transportation by private van, transferring to dugout canoes for the trip up the river. Depending on the level of the river, groups would also need to hike anywhere from 15 minutes to 2 hours to reach the base village, Yorkin.

Day 3-7: Work either in medical care in base village or hiking 2-4 hours each day to outlying villages to provide care there or working on the clean water project or medical clinic construction. Participants will have an opportunity during their stay to observe the way in which the indigenous people make chocolate and a variety of native crafts.

Day 8: Travel back to Universidad Adventista de Centro America.

Day 9: Return home OR Sightseeing Extension (either beach or cloudforest)

COST: (Estimated per person)

Talamanca Project $350
This includes lodging, food, transportation, and limited electricity (approximately 2 hours a night by generator)

Sightseeing Extension $300
This is an estimate for 3-4 days of sightseeing – including tours, lodging, food, transportation. Exact costs will be determined by where the group chooses to go and do, dates, etc.

Additional expenses would include airfare, insurance, exit tax (approx. $26), and personal items such as internet use, phone calls and souvenirs.

Coordinators: Trip coordination would be done in Costa Rica by Mario and Jairo with assistance from Janet Blackwood, the director of the English department at UNADECA.

Contact Info: Costa Rica Mission Trip Info

  Oregon Coast Project (our ongoing Oceanside church plant project)

Weekly Services on Sabbath (Saturday) evenings at 7:00pm

Join us for a memorable day on the beautiful Oregon coast, 1.5 hours west of Portland, Oregon. The Young Professionals Ministry has been invited by a community church in Oceanside to provide worship services. This project includes outreach opportunities as we meet the people in the community one on one and invite them to join us for awesome music and a special message of hope shared by dynamic and inspirational speakers. Join us for incredible worships and songs, potential new friendships and much, much more!

Click Here for more details as well as directions and maps to the Oceanside Chapel