Hey guys! I’ve been receiving a ton of questions about what exactly my team and I will be doing in each country. While I won’t know specifics until I am there I just wanted to let you know a little about the countries I will be visiting and a general over view of what we will be doing.
Cambodia
Cambodia boasts the famous Angkor Wat, a Hindu temple that later became a Buddhist monastery. Hidden for centuries under dense jungle, today Angkor Wat is one of most photographed places in the world. Cambodia itself is struggling to heal from one of the worst genocides in modern history. In the 1970s, the Khmer Rouge killed over 1.5 million men, women, and children. Faced with inconceivable poverty and desperation, Cambodia became a source, transit point, and destination for human trafficking. The people of Cambodia are hungry for hope and healing.
My squad will start our journey with three months at the Adventures in Missions Base located in Siem Reap. In Cambodia we will be serving our local community through the guesthouse, cafe, and restaurant while actively planting churches and partnering with many local ministries in the area.
Ethiopia
Located in the Horn of Africa, Middle Eastern and African tribal influences touch every corner of Ethiopia. The birthplace of coffee, literary and archaeological discoveries date back to Bible times. The Orthodox Church even claims to have the Ark of the Covenant. It’s also a nation well acquainted with pain. In the last century, civil wars and famine devastated the land. Those in rural villages remain isolated, without clean water or access to markets, and the country’s ability to provide basic services is strained.
In Ethiopia, my team will spend three months with a few of Adventures in Missions ministry partners. We will join in care of orphans, learn how Ethiopians garden and harvest their meals, and serve the homeless and forgotten all while sharing the love of Jesus with His children.
Nicaragua
Called “The Land of Lakes and Volcanoes,” thick rainforests, rugged highlands, and beautiful beaches define Nicaragua’s beautiful landscape. Its rich history dates back to the Spanish conquistadores. However, hopelessness, addiction, destitution, and poverty plague many in Nicaragua. The poorest nation in Central America, almost 80% of Nicaraguans live on less than $2 a day. One in four Nicaraguans is either starving or suffering from malnutrition. Entire families live on and scrounge for scraps in city dumps. The people of Nicaragua need to know they are seen, loved, and not forgotten by God.
My team will spend a month in Nicaragua, partnering with Restore Educate Activate Perpetuate (REAP) ministry in Granada. REAP Granada reaches out into the community in multiple ways: through worship, Bible studies, sports, dinners, visiting local hospitals, and more. We will share God’s love and disciple all who are hungry for spiritual growth.
Costa Rica
Between its stunning beaches, lush rainforests, and beautiful people, it’s easy to enjoy “pura vida” here. Outside of the tourist destinations, however, are large pockets of poverty and broken families throughout the nation. The country itself is transitioning from self-sufficient farming societies to more urban living. Traditional morals and lifestyles are giving way to a modern, consumer-oriented world.
While in Costa Rica, my team will stay two months in the town of Jaco. Working alongside a partner church, we will share the gospel with people on the beach and through acts of kindness wherever we go. These last months on our adventure we will use the spiritual training gained throughout our Gap Year experience.
I hope this has given you a little more insight into what my team will be doing in our 9 months on the field. Thank you everyone who has been supporting me over the past couple of months. My team and I ask for continued prayer as we begin to prepare for September.
With Love,
Alyssa Clark
