Given that we will be in a different country every month for 11 months, those can be two loaded questions! I am so excited to share a glimpse into the places the Lord is sending me, and the people I will serve there; my spirit rejoices and my heart swells each time I read over the descriptions you see below! The mission is great, but thy Love is greater– and “because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.” -Psalm 63:3
Guatemala
Outside of its aesthetic appeal (a country rich in history and natural resources) Guatemala needs God’s touch. Gripped by poverty and bound to a spirit of religion, the people of Guatemala hunger for the kingdom of God to pervade their lives. You’ll have the opportunity to usher in the kingdom to this land and reach out to the people on the fringes of society through hard work, relationships, and maybe even a miracle or two.
Honduras
“Hondo” comes from the Spanish word for depth- and there’s lots of depth to Honduras. It’s home to the Aztec and Mayan civilizations, whose ruins still stand. Honduras is mostly mountainous and the weather is as tropical as it gets. What really runs deep in Honduras are the needs. Honduras is the THIRD poorest in the region, after Haiti and Nicaragua. There is a great need to reach out to the youth, not just to keep them out of trouble, but for them to know their worth and that they are loved.
Nicaragua
This is a country full of wonderfully warm and caring people, and participants always leave having had a powerful experience. However, hopelessness, addictions, destitution, and poverty still plague the many lives of Nicaragua. There are orphans who have grown up without knowing the love of a parent and families who get by each day by scrounging scraps from the city dump where they have made their homes. In Nicaragua, you’ll have the opportunity to bring God’s love through slum ministry, door-to-door outreach, outreach to children, and more.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica is a hot spot for enjoying “pura vida” – literally, “Pure life.” While the natural beauty attracts lots of tourists (the beautiful beaches live up to the name Costa Rica “Rich Coast”), there are still large pockets of poverty and family brokenness. Because of its relative affluence, Costa Rica also draws in immigrants from neighboring countries, like Nicaragua, who don’t fare much better than they did before. You might help feed their physical and spiritual hunger—and discover other creative ways to give new meaning to the concept of “pura vida.”
Japan
Known as the land of the Rising Sun, Japan is made up of almost 7,000 islands and boasts the world’s largest metropolitan area, Tokyo. Religious freedom has been in place since the end of World War II, but fewer than one percent are Christian. Japan needs excited missionaries to help infuse a sense of freshness to the missionary effort.
Thailand
According the CIA, the kingdom of Thailand is the only country in the region not colonized by Europe. Their 2000 census showed that 94.6% are Buddhist, 4.6% are Muslim, and .7% are Christian. Approximately 600,000 people live with HIV/AIDS in Thailand. With nearly two million people estimated to be forced into prostitution, it has become one of the most popular places for sex tourism. Change lives in the city where you—like Jesus—might BEFRIEND prostitutes, serve youth, care for orphans, and encourage a remnant of believers.
Laos
Following a brutal civil war, Laos came under communist rule in 1975. Buddhism and spirit worship dominate Laos, with Christian missionary work monitored by the government. This ruggedly beautiful nation is home to some of the most unreached hill tribes in the world. The need is great for people to bring God’s love to the isolated places in Laos.
Cambodia
Cambodia houses one of the Seven Wonders of the World, Angkor Wat, a Hindu temple and monastery built during the Khmer empire in the 12th century. Almost 30 years ago, 1.5 million Cambodians died at the hands of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge regime. Today, Cambodia is a source, transit point, and destination of human trafficking. Unfortunately the government is struggling to stop it. The people of Cambodia are thirsty for the h.o.p.e. you can bring.
Swaziland
The Kingdom of Swaziland is one of the last remaining monarchies in Africa. Home to 1.1 million people and breathtaking scenic views, it’s also where the world’s highest HIV/AIDS infection rate lives (26.1% in adults and over 50% of adults in their 20s) It’s estimated that by 2050, Swaziland may cease to exist. Young orphans are s c a t t e r e d throughout this nation in desperate need of attention. For years, Adventures in Missions has been committed to seeing these statistics reversed. Here, you’ll most likely find yourself involved in a variety of outreaches, including education, orphan care, care point feedings, and more.
Zimbabwe/Botswana
Recently, Zimbabwe struggled with hyperinflation. Under the current regime, the human rights violations continue. Zimbabwe has one of the lowest life expectancies. Botswana has the second highest HIV infection rate, second to Swaziland, its southern neighbor. The land itself struggles with drought and desertification, yet boasts the largest elephant population in the world in one of its national parks. The majorities of both populations identify themselves as Christian, but very much need people to advance the kingdom with love.
South Africa
While it’s been several decades since apartheid has formally ended, there’s still more healing and reconciliation to take place in South Africa. One of the wealthiest countries on the continent yet much of the population living outside the cities is poor. Like the rest of sub-Saharan Africa, the country struggles with a high rate of HIV/AIDS. This is a country full of kingdom potential, waiting to be released!
“Jesus made a gesture, a job, the service of a slave, a servant, and he leaves this inheritance to us: We need to be servants to one another.” -Pope Francis
