4Real Forums: missions for youth or family

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Topic: missions for youth or family

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lapazfarm
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Posted: Nov 21 2011 at 8:04pm \| IP Logged

My ds (16) would like to take a gap year before college (in 1.5 years from now) to do a mission trip to a foreign country. Actually it is something we'd like to do as a family.
Does anyone know of a Catholic mission that would use a teen or family? Would it help that dh is a nurse practitioner and could give medical care? The rest of us are just willing to do anything needed.
I don't even know where to begin looking.
Thanks.

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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
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Aagot
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Posted: Nov 21 2011 at 8:27pm \| IP Logged

Hi Theresa,
I have been following a family serving in St. Lucia at this blog http://rooftopmissions.blogspot.com/
They have just finished up their mission.
I think they went through this organization
http://fmcmissions.com/
Hope that helps you get started.
Aagot

Aagot
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Posted: Jan 14 2012 at 11:40am \| IP Logged

I just found out that if one sponsors a child through CFCA you can go on a mission trip and meet the sponsored person. Here is more info.

http://www.cfcausa.org/WhatsHappening/MissionAwarenessTrips. aspx

Have you found any other oportunities, Theresa?

Aagot

lapazfarm
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Posted: Jan 14 2012 at 1:58pm \| IP Logged

Still searching. Have a few ideas but nothing seems to fit just right yet. Many of the ones I have found cost an exorbitant amount of money for a very short time, and then you don't actually do any real mission work. Just sort of go and participate a little in what is already going on. Not really what we are looking for. We want to do real work with a purpose, and for more than just a couple of weeks, you know?
I will check out CFCA. We do sponsor a child through them so it may be a possibility.

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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
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Nique
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Posted: Jan 14 2012 at 5:39pm \| IP Logged

Hi Theresa,

     My husband went on a mission to Hearts Together For Haiti.

     I just spoke with the contact person Mrs. Marcia Spratt, and she told me to tell you yes, it is Catholic. And the cost is basically your transportation, there and back (airline prices). As well, my dh was able to get sponsered for the cost (his work, his union, family and friends helped cover the cost). Just an idea that might help!

     If you get in touch, she will be able to answer all of your questions.

     I admire your ds and all of your family for wanting to do something like this. Very impressive

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lapazfarm
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Posted: Jan 14 2012 at 6:32pm \| IP Logged

Thank you, Nique I will look into it!

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Theresa
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Aagot
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Posted: Jan 14 2012 at 7:10pm \| IP Logged

Unfortunately cfca looks short, but if you contact them maybe there is opportunity for extended service. It seems a little crazy that there aren't hundreds of obvious, easy to find choices given the missionary nature of the Church, doesn't it?

Maybe Food For The Poor? Or contact missionary orders directly?

I would like to pursue this with my kids as they get older, so anything we turn up now would be great.

Does your son have an specific area he is interested in going to?

ShannonJ
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Posted: Jan 16 2012 at 6:28am \| IP Logged

Theresa, my daughter just went on a CFCA Mission Awareness trip with my mother over the summer. It is just that an "awareness" trip, although I think was hugely eye opening for her and extremely beneficial, it may not be what you are looking for.

We have belonged to a couple of parishes that do mission trips to the countries where they host a sister parish. My brothers both were able to visit Bolivia and Argentina on such trips as teenagers. They would bring down clothes and medicine and typically do a building or restoration project while there. Perhaps you could call your parish and see if they know of any parishes within the diocese that do trips such as this?

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~Shannon
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mom2mpr
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Posted: Jan 16 2012 at 6:32am \| IP Logged

Maybe Catholic Medical Mission Board? I am starting to research them as a charitable donation. Worth a look....

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Anne, married to dh 16 years!, ds,(97), Little One (02), and dd (02).

anitamarie
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Posted: Jan 16 2012 at 7:49am \| IP Logged

The Mitchell Family is moving to Costa Rica to work as missionaries: St. Bryce Foundation. You might contact them and find out how they went about it. Good luck. I've been thinking about this, too. Let us know what you find out!

God Bless,

Anita

cheesehead mom
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Posted: Jan 18 2012 at 1:15pm \| IP Logged

We have looked into this before too and soemtimes you need to "pitch" an idea or create a situation for your family. We have never found a good fit as of yet either. My dh is a doc and does short term trips with these groups that both have established mission sites I believe:
http://www.hhmm.org/

http://www.ywam.org/

The first group is Catholic and missions are located around the local church. The second group is protestant and they do do evangelization as part of their missions. My teensge son went to rural Mexico with my husband last year through hhmm--as part of his confirmation prep. He helped out with the children, and the dentist.

Laura

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robinhigh
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Posted: Feb 01 2012 at 7:26pm \| IP Logged

http://fmcmissions.com/

My children and I went several times... fantastic!!

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