Trips
Merge Trips
Where in the World
These are some of the locations around the world that have opportunities for MERGE trips:
North America – Canada, Mexico, US (including Alaska)
Central America – Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama
South America – Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, Peru, Uruguay
Caribbean – Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica
Europe – Estonia, France, Finland, Spain, Sweden
Africa – Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, Zimbabwe
Asia – India, Japan, Taiwan
How to Get Started
- Contact Dale Lusk at MERGE to discuss your team’s best options.
- Confirm which country you will visit and dates you will travel.
- Your trip facilitator will then contact you to help plan ministry ideas, housing, and more
- Mail your $250 deposit to: MERGE, c/o Serve Globally, 8303 W. Higgins Rd., Chicago, IL 60631
- You will be emailed a packet of MERGE forms for your team to fill out and send back before your trip
You Will Be Responsible for
- Your team’s airline tickets to and from country of service
- Fundraising for your team
- Gathering MERGE forms and sending them in before your trip
Current Trip Offerings: 2021
LATIN AMERICA
COSTA RICA
March 23-30 – HEREDIA, COSTA RICA
Urban Church
Youth Camp, Homeless Ministry, Children’s Ministry
March 23-30 – PUERTO VIEJO, COSTA RICA
Rural Mission Outreach to Nicaraguan immigrants
Children’s Ministry, School Classes, Women’s Ministry, Youth Ministry
July 23-30 – HEREDIA, COSTA RICA
Rural Church Ministry
English Classes, Feeding Program, Youth Camp
ECUADOR
August 9-15 – SANTO DOMINGO, ECUADOR
Church and Camping Ministry
English Classes, Sports Ministry, Camping Ministry
$790 per person
JAMAICA
May 15-22 – KINGSTON, JAMAICA
Child Development Center
Teaching and Construction
June 9-16 – SPANISH TOWN, JAMAICA
Children’s Home
Children’s Ministry, Youth Ministry, Construction, Agriculture
July 1-8 – KINGSTON, JAMAICA
MEXICO
March 27-April 2 – SAN LUIS RIO COLORADO, MEXICO
Immigrant and Church Ministry
$635 per person
May 29-June 5 – PLAYA DEL CARMEN, MEXICO
Education and Sports Partnership
$830 per person
June 14-21 – PLAYA DEL CARMEN, MEXICO
Education and Sports Partnership
$830 per person
June 21-27 – SALTILLO, MEXICO
Rural Church and Immigrant Ministry
Children, Women, Sports and Immigrant Ministry
$560 per person
July 10-17 – MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
Immigration Journey
$805 per person
July 24-31 – MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
Female Victims of Abuse
$760 per person
August 7-14 – MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
Indigenous Families in Urban Situations
$825 per person
PERU
July 24-31 – PIURA, PERU
HIV Infected individuals and their families
Sewing, Baking, Cooking, Construction, Carpentry
$685 per person
EUROPE
FINLAND
December 27-January 3 - ?, FINLAND
Youth Camping Ministry
? per person
SWEDEN
June 14-21 – NORRKOPING, SWEDEN
Immigrant Outreach, Muslims, Church Plant
$700 per person
July 4-11 – GOTHENBERG, SWEDEN
Camping Ministry
? per person
Current Trip Offerings:
DICKINSON, TEXAS - Home rebuilding after Hurricane Harvey is still in process in the South Bay area of Houston. Housing will be provided at a church in the area. There will be some tools and all construction supplies available. Teams need to provide their own construction supervision. Work will focus on installing drywall, mudding and taping, installing floors/carpet, some electrical and plumbing work is possible, trim, painting, etc. It is best if teams can provide their own tools. Cost is $30 for registration fees. Food is on your own.
NEW BERN, NORTH CAROLINA - Home rebuilding after Hurricane Florence is in process on the North Carolina coast. Housing will be provided at a church in the area. There will be some tools and all construction supplies available. It is helpful for teams to provide their own construction supervision. Work will focus on installing drywall, mudding and taping, installing floors/carpet, some electrical and plumbing work is possible, trim, painting, etc. It is best if teams can provide some tools. Cost is $30 for registration fees + $100 donation per person to the local rebuilding agency. Most food is provided for.
SLOAN, IOWA & MEAD, NEBRASKA - Home rebuilding after the Midwest flooding is in process in Iowa and Nebraska. Housing will be provided at a Covenant Church. There will be some tools and all construction supplies available. Teams need to provide their own construction supervision. Work will focus on installing drywall, mudding and taping, installing floors/carpet, some electrical and plumbing work is possible, trim, painting, etc. It is best if teams can provide their own tools. Cost is $30 for registration fees + a $25 per person per full-day donation to help cover food and housing costs. Van transportation from a local airport can be provided at low cost.
EAGLE RIVER, ALASKA - Home rebuilding, after an earthquake hit the area last November. Housing will be at the Covenant Church in Eagle River, AK. There will be some tools and all construction supplies available. Teams need to provide their own construction supervision. Work will focus on installing drywall, mudding and taping, trim, painting, and foundation work (if the team has those skills). Cost is $30 for registration fees + a $25 per person per full-day donation to help cover food and housing costs. Local transportation options are still being worked out.
FUNDRAISING
Following the call to missions involves the whole community. Let others share in your joy and support your MERGE mission trip.
Ideas:
- Have a MERGE Mission Sunday. Ask for your church for support.
- Host bake sales, dinners, or work days where the proceeds benefit missions and you ask for sponsors.
- Encourage potential supporters to buy Top of the Lake Coffee
Top of the Lake Coffee
Support: MERGE receives a generous portion of the proceeds from each package purchased.
Give Back: Your freshly roasted coffee is purchased from individual farmers or local cooperatives at better than the commodity index price for coffee, providing meaningful economic impact for their families and communities.
Build: Your group receives the difference to support mission experiences or other youth ministry projects.
Contact us
Dale Lusk:
dale.lusk@covchurch.org
(956) 458-9568
MERGE:
merge@covchurch.org
(773) 907-3351
8303 W. Higgins Rd.
Chicago, IL 60631