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:
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.
Current Trip Offerings:
Cancun, Mexico
February 10-14, 2020
This trip will provide an opportunity for youth leaders to get to know Merge staff and to learn about different site styles (urban, town, rural) in the Yucatan Peninsula. Leaders will visit sites and talk about opportunities for their youth groups, not only in Mexico but around the world.
To register for this trip please click here to download the application forms needed.
Current Trip Offerings:
EUROPE
FINLAND
December 27, 2019 -January 2, 2020
Midwinter Covenant Youth Festival with the Finnish Church in Jakobstad, Finland
GERMANY
August 14-23, 2020
Outreach Program in Berlin, Germany—multicultural Covenant church plant—outreach, English classes
SWEDEN
May 18-24, 2020
Church conference in Malmö, Sweden--youth/children ministry/sports ministry/conference
July 4-12, 2020
Hönö Church Conference--youth/children ministry/sports ministry/conference, music
August 1-10, 2020
Integration Program for Middle Eastern Immigrants, Covenant Church in Norrkoping, Sweden--outreach, English Classes, camp
LATIN AMERICA
ECUADOR
July 26-August 2, 2020
Ecuadorian Covenant Women's National Convention in Santo Domingo, Ecuador
October 25-November 4, 2020
Ecuadorian National Youth Camp in Santo Domingo, Ecuador
GUATEMALA
July 2020 (exact dates TBD)
Community ministry, home visits, education programs, possible medical workshops, and support in Patzicia, Guatemala.
MEXICO
March 16-26, 2020
Covenant church plant support in Tetela del Volcan, Morelos, Mexico—follow up to Covenant disaster response teams leading to a Covenant church plant
May 2020 (exact dates TBD)
Covenant Freedom Service Week in Mexico City, Mexico—working with a victim of abuse and violence, human trafficking
July 11-18, 2020
Covenant Immigration Journey in Mexico City, Mexico—education and awareness about immigrant issues, service with immigrants
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