First of all, there is a family who facilitates family mission trips already. Actually, they do the family trip to the exact same place we will be and will actually be there at the same time as well.We’ll just be there during the middle of their trip. After doing this a few times, they have limited the age to 10 year olds and above. Also, they do work projects and VBS at the orphanage where the adults lead the ministry and the kids help out. This tends to be a great experience… but my desire was to offer a mission trip with a differnt perspective. In this trip, the kids are the stars. The adults simply support the kid’s efforts in ministry. However, we do have a 1 to 1 ratio of kids to adults… so for some this is very much like a family mission trip… just kid centered.

My commitment to the parents from the very begining was that I would have small groups, one leader for every 3 kids. I knew I would have some extra support staff, but the groups would be small. As it turns out, I have groups of about 5 with an adult leader and and assistnat adult leader (no teenagers on this trip). So, my groups are a tiny bit bigger, but I’m doing better than a 1:3 ratio. I have support staff which include a few of my staff and some parents who are gophers, food prep, translaters and extra. My strategy is to personally have a direct line of communication/with the 5 group leaders. The other children’s pastor who is going (who is also fluent in Spanish) will directly lead the support staff. It works out really great this way. If Miguel (the other CP) and I need to get info out, I meet with my 5 leaders who can diffuse info to their assistants and kids and Miguel to the support staff.

Like I said before, we are going to a safe location in Mexico. It’s close, it’s cheap and I feel very comfortable with the area we will be in. With the right connections, I am sure that Haiti or Dominican Republic would also be great locations… I may have to look into that one as well. That was the location of my first trip too!

I’ll have the kids doing lots of relational ministry to the kids in the orphanage. It’s a great experience to see kids trying to interact with other kids who speak another language. They end up communicating with smiles, laughter and usually a good game of soccer! We’ll also do some simple service/clean-up tasks and possibly pass out food they will prepared to poor people in the city. However, my main purpose for taking this kids to Mexico is not for the kids to minister to Mexicans. The purpose is for kids to get a glimpse of the greater world around them, to push them out of their comfort zone and help them to see God’s heart for the lost (over 2 billion unreached still). We’ll take time to learn about the unreached (none of whom actually live in Mexico), begin praying for them and this stuff. I want the kids to become intercessors for global missions. They may never do it again, but I want them to know what it is about, and what they can do to help.

I’m doing a 3 night/4day trip. Not long enough for the kids to really get home sick, but short enough to leave them wanting more. I’d love to make it longer, but I think it could chance on being too long… especially for those who didn’t come with parents.

Last of all, I’m doing 3-5th grade becasue that is my division of grades for small groups in upper elementary. My plan is for Surge to be an opportunity for those who are already plugged into small groups… an opportunity to further build community. Usually these kids get missions opportunities in youth.. so I’m just giving some a head start.

Yes, I knew that Craig did mission with his kids. My hope was to ask the staff more about it when I was to be at PDCM… but it got cancelled. Just my luck. I’ve emailed the staff at Saddleback, but no one has gotten back to me. I’m sure they’re very busy right now keeping it all together.

Well, I’ll provide everything to anyone who wants to know. Schedules, ideas, projects, evaluations and the lot. How great would it be if more began offering trips like this to their kids.

I will definitely be reading to see how everything goes. I went on a missions trip when I was 13 it changed my life. I believe every Christian needs to go on at least on short term missions trip.

Lastly – I know you said you were looking for people who have done this before. I know Craig Juntilla used to take his kids to New Missions in Haiti. I don’t know a ton of details, but we did a trip to Haiti and the missionary told us Craig brought kids down there.