San José, Costa Rica
The mission of the Costa Rica IMPACT team was to learn from, serve with, share faith stories with, and model community in the presence of Costa Rican nationals. The principal ministry involved working with the Roblealto Child Care Association of San José in three daycare centers established for poor children. These day care centers give children a safe, loving place to grow and learn as they work with their families to bring healing and wholeness. Each day for one week the team participated in various painting projects at the sites from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. The rest of the afternoon was spent with the children and their teachers until 4:00 p.m. This time ranged from free play and singing to sharing Bible stories and doing crafts. The team also spent two days at La Cusinga, a lodge on the Pacific coast, where they relaxed, focused on team building, and explored the beach and rain forest.

The trip was a powerful experience for the participants. God was impressing many with a call to draw nearer in relationship to Him, to explore new areas of ministry upon returning to the U.S., to seek deeper fellowship within the church – especially based around mission and ministry, to re-evaluate their lifestyles and affluence, and to make better choices concerning with whom they choose to identify and spend their time.

Belaya Tserkov, Ukraine
The Ukraine team was hosted by a missionary from California, and Heart to Heart, a ministry of Ukrainian women who help the needy of Belaya Tserkov receive food, clothing, wheelchairs, love, and the hope that is found in Jesus Christ. The team spent one week teaching VBS, part of the team at a Boys House and the other part at a Rehab Center for children with cerebral palsy. A typical day began with a meeting for praise, prayer, and final preparations for the day. After VBS the team would meet at the Rehab Center for a lunch prepared by the staff. In the afternoons small groups would visit wheel chair candidates. Some mornings the team would visit the Baby House, a place for orphaned babies, many of them with severe handicaps.

The team had a wonderful experience. Everyone was overwhelmed by the love poured out by Ukrainians, young and old. They left the Ukraine with a great sendoff of hugs, tears, and pictures. Some highlights of the trip were attending a huge baptism in a river running through town, a mini-Olympics the last day at the Boy’s House, and a picnic in the park for many of the handicapped families. The participants got a taste of the Ukraine through home stays, museums and art exhibits, local restaurants, and brief shopping ventures.

Uganda (East Africa)
Although our Uganda trip was cancelled this summer because of the fear generated by the tourist attacks in Bwindi National Park, some council representatives traveled to Kenya and Uganda in July to visit friends and research future trips. They spent time visiting and planning with the MCYF (Maasai Christian Youth Fellowship), a group IMPACT has worked with many summers, the PCEA (Presbyterian Church of East Africa), and Cornerstone Development in Uganda.