Mission Trip 2010
Indiana, Peru
November 19-30


The Place
Indiana, Peru is a small town down the Amazon River from the city of Iquitos Peru.  The area is extremely poor, very primitive, and quite safe.  The climate is tropical (hot and very humid).  The landscape is rain forest.  Mt. Ellis constructed a youth camp in Indiana in 2006.  The Amazon presents a vivid combination of beauty and hardship. 

Map    -   Indiana is quite remote to the point that it shows up on very few maps.  Click here to see a map of the Amazon region of Peru.  Locate Iquitos then zoom out slightly and look for Indiana in the upper right corner of the screen.

Photos  These photos were taken during the 2008 mission trip.

The Project
Student volunteers will run a week-long camp for children from small outlying villages.  Additionally, medical, dental, and vision teams will will operate clinics in small villages on the Amazon each day.  In fact the real project is to fulfill the gospel commission; to hold up Jesus while meeting the needs of people who live in very difficult circumstances.

Cost
The cost of the trip will be $2300 per participant.  This price includes an educational excursion to Machu Pichu in the Andes at the end of the trip.  In the event that travel costs increase more than expected or student fund-raising lags, the educational excursion will be eliminated. 

Fund Raising
Students will be provided fund raising letters  to send out to friends, family, and church members.  While the school will provide assistance, the raising of these funds is the responsibility of the student and parent.  Click here for a pdf of the fund raising letter. 

Important Steps

  1. Sign up in the school office
  2. Parent Consent Form - Please click here to download this form.  It must be signed and notarized by both parents and sent to the school.  The student's place on the trip will not be held until the consent has been received.
  3. Send out fund raising letters - Send out as many as possible as soon as possible.  The letters and envelopes may be obtained from the school office.  Keep your address list so that thank you letters may be sent out after the trip.
  4. Passport - All participants must have a valid passport.  Students who don't already have a passport should apply for one before returning to school on August 22.
  5. Immunizations and Medications - Each student must be current on the following immunizations:
    1. Hepatitis A
    2. Hepatitis B
    3. Typhoid
    4. Yellow Fever
    5. Measles/Mumps/Rubella
    6. Tetanus-diphtheria (within last 10 years)
    7. Malaria medication to take while there.  There are a number of anti malarial medications.  The two that are recommended for Peru are Malerone and Doxycyclene.  This will require a prescription.

Students should begin the immunization process before school begins and complete it no later than the October Home Leave.  The cost of immunizations is not included in the $2300 trip fee and must be covered by the student/parent.  For more information on immunizations click here.

Deadlines - The following deadlines must be met in order for students to remain on the participant list:

  1. February 5  - Parent consent form received in office (signed and notarized).
  2. February 19  - All fund raising letters sent out.
  3. May 21 -   At least $1500 raised
  4. August 22 -   Turn in valid passport and documentation of all required immunizations
  5. October 15 - All $2300 raised

Safety
As you know, travel to third world countries involves inherent risk.  Having already done a mission trip to Indiana we know that it is very safe relative to other third world locations.  Click here for U.S. State Department information on safety in Peru.

Thank you for your prompt attention to these matters.  Please address any questions to Mr. Wilkins by phone at the school or email (wilkins@bridgeband.com).