Trip Team Expectations
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View details on the 2024 music trip to India

2023 Cuba Trip

A Fourth Church trip to Cuba to visit our sister congregation the First Presbyterian Church of Havana will take place May 29–June 5, 2023.

This trip will provide opportunity to celebrate Fourth Presbyterian Church’s twenty-three-year partnership with First Presbyterian Church of Havana on our first visit to our sister church since March 2020. This trip reinforces our mutual love and presence as we live into our shared faith.

Travelers will
Become familiar with the historical, political, economic, and cultural context for Christian life in Cuba

Be inspired by the resiliency of a church thriving amid scarcity and learn about the ministries of First Church, Havana

Participate in the life of the Cuban church, sharing worship, prayer, and music at small churches and members’ homes

Carry the love of Fourth Church to our church family in Havana

Sights to See
We may visit Ernest Hemingway’s house and museum, a cigar factory, the Museum of the Revolution, art galleries and installations, dance and music performances, and beaches and national parks.

Trip Leaders
Joe Morrow, Associate Pastor
Gretchen Wahl, Elder

Nature of the Trip
Building our partnership, cross-cultural learning, supporting ministries

Age Range
Twelve years and up; those under eighteen must be accompanied by an adult

Estimated Cost
$2,000 per person; includes airfare

Applications due February 13
Participants may register online until February 13, 2023.
A deposit of $750 is required, as well as copy of a valid passport. Passport must be valid at least six months after June 5, 2023 (i.e., until December 5, 2023).

For more information, contact Joe Morrow (312.981.3385).

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Mission and Insight Trips

Mission trips enable us, as representatives of Fourth Presbyterian Church, to live with and learn from our brothers and sisters from around the world, from Central America to Chicago’s South Side. We share their struggles with hunger and violence. We do what we can to help, but mostly we show that we care.

We also discover that when we break away from our routines, we see new connections and make lasting friendships with each other.

If you are unable to travel, you can still participate in global mission by attending special programs featuring our partners from around the world. Events are announced in the News@FourthChurch e-newsletter (request a subscription via news@fourthchurch.org) and the Sunday bulletin insert “News and Opportunities.”

Occasionally calls go out for items needed by our hosts, such as medications and church school supplies, which our travelers can take with them. We invite you to consider supporting this aspect of global mission.

The material things, though, are secondary. Invariably our hosts make one request we all can honor: “Pray for us.”

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Trip Team Expectations

God calls us to receive and share the love of Jesus Christ, a love that crosses all cultural, geographic, economic, and generational boundaries. Mission trips provide opportunities for serving, learning, advocacy, peacemaking, spiritual inspiration, and building relationships and cross-cultural awareness.

As we interact with brothers and sisters from around the world, we honor their dignity and show respect through mutuality, learning and receiving from them while giving support in solidarity. It is essential for us to follow their lead and wisdom on addressing the quality of life and witness of faith in their context.

Mission trip participants are asked to bring an open and humble mind of a beginner.

• Reflective worship is an important part of every trip.
• Mission trips start well before the date of departure and extend beyond our return home. All participants are expected to participate in orientations, trip-related activities, and debriefing and post-trip activities. Articles or books may be recommended reading.
• Mission team members need to be flexible, cooperative, and positive, supporting the team leaders and our hosts as they need to adapt to unexpected circumstances and changes in plans.
• Accommodations are purposely modest to lower the cost of the trip and to benefit from the hospitality of our hosts.
• Estimated costs include airfare, most meals, lodging, ground transportation, and in some cases a contribution toward the project or people served. Actual costs may vary depending on changes in airfare and the number of participants who register.
• Each team member must pay a 50 percent deposit of fees by the stated deadline, $100 of which is nonrefundable. Limited scholarships may be available upon request.
• Unless stated otherwise, persons of all ages and abilities are welcome to apply.
• For international trips, you must have a passport that is valid for at least six months beyond your return date. A copy of the first two pages of the passport must be submitted with trip applications.
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Application Forms

Application forms are posted for specific trips as they are scheduled.

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For More Information

For more information, please contact Nancy Davis, Coordinator for Mission and Evangelism (312.274.3815).

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