We believe that every person is a beloved child of God, all of us have gifts to offer, and we each travel our own journey with God. As a community of faith, our mission is to support and foster spiritual growth within our parish family, in the town of Milton, and in the world beyond through worship, education, stewardship, and outreach

welcome to the official info portal for the mission trip

this page will be updated as it gets closer to the trip date

if you have questions or concerns or to receive notifications about updates, contact:

leo biocchi, trip leader

leobiocchi@stmichaelsmilton.org

508-887-3007

this trip is made possible by the joint effort of

the outreach commission and youth ministry

This trip is hosted by the non-profit, safe passage

Safe Passage is an acclaimed non-profit school in Guatemala City since 1999, offering holistic education from Pre-K to 9th grade. Their transformative approach addresses wellness, lifelong learning, vocational skills, and community engagement to combat poverty. Alongside academic programs, we provide educational support for high schoolers, healthcare, and social services. St Michael’s will help families they serve living near the city's landfill, offering hope, education, and opportunity to break the cycle of poverty.

To learn more about Safe Passage, click here to visit their website.

ages you will work with on this trip and how often:

AGES 3-6: 50% of mission time is spent with this age

Preschool uses Expeditionary Learning to foster confidence and critical thinking through engaging activities.

GRADES 1-8: 40% of mission time is spent with this age

Primary and Middle Schoolers are accredited by the Guatemalan Ministry of Education. They emphasize hands-on, immersive learning based on Expeditionary Learning principles, encouraging students to work on relevant projects that integrate various subjects and real-world applications.

HIGH SCHOOL: 10% of mission time is spent with this age

High school students attend local public schools for the standard four-hour day and supplement their education with the Oportunidades program, which offers homework help, English, health, and extracurricular activities, preparing them for internships and employment.

what you’ll be doing while on-site

The best way to get a comprehensive picture of what you’ll be doing, especially if you weren’t able to attend one of out info sessions is to reach out to an Outreach Commission member, most who have actually gone in recent years. Please email Jane at jmlundquist@gmail.com to inquire.

If you are 15 years of age or older by June 2025, you are welcome to join. Mission work happens at the Safe Passage School site in Guatemala City Monday through Thursday, 9am to 3pm. Volunteers from our church (max. 15) work together on-site, with occasional smaller group activities. You'll assist students in learning English, health education, and standard school subjects like science and math. Youth Group members will create their own activities for the kids before the trip. You'll always be in a group setting; you won't work alone with students.

what you’ll be doing while not on-site

The group will stay at Hotel Las Camelias in the historic town of Antigua, Guatemala, with nightly worship on the rooftop terrace overlooking stunning views of Volcano Fuego. Breakfast, dinner, lodging, and travel expenses are covered in your cost. Evenings offer free time to explore downtown Antigua's shops and attractions. The final two days include exciting activities like hiking to the Cerra de la Cruz Cross, ATV riding, farm visits, and a Volcano Hike. Note, these are options and Specific plans will be chosen by Youth Group closer to the trip date.

use the arrows below to see a real life look of where you’ll be

cost & Deposit information

The cost to attend the 2025 mission trip per individual is $1800 payable to the church with 30% ($540) due by July 1, 2024 and the remaining $1260 due by January 15, 2025 This is the maximum price you will pay, with fundraising efforts in the year before the trip going entirely to defraying the cost per person.

If affordability is an issue, Leo or an Outreach member can assist in setting up a "GoFundMe" campaign, a common method for fundraising for mission trips.

cancellation & emergency

Should a cancellation be necessary, a full refund of what has been paid is available if cancelled by February 15, 2025. If cancelled by April 15, 2025, a refund minus $150.00 will be issued. If cancelled after April 15, no refund is available.

If a participant leaves the trip early for whatever reason, no refunds are available.

If Safe Passage cancels a trip at any time such as an extreme weather event, all costs will be refunded.

In the event of a medical emergency, your travel insurance covers a hospital stay and treatment in Gautamela

what is included in the cost

• All travel expenses (including church to airport, airfare, private Antigua to site travel, 1 checked bag, 1 carry on and 1 personal item)
  

• Travel insurance (required to cover you for medical emergency)
  

• Breakfast and dinner all 7 days, on-site lunch Sun - Thurs
  

• Hotel room with toiletries, coffee and tea for 7 nights (1 queen bed per participant, no more than 2 per occupants per room)
  

• Mission Trip T-shirt!
  

the cost you’ll be responsible for

• Lunch at Miami International Airport (layover) on departure day and dinner on return day

• Friday and Saturday lunch (post-mission work days)

• Any chaperone alcohol purchased at restaurant dinner (no alcohol is allowed at any other time)
  

• Spending money for purchases at shops, grocery store
  

physical/mental health & safety

Participants are covered by travel insurance for medical emergencies with a nearby hospital typically 20-40 minutes away. This surpasses US insurance standards. Security escorts accompany individuals on campus and armed guards are stationed in all buildings with additional exterior patrols.

Consider avoiding this trip if you:

• Have severe asthma or numerous extreme allergies. Air quality is poorer in Gautemala and although Safe Passage will accommodate allergies, there is less allergen awareness in the country.
  

• Are unvaccinated for routine childhood diseases, as disease prevention varies and is unsafe to rely on the population being immunized to prevent disease. As part of your pre-trip checklist, it’s recommended to check CDC recommendations for Guatemala travel
  

• Are exceptionally susceptible to mental distress or have active trauma histories related to at-risk/impoverished conditions.
  

If you’re an adult

We want this to be a rewarding experience for you just as it is for the youth going. However, particularly if you’re 25+, you’ll be expected to act as a Youth Ministry Volunteer while on the trip. This means you will be assigned certain tasks that involve supervision.

Click here for our volunteer guide

hotel specific info & rules

We'll be staying at La Camielas Inn. (Note that the hotel company manages 11 hotels in Antigua, so online searches may yield information about multiple properties. The details and images provided on this site are specific to our hotel.

• Small water bottles and basic toiletries like shampoo, soap, and towels are provided daily. Coffee, tea, and water coolers for refillable water bottles are available in the lobby for free.
  

• Antigua water is considered unsafe to drink. Tooth-brushing water will be from bottles or refillable sources, while city water is fine for showers and handwashing.
  

• At least 2 adults will be on each floor where youth are sleeping, with adults positioned at the ends of the floors. Adults should refrain from entering youth unless the door is propped open or two unrelated adults present.
  

• Rooms will have either 2 adults or 2 youth, with single rooms available for an additional $140. If group composition doesn't allow total safe sleeping arrangements, everyone will have a single room with the added cost.
  

• Wi-Fi is available at the hotel just like it is in the U.S. Please check with your phone carrier for specific data rates, calling, etc
  

• There are no shops or restaurants in the hotel but a grocery store is a 5-minute walk away.
  

• Access to a pool at a nearby partner hotel is available at specific times
  

• Alcohol and drugs are prohibited while we’re at the hotel.
  

• Chaperones and youth are expected to wear appropriate attire outside of their rooms.
  

transportation & travel

Please consider the extensive travel involved in this trip before deciding to join. Detailed itinerary will be added in the coming months.

Departure day starts at 4:30am at the church, arriving at the Antigua hotel around 3:00pm (feeling like 5:00pm due to time difference). Flight time is 8 hours with a 53-minute layover in Miami.

Return day begins at 9:00am at the hotel, landing in Boston at 11:37pm (feeling like 9:37pm due to time difference). Flight time is 8 hours with a 2 hour and 35 minute layover in Miami.

Safe and private bus travel is arranged to and from the Safe Passage School site and will take take 1.5 - 2 hours and up to 3 hours in cases of extreme traffic each way to and from the site, Monday through Thursday. Youth can have phones with them at all times but can't use them during mission time. Antigua is walkable, with downtown 10 minutes from the hotel, and free days will minimize travel.

luggage & flying

Your airfare comes with 1 checked bag, 1 carry-on and 1 personal item. The group will be seated together with assigned seats.

Specific items will be discussed closer to the trip date.

money & downtown safety & curfiews

In Guatemala, the currency is the Guatemalan quetzal (7.7 = $1 USD). Credit cards are widely accepted and encouraged, but ATMs are also available for cash withdrawals. Due to petty theft, it's wise to avoid carrying large amounts of cash.

Apple Pay is accepted in most establishments, except local artisan shops. It's recommended for youth to carry a debit/credit card or use Apple Pay if they have an iPhone. Adults should carry cash when accompanying youth to downtown areas or on Friday/Saturday outings.

Money should not be an issue so as long as the parent gives the youth a clear spending limit to coordinators in advance of the trip. Understanding it’s a foreign country and especially if their parent is not accompanying them, the church may purchase items for youth if necessary and be reimbursed post trip.

Chaperones and youth should avoid wearing expensive jewelry or bringing expensive cameras downtown. Guatemala is as an impoverished country and suffers from petty theft. Modest clothing should be worn into Antigua.

There will be limited availability during evenings for youth to explore Antigua after notifying Leo and must travel in minimum of pairs with at least one adult accompanying them. Nightly curfew will be 11:00pm and each participant must carry a cell phone while going downtown.

site specific rules

Safe Passage prohibits taking photos while on site and utilizing social media.

The following rules are required while on campus:

• Safe Passage t-shirt is to be worn, each participant gets two at the start of the week.

• Blue jeans (absolutely no leggings)

• Closed-toed shoes

• No visible tattoos or facial piercings. All tattoos need to be covered and all piercings, except ears for women, need to be removed or covered while working at Safe Passage. While they value your self-expression, often body

piercings and tattoos are understood in Guatemalan culture to be indicators of gang membership, so they appreciate your cooperation with following these guidelines.

Pre-Trip Checklist

Itinerary

Day 1 - Sunday, June 15, 2024

next steps and deadlines