Diocesan Mission Trips 2011

Our Diocese will be offering three domestic mission trips this year. One trip will be to Kentucky, one to New Orleans, and one to South Dakota.

The first opportunity will be July 2-8, plus travel time on each side, to the Oglala Lakota People of Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. The reservation is in southwest S. Dakota; 85-90% of the people are unemployed with an average annual income of $2400; 60% of the homes have no electricity; and the life expectancy of adults is between 47-53 years. There is work of all kinds for volunteers, 12 years of age and up. The cost is $375 per person which includes room and board, with the Diocese paying for gas and motel ($50) en route. Up to 20 people can participate in this mission trip. More information can found on their website re-member.org.

The second mission trip is in Kentucky from September 19-23 with one day travel on each side. Four St. Martin's parishioners participated last year in this mission trip to Barnes Mountain/St. Timothy's Episcopal Outreach Center in eastern Kentucky's Appalachian foothills. Becky S., Shari S., Pat V., and Mother Mary can tell you more about their experience. The cost is $200 per person, which covers lodging, a kitchen, and materials for the work that will be done while there. The Diocese will pay for gas en route and food costs while on Barnes Mountain. Participants cook their own meals.

The last trip is to New Orleans, working with the Episcopal Community Services (ECSLA) doing re-build and native landscape work related to Hurricane Katrina. This trip is from November 14-18 with travel time on each side. Costs have not been finalized, but last year the cost was $70 which included lodging and kitchen; there is also a suggested additional donation of $70 to help cover the costs of materials. Participants cook their own meals. The Diocese will pay for gas and food costs at the mission where volunteers are housed. Motel costs are not covered by Diocese. More information about the work being done can be found at ecsla.org .

The Diocese may also sponsor a trip later this year to our companion diocese in the Dominican Republic. Details are not yet available for this international mission trip.

If you are interested in any of these trips, talk to Mother Mary or contact our Diocesan Mission Coordinator, Terry Dorcy at tJdorcy@aol.com .