Spring Guatemala Trip

March 9-15, 2027

Join us as we visit Antigua, Guatemala City, and several more locations TBA. Download Flyer

What is the Intercultural Encounters Program?

Intercultural Encounters is a program that designs and facilitates experiences of encounter, reflection, dialogue, and mutual service between people of the United States and Canada with Central American communities in search of a more just, tolerant and equitable world.

Host: CEDEPCA (The Protestant Center for Pastoral Studies in Central America)

Immersion Seminars: Groups come for an intensive study on a certain topic such as culture environment, religion and spirituality, or gender. During the time in Central America, the participants have the opportunity to talk with local specialists who provide serious and up-to-date information to the group about the local context. This way the groups have a framework to facilitate their discussions and reflections.

Partnership Strengthening: For groups that have established partnership and solidarity relationships with local groups and/or churches and are interested in learning about the realities in which their partners live day to day.

2027 Immersion Seminar Topics: Gender, Culture and Sociopolitical Context

Applications close October 31. Deposit is $500 and total is roughly $2200.

Financial Aid Available

The Presbytery of Baltimore manages specific scholarship opportunities for mission-related activities and trips. They are:

• Herbert D. Valentine Millennium Fund Scholarship: Provides up to $5,000 for Presbytery-affiliated individuals pursuing mission-related studies or participating in mission endeavors, with an emphasis on strengthening faith communities and serving others locally, nationally, or globally.
• Robert J. Turner Scholarship: Provides financial assistance to young members of Baltimore Presbytery churches, from elementary school through college, to participate in Presbytery-sponsored domestic or international mission projects that include hands-on service and cultural learning.
• Guatemala Partnership Scholarship – Email us for more information

About Me

Name *

First

Last

As it appears on your passport

restrictions? Information you

Name for Name Tag *

Preferred Pronouns *He/HimShe/HerThey/Them

GenderMaleFemaleTransNon binaryOther

Email *

Phone *

Documentation

Date of Birth *

Passport # *

Expiration Date *

Country of Issue *

Please upload your passport photo

Drag & Drop Files, Choose Files to Upload

Congregational Involvement

Church you attend or are a member *

The support of your congregation is an important aspect of this experience. Please discuss your plan to participate with your pastor or mission committee. *

Emergency Contact Information

Emergency Contact Name *

First

Last

Emergency Contact Relationship *

Emergency Contact Address

Address Line 1

Address Line 2

City

— Select state —AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyomingState

Zip Code

Emergency Contact Phone

Emergency Contact Email *

Medical Information

Please indicate if any of the following applies: *

• Mobility Issues
• Allergies
• Will travel with CPAP
• Immunocompromising conditions
• Seizure disorder
• Surgery with the last six months
• Cardiovascular event within the last twelve months
• Respiratory illness within the last two months (including COVID)
• Pregnant
• Breastfeeding
• Chronic mental health condition
• Other
• No medical concerns

PLEASE NOTE: If you use medical marijuana on a regular basis, be advised that possession of marijuana is considered a crime in Guatemala. You will not be able to bring or use marijuana on a CEDEPCA trip.

If any boxes were checked in the previous entry, please explain:

Any dietary restrictions?

Current medications and dosage

Questions For Consideration

Have you ever traveled to Guatemala before? When and why?

Why are you interested in going on this trip?

How would you describe your Spanish skills?

• Native Speaker
• Fluent/Bilingual
• Proficient
• Conversational
• Know a few words
• None

(no Spanish skills required for this trip)

I will attend a required trip orientation, to be scheduled by the group

• Yes
• No

Alternative Funding Sources

• Myself
• My Church
• My Ministry Group
• Scholarship through the Guatemala Partnership
• Scholarship through the Robert J Turner Memorial Fund
• Scholarship through the Herbert D Valentine Fund

Links for more information above this form.

All rooms are double occupancy. In order to assign roommates in a more workable way, we ask that you please let us know if any of the following are true for you:

• I snore
• I am an early riser
• I stay up late into the evening
• I use a CPAP machine
• I sleep with white noise

Please indicate if you would like a specific roommate

For Guatemala Partnership Scholarship Consideration

Please tell us what you understand the purpose of this trip to be and why you wish to be a part of this experience.

After your return from the trip, in what ways do you intend to carry forward what you have learned?

• Sharing my experiences via a presentation to my mission committee and/or church
• Sharing the prayer letter and updates on Guatemala with my church and keeping CEDEPCA in my prayers
• Participation in the work of the Guatemala Partnership
• Using what I have learned as part of my own ministry
• Other

Please explain

How are you paying the $500 deposit? *

• By Check in the mail
• Online Payment

Please follow instructions above this form.

I acknowledge that I undertake this trip representing Christ, my church, and the Presbytery of Baltimore. I understand that this trip is intended to enrich me personally and spiritually and that it may also challenge me in unexpected ways. I agree to show respect to our Guatemalan partners, the Guatemalan people that I meet, and the Guatemalan culture I encounter. I will abide by trip guidelines, show courtesy to my fellow travelers, and fulfill my personal and financial obligations. *

• Agree

Submit

Remitting a Deposit

• You may either pay online here
• Or, send a check to “Presbytery of Baltimore: with the memo “2027 Guatemala Deposit” to 5400 Loch Raven Blvd. Baltimore, MD 21239