Ecuador - Winter Break 2009-10

Trip Destination:  Durán, near the city of Guayaquil, Ecuador. Trip Dates:  Approximately 7, 8 or 9 days toward the end of winter break 2009-10. Coordinating Organizations:  Boston College Campus Ministry, Boston College Office of Residential Life, and Rostro de Cristo, an organization that is established on Boston College’s campus (www.rostrodecristo.org).

• Lead a simple lifestyle.
• Build an intentional Christian community. 
• Be in relationship with the Ecuadorian people and reflect on the face of Christ in their joys and struggles.
• Work with the Ecuadorian people to find long term solutions to the problems of poverty and together seek opportunities to improve the lives of the people. 

Rostro de Cristo participants are thus witnesses to the Gospel and a source of hope and light in the community.  These experiences inspire life-long commitments to service, social justice, and solidarity with the people of Ecuador and the world.

Trip Itinerary:  Program participants travel to Durán, near the city of Guayaquil, where they participate in a Rostro de Cristo retreat and community immersion experience.  Throughout their time in Durán, participants mingle with people from the local community and spend time each day visiting and working with people involved in community programs and initiatives.  Simply being with the people of Durán and Guayaquil is a priority; participants dedicate several hours each day visiting and sometimes working with local residents of different parts of the wider community. 

Participants also learn about the larger context within which the country of Ecuador is situated.  They attend presentations and engage in discussions on the economic, political, social, and religious dynamics that have affected and continue to affect Ecuador and its people.

During the trip, participants must expect to live simply.  They likely will eat food that is not always familiar or plentiful, sleep in beds or other places that are often less comfortable than they might be accustomed to, bathe rarely, and experience limited personal space. 

Prayer, reflection, journaling, and sharing with each other are core aspects of this experience before, during, and after the trip.  Each participant is expected to share about her/his faith, in all of its joys and struggles, and to explore how faith, and the gifts they have been given, connect to living in solidarity with the Poor.

Language Proficiency Required:  Although being able to speak Spanish is useful while on the trip, applicants do not need to be able to speak any language other than English to participate in this program.

Safety:  Boston College Campus Ministry seriously considers the U.S. Department of State’s published statements regarding public safety in a potential host country.  For travel-related information and recommendations published by the U.S. Department of State, please check the U.S. Department of State’s website: http://www.state.gov/travel/.

Health/Immunizations:  Boston College Campus Ministry requests that participants seriously consider protecting themselves before traveling outside of the U.S. with the immunizations and other preventative measures recommended by the Center for Disease Control (CDC).  For more information, please check the CDC’s website: http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/destinationEcuador.aspx.