ARRUPE INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM
ECUADOR – SPRING 2008

Trip Destination: Durán, near the city of Guayaqil, Ecuador.

Trip Dates: Approximately 8 – 10 days during spring break, February 29 – March 9, 2008.

Coordinating Organizations: Boston College Campus Ministry, in collaboration with Rostro de Cristo: http://www.rostrodecristo.org/Mission.htm

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. 

Rostro de Cristo Mission:
Rostro de Cristo is a Catholic program whose mission is to provide spiritual and educational opportunities for young people from the United States to live out the Gospel of Jesus Christ together with the people of Ecuador. The program invites participants to:
• 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 will travel to Durán, near the city of Guayaqil, where they participate in a Rostro de Cristo experience. Throughout their time in Durán, participants will mingle with people from the local community and spend time each day visiting and working at community programs. Being with the people of Durán and Guayaquil are a priority. Participants dedicate several hours to 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 social, economic, political, and spiritual issues which have affected and continue to affect Ecuador.
Prayer, reflection, journaling and sharing are core aspects of this experience before, during, and after the trip.

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

Immunizations Required: Boston College requests that participants seriously consider protecting themselves 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://www.cdc.gov/travel/vaccinat.htm.