The Ecuador trip is “Community” Immersion based. Trip Destination:  Durán, near the city of Guayaquil, Ecuador, South America. Trip Dates:  7, 8 or 9 days toward the end of winter break 2011-12.

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

Rostro de Cristo Mission & Vision

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 experie nces inspire life-long commitments to service, social justice, and solidarity with the people of Ecuador and the world.

Vision: The Rostro de Cristo program brings together the people of Ecuador and the United States in order to:

• Foster mutual evangelization in the Catholic tradition through a shared discovery of faith. 
• Transform the world based on the Gospel by promoting understanding, justice and appropriate development. 
• Inspire life-long commitments to service, social justice and solidarity in the global community.

Ecuador Trip Itinerary:  The B.C. Ecuador delegation travels to Durán, near the city of Guayaquil, where they collaborate with long-time in-country partner organization, Rostro de Cristo, by participating in a Rostro de Cristo-sponsored 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. 

Additionally, participants have the opportunity to learn about the larger context within which Ecuador as a country is situated.  They meet with various community leaders, including local parish leaders, and listen to presentations and engage in discussions on the social, economic, political, and religious issues that have affected and continue to affect the people of Ecuador.

Exploring Faith:  Prayer, reflection, journaling, and sharing with each other are core aspects of this experience before, during, and after the trip.  While Arrupe programs are open to people of any faith tradition, they are influenced by the Catholic tradition, and Catholic liturgies are a part of the experience.  Each participant is expected to participate in this aspect of the experience, share about her/his faith, in all of its joys and struggles and questions, and to explore how faith, and the gifts they have been given, connect to living in solidarity with all people, especially those who experience marginalization.

Living Simply:  During a trip, participants are expected to embrace “living simply.” Part of what this means is eating food that may not be familiar or plentiful, sleeping in beds or other places that are less comfortable than what might be accustomed to, getting dirty, bathing rarely, experiencing limited personal space, and possibly getting sick.  Participants also may find themselves in situations that could instigate allergies, or not be able to accommodate dietary preferences, etc.

Time Commitment:  Participation in an Arrupe program involves a year-long commitment which includes preparation for and follow up after a trip.  This commitment involves participating in weekly community meetings, a pre-trip and post-trip retreat, several presentations, a few Catholic liturgies, a number of fundraising events and activities, and pre-trip and post-trip social justice awareness-building and community service projects.  Expect this commitment to be about 5 hours a week, with retreats and the point drive week adding hours. (Please note the “important dates” associated with the program.)

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

Safety and Health: Before applying for an Arrupe program, each participant and his/her family need to be aware that there are many health and safety risks associated with traveling to the destinations visited through this program. Please check the U.S. Department of State’s assessment of traveling to these destinations http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_4965.html, the Center for Disease Control’s assessment of traveling to these destinations http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/default.aspx, and consider your own physical and emotional/psychological/mental health before applying. Should you participate in a program, you will need to continue to check these websites for updates, as these assessments may change before a trip departs.