ALIQUIPPA MISSION TRIP

WHEN: 

Two Trips in 2020.  June 4-7. and  July 9-12.   Both Trips begin on a Thursday evening and conclude around 2pm Sunday.  Groups can stay longer if they choose. 

We have limited space left on both trips. Please call to check on availability.

If your group is interested in a week not listed we do have some availability in July. Ask us about booking your own week. 

WHERE:   

Aliquippa is located in western Pennsylvania about 30 miles northwest of Pittsburgh. 

WHO:  

This trip is for everyone. Married, single, kids, students, whole families, whole small groups. This trip is a great way to interact across generations and experience serving  and mission together.  You can reserve spots for your whole church, or just your student ministry. 

 Aliquippa is a small town located in western Pennsylvania.  In 1905  the Jones and Laughlin Steel Company constructed a mill in Aliquippa causing the small town to grow and prosper.   By the 1940’s, Aliquippa was a thriving community  with around 30,000 people living in the city. 

When J & L Steel closed the mill in the 1980’s, Aliquippa suffered greatly. The poverty rate went up as employment went down. Today, the city has around 9,000 residents. This has left many of the businesses and residences abandoned. In Aliquippa over 90% of the students in their schools are on subsidized lunches. Aliquippa faces real difficulty, but Jesus is working through many people to show the city his love. 

Scott and Sue Branderhorst are local missionaries in Aliquippa. They are on the ground year round, they know the area, the people and have established trust in Aliquippa. They connect us with people who have needs we can help with. 

We love working with Scott and Sue. Their love for people and sacrificial service is contagious.  To find out more about Scott and Sue and the work they do in Aliquippa  CLICK HERE. 

UNCOMMON GROUNDS CAFE'

The Cafe' is a bit of a ministry hub in Aliquippa. Uncommon Grounds Cafe' is supported by Church Army and lead by Herb Bailey.  We partner with Herb in a variety of ways and appreciate his passion for social justice, art, the dignity of all people and motorcycles. 

We visit the cafe so our teams get a taste of the best chocolate milk on the planet and also get to rub shoulders with Herb and their team.

We camp out on  80 acres of private property a short drive from Aliquippa.  It is kind of like a private park. This property has two ponds, many hiking trails, a picnic pavilion, sitting areas, a volleyball court and a bocci ball court. We swim and fish in the ponds, take walks, enjoying evening camp fires and really utilize this space to unwind and enjoy hanging out.

We stay in tents. Groups are encouraged to bring the tents they need for their group. In the event you run into trouble securing enough tents we do have a few that can be used. 

We spend time in the mornings doing  simple projects that allow us to work side by side with those we are helping.  Serving can be cleaning, painting, landscaping, light construction or all of the above. We make sure that the work you do is equal to your group's skill level. 

In the afternoon's we set up shop in a local park and spend time caring about kids and their families by getting to know them and hearing their stories. This can include anything from  face painting to a pick up game of touch football. 

We have found that folks who come on this trip experience a ton of spiritual growth in just a short amount of time.  Each day you and your team will get to experience healthy relationships in three ways.  A combination of Up-In-Out relationships each day produces exponential growth. 

1. UP  - with our Heavenly Father while you pray and interact with God's Word.

2. IN - with each other during camp fire discussion, enjoying meals and all sorts of fun in the evening. 

3. OUT - with the people of Aliquippa, as you serve throughout the day, both giving to them and receiving from them. 

1. Toilets: There are portable toilets on the property as  well as one flush toilet. 

2. Showers: We shower each afternoon  at a local YMCA.  Since the Y has so many the process goes very quickly. 

3. Storms:  In the event of inclement weather we do have a church facility that we will stay in.  

We do have a few foodies on our team who like good food, so we tend to eat yummy food with plenty of healthy options. 

We eat at our camp site in a picnic pavilion. The food is prepared daily by our RippleFX team. We  ask some folks to pitch in each meal to make set-up and clean-up go quickly.  If you have food allergies or special food needs in your group please let us know so we can accommodate you. 

The cost includes  all food, lodging, and construction supplies. Groups provide their own transportation for the trip, both to our lodging location and also  to worksites each day.   Groups are also asked to bring some simple things to do with kids; sidewalk chalk, bubbles, kickballs, other simple games or crafts. 

COST: Our 2020 trips cost  is $175 per person for groups that have less than 30. If your group has more than 30  the cost is $150 per person.