Thank you for your interest in the next trip to La Chinga, Honduras. Here is some information you may find helpful.

2025 LA CHINGA PROJECT INFO SHEET

Thank you for your interest in the next trip to La Chinga.  Here is some information you may find helpful.

1.       Project dates will be for the last two weeks of January.  The tentative itinerary is as follows.  This will be finalized by the team.

January 17 – Fly from Edmonton

January 18 – Arrive in Comayagua, Honduras.  Stay overnight in Tegucigalpa.

January 19 – Drive to La Chinga

January 19 – 27 – Time in La Chinga

January 27 – Drive to Tegucigalpa

January 28 – Debrief with World Renew or Diaconia Nacionel.

January 29 – 30 – Enjoy the sites around Comayagua or Lake Yojoa or Santa Lucia or… (TBD).

January 30 – Fly from Comoyagua

January 31 – Arrive home in Edmonton.

2.       Team size:  Ideal team size is 6 to 8 participants.  Because this is an intergenerational project, we are hoping for a team of mixed ages and genders – building community at all levels in La Chinga.

3.       Accommodation:  In Tegucigalpa there is a beautiful home we can use.  In Comayagua there is a relaxing hotel.  In La Chinga we will be staying in the school.  Men and Women have separate classrooms.  Prepare to sleep on foam mattresses on the floor!  The people of La Chinga take very good care of any special needs we may have.

4.       Food:  The food has always been delicious: a blend of Honduran food, with the occasional North American comfort food!  The food is prepared by community women, supervised by Delfia.  Team members eat their meals together at the school.  We may have community families join us some evenings.

5.       Team Member Costs: To make these trips cost-effective, we try to cap the individual cost at $2,500.  This covers:

·         Flight, travel insurance and any required US hotel stay

·         In-country costs (food, supplies, travel, driver, translator, hotels, R&R activities)

·         World Renew administrative costs

Fundraising will be utilized to keep costs at $2,500.  We will attempt to offer subsidies for team members who have additional financial burdens.  Also, all monies provided are tax deductible.

6.       Phone and internet use is limited.  There is some electricity in LaChinga.  There is also cell phone reception if you have an international plan.  If necessary, team members may use the World Renew or Diaconia Nacional cell phone once or twice during their stay.  Wifi is often available in restaurants and hotels.  The best use of your cell phone will be for taking pictures.

7.       Projects this year hopefully include working on the new water source.  Otherwise, there will be floors, pilas, and latrines to build.  Team members are encouraged to participate in this work as much as they are able; however, community members are also very willing help out.  (Actually, it's more likely that the community members and local masons will do the bulk of the work).

Projects are sponsored by individuals and families in Inglewood CRC and are completely tax deductible.  These projects greatly improve the health and wealth and hope of the community.

8.       Community Building is another very important part of our work in Honduras.  We are involved in a partnership with La Chinga and work hard to build on that relationship.  We meet in the middle through visiting with families, crafts, women meetings, men meetings, worship, concrete work, and agricultural events.  And we laugh a lot!

9.       Benefits of joining the La Chinga project team:

·         meeting and working with the people of La Chinga; developing relationships with brothers and sisters in Christ in another culture and encouraging fellow Christians

·         getting to know other Inglewoodians without distractions

·         appreciating your family and community more fully when you come home

·         witnessing God's blessings and faithfulness in a remote place

10.   Team preparation  

Before the trip, we plan to have 3 - 5 team orientation meetings to help team members become better acquainted with each other, to provide background information on the work of World Renew and their partner organizations in Honduras, to acquaint team members with World Renew policies, to prepare activities suggested by World Renew, to practice a bit of Spanish, etc.  Orientation meeting dates and times will be set in consultation with team members, and all participants are urged to attend all the meetings!

·         Suggested readings:  When Helping Hurts and Serving with Eyes Wide Open

11.   Other important information for team members (logistics):

When you decide that you would like to be part of the next Inglewood team, please provide the team leaders with your email address.  They will then forward it to World Renew.  Once the team names and emails have been submitted, everyone will receive a link to the World Renew iTravelIQ website.  There you would complete your application as quickly as possible.

Team members will need to provide a scanned copy of their passport to the church office.  Please provide a hard copy or email this to the church email address.  This is needed for booking tickets and for emergency information in Honduras.

For booking flights, provide the team leaders with your phone number and the following passport information: 

·         full name on passport, date of birth, passport number, passport expiry date,

Please note that your passport must be valid for 6 months past the trip return date.

Please check with your health unit or traveler's health about any vaccinations you may need.  Very few are actually needed.

Prior to the trip, all team members will receive World Renew Honduras contact information to leave with their families at home.

Any other questions? Please reach out to any member of the planning committee (Marina, Rose, Mike, Lucinda).  They would love to help you make this a wonderful part of your journey with God, Honduras, and your Inglewood family!