This year RTLC’s Bridging Borders program is branching out and exploring some new ways
to serve our brothers and sisters on this earth.

RTLC is coordinating with Rita Recovery, a program run by the United Methodist Committee on Relief,
to help families in East Texas finally be able to come home.

In 2005 Hurricane Rita plowed through southeast Texas impacting over 96,000 homes.
Rita Recovery pairs groups with families who need help rebuilding and repairing their homes.
Groups from RTLC will fly down from Denver and spend a week laying drywall, roofing,
flooring, repairing windows and even possibly doing some demolition.
Each group will be staying in churches in the area with transportation provided by RTLC.
Each evening the group will cook dinner, worship together, do devotions
and have time to journal on the experience.
These trips will cost $550 per person including airfare with a minimum of 10 people.
This is a great chance for youth to serve and to give people hope and literally, a home.

***FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS***

What will we be doing on this trip?
Throughout the week you and your group will share in a lifestyle of servant-hood as a Christian community.
Groups from RTLC will fly down from Denver and spend a week laying drywall, roofing,
flooring, repairing windows and even possibly doing some demolition. Each evening the group will cook dinner, worship together, do devotions and have time to journal on the experience.

What about male and female chaperones?
Rainbow Trail will send both a male and a female counselor, one of whom will be a Director with more training and qualifications. Both genders will be supervised and taken care of regardless of the gender of the adult from your church.

Will there be Bible study?
There is time each evening for devotions. Typically, the RTLC Director chooses to split the entire group into three groups. These will be cooking, cleaning, and devotion groups. The devotions are then planned in a small group and are 80-90% youth led. Most likely there will be an adult in each group, but their job is to mainly motivate and keep the group on task - not to do the planning, cooking or cleaning themselves.

Where will the group be staying in Texas?
Each group will be staying in churches in the area with transportation provided by RTLC.

What is the process for emergencies?
Each RTLC counselor has been trained in First Aid and CPR. If a more serious accident happens RTLC has an ‘agreement to treat’ with an emergency hospital facility in Puerto Rico. In addition, RTLC has available phone contact with our main-site nurse who has access to a copy of each campers’ medical form. Questions regarding dispensing of medication and routine medical care can be answered through this communication.

Who is going on this trip?
Rainbow Trail trains Summer Directors to lead Bridging Borders weeks. These Directors are 21+ and have participated in comprehensive training, including 15 passenger van safety, cultural expectations, safe food preparation, water consumption risks, and group building. In addition to the summer Director, a Rainbow Trail counselor will join you in order to balance gender ratios. Most groups will also choose to bring along a youth director, pastor, or caring adult. Our camping philosophy is designed in such a way that the church’s adult leader is relieved of all administrative and disciplinary duties so that they are free to fully minister to their kids. By using this relationship based approach to ministry, participants discover the relevance of Christian teachings as a rewarding basis for life. The Adult Leader is the “Shepherd” of the group, assisting the Summer Director and counselor.

Who can go on a Bridging Borders - Rita Recovery trip?
This program is designed for senior high campers entering 9th through 12th grades in the fall and a congregational leader interested in accompanying them. Each mission trip should have a majority of youth participants. Registration is at least 10 people. Participants should be willing to work hard and to learn new skills.

Can a participant be located in case of an emergency back home?
The Rainbow Trail Summer Director on the trip will check-in with camp via cell phone a few times during the week. In case of an emergency, a family member may call Rainbow Trail’s camp office at 719.942.4220 to leave an emergency message for a participant. If the emergency dictates a participant coming home early, airplane travel can be arranged.

How many can come and how much does it all cost?
To reserve a Bridging Borders: Rita Recovery trip you agree to a minimum group fee of $TBA+ airfare. Each participant pays $595 incl. airfare and the minimum group size is 10.

Fee includes transportation around Texas, meals, lodging, insurance, and RTLC staff.

***BRIDGING BORDERS - RITA RECOVERY TRIP AVAILABILITY & REGISTRATION***

For group charter availability contact Katy Stypula by e-mail katy@rainbowtrail.org
or by phone at (719) 942.4220.

Download the Brochure for Complete Information
Bridging Borders Brochure (Adobe PDF)

Download the Bridging Border's Health Form
RTLC Bridging Borders Health Form (Adobe PDF)

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