Alaska, Belize, and England: A Quick Guide to our Missions Locations
By Adam Swenson
After much prayer and hard work Thirst Missions is offering three locations for 2017: Alaska, Belize, and England. Each location has a real need for mission teams, and each location is very different with different ministries, people, culture, and climates.
If you’re trying to decide where to go and serve, here’s a quick guide to help you choose.
Ministry
Every team that goes with Thirst Missions works closely with a local church partner.
Alaska – Everything from gritty urban ministry to working in remote towns. Lots of outreach, prayer, evangelism, and VBS. Job skills training (basic computer work).
Belize – Minister in a village. Outreach, home visits, massive VBS ministries, construction projects, sports, home visits, and medical/dental.
England – Urban ministry in historic London. Partner with refugee centers, soup kitchens, mercy ministry, sports, evangelism. Discipleship is a huge need there. We need to encourage the local church!
Ease of Travel
Alaska – Nonstop summer flights ($500 – $800) from many cities in the US. In-country travel by 15 passenger van. Very scenic, easy travel. No passport needed.
Belize – Connect through Dallas or Miami (in most cases). Most flights arrive by lunchtime or early afternoon. Flights are often $500 – $800ish. Travel in country by bus. Roads through the jungle can be quite adventurous!
England – Fly over the Atlantic! Flights are often around $1,000. In-country travel will be primarily via the Tube – mind the gap!
Climate
Alaska – Summer weather often tops out around 70, with lows around 55. Long days with 20+ hours of summer sun. (We’ll enjoy some late-night outdoor activities like hiking, fishing, and disc golf!) Most days will have a quick burst of rain at some point—weather can change quickly.
Belize – Earlier in the year (Jan, Feb, and March) temperatures are very pleasant with low humidity. Summers are hot with humidity that clears after a rain.
England – Summer days often top out around 70 – 75 and get down to 55 at night. It rains about half the days in London.
Language
Alaska – English! Though the neighborhoods we are ministering in speak up to 100 other languages as well so …
Belize – English is the official language, though Spanish is also commonly spoken in villages and by older people.
England – British English! It’s not a hood, it’s a bonnet!
Recreation
Alaska – Sea kayaking, mountain biking, mountain hikes, midnight disc golf, glacier cruise.
Belize – Mayan ruins, cave tubing, zip lining, snorkeling on a barrier reef.
England – Urban walkabouts; church at Westminster Cathedral; open-top, double-decker bus tour of historic London; cruise on the River Thames.
Schedule
Alaska – Summer only, June through August. Saturday to Saturday (8-day) trips.
Belize – Go anytime of the year. You choose the dates.
England – Summer only, June through August. Saturday to Saturday (8-day) trips.
Lodging
Alaska – Stay in a very large guest house, sleep on the floor of a church, or stay at a private camp on 400 acres in the mountains.
Belize – Stay in a hotel, in some very cool jungle cabins (new for 2017!), or on the floor of a church.
England – Stay in a guest house.
Food
Alaska – Hearty US fare. We can accommodate people who eat a limited range of foods/gluten free, etc.
Belize – Traditional Belizean foods made by local women in the villages. DELICIOUS. We can accommodate food allergies and preferences.
England – Restaurant food, and food cooked at the guest house. Menu at the “chef’s” discretion.
Where will you serve in 2017?
Adam Swenson is the director of Alaska operations at Thirst Missions. He LOVES playing disc golf in Alaska. Ask him about it at adam@thirstmissions.org. Or, better yet, go to Alaska and play with him!
