The Passport is Adventures in Missions's program for college-age (18-22 years old) individuals. Passporters spend 1-9 months securing their identity in Christ, getting equipped and growing empowered to advance God's kingdom alongside local churches and ministries overseas. In addition to sharing and living out the gospel, contending for justice on behalf of orphans, the poor, and the trafficked mark the ministry experience of the Passport.
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latin america
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Guatemala
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8/26/2013 - 11/26/2013
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asia
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Philippines
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8/26/2013 - 11/26/2013
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Fall Semester
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Thailand
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8/26/2013 - 11/26/2013
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Fall Semester
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Cambodia
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1/21/2014 - 4/24/2014
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Spring Semester
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Thailand
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1/21/2014 - 4/24/2014
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Spring Semester
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latin america
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Guatemala
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8/26/2013 - 11/26/2013
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Fall Semester
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Guatemala
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1/21/2014 - 4/24/2014
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Spring Semester
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Nicaragua
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1/21/2014 - 4/24/2014
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Spring Semester
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| Start Date | End Date | Duration | Location | Cost | Status | Apply By |
| 8/26/2013 | 11/26/2013 | 3 Months | Africa Expedition | 5950 | Open | 6/27/2013 |
| 8/26/2013 | 11/26/2013 | 3 Months | Kenya | 5400 | Open | 6/27/2013 |
| 8/26/2013 | 11/26/2013 | 3 Months | Guatemala | 4200 | Open | 6/27/2013 |
| 8/26/2013 | 11/26/2013 | 3 Months | Philippines | 5800 | Open | 6/27/2013 |
| 8/26/2013 | 11/26/2013 | 3 Months | Thailand | 5800 | Open | 6/27/2013 |
| 8/26/2013 | 11/26/2013 | 3 Months | Swaziland | 5400 | Open | 6/27/2013 |
| 8/31/2013 | 5/14/2014 | 9 Months | Passport: Immersion | 11900 | Open | 7/3/2013 |
| 1/21/2014 | 4/24/2014 | 3 Months | Africa Expedition | 5950 | Open | 11/15/2013 |
| 1/21/2014 | 4/24/2014 | 3 Months | Swaziland | 5600 | Open | 11/15/2013 |
| 1/21/2014 | 4/24/2014 | 3 Months | South Africa | 5500 | Open | 11/15/2013 |
| 1/21/2014 | 4/24/2014 | 3 Months | Thailand | 6000 | Open | 11/15/2013 |
| 1/21/2014 | 4/24/2014 | 3 Months | Cambodia | 6000 | Open | 11/15/2013 |
| 1/21/2014 | 4/24/2014 | 3 Months | Guatemala | 4500 | Open | 11/15/2013 |
| 1/21/2014 | 4/24/2014 | 3 Months | Central America Expedition | 4500 | Open | 11/15/2013 |
| 1/21/2014 | 4/24/2014 | 3 Months | Nicaragua | 4500 | Open | 11/15/2013 |
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About the Passport Program
Going on missions with Passport, our program for college-age (18-22 years old) individuals, is, as the name implies, not just an ends but a means to more. Passporters spend 1-9 months on the field, where they secure their identity in Christ, get equipped and grow empowered to advance God's kingdom. In addition to sharing and living out the gospel in community, Passporters may be presented with the opportunity to seek justice on behalf of orphans, the poor, and the trafficked.
FAQ for Passport
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Where does the Passport go? |
The Passport has gone to countries all over the world, including Kenya, Swaziland, Uganda, Israel, India, Peru, Bolivia, Nicaragua, Thailand, Philippines, Tanzania, Guatemala, Mexico and more. Check out the upcoming trips to see where we're headed next!
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| How long is the Passport? |
The Passport launches in January, June and September and are anywhere from 1-9 months long. Check out the upcoming trips to see which one is right for you.
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| What will we do on the Passport ? |
Ministry looks different on every trip we offer. You can check out the trip descriptions to get an idea of what ministry might look like in each country. But we believe that ministry is a way of life, not just a daily assignment to complete. So we set up some options before you arrive, but much of your ministry is determined by asking the Lord what He is calling your team to specifically. You may see a need that we don't even know exists-and we want you to have the freedom to do something about that need! And remember, the most impactful ministry you're a part of might be the relationship that you build with your translator or the vendors at the market where you buy your groceries. Come with an open mind about what God has for you and you won't be disappointed!
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| What kind of things do I need to pack? |
It can be overwhelming to think of packing your entire life into a backpack or suitcase for several months.but we promise that it can be done! And you probably need a lot less than you think you will! Once you apply for a trip, you'll find a general packing list on your profile. We'll also send you additional trip specific items on your team blog.
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| What is Training Camp? |
You'll spend the first 4 days of your trip in Georgia to participate in Training Camp before you head to the field. During those few days you'll meet your team and leaders, and spend time getting ready spiritually, emotionally and physically.
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| What does the cost of the trip include? |
Your trip cost includes all expenses once you arrive in Georgia. It covers airfare, food, lodging and transportation and gives you a ministry budget. Travels to and from Georgia and preparation expenses are not included. You'll find more information about support raising on your profile once you apply.
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Return to the Passport Trips Page
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Latest Blog Posts for Passport
Info for Parents about Passport
Dear Parents,
Many of the milestones have come and gone. You’ve watched them celebrate sweet sixteen, high school graduation and, for many of you, moving into dorms and onto college campuses. But no matter how many times you’ve said goodbye, the thought of sending them overseas to another country can still be a scary idea. We understand your need to make sure this will be a positive experience for them and to make sure their safety and security are a priority on the field.
So first of all, let me introduce myself. I am the Program Coordinator for both our Ambassador (high school) and Passport (college) programs. I am passionate about seeing this generation reach out to the world with the transforming love of Jesus Christ. I believe that His presence has the power to bring hope where there is suffering, healing where there is brokenness, and life where there is death. I worked with high school students full-time for 6 years as a youth director before going on Adventures’ eleven-month trip called the World Race. It was there that my eyes and heart were opened to something bigger than myself and I decided to come on staff in 2009. Since that time, I’ve had the opportunity to work with hundreds of high school and college students on our summer and semester mission trips.
We believe in your student and the impact they can make around the world. And we believe in you and the calling God has given you to help your student navigate through this world. We’ve put together a short resource to introduce you to Adventures and the Passport program and you can navigate through our website to find lots more information about our ministry. We want you to be confident this is a good fit for your student. But we also respect and honor the fact that your kids are growing up and growing into adults. That’s why we expect them to be the primary communicators with you. We expect them to meet their admissions deadlines, turn in their paperwork and ask their own questions. Somehow, God uses these trips into the nations not only to change the places they go, but also to grow them more and more into the person he created them to be. And we love getting to be a part of that.
As you cross yet another milestone with your students, know that we are cheering with you and believing God is going to do incredible things in and through them.
Blessings,
Kelly Chadwick
Program Coordinator, Passport and Ambassador
(+/-) Click here to read What a Parent Needs to
Know
What a Passport parent needs to know.
- 1. The world is unsafe.
The Passport staff continue to stay educated and informed of safety concerns and issues around the world by routinely reviewing travel and safety bulletins. We compile regular feedback from our international contacts and have, on occasion, changed locations based on information from these sources. Changes are made with safety as our first priority even when this means changing an advertised trip.
Your Passport participant signed up for adventure, so we cannot stop them from pushing their personal limits of safety. They have hopped on the back of motorcycles in busy cities, bungee jumped from high cliffs in third world countries, and engaged in other activities that may make us uneasy, but even in light of these extreme activities, we maintain a minimum level of social security. For example, there is always a mandate for them to travel together in groups. At the end of the day some risk is a normal part of the adventure and discipleship process.
- 2. The process is brutal.
"Initiation" is the process used for the radical discipleship we practice. In our
culture, young people often cannot reflect back to define the day they became
adults. In most cultures around the world there is a process put in place by tribal
and family leaders to facilitate this pivotal stage of development. Our young
people struggle with feelings of being illegitimate adults because there is no rite
of passage. The only option they are left with is rebellion that leads to a tearing
away from their parents. That tearing away may take years to mend and heal.
The Passport program offers a healthy option to begin the process of initiation:
- Abandonment
Everything starts with a call to leave the old security and structure and lean into
the challenge of moving into the unknown. They are asked to leave the rooms at
home, their dorm, their apartments, and the comfort of current close
relationships. They pack what they can in a suitcase and head to the other side
of the world. Their mission is the same as Abrahams: "get out of your country,
from your family, and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you"
(Gen 12:1).
- Brokenness
This moving from the old leads into a season of insecurity and questioning. They
start the treacherous journey of leaving belief systems defined by others and
pursue their own pathway of faith toward God. It is a transition and, although
scary and painful, it is absolutely necessary. Their faith must become their own
through trial and questioning. A wonderful Ralph Waldo Emerson quote says:
"it's not in his goals but in his transitions that man is great".
- Dependence
Brokenness leads them to find faith that is molded out of their own experiences
and creates a new dependence upon God. It's a nerve-racking time to swing
from one security net to the other. But in the end, this new dependence and faith
in God will serve them during this trip and for the rest of their lives. They will find
themselves saying "yes" to things that previous generations have been afraid to
embrace.
- 3. Communication should be limited.
While on the field there will be times when communication with the participants
could be difficult. Internet can be scarce and slow. There will be times when we
ask them to fully abandon and not be tied to facebook, skype and other means of
communicating back home. This is not done to sever ties with people at home,
but rather to help them fully engage in what they're experiencing on the field.
Participants are encouraged NOT to carry cell phones on the field. All of our
leaders carry phones and are in communication weekly with our field support
staff in case of emergency.
- 4. Our leaders are young.
We employ World Race and Passport alumni as leaders for the teams of 10-25
participants. Their role is to care for the team, make sure the core values are
practiced, and communicate between our staff in the States and the participants
on the field. They will travel with the team and be on the field with them for the
duration of their trip.
Our field support staff in the States contacts all leaders on the field weekly.
There is ongoing leadership development that happens during these
conversations. On a regular basis mistakes are made. It is, after all, the best
leadership training. But our leaders must remain teachable or risk losing their
position. You need to know that your participant is not without an appeal
process. Every participant is informed of the appropriate communication
structure. We will always listen to concerns and encourage open communication
and respect of a chain of command.
- 5. You are in a position that requires you to trust.
Each Passport participant needs a word from God to go on this adventure.
Ultimately, your parenting goal is to get them released from dependency upon
your voice and become dependent upon His. In the same way you trusted God
on the first day of school and university, you are going to have to trust God
through this process. Imputed trust must be exercised toward the Passport staff.
We may not always do it your way, but we are working hard to do what's right.
Please pray for us.
- 6. Transition is hard for everyone.
The reality of the situation is that your Passport participant is not sequestered for
3 months. We expect that they would continually update family, friends, mentors,
churches, etc. back home on a regular basis. With the limited communication
ability in some areas of the world, it is likely you may get the short, condensed,
and emotional updates from the field.
You may tend to hear more of the challenges than the victories, more of the
discomfort than the growth, and more of the insecurity than the development of
identity. Participants get sick, they experience conflict, they grapple with the loss
of independence and they live in an environment that consistently examines their
past hurts and scars. It is a process they will not find many other places because
the process is messy. However, the process is necessary. It takes time, it takes
pain, it takes trust. It is exactly what you may experience living half a world away
from it all. Transition is a fact of life, but transition is hard. We believe running
into the challenge has better results than running away. Choose to join us but
count the cost.
(+/-) Click here to read The Methods that
We Use
What are the methods that we use?
- 1. Rough places
We find that participants are consistently drawn to the most challenging locations
we offer. They're expecting to live in a hut in Africa or in the slums of Nicaragua,
they are excited to experience a more primitive culture. They are drawn to real
places in the world where people live in real pain, in real poverty, and dire
situations. The reality is that hard places are a teaching tool in and of
themselves and are the best environment for change.
These environments are harsh physically, emotionally and spiritually. The
disillusionment participants have with the luxurious, yet unhappy Western world
is confronted when hands get dirty, emotions get charged from injustice, and
hearts get sensitized. We do not run from rough places but use them.
- 2. Close community
An overwhelming percentage of participants come in with poor communication
abilities. They have not been in safe communities where feedback (both positive
and constructive) is a norm or where conflict is managed in a healthy way. We
provide them a community that cannot escape itself (after all, they may be the
only English-speakers in a given area on occasion). This approach reveals any
arrogant self-entitlements they may hold close and provides them an immediate
growth opportunity to learn humility and selflessness.
- 3. Honest feedback
Leaders, staff and authorities in each participant's life know that growth does not
come void of a challenge to change. Sports coaches would fail if they did not
correct and re-correct skills needed to perform at greater competency.
Subsequently, maturity does not come without feedback. The Passport employs a
method for honest feedback both from peers and leaders. The goal is this: to
help participants reach their fullest potential as healthy adults. Know this:
feedback is not an easy process to learn or to experience. You may be the
recipient of your participant processing feedback they have received. Please do
not rescue them. Just as if they were learning a sport, they will never progress
unless they embrace the words they receive.
- 4. The presence of God
One of the foundations of our discipleship model is that each participant would
break dependency on everything but the presence of God in their lives. The
journey away from the familiar is imperative to this goal: they must journey away
from the guidance of family, the security of friends and the predictability of their
everyday lives. They must learn to rely on their own pursuit of the things of God
and not live a life where they are spoon-fed their worldview and theologies.
- 5. The voice of the Spirit
Throughout the duration of the trip, each participant will be expected to learn the
discipline of listening prayer. If God truly speaks and He gives us the ability to
discern his voice, then a life of listening to the Spirit of God on all occasions and
for every purpose is the best life possible.
Everything from living in community to a lifestyle of evangelism to braving new
frontiers will be rooted in the lifestyle practice of listening to the voice of the Holy
Spirit. It is a new concept to most of the participants, but has life-changing
results.
- 6. A constant challenge to mature
The shaping and molding of identity starts from the moment of birth. However,
the ownership of this "shaping and molding" changes hands to each racer when
they take responsibility for their adult life. Their own growth, their own destiny,
their own voice - everything is fed from this ownership being assumed. Each
participant will be treated as an adult. They will be expected to make decisions
as an adult, communicate like an adult, and take responsibility as an adult. The
time for childhood has passed and if they are to change the world, they must
change themselves. When they do, God's Kingdom will truly come.
(+/-) Click here to read What You Can
Expect From Us
What you can expect from us.
- 1. A desire for your participant to succeed.
While we may be meeting your participant for the first time at Training Camp, we
genuinely have a desire for them to succeed and for this trip to be the best
possible experience for them. The tools that we use are employed only because
we want to see participants reach their fullest potential and the leaders we place
on the field are committed to investing in each of the participants.
We read all the participants blogs, we pray for the teams regularly, we rejoice in
their victories and mourn in their losses. While we may only spend a short time
with them, we truly want to see greatness in them all.
- 2. Communication
Because communication from the field is limited, we are committed to keeping
you informed in case of an emergency. In case your participant is sick or in an
accident, you will receive a phone call from us within 24 hours. In case of an
emergency in country (such as a natural disaster), the team leader will
communicate with us as soon as possible that everyone is ok and we will in turn
let you know immediately. We ask you to trust that since we will communicate
with you as needed, ‘no news really is good news.’
We also realize that life continues back here at home while your participant is on
the field. Should you need to get in touch with your participant in case of an
emergency at home, you can reach us at 1-800-881-2461. We will be able to
reach the team within 24 hours.
- 3. Emergency Travel Arrangements
On rare occasions, there is a need for participants to return home early. This
could be due to sickness on the field that we determine needs to be treated at
home. This could be due to an emergency here that requires a participant to
return home. It could be because a participant is unable to engage in the team
or ministry on the field. Whether this is voluntary or not, we will work with you to
rearrange travel plans and rebook flights if necessary.
