Panama Fall 2014 Trip Descriptions
Trip Background
Southbridge Fellowship is the sending church for Matt and Misty Hedspeth, missionaries
serving the orphans of Panama through Heart's Cry Children's Ministry (HCCM). As stated
on their web site (www.heartscrychildren.com);
This ministry was founded to create efficiencies for orphan care
around the world, beginning in Panama, Central America. Our
heart's cry is to see God lift orphans out of the pit of despair and give
them a firm place to stand. We provide consulting so as to
streamline adoption processes and to simplify efforts in placing
children into loving homes, domestically and internationally. We also
assist orphanages so they are better equipped to provide for
the physical, spiritual and emotional needs of the orphans in their
care. We also are currently focusing on beginning a foster care
program as well as a special needs orphanage, Casa Providencia
(www.casaprovidencia.org).
Southbridge Involvement
The Southbridge Outreach Council believes God is calling us to provide two additional
short-term mission teams to Panama in the Fall of 2014 to join the work He is doing
through the Hedspeths.
The first trip will be a Work Team traveling to Panama September 13-20 focusing on
construction at Casa Providencia and providing care and encouragement to the Hedspeths.
The cost of this trip will be approximately $1250 per person to be raised via support
partners, self-funding, and church contribution. Priority will be given to men skilled in a
building trade, builders, and handymen. Speaking Spanish is a plus. Participants will be
staying at Casa Providencia in a single dorm style room near Colon, Panama. Bill Grimme
will be leading this team.
The second trip will be an Orphanage Team traveling October 11-18 focusing on providing
prayer, love, and care to orphans and staff members in several orphanages and providing
care and encouragement to the Hedspeths. The cost of this trip will be approximately
$1500 per person to be raised via support partners and/or self-funding. Speaking Spanish
is a plus. Participants will be staying in a mission home near Panama City. JD Hensarling
will be leading this team.
Team members for both trips will need to have a valid passport that has an expiration
date with more than 3 months remaining after the end of their trip. Special
immunizations will also likely be required. These costs are both in addition to the trip costs.
To be considered for one of these teams, you must be a member or a regular attendee of
Southbridge (>6 months) and:
9311 Focal Point, Suite 101 Raleigh, NC 27617 919-789-9955
www.southbridgefellowship.com - June 5, 2014
Panama Fall 2014 Trip Descriptions
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Submit an online application indicating team preference
Complete the AssessMe personal profile
Schedule and complete an interview. You’ll be contacted after submitting your
application.
Submit to a criminal background check
If selected to be a member of one of the teams, you must:
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Sign the team covenant, liability release, and medical consent forms. You may need
to sign additional documents required by the host missionaries/orphanages.
Attend the regular scheduled training sessions
Raise your own financial and prayer support team (training will be provided)
Obtain your own passport (http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english.html)
Obtain the necessary immunizations (information provided at first training)
Tentative Schedule
The tentative schedule is as follows:
Both Teams
June
11
June
28
June
29
November 03
Trip announcements & online applications begin
Interviews & background checks completed
Team members selected & notified
Combined team celebration & sharing
September Work Team
July
13
Weekly training begins
September 07
Team commissioned at both services
September 13
Team departs
September 20
Team returns
October Orphanage Team
July
08
Weekly training begins
October
05
Team commissioned at both services
October
11
Team departs
October
18
Team returns
9311 Focal Point, Suite 101 Raleigh, NC 27617 919-789-9955
www.southbridgefellowship.com - June 5, 2014
Panama Fall 2014 Trip Descriptions
Team Training
The mandatory training sessions will run approximately 2 hours each and will focus on
prayer, team building, and ministry preparation. Sessions will be included on:
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Team expectations
Raising support
Sharing your story
Sharing the Gospel
Panama background
Language familiarization
Cross-cultural ministry
Others topics, as needed
Please prayerfully consider whether God is calling you to be a part of what He is doing in
Panama. Contact Bill Grimme at [email protected] for further
information.
Matt & Misty Hedspeth & family
9311 Focal Point, Suite 101 Raleigh, NC 27617 919-789-9955
www.southbridgefellowship.com - June 5, 2014