When is the last time you donated a week of your vacation time, paid $1000 or more of your hard earned money, went to a foreign country where you don't speak the language and spent your time serving the needs of others not expecting anything in return? Most Americans never have! However, those who have gone on one of our mission trips will tell you that it is an experience of a lifetime. Without exception they tell me that they feel like they received much more than they ever gave. I always tell them, "You can't out give God! It is impossible."

To everyone who considers going with us, I give the same warning, "This may be the most dangerous thing you ever do!" I am sure at first they think I am speaking about some sort of physical danger in a third world country. But, that is not what I mean at all. Once you have gone on a mission trip, it changes you forever. So, beware! If you go, you will not return the same person, and it will affect how you see ever aspect of your life.

About the MCK Mission Foundation

The MCK Mission Foundation is a not-for-profit foundation working in partnership with People Helping People and Bridges of Hope International. Our addresses are:

MCK Mission Foundation
c/o Mr. Michael F. Elmore, MD
8051 South Emerson Avenue, Suite 200
Indianapolis, IN 46237
Phone: 317-590-6697
FAX: 317-865-2954
Email: docelmo2@aol.com

People Helping People Network
c/o Mr. Jeff Cardwell
3205 Madison Avenue
Indianapolis, IN 46227-1127
Phone: 317-781-4769
Website: www.phpnetwork.org
Email: newstips@phpnetwork.org

Bridges of Hope International
c/o Ms. Janet Michel
12950 Abraham Run
Carmel, IN 46033
Phone: 317-581-9569
Website: www.bridgesofhopeinternational.org
Email: jdmichel@sbcglobal.net

Our Misison & Purpose

We wish always to be Christ's hands of love and help extended to hurting people. God doesn't need us, but He chooses to use us if we let Him.

Our trips provide an opportunity for your life to make a difference in a real and tangible way for the Kingdom of God. Whether we are building houses, caring for peoples' medical problems, addressing dental troubles or ministering to spiritual needs, we seek always to introduce people to the living Jesus Christ by our every action.

God has given us the vision that He wants to send 3000 people a year on short-term mission trips. We believe He wishes to do this in several ways:

1. By continuing to take teams yearly to Central and South America and wherever else God leads us.
2. By mentoring churches who have supported mission activities but who have never gone on trips themselves.
3. By helping to develop and support leaders interested in taking their own short-term mission trips.
4. By fostering deep, lasting relationships with those people to whom God leads us in the countries where we are working.
5. By addressing the problems of inadequate clean drinking water and poor sanitation facilities which account for 90% of the health care issues in underdeveloped countries.

Jesus gave us the Great Commission commanding us to not just "Go" but also to "Make disciples." Although we may have the opportunity to introduce people to Jesus Christ on our trips, it is impossible for us to disciple them without involving the local church. We only go into those areas where God not only directs us but also provides for us the strong support of the local church that we can come along side and support. Hence, when our trips end, the work goes on and grows despite our absence.

Those who have traveled with us have often described the trip as "life changing" and "an experience of a lifetime!"

Jesus was our example while He was on earth. Now we are given the opportunity to be His hands offering a cup of water to the thirsty, holding lonely orphans, caring for the sick, clothing and feeding the poor. We reach around those less fortunate with His arms and embrace them.

If you are directed by God to go with us, recognize that we extend open arms and welcome anyone, Christian or non-Christian, who wants to help and be apart of accomplishing the vision God has given us. The MCK Mission Foundation is a nonprofit, tax exempt, nondenominational Christian organization that seeks to understand and do the will of God in all its mission activities. We do have some basic expectations of each trip participant.

Since our first trip to San Marcos, Guatemala in 1990 and through our subsequent yearly trips, we have been fortunate to develop great relationships with the medical and religious community. We have come to realize just how important these long term relationships are in the work of the Lord. Our teams consist of people from many different churches as well as individuals who are not always Christian. This diversity of back grounds is a challenge regarding our behavior as a group.

First and foremost we seek to respect the customs of those people we work with, not just in the community of San Marcos and the people of the surrounding villages, but wherever we go. As a result we are asking each team member to reframe from possessing/using illegal drugs, fighting, romantic involvement and using profanity. At times we may ask our team members to avoid drinking alcoholic beverages and smoking. We expect our team members to conduct themselves in a professional and courteous manner at all times.

We should all remember that when we go on a mission trip, we are not just going as humanitarians, but we are going as ambassadors of Christ to demonstrate His love to the people. We seek to be an encouragement to the local medical staff, national pastors and missionaries. As a member of our team, please maintain the highest standards of integrity, honesty and morality. Be observant of the local customs, and show respect for them. Laughter may be misunderstood, so be careful not to do anything that would make people think you are in any way making fun of them. Avoid loud conversations and especially arguments. Be polite and discreet.