ICO Trips Archives - Page 2 of 2 -

Leaving Pennsylvania’s cool, damp 35 degree temperatures to step off the plane into the dry, 85 degree heat of Arizona, the Inner City Outreach (ICO) Tucson Team adapted fairly quickly to the welcome climate change they experienced during their week stay in Arizona. Andrew Schaur and Sarah Weaver lead the other 14 members of the team through the ICO experience. The team consisted of Dan Jackson, Rob Kunst, Jacob Armbrecht, Ailsa Poling, Veronica Marisa, Brandon Davis, Natalie Colcombe, Brandon Davis, Erin Sweet, Ryan Motta, Hayden Sealander, Justin Burke, Kelsey Tischler, and Ethan Fry.

The purpose of ICO is to allow students from Grove City College the opportunity to help serve community organizations, non-profits, and church programs by offering a helping hand and an attentive heart. Each team has a specific goal or mission the group leaders have established for the trip. For ICO Team Tucson, the mission was to serve God’s people in any shape or form that would ease their burden, but it involved serving with a willing and selfless heart. Before flying out to their mission field, the team gathered for an overnight stay at Erin Sweet’s house to prepare. The next morning, as team members sat on the plane, there was a real sense of enthusiasm to see what God had planned and anticipation to see how He was going to use each of them in different capacities.

Working along the side of each other, team members were able to give back to the community in Tuscon as well as engage in fellowship the entire week. Ethan Fry shared that he met so many different personalities and characters during the trip and it was a pleasure to build and cultivate new relationships both with the members and the workers affiliated with the organization.

If students are looking for a great way to serve and are seeking a way to establish new relationships, then an ICO is an incredible opportunity to do just that. Traveling with the team, working side by side, and engaging in worship and fellowship are each ways to cultivate genuine relationships with fellow GCC students and the community being served. As in all things, give prayerful thought and consideration about the opportunity to join an ICO. As one who is fresh from the ICO experience, Ethan attests that he “cannot think of a better way to grow in faith and understanding and follow the path that God has created for each of us.”

For a clearer picture of what an ICO mission trip looks like check out the video below and see for yourself what goes on during those seven days of work and fellowship.

As a senior, when I look back over my four years at Grove City College, one thing that will always be a huge part of my experience was the opportunity to participate in the College’s Inner City Outreach (ICO) program. The program designs missions trips to almost 20 places both here and abroad every year and they are a wonderful way to get involved in service.

I have had the privilege of going to Costa Rica three times (once as a participant and twice as a leader). There are generally 11-13 members of the team, and our trips generally last 10-12 days. We stay at a church a little ways outside the capital, San Jose. During our time there we participate in service projects, host vacation bible school for the children of the neighborhood, and build relationships with families of the church. We have team members every year with varying language ability; therefore knowing Spanish is not a requirement.

I value and appreciate that this program is truly student-led. Leaders need to attend several training sessions put on by the Director of Campus Ministries, Devi Wintrode. Other than that, we are on our own, which gives us a large degree of independence and room for growth as leaders and team members. We do not have adults that attend the trip with us, which forces the leaders to plan every aspect of the experience. These tasks include raising and designating purposes for the money, communicating with the hosts where we are serving, buying plane tickets, and ensuring that our team members are accounted for during our trip.

The independent nature of the trip benefits our leaders as well as our team members, because for many of our members, this is the first time they have ever traveled without a parent or family member. College is the perfect time to go on an ICO trip because it can be such a formative experience and can cultivate the desire to participate in missions later on in life.

One of my favorite aspects of the ICO program is the amount of culture we are able to experience while we are there. Since we stay at a church and not with a missions organization, we do not converse with or greet other Americans. Our only interactions are with Ticos (how Costa Ricans address themselves) which provides us with an excellent opportunity to build relationships with our brothers and sisters in Christ. We share meals, work alongside one another, and play soccer together. These individuals are always so happy to see us and share their life stories.

At the church, participate in our designated work projects and spend time with the children. Interestingly, the Ticos do not care about how much work gets done, but rather are concerned more about about building relationships. This is such a refreshing experience to be separated from the busyness of a college campus.

I have returned from each and every one of these trips refreshed and eager to continue to serve the Lord for a new semester here at Grove City. I have gained such a valuable perspective from the culture we get to experience in Costa Rica, the camaraderie we build as a team, and the lasting relationships we create during our time there.

To learn more about Inner City Outreach trips, please visit the Campus Ministries page.

Category: ICO Trips

ICO – Tuscon

ICO Costa Rica: An Inside Look