Who is invited?
This trip is designed for anyone ready to take their discipleship and leadership to a deeper, more sacrificial level—spiritually, physically, and mentally.

The Oaxaca trip embodies the heart of true missions—sacrifice, humility, and transformation. It is physically challenging, emotionally stretching, and spiritually rich. Participants return changed: more resilient, more dependent on God, and more confident in their ability to make disciples anywhere. By living among the people, sharing in their hardships, and equipping their leaders, we model the incarnational ministry of Christ—discipleship through presence, perseverance, and partnership.

Why are we going?
Our mission at HRS True Hope is linking the resources of a compassionate world to meet the needs of vulnerable children and communities. We uphold the mission on this trip, by providing educational materials to the children and offering leadership training to the local leaders in Oaxaca.

Our mission in Oaxaca is twofold:

1. To bring the gospel to remote communities that have limited access to teaching and discipleship resources.
2. To train and equip local pastors and leaders with tools, materials, and encouragement to sustain ministry long after we leave.

Over the course of a full week in the mountains, the team serves three different communities—spending two days in each location. We live among local believers, share their meals, and participate fully in their daily rhythms of life and worship.

Where are we going?

What are we doing?

Our team travels deep into the mountains of Oaxaca, Mexico, to serve and disciple pastors, families, and church communities who rarely receive outside ministry support. Unlike many mission destinations, the mountainous regions of Oaxaca have few to no recurring  visitors. HRS True Hope is one of the only groups that returns consistently—building trust, long-term relationships, and sustainable impact over time.  

​Living and Serving Among the People

This is an authentic, life-changing experience.
Team members sleep on floors in local homes, take bucket showers, and eat meals prepared by church families who welcome us into their lives.
The simplicity and humility of this trip strip away distractions and open hearts to deeper dependence on God and each other.

Between meals and fellowship times, we lead discipleship programs and training sessions for:

• Children
• Youth
• Women
• Men
• Couples
• Pastors

Each day includes three sessions per group, allowing for consistent teaching, interaction, and follow-up conversations that build real relationships and lasting spiritual growth.

Discipleship in Action

This trip builds on everything participants have learned in Piedras Negras and Mérida, but challenges them to apply those skills in a more independent and flexible setting.

Team members are encouraged to:

• Bring personal study materials and resources to share
• Prepare a teaching, presentation, or activity that contributes to discipleship or leadership training
• Engage intentionally and purposefully with others
• Take initiative—planning, adapting, and leading without needing detailed structure
• Create resources or programs that are duplicable so local leaders can continue ministry after the trip
• Demonstrate spiritual awareness and perseverance amidst physical hardship and spiritual warfare
• Provide and receive feedback with humility and grace

This environment fosters true mutual discipleship—team members and locals encouraging and sharpening one another in faith.

Ministry Focus Areas

• Pastoral Training: Practical leadership and teaching skills for rural pastors and church leaders.
• Discipleship Programs: Men’s, women’s, youth, and children’s sessions focused on biblical truth and life application.
• Community Building: Shared meals, prayer, and fellowship with local believers.
• Kingdom Sustainability: Developing simple, reproducible discipleship materials and methods that locals can use year-round.

Spiritual and Practical Growth

In addition to the foundational skills developed in earlier mission levels, participants in Oaxaca grow in:

• Spiritual discernment and awareness of spiritual warfare
• Initiative and independent ministry leadership
• Adaptability and problem-solving in uncertain conditions
• Deeper cultural humility and compassion
• Cross-generational mentoring and teaching
• Encouraging and equipping pastors and ministry leaders
• Physical endurance and emotional resilience
• Creating sustainable, kingdom-minded resources

What does it cost?
$800 per person, plus airfare.

What should I pack?
Check airline information for specifics related to your flight and ticket type

• Carry-on and Personal *combined* cannot exceed 10kg (22 lbs)
• SIZE limit: 21.5 inches x 15.7 inches x 10 inches per piece
• Briefcases, purses, computers, umbrellas, fanny packs, etc., are all classified as personal items, and should be able to fit beneath the cabin seats
• Check-in bag must weigh under 25kg (52.5 lbs)!
• Overweight or extra bag fees will have to be paid by the individual

You will be living out of your luggage (i.e. nowhere to store or hang your stuff), so pack accordingly. We suggest packing your clothes by outfit/day in Ziploc bags and compressing out the air. This saves space and makes it easier to find/unpack. And, you can store your dirty clothes back in the Ziploc bag.

Clothing

• Clothing material should be lightweight or dry-fit.
• Women should wear dresses that cover knees, no spaghetti straps, conservative look.
• Men may wear long shorts during the day, but must change to long pants for evening church.
• There will be a fair amount of walking, so we recommend good walking, closed-toe shoes. Sandals are fine, even at church services
• Good Socks
• Swimsuits for the hotel pool - Keep them modest
• Pajamas, suitable for public viewing
• Hat/baseball cap

Essential Items

• Passport - Passport/Travel wallets are good idea
• Copy of passport - Keep in separate bag from your actual passport
• Travelers insurance card
• Bible
• Portable fan with extra batteries (or USB)
• Strong Flashlight with extra batteries
• Toiletries (small travel bottles best)
• Toilet Paper 
• Soap - Liquid soap in travel bottles work best
• Personal wash cloth and towel
• Small thin towels best for packing (camp towel)
• Sunglasses 
• Sunscreen
• Mosquito Repellant
• Anti-itch medication (Chiggerex)
• Liquid Hand Sanitizer
• Small travel bottles are good to carry around with you
• Prescription medicines in a labeled container
• OTC medication/supplements
• Pepto-Bismol / Cipro - Better safe than sorry, act sooner than later
• Water Bottle(s)
• Glasses or Contacts - Bring an extra set of contacts
• Cleaning solution and storage case for contacts
• If you have anything with batteries bring extras
• First aid kit/band aids/blister kit
• Pre-moist towelettes - Great for washing hands, etc. when there is no running water for washing
• Small mirror for shaving, etc.
• Chargers/cables for electronic devices

Optional (but recommended) Items

• Journal (You will be very sorry if you don’t write things down as you go… really)
• Pen (What good is a journal without a pen?)
• Ear plugs 
• Rain poncho, rain jacket (light weight is best)
• Long sleeve shirt/jacket/sweater for plane and/or rainy days
• Small snacks
• If nothing else, your stomach will welcome food that it is used to
• Pictures of family and friends - The kids in particular are very excited to see any pictures you have of you and your family (and for those that have been there before, pictures of them). Try to learn the Spanish phrases for your family as well.
• Travel Pillow - inflatable camp pillow)
• Pillow case (or 2) and sheets (mummy sheet)
• Electrolyte drink powders
• Coffee mug

Our Partners:

Pastor Edir Corzo and his wife Olga.

Their children Marely, Betsy, Edir, and Jani are grown.

Edir pastors CCI Casa Filadelfia in Matías Romero, Oaxaca. For 30 years he and Olga have planted churches and mentored existing churches in the mountains. (Matías Romero is located at the foot of the mountains.) He has served as out guide and introduced us to these remote villages in Montenegro Jocotepec, Montenegro Lalana, La Maceta, Santo Domingo Petapa, and more.

He also hosts the largest annual Christian conference in the area, Fiesta con Jesús, in conjunction with Growers First. Thousands of pastors and local community leaders descend the mountains and  travel from far and wide to attend each year.