This year's Trek trips will begin on June 15 or 16, and end on July 31 (Photo courtesy of InterVarsity)
International (MNN) ― Mexico recently announced plans to reopen schools that it closed to prevent the spread of the swine flu. According to the World Health Organization, 1124 people in 21 countries have been infected with the virus, but only 26 have died.
However, swine flu still has the potential to impact summer missions trips all over the world. It may affect the summer ministries of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, especially its Global Project and Global Urban Trek programs.
InterVarsity has six Global Urban Treks planned for 2009: three in southeast Asia, two in Cairo, and one in Mexico City. Each team will undergo training and orientation before spending five weeks living and ministering in poor urban communities. Students who go on Global Urban Treks are serious about serving the poor and considering long-term ministry to the poor.
Two Trek teams are scheduled to spend time in Mexico, the country where the swine flu originated. The Mexico City team will spend the entire trip there, and the Cairo team currently plans to have its orientation in Mexico City.
InterVarsity staff hope that the risks of swine flu will be more clear in mid-May, when they need to make decisions about Global Urban Trek. If safety from the virus is still an issue at that time, InterVarsity will probably need to change travel plans for Trek.
The swine flu may also impact InterVarsity's camp ministry this summer. Pray for wisdom as decisions are made and for guidance for believers as they seek to spread the Gospel this summer.
