Oak Life
MISSIONS
Take your team on a short-term trip that will leave a true impact on children living in shelters...
BUILD YOUR TEAM
Engage in meaningful service alongside your church, school or university group. Cultivate stronger bonds by working together to support the local community in orphanages.
Each trip is uniquely designed by our team with your participants' strengths, goals and needs in mind.
SUPPORT CHILDREN'S HOME
Oak Life is all about improving the lives of children living in orphanages.
Join us in that mission by engaging in projects that will increase a home's sustainability, and interacting with the kids in a way that will impact their lives positively.
START TODAY!
Our missions director, Kelsey, is ready to help you set up the perfect short-term trip.
"You can give without loving,
but you cannot love without giving."
Amy Charmichael
WHAT WILL YOU DO?
Orphan Care
Learn about the lives of and connect with children living in shelters. Our approach to child care is trauma-informed and based on Christian beliefs and values.
Join us in providing quality care, and make a difference by sharing your story, testimony and friendship with children from hard places.
Work Projects
Oak Life prioritizes sustainability for children's shelters. Every work project is chosen because it either develops or expands the current capacity and vision of the home.
You might plant vegetable gardens, expand side businesses as funding sources, repair current infrastructure or build something new.
Whatever you do, it won't just be a "nice" project. It will expand the vision, and create a better home.
Cultural Experiences
We love learning and exploring together. That's why we include excursions and activities that highlight the incredible culture of Mexico.
And there is so much to see here! Whether visiting a museum, shopping in a market, learning to cook a Mexican meal, talking with people in the community, or stepping into a cathedral, your team will not walk away unchanged.
LEADERS' ROLE
Interested in starting a trip with your community group?
Team leaders are an important part of a successful short-term mission.
Download our "Leader's Guide to Service Trips" to learn more about the role of a team leader on an Oak Life trip.
OAK LIFE'S ROLE
Our team is deeply embedded in the Mexican community and has established strong connections with local children's homes. We leverage our local base, relationships, and extensive experience to identify the most suitable projects and activities for your group.
We take full responsibility for designing your week’s schedule, selecting meals, and providing two or three options for both project and excursion choices to the team lead for their input and final approval. Additionally, we manage all logistical aspects, including transportation and finances, ensuring that everything is arranged before your arrival.
With us handling these details, your team can focus on making a meaningful impact on the children and fostering deeper connections within your community.
FAQS
How many participants can I bring?
Oak Life can facilitate up to 20 participants per trip, with a minimum number of 5.
Is Chapala, Mexico safe?
Yes, Chapala is safe! This is a vibrant, multi-cultural, multi-lingual city with residents from all over Mexico, United States, Canada and Europe. Chapala does not see the same types or levels of crime that other parts of the country do.
It’s important to note, though, that the Oak Life team monitors local safety carefully. If at any point there are indicators of unusual threats, a rise in race-based crimes, civil unrest, etc., then we will take mitigating action to ensure everyone’s safety, even if that means cancelling an upcoming trip.
How much does the trip cost?
Trips with Oak Life cost $125/day/person. This includes airport pick-up and drop-off days.
Trip fees include everything you will need, apart from your flights.
Included:
- Housing and meals
- Project expenses
- Transportation, including airport pick-up/drop-off
- Cultural excursions
How many days do trips usually last?
Trips may last anywhere from 6 to 14 days.
Are the trips religious?
Not necessarily. As with many other aspects of an Oak Life trip, the plan will depend on your team.
Oak Life is a Christian organization and does host church groups with ministry in mind. But we also host university and school groups with humanitarian service and cultural learning in mind.
At the end of the day, the goals of your team will help determine how the trip is designed. When it comes to fulfilling the needs of children in shelters, both types of teams are needed!
Can children come on the trip?
Teenagers may attend with a designated parent or chaperone. A minimum 4:1 student-to-chaperone ratio is required to ensure proper supervision and safety.
The minimum age requirement is 14, but exceptions can be made with previous conversation and approval.
Ready to get started?
Send Kelsey a message!
