Donate to MEI Service Teams 2025
Per CRA guidelines, receipts are issued in the name of the payee (the cardholder): if paid personally, with a personal donation receipt, if paid by a business, with a business donation receipt. Charitable Registration Number: 10769 1065 RR0001
Funds raised in excess of a student’s fundraising target will be kept by the team until all the team’s expenses are covered, at which time the donation may be given to another team or Service Learning Initiative. ALL donations made to the MEI Service Learning Program are non-refundable. Per CRA guidance “A registered charity cannot return a donor’s gift. At law, a gift transfers ownership from the donor to the charity. Once the transfer is made, the charity is obliged to use the gift in carrying out its charitable purposes.”
Team Abbotsford / Mission
35 students—mostly Grade 9’s—chose to spend a week of their Spring Break serving with the Local Team right here at home. Based out of Camp Luther, they spent the week helping various ministries through tasks like painting, cleaning, sorting donations, and distributing meals. It was exciting to reconnect with familiar organizations and form new partnerships with groups like The Salvation Army and Ruth and Naomi’s. The students embraced every opportunity with enthusiasm, building friendships and discovering the joy that can come from loving our neighbors through practical service. Instagram: @meiteamabbymission2025
____
Led by Brad Knodel and Melanie Penninga, this team will spend the first week of Spring Break working with several organizations right here in our own part of the world. Students and leaders will be staying at Camp Luther and will be “away from home” for 6 nights. Some of the ministries that we partnered with in the past include: Inasmuch, Gleaners, Hope Central, The Pantry, etc.
This opportunity is open to students in grades 9-12.
Anticipated fundraising target: $600 per person > Donate
Team Kyuquot
Our MEI Team was welcomed with open arms into the village of Kyuquot. We stayed in a kindergarten/preschool building where we slept on mats and sleeping bags, made our meals, and had our team meetings. We had a short walk to the community center where we hung out and played games with the kids and did arts and crafts with locals of all ages. A group of us went to play sports with teenagers in a gym/barn a short boat ride away. The people were hospitable. We were invited to attend a community meal and a cultural event. One family made our team a halibut feast. Multiple homes opened up for our teammates to have showers in. We attended the church service that is run by our main host family. The weather was wet but when the clouds cleared, the sunsets were beautiful! The kids who joined our activities started as few and grew throughout our time. Our parting was a tearful goodbye. Our team experienced unity, health, growth, and learning – all of which we are thankful to God and all who prayed for us. We are thankful for the open door and growing relationship of MEI and this community and look forward to future connections.
____
Led by Dawn Thiessen and Josh Boldt, this team will spend a week serving in a remote indigenous village located on the Northwest Coast of Vancouver Island. The team will be working with the local church there running art and sports camps.
This opportunity is open to students in grades 10-12.
Anticipated fundraising target: $1200 per person > Donate
Team Mexico (Casa De Luz)
Our team partnered with Casa de Luz and the local church to serve the community through outreach programs, youth activities and vacation Bible school at their children’s center. Each day was filled with meaningful interactions – whether helping with projects, sharing testimonies, praying over people or simply spending time with the kids at Casa de Luz. Despite challenges like the language barrier, the warmth and joy of the people we met left a lasting impression. More than just a trip, it was a powerful and eye-opening reminder of how faith in action can bridge cultures and inspire hope.
____
Led by Rebecca Enns and Jordan Rempel, this team will be spending the second week of Spring Break serving at Casa de Luz in Primo Tapia, Mexico.
This opportunity is open to students in grades 10-12.
Anticipated fundraising target: $2400 per person > Donate
Team Mexico (OLOC)
We had a fantastic experience building a new home for Christian, Yasmin, Ariana, Christian-David and Isabela. We were blessed to have Yasmin make us local authentic lunches ever day at the worksite, which were delicious. We also visited the family’s church to facilitate a VBS for three afternoons, and it was full of joyful chaos as we taught the kids the song “I Just Want to Be a Sheep”! Our house building skills improved quickly as we used hammers to put together the framing for the home on day one; however, we had one team member removing bent nails full time. By day 3 we had the walls up, roof on and exterior painted. It was a whirlwind. Thank you to our donors and prayer partners, we were honored to be a part of the full-time work OLOC is doing in the community of San Quintin.
____
Led by Jenny Thiessen and Martin Greindl, this team will spend the first week of Spring Break working with One Life One Chance. They will be involved serving the people of the San Quintin Valley in many ways, including building a home for a family in need. No construction experience necessary.
This opportunity is open to students in grades 10-12.
Anticipated fundraising target: $2400 per person > Donate
Team North Thailand
The Northern Thailand team had a wonderful experience serving God in 3 different villages in Thailand. The group of 12 students came alongside a team of 8 Thai leaders to run VBS in schools and churches. They regularly went out on prayer walks, worshipped with churches, and did a youth camp with northern Thai youth. It was beautiful to see the mutual impact of the relationship between the students and the Thai church. Both sides inspired one another to live more faithfully for God’s Kingdom!
____
Led by Jon/Bonnie Esau (missionaries who served for several years in Thailand) and Alexa Flore, this team will be spending 2 weeks serving in various regions of Northern Thailand.
This opportunity is open to students in grades 11-12 who are serious about their faith and are open to the possibility of working in cross-cultural missions in the future.
Anticipated fundraising target: $4000 per person > Donate
Team Rwanda
We had an impactful trip learning and serving alongside Trek students from Kurumbuka Leadership Solutions. Our group was partnered with young African leaders from Rwanda, Burundi, and Uganda, to learn about Christian leadership and community development. We built memorable friendships with Trek students as we spent our entire two weeks participating in activities together. Some highlights from the trip include leading VBS activities at Alpha Academy, participating in leadership lessons, visiting rural community groups, seeing giraffes, zebras, and hippos at the Akagera National Park, experiencing spiritual growth during worship services, devotional times, and campfire evenings, and visiting two national Genocide memorial sites. We are thankful for this unforgettable experience that has helped to shape our personal and spiritual journey.
____
Led by Sam/Katie Thiessen and Aileen Vildort, this team will spend 2 weeks serving with Kurumbuka Leadership Solutions.
This opportunity is open to students in grades 11-12 who have demonstrated leadership abilities and who have an interest in further developing their leadership potential.
Anticipated fundraising target: $4000 per person > Donate
