Many churches have expressed an interest in being able to assist with 
sustainable support of their mission partners around the globe. Understandably, after
 a couple of visits people want to enable their partners to engage in some kind of
 commercial activity that can provide a living wage and sustain a community in
 addressing its own needs. 

In addressing this desire, churches have begun to take a variety of approaches. Some
 are considering the creation of non-profit foundations [501 (c) 3]. Other churches
 are already beginning to create their own non-profits, while some are bravely
 beginning to wade into the waters of micro-financing with little, to no, guidance or
 support.

It is this environment of questioning and activity that has led the Global Mission
 Partnership Task Force to bring some focus on issues related to micro-enterprise. In
 so doing, we note a number of questions and concerns:

·	We lack a common language regarding the issues. For example, we’re not sure
 we all mean the same thing when we’re talking about micro-finance … micro-lending …
 or micro-enterprise.
·	It isn’t productive for everyone to venture out and do the same research 
around the same issues, when it could be done by a small group of people who could 
then make the information available to everyone.
·	Does micro-enterprise work? What makes it successful? What makes it fail? 
·	What role does an “investment attitude” play in micro-enterprise … if any?
·	Breaking out of traditional models, how can we be direct in supporting the
 micro-financial developments of a specific partner community, while maintaining some
 form of traditional business models of accountability? (Assuming there is a need for
 some type of accountability … and if so, what should accountability look like for
 us?)
·	In thinking about our understanding of micro-enterprise and what makes it
 sustainable, we had more questions than answers … 
    1.	What are the general hopes and expectations of our partners?
    2.	Do we know what our partners want or need?
    3.	Do we know whether or not our partners feel as though they have the skills
         necessary to develop businesses? And if they don’t, how might we be of
         assistance in skill attainment? Do our partners want to learn from us, or
         would they prefer that we support them in learning from each other (and what
         might that kind of support entail)?
    4.	Do our partners have sufficient infrastructure (locally, nationally, and 
         internationally) necessary to sustain their efforts? Is there any way we can
         help? 
    5.	What kind of commitment do our partners need/expect from us? 
    6.	What are the best ways/channels for the transfer of funds for micro-
         enterprise efforts?
    7.	How do we learn from those (NGOs, etc.) engaged in micro-enterprise, who tend
          to use a standard banking and finance model, while developing a model that
          allows for the flexibility of partner to partner funding? 

The preceding questions and many more form the foundation for a unique mission-type
 trip to Kenya and Tanzania in May/June of 2010. We are currently looking for
 individuals with a commitment to sustainable development to participate in this
 unique 2 week trip during which we’ll meet with business groups, talk with diocesan
 financial officers, meet with directors and leaders of successful programs, and
 speak with a variety of community leaders. 

Our current draft agenda is as follows:

    21 May (Friday) – Depart Boston

    22 May (Saturday) – Arrive in Nairobi

    23-27 May (Sunday – Thursday) in Maseno
    ·	Travel to Maseno
    ·	Meet with staff and leadership at St. Phillip’s Academy; discuss economic
          issues; meet with diocesan leaders, meet with leaders of local business
          projects; meet with members of the local Rotary Club
    ·	Meet with Nan & Gerry Hardison, directors (missioners) of the school and
          hospital

    28 May (Friday) – Return to Nairobi and depart for Dar (traveling to Korogwe)

    29-31 May (Saturday – Monday) in Korogwe
    ·	Meet with diocesan staff; meet with community leaders; meet with leaders of
          local business projects; see successful Heifer Project efforts; learn about
          other potential projects … honey bee cultivation, tilapia farming, cattle 
          farming, tea plantations, etc. (and possibly meet with members of the local
          Rotary Club)
    ·	Attend church on Sunday with Bishop Baji

    1 June – (Tuesday) travel to Zanzibar from Tanga (by boat)

    2-4 June in Zanzibar
    ·	Discuss the work of The International Collaborative for Science, Education,
          and the Environment (ICSEE); learn about successes and failures; hear from
          community leaders about sustainable development and environmentally
          sensitive business developments; see successful community projects (and 
          meet with project owners)
    ·	Learn about the history of the slave trade (optional)
    ·	Spend a day as a team processing and discussing what we’ve learned, next   
          steps, etc.

    5 June fly to Dar; depart for the US


As you discern whether or not this is the right trip for you, we encourage you to
 ponder the following: 

·	Unlike other “service” trips, we will not be on mission, per se. It is better
 to think of this trip as a “research” trip. Our meetings will be with business
 people, community leaders involved in collaborative business ventures, diocesan 
leaders supporting, or interested in supporting, micro-enterprise activities, and so 
forth. 

·	The travel schedule and the cost reflect the broad range of individuals in 
different locations with whom we’ll meet. 

·	Our itinerary allows for meeting times for us to process our findings, write
 up notes, and redefine our questions for the next set of meetings.

·	This particular trip is expected to attract a fairly unique and diverse group
 of professionals with particular skills applicable to business questions. As such,
 this trip may offer a unique opportunity for networking and professional 
development. 

If interested in participating in this trip, please submit a letter of application 
(enclosing a $1,000 deposit, refundable if no selected) stating your interest, what 
you anticipate your contribution to the team will be, and describing

·	why you want to participate
·	what you bring to the experience
·	what you hope to gain from this opportunity
·	whether or not you are available to commit to participating in some pre-trip
          meetings


Upon acceptance, participants will be asked to sign a letter of commitment to 
participate fully in the process. Anticipated expense for the trip is $5,000, which
 includes micro-finance contributions that we’ll make as thank you gifts upon our
 departure. Upon acceptance, initial deposits become non-refundable. Trips funds will
 be payable on a scheduled coordinated with deposits and airline ticket purchases, 
with final payments due by April 1, 2010. *

For further information and submission of application material, please contact: 

The Rev. Ted. Gaiser
8 Glenmont Rd.
Brighton, MA  02135 
617.782.1577
tgaiser@diomass.org
gaiser@bc.edu

* It has been the experience of members of the Global Mission Partnership Task Force that while the economy may not be in great shape, it has not been too difficult to raise funds in support of mission-related activities. This is especially the case when funds are going for more than travel-related expenses. The Rev. Ted Gaiser is available to consult with anyone interested in doing fundraising related to this or any other mission trip. In addition, a number of ideas are available at http://www.missiongoal.org under the “Leading a Trip” menu tab.