Break With a Purpose

BWAP is not a mission trip. We do not go in hopes of evangelizing, converting, or otherwise colonizing the places we go. Rather, we seek to come alongside, listen to, and learn from folks who are part of the communities we enter. We believe that we have more to gain from these experiences than we have to give. As we partner with and bear witness to God’s work in unfamiliar places, we become more equipped to do so in the place(s) we call home.

We also acknowledge that opportunities to learn and grow in this way are part of the set of privileges afforded to us as residents and citizens of the United States. These privileges make all of us complicit (to different degrees based on our unique identities) in many of the systems that create the problems we see in the world. Along with an eagerness to learn and excitement to serve, we also come with humility, knowing that we are not the solution to all the world’s problems. We engage this tension directly and intentionally in our team trainings and trip reflections.

Any undergraduate or graduate student at UW-Madison may apply for BWAP.

BWAP is led by Rev. Nii Addo Abrahams, the Director of Campus Ministry at Pres House. Learn more about him here.

Our schedule will be customized to the needs and abilities of our team and Frontera de Cristo’s ministry partners. Activities may include:

• a border infrastructure tour
• conversations with Border Patrol agents
• dinner with a family from Lily of the Valley Presbyterian Church
• a desert hike simulating a small segment of migrants’ journeys
• a cross-planting in the desert to honor and remember someone who died in the desert
• visits and information sessions at Frontera de Cristo’s partner ministries, such as the Migrant Resource Center; CAME migrant shelter; Café Justo and the coffee shop Café Justo y Mas; the women’s co-operative at DouglaPrieta Trabaja, the Children’s Enrichment Ministry at New Hope Community Center; and the CATPSIC drug and alcohol rehabilitation center.
• visits to local wildlife areas (e.g. Whitewater Draw)

See examples of border immersion schedules here (most relevant for BWAP is the weeklong schedule).

BWAP trips regularly cost $1500-$2000 per student. However, thanks to generous Pres House donors, we heavily subsidize the cost so that no student pays more than $500. Your $500 BWAP registration fee covers lodging, transportation (airfare and/or rental vehicle), any pre-trip resources, and all meals, site admissions, and team activities during the trip.

Students with financial constraints can request a scholarship from Pres House for up to half of the standard registration fee. To request a scholarship, please apply using the normal application, and answer the prompts accordingly. You will need to briefly describe your financial need and indicate how much of the registration fee you can pay.

Once paid, application fees are non-refundable.

Yes. We will be crossing the U.S.-Mexico border multiple times on this trip. Although it is possible to cross back into the U.S. using your regular driver’s license, that decision is often up to the Customs and Border Protection agent on duty at the port of entry; according to the Department of Homeland Security, a valid passport is required for international travel. When you apply for BWAP, you must either indicate that you have a valid passport or a pending passport application. 

For more information on passports and processing times, visit travel.state.gov.

Yes. However, depending on your country of origin, you may be required to present additional documents when crossing the border (such as an I-20), and you’ll need to contact International Student Services to obtain signatures. You can apply for the trip before securing the required document(s) and signature(s).

No. Frontera de Cristo will provide interpreters when necessary. Here is some additional guidance from Frontera de Cristo about how to navigate language differences:

• Don’t be shy about speaking Spanish, no matter how rusty it may be. Individuals you will meet in Agua Prieta will appreciate such attempts and will be more likely to strike up a conversation.
• If you don’t speak Spanish well, you may have the opportunity to speak to someone through an interpreter. In these situations, remember to speak directly to the person you’re speaking with, not to the interpreter. This shows respect for the person you’re talking with and helps you connect with them as a human being regardless of the language difference.

The reserved spots will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis for those who qualify.

• If you qualify for both types of reserved spots and your application is accepted, you will only be counted as filling one spot. For example, if spots for first-time participants and BIPOC participants are both available when you apply, you would fill one first-time participant spot.
• Once the reserved spots are filled, students who qualify should still apply, as any remaining non-reserved spots will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
• If the reserved spots are not filled by October 22, those spots will become available to the waitlist and/or any other students who apply, regardless of whether they qualify.

Students who do not qualify for one of the reserved spots should apply like normal. If the available spots fill, you will be added to a waitlist and invited to join the team if more spots become available.

To apply, be prepared to submit:

• Personal information (e.g. legal name, address, phone number, etc.)
• Gender identity. Most airlines require this information as part of the booking process; we do not share this information with anyone other than the airline.
• Emergency contact
• Proof of health insurance
• Medical information (medications, conditions, allergies, dietary restrictions, vaccine records)
• Proof of valid passport or pending passport application
• Statement of intent. All team members must agree to abide by the team member expectations.
• Liability waiver

Here are the questions you’ll see on the application which require a written answer. Please limit your responses to 500 words or less.

• Why do you want to go on this trip?
• Describe your previous BWAP experiences (if any) and their impact on your life.
• Describe your involvement with the Pres House community.
• Describe your ability to speak, read, and/or understand Spanish.
• Please list any questions or concerns you have regarding BWAP.