Iowa Yearly Meeting, in partnership with EFC-MAYM, will be participating in Spring Connection 2026, a short-term missions program that allows youth to serve the foreign mission field for one-week, experiencing ministry in a cross-cultural community and observing God’s action in the context of Coahuila, Mexico Friends Churches. Connection also provides a place for youth to be challenged and stretched together, finding sacrifice and service as pleasures in God’s Kingdom. Furthermore, Spring Connection not only helps students develop a mission-minded world-view, but also allows them to take a beginners-level peek at exploring missionary life and ministry calling. Spring Connection gives all participants a tremendous blessing as they plunge themselves right into the middle of God’s work!
This will be the second time IAYM has participated by sending a group, though the program has been taking place since 1993. We will be returning to our friends in Palau that we met in 2024!’
If you are interest in being apart of our team, please fill out this interest form!
Please note: there will be a mandatory Orientation on March 1st, and if selected to be on the IAYM Spring Connection team, in person attendance is required. Time and Location TBD
Spring Connection Guidelines for student team members:
1. High School or College Student (college, adults, families also welcome!)
2. Must have Passport or Passport Card (If you don’t and want to join us, order your passport now!)
3. Active participant in local church and/or youth program
4. Respectful to authority and peers
5. Willing to be stretched and follow all Spring Connection guidelines
6. Has been accepted as a team member of the IAYM Spring Connection Team.
See full Spring Connection Guidelines here.
Spring Connection 2026 Registration Costs and Deadlines:
IAYM is currently estimating the trip cost to be $900. This price is subject to change once registration officially opens at the beginning of 2026. If cost is an issue, the IAYM Office will help students with ideas for fundraising for registration costs.
1. February 7– $250 Registration and online registration form due. This fee will covers all expenses while in Mexico including meals, overnight arrangements, work project supplies, administration, etc. The deposit amount is the same for every student, adult, and interpreter.
2. March 1st– A second payment to cover the remainder of the trip is due. This covers transportation, hotel costs, tourist cards and administration down and back. Please note: each person is responsible for travel meals.
Spring Connection 2026 Registration Costs and Deadlines:
Friday, March 13th:
Travel from IAYM office to Kansas.
Stay at Camp Quaker Haven in Arkansas City, KS or with host family in Wichita, KS
Saturday, March 14th:
Travel to Eagle Pass, Texas
Stay in a hotel and have the opportunity to meet other Spring Connection Teams
Sunday, March 15th:
Head across the border
Eat lunch at Agujita, Mexico and Travel to missions site
Sunday Evening Worship with friends in Palau
Monday through Wednesday, March 16-18th:
Ministry work at each site. Each team’s schedule will be unique according to church community’s needs. Teams should be able to make time for debriefing and sharing on a daily basis, as well as making time for personal ‘quiet time.’ This time may include a work project or hosting a VBS for the kids in the community.
Thursday, March 19th:
A more flexible day used to wrap projects and ministry
All groups travel back to central location in Agujita after breakfast or after lunch.
Free time (shopping?)
Whatever God and Samuel leads for a celebration or evangelistic service – this may be a chance for teams to share something about the week.
Dinner at JUGOS! All you can eat on Spring Connection!
Friday, March 20th:
Final goodbyes and pictures, then head for the border (best souvenir shopping is at border)
Travel to San Antonio for a late-afternoon hot shower before hitting the Riverwalk for a good celebration meal and laugh.
Saturday, March 21st:
Long travel day back to Iowa! Will arrive at IAYM office at midnight(or later)