Equipping You for Missions
Leaders Note:
Trip Leaders may modify this document to their needs. Please reference us where we can be of service.
Dear _________,
We are excited that you will be joining us on our Mission Trip from July 5-17 to Haiti.
Below is your list of action items necessary to complete:
1. Finances:
a. Non-refundable Deposit $200 Due Immediately
b. Second Payment $750 Due February 10th
c. Final Payment $750 Due April 10th
2. Passport: Begin the Passport application process immediately. If you do not have your passport, you will not be allowed to leave the country. Upon receipt of passport, email us your Passport Name, Passport Number, and Expiration Date. Your Passport cannot expire with 6 months of our departure. If so, you must renew it. See our Helpful Tips page for more details.
3. Raising Support: If raising financial support, checks may be made to “Harvest Church”. Have your donors include a letter in the envelope listing you as the recipient of the donation for the Mission Trip. All donations are tax deductible. Sample letters are available on MissionsTrip.net
4. Immunizations: Contact the local health department at 205-567-1234 to schedule an appointment for your vaccinations. MissionsTrip.net provides resources to learn more about immunizations suggested per country. We recommend Typhoid and Hepatitis A vaccinations.
5. Travel Insurance: Most health insurance plans do not cover accidents or illness outside your home country. We require you to purchase International Travel Insurance. This can be done at MissionsTrip.net. (or We have purchased group Travel Insurance)
6. Team Meetings: We require you to attend our three planning meetings for the trip. The dates of the meetings are March 15th, April 24th, May 16th at 7pm.
Below we have included more helpful tips for you to begin preparing for our adventures together. I am excited about all the Lord will do in us and through us.
Blessings,
Riley Watkins
Cancellation Policy:
Should you need to cancel from the trip, you will forfeit your deposit plus any additional expenses already incurred. Travel Insurance will often cover for cancellation if it is health related, loss of family member, or loss of employment.
Mission Trip Preparation Tips
Passport / VISA:
Passports are a must have when boarding an international flight or entering a foreign country. This includes Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. If you already have a passport, then check to see when it expires. Typically, the passport needs to be valid for at least six months after your entry date into another country. If yours doesn’t meet this requirement, then begin the renewal process early since it can take a few weeks.
A traveling Visa is also required in many countries. Check the requirements for your final destination as well as the countries that you’ll be passing through along the way.
Remember to take copies of your passport and visa with you in your suitcase and leave copies at home with relatives or friends in case the need arise to fax the information to the local embassy. Note that some countries will want these copies notarized.
Applying for Passport/VISA:
MissionsTrip.net partners with a company that specializes in applying for passports and travel visas. They have outlined the steps to apply for passports and visas. For a fee, VisaHQ will assist you in this application process. However, you can reduce your expenses by doing this on your own by visiting your government’s passport website and visiting the embassy website of the country you will be visiting.
Travel Insurance (International Insurance):
Travel insurance or International Medical Insurance is a wise investment. Travel insurance is a combination of trip-cancellation insurance and 24-hour emergency assistance. It helps you get your money back if, for example, you have to cancel your missions trip or go home early for valid reasons. It's a smart purchase if you've planned your trip well in advance. The travel insurance usually begins coverage the date you purchase the policy. International Medical Insurance typically begins when you leave your home country. This insurance is available at MissionsTrip.net.
Immunizations - International Certificate of Vaccination:
At your local health office, you can receive this International Certificate of Vaccination that’s provided by the World Health Organization. It’s simply a yellow card stating the vaccinations you’ve had to date. Special vaccinations such as Yellow fever or Typhoid might be required prior to entering a foreign country. And, carrying proof of your vaccinations is important in third world countries, so you eliminate the risk of receiving a vaccination overseas through an unsanitary procedure. Your local health organization can provide proper consultation to which vaccinations are needed and how to get the yellow card. To learn about immunizations suggested for a foreign country, visit MissionsTrip.net.
Currency Exchange:
Don’t blow your budget! It’s easy to get off budget when your money has to be exchanged for another currency and then items are accidentally purchased at unfair prices. Check the exchange rate before you leave so you will know how to calculate the price of items overseas. MissionsTrip.net has links to your currency calculator.
Typically, ATMs are the easiest way to exchange money in other countries, but be mindful of fees. Inquire about exchange fees at your local bank ahead of time, but expect the fee to be around $5USD per transaction. Although many countries will accept US dollars, there are likely restrictions on what they will take – no bills smaller than $20, no old and worn bills, etc.
VISA gift cards, where accepted, are a great way to purchase items overseas. This limits losses due to credit card theft or overcharging. Numerous local stores, such as Publix, Wal-Mart and CVS, carry these gift cards.
Food:
What type of foods will you be eating each day? In a less developed country, the food options will be less nutritious. Supplementing your diet with protein bars and vitamins is recommended. For example, Juice Plus vitamins are a great way to supplement a three month long African diet of rice and bread.
Water:
Is the country’s drinking water safe for you to drink? It’s not safe in many countries, so be prepared to purchase bottled water.
Clothing:
Think Quality, not Quantity. While on a mission trip, people tend to be more active and spend more time outside than in their home country. Remember to pack the proper gear for all weather conditions and known activities (hiking, swimming, etc). Investing in comfortable shoes, a warm jacket, a rain jacket, hats, gloves, etc is worth considering.
Weather:
Researching the historical temperature averages for your destination will help you decide which types of clothes are necessary. These averages can be found on www.weather.com
Medical Kit:
A medical kit is a must when traveling to another country because your body is more susceptible to illness. Lacking sleep due to long overseas flights and adjusting to a different diet are enough to weaken your immune system and increase your chances of catching a cold or having an upset stomach. Consider including the following medical items in your kit:
• Band-Aids
• triple antibiotic ointment
• hydrocortisone cream
• antifungal cream
• antiseptic swipes
• betadine swipes
• sterile 4x4 gauze
• sports tape
• saline eye drops
• Tylenol
• Ibuprofen
• Tums
• Pepto-Bismol
• Benadryl anti-itch cream
• Claritin
• Imodium
• Vitamin C.
Electricity:
Beware…phone charges, hair dryers, alarm clocks, and other electrical devices probably won’t work without a converter for the outlet plug. Check the type of power utilized in the country you are visiting.
Calling Home:
Cell phone roaming fees are very expensive internationally. Consider using Skype to make calls if you will have internet access. If you need a cell phone, your best option is to rent an international cell phone. These phones are mailed to your home address and upon your arrival home returned by mail.
International Calling Codes:
Knowing how to make an international telephone call is challenging. Here is a link to help you know the country codes to enter to make a phone call internationally. http://www.countrycallingcodes.com
Emergency Contact Numbers:
Just in case! You just never know what will happen while you are traveling, so make a list of important information for yourself and to leave at home with friends and/or relatives. At the very least include emergency contact numbers for these: travel airline, rental car company, hotel information, travel insurance company, health insurance information, credit card company, bank, local embassy, and a person to call if you are lost or in need both at home and internationally.
International Driving Permit:
Are you up for the challenge of driving on the opposite side of the road or in areas where there aren’t two lanes, road signs or traffic lights? If so, then purchase your International Driving Permit for $20-30. In the United States, permits can be bought at the local AAA.
Register with your Government’s Embassy:
You have the option of registering your trip with your embassy prior to your departure. If any major situation arises, then the embassy will know how to locate and inform you of the pressing information.
Language Study:
Knowing a few words in another person’s language will mean a lot to the people you are ministering. You can search online for free tutorials. We have used Pimsleur language courses to study. They offer a beginner’s course in many languages that includes eight 30-minute lessons. Visit http://www.pimsleurapproach.com/ for more information.
Toilet Paper:
Toilets are a luxury! And they may not exist in the places you are visiting. Many homes in Central Asia and Africa do not have indoor plumbing, and so bringing your own toilet paper is critical.
Other suggested items: Flashlight (torch), wetwipes are wonderful when bathing is limited, TSA suitcase locks
Journal:
Journaling is priceless! Throughout your journey, be intentional about recording your experiences. Do not wait until you get home because the hustle and bustle of life will hit immediately! Capture your sweet memories on paper while you can before they quickly fade away. Your journal will be a treasure down the road.
Prayer Support:
We recommend recruiting several people to pray for you while on your missions trip. If you create a free account at www.nationalprayerbank.com , one has the ability to form facebook-type groups for prayer. Then you can send out prayer updates to your friends and post testimonies.
Missions Books and Movies:
It’s important to prepare your soul for the adventure in which you are about to embark. Reading books and watching documentaries are an excellent way of learning about the culture and what to expect on the mission field. Here are some resources:
Books:
• From Jerusalem to Irian Jaya. - Tucker, Ruth.
• Ministering Cross-Culturally: An Incarnational Model for Personal Relationships. Ligenfelter, Sherwood, G. & Marvin K. Mayers
• Operation World: 21st Century Edition. P. Johnstone & J. Mandryk, WEC, 2001
• F oreign to Familiar: A Guide to Understanding Hot and Cold Climate Cultures. Sarah A. Lanier
Movies:
For a low cost option, search for these movies on Netflix.
• Peace Child
• The End of the Spear
• Inn of Sixth Happiness
• Mother Teresa
• The Cross and the Switchblade
• Through Gates of Splender
• The Story of Amy Carmichael
• The Story of Eric Liddell and Chariots of Fire
• Molokai
• Joan of Arc
• Luther
• Bonhoeffer: Agent of Grace
• Zinsendorf: Prophet of the Heart
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