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Character Building |
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Character Building |
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Some years ago a mission trip veteran confessed to me that even though he had had a great time, his experience would have been even more positive if he'd had an idea of what to expect (yeah, right!). He made a very worth while recommendation that I have since tried to implement. That recommendation was for me to write a general description of what the experience will be like (as if that's possible) for those who had not gone on such trips. Here is my attempt to describe what your life will be like while on this two-week adventure. I've broken the experience into several categories. Pastor Denny
For those of you who have never traveled abroad, traveling with a group will be comforting. For those of you who are experienced travelers, traveling with a group can be frustrating at times. I have asked the group to meet at the airport a good 3 hours before departure. This may seem like a long to time to wait, and it is. Nevertheless, it is necessary. The challenge at this time is to get the luggage checked in without exceeding our allotted number of pieces. In addition to all the personal items, there will be a stack of luggage and boxes that will pertain to our group. These items contain our food, cooking equipment, building equipment, medical supplies, and VBS supplies, etc. More often than not we will get there and discover that we are over our limit, and we will need to do some quick consolidation. This process will go much smoother if everybody strictly cooperates with their personal allowance (one check-in, one carry-on). Something for you to think about - What you bring is what you will at times have to carry. Pack lite! It's O.K. to wear the same set of dirty shorts and shirt for two or three days at a time. Excess luggage is charged the premium rate of $100 per item. Excess weight is charged at the rate of $2.00 per pound. You will be responsible for this amount if you plan to check-in more than one piece of luggage or if your luggage is overweight. Professionals and staff members who are planning to bring your own equipment and supplies need to clear your extra pieces of luggage with me two weeks before departure. Since we are traveling as a group we are expected to check in and get seat assignments as a group, which will take additional time. The airport requires that all passports be presented with the tickets. Please be prepared to present both when checking in. Under no circumstances should you pack your documents in your check-in luggage. Also, be personally responsible for your own luggage. When people simply drop their luggage off and go exploring the airport it causes delays in the check-in process. Other delays are caused when group members leave their passports at home or forget to acquire a Visa stamp in your passport by the Brazilian Consulate. Failure to bring either of these two items will result in your not being permitted to board the plane, and therefore, any further participation in the mission trip. Other expectations you may have of the traveling process revolve around the local transportation once we arrive in Manaus, Brazil. I do my best to carefully plan but once we enter a foreign country, plans are always subject to change, sometimes without much, if any, notice. Buses won't always arrive or leave on time. Sometimes they just don't arrive at all. The key to preserving your sanity is to simply be flexible and be prepared to adjust your plans. While I will try to keep the group informed of any changes; sometimes it won't happen as quickly as you would like. If you sense that there will be some down time, enjoy the rest. You will be glad you did! Once we arrive at the airport in Brazil and we clear customs (that's where Brazilian officials will rummage through your luggage, messing everything up looking for contraband items), we will load our luggage onto buses and proceed toward the docks to meet up with our chartered boat. There we will transfer all our stuff on to the boat for the long journey to our destination. The return trip will be much the same. More waiting, transferring of luggage, and standing in lines. By this time you will be accustomed to it and won't mind as much.
There are few motels, hotels or condos where we are
going. So for our comfort and safety, the chartered passenger boat will be our home
for two weeks. (Did I mention that the boat is a cruise liner with individual,
air-conditioned rooms? Only in your dreams!) Our chartered boat will be a
double-decker with lots of open, covered, space. Everyone coming on this trip will
receive a hammock and mosquito net. You will suspend your hammock in the open space
provided. Under it you will place your luggage. This will be your personal
space and bed for the duration of the trip. Get on good terms with your
neighbors. They'll be sleeping within a foot of you on each side. When
the boat rocks, for your own safety and comfort, try to swing in unison. Lessons on
how to sleep comfortably in a hammock will be given upon request. Once you learn
how, you may never go back to sleeping in a bed again. The boat will have a few restroom facilities, but will not be of the quality you have at home. Once we arrive on site, more restrooms will be provided. Bathing facilities on the boat are unpredictable. Use lots of deodorant/anti-perspirant and baby powder and be prepared to take "spit baths"; until we arrive on site. (Baby wipes work well.)
Meals will be prepared by an experienced cook. My guess is that you will eat better than at home. Precaution will be taken to assure that the food is free from contaminants. While most of the meals will be familiar to you, some will have local influences. Enjoy the cultural exchange. While on the trip, please eat only what is provided to you by the cooks. Sampling foods offered to you from local residents is a sure way to get the "runs." When the opportunity does occur for you to "eat out", be sure to eat only cooked items. Filtered drinking water will be provided for you once we board the boat. You will need to bring your own drinking water to get you to that point. On the boat, drink only water provided to you from bottles. Do not drink water from any faucet. Most likely it comes straight up from the river. You will want to bring a sipper bottle to take water to your work site. For your own back-up system, we suggest you bring iodine tablets. These will purify unfiltered water in the event of an emergency.
One of the greatest fear people will face when participating in a trip like this is the fear of getting sick or contracting some sort of disease. The immunizations suggested in the packet by the
Center for Disease Control
will generally keep you safe from the major diseases if you use commonsense and follow the instructions given to you in this packet. Having said this, it is not uncommon for almost everybody to experience some discomfort at one point or another in the trip. For some, it comes early; for other, later - depending on the strength of their immune system and how careful they are. Usually this intestinal discomfort will last about 24 hours with varying effects. A more prolonged illness of two to three days sometimes plagues a few people. This is usually due to dehydration and can be easily prevented by simply remembering to drink. A word to the wise -
come prepared. First of all, come with the realization that
you're probably going to get sick. When it hits, try to relax, get lots of rest, drink lots of water, and know that this too shall pass. Bring your own private stash of medicines that will help relieve some of the symptoms of dysentery. To help ease your worry, know that there will be plenty of medical staff available to ensure your well being.
ARE YOU SURE THIS IS THIS SAFE? Every mission trip is a disaster waiting to happen. But with a little bit of common sense and obedience to instruction, disasters can be replaced by opportunities. The Amazon is a dangerous place and traveling there is full of risks. Traveling on a boat is risky. Elements in the environment can create a risk. Shopping in Manaus is risky. So the most important thing that you can remember is that you are responsible for your own safety. Assume that every unknown situation is dangerous until you satisfy yourself that it is safe to proceed. On the work site, use caution. In town, among the local people, use caution. When eating out, use caution. Don't wander off with people you don't know. Don't go hiking in places until you are comfortable with the level of risk. Don't go swimming at unapproved times and places. This kind of trip requires caution and maturity from the participants. However, when you adhere to the instructions and the guidelines given, you will be safe and this trip will be meaningful for you.
Because of the unpredictable nature of our environment, our work schedule is always subject to change. The plan, however, is for the daily routine to go something like this:
As you can see, there will be a lot going on. Some of you will be working on the construction of the building. Some will be working in the clinic. Others will be working on Vacation Bible School. The reality is that we want you to be willing to work wherever needed. For some of the jobs we will ask for volunteers. For other tasks we will simply make assignments. Your flexibility and positive spirit will make this a very enriching and meaningful experience for you. And before I forget, you will be given an opportunity to share your spiritual experience either through the giving of a morning devotional, or by participating in other religious meetings. Begin now to think of how you would like to be involved.
Work site A: Church Construction The construction project is a rectangular church approximately 20' x 40'. It will be built in the good old fashion tradition of South American construction using external bound beams (columns to support the weight of the roof), and red brick (to fill in the walls between the columns). Work on the construction site will start early because of the intensity of the heat during the day. Better to work while it is cooler, from 6-11 a.m., than to work during the most intense heat period from 12-3 p.m. Specific tasks that need to be done include mixing cement (by hand), laying brick, cutting wood, building trusses, sifting sand, laying corrugated aluminum roofing, etc. We will be providing the large major tools, however, we recommend that you bring and pack your personal tools in your luggage; i.e. hammer, trowel, measuring tape, gloves, etc.
Work site B: Medical & Dental Clinic Our medical clinic will be a branch office. (Most likely the clinic will be set up under the branch of a large tree.) Our goal is to provide basic medical, dental, and any other 'care' we can take with us. This clinic will be staffed by the medical professionals that come with our group. However, there will be opportunity for some of our non-professionals and students to assist for short periods of time. Medical staff should bring their own working equipment; i.e., stethoscopes, blood pressure cuffs, and whatever else you guys use to examine people. Our team does have available a portable dental unit that enables drilling and suction. What we do need help with, however, is the pooling of medical supplies and medication. Medical professionals can contact me for a list of supplies needed. Also, I need for every medical professional to send me a copy of their medical license. Sometimes I'm asked to provide these to the local health department.
Work site C: Vacation Bible School Vacation Bible School will be one of the more rewarding activities we engage the people in. Since the riverside inhabitants tend to have large families, I would anticipate a good-sized group. Brazilian kids are fun because they love to sing. Since most (VBS-age) kids attend school in the morning, we will be conducting the program in mid afternoon, around 3:00 p.m. Those helping out with the program can expect to work at the construction site in the morning, break for lunch, get cleaned up, and then start the VBS program at 3:00. The VBS program will be simple, consisting of singing, story telling, perhaps a craft, a Bible lesson, etc. There is usually something we can all do to help. The VBS program will last five or six days, beginning on either the Sunday or Monday after we arrive. Sometime before we start the trip, our VBS leader may contact you to be a participant. One thing we will probably need help with is the acquisition of Bible felt sets. Let us know if you can secure the donation of one.
Work site D: Evangelistic Meetings
Our whole purpose for this mission is to introduce to the residents in the Amazon to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Our approach is multifaceted. Not only does it include the building of a church facility, caring for their medical needs, educating the children, but it also includes participating in meetings where residents will be verbally introduced to the love and grace of Jesus Christ. These meetings will take place in the evening where our group members will participate as greeters, speakers, story tellers and musical performers. Please come willing to participate in one of these areas. I hope this helps to rev up your anticipation. The only thing left to do is . . . pack.
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Director of Youth Ministries Potomac Conference of Seventh Day Adventists |
Email: Snailmail: Phone: |
director@faroutmissions.org |
Tips for making your traveling experience more pleasant: 