INVITATION & INFORMATION

Transcription

1 INVITATION & INFORMATION WELCOME TO ZIMPETO! Now that we have received the necessary documents, we are delighted to extend a warm invitation to you to visit Zimpeto Children's Centre. We praise God in anticipation of the marvellous things He has in store for you and for the Ministry here. We are excited that you will be joining our Zimpeto family and look forward to seeing what God will do in and through you. The following pages are full of information to help you prepare for your visit. Please read through this carefully as it contains useful advice gleaned from the experiences of some of the visitors we receive here each year. Team leaders and small groups, please copy this document for each of your team/group. We ask that you read all the information in it carefully before ing questions to the Hospitality Department. Many of the answers you seek are in this document! We are more than happy to answer your questions at this point. It is an explicit condition of acceptance to visit Iris Ministries that Iris Ministries and staff can assume no responsibility for your safety, comfort or well-being while here. We are serving in an impoverished, developing nation in unpredictable conditions with many inherent risks and potential dangers. All visitors must assume full responsibility for informing themselves in advance of these risks and conditions and for exercising due care and caution with regard to their safety and well-being. You will be joining us in trusting God as Provider and Protector. You will not be able to have the full attention of any missionaries, staff or translators who all have multiple roles to fulfil here at Zimpeto. Please plan on being as self-reliant as possible. We see again and again that God does amazing things in visitors during their time with us. Be open to all that God may do in you and through you here. Expect the unexpected. Seek to serve, expressing His heart of love to all around you and expect Him to meet with you like never before. God is good! 1

2 TRAVEL BETWEEN JOHANNESBURG AND MAPUTO The simplest way to travel from Johannesburg to Maputo is to add a connecting flight to your itinerary. Alternatives are available but difficult for people not familiar with the area. If you do have to catch the bus from Johannesburg, we recommend that you book with GREYHOUND. We cannot pick up visitors from the INTERCAPE bus due to this bus company s very unpredictable arrival times. Many of our visitors will be travelling to other destinations after their time at Zimpeto. Please finalise all of your travel plans BEFORE you arrive here in Maputo. As much as we would like to, we cannot assist visitors with making travel arrangements after you arrive here in Maputo. Neither can we offer regular internet access and printing facilities for visitors. TIPS UPON ARRIVAL AT MAPUTO AIRPORT After disembarking, you will pass through passport control. Have your passport and entry document (provided on the plane/reception hall) ready. Claim your bags and head towards the doors. If any of your baggage is missing, report this top the lost and found before exiting to meet our driver. If you are bringing items for donation, take them out of their packages/wrappers and remove all price tags before packing, then distribute throughout your luggage. Teams please note particularly: distribute items among team members and pack in with your personal items. If you are asked to open your luggage, customs officials will generally be looking for new items that are brought into the country to sell: these are taxable. If you are asked about any items, tell them you are visiting Iris Ministries (Arco Iris) and have brought these items for the children. We suggest that electricals, toiletries and shoes be packed in the bottom of your suitcase and pack older clothes on top. If you have sent us your ITINERARY with flight information, you will be met at the airport and driven to the Centre. Our Mozambican driver or a missionary will be driving a vehicle with Iris Ministries logos on the doors. He will be carrying an Iris Ministries sign. Carry the Hospitality number with you when you travel ( ). Please phone this number if you are delayed or your flights are changed or bus delayed. Mozambican baggage handlers at the airport can be extremely persistent but you do not need to accept their help. If you allow them to help, they will then demand a tip and occasionally things go missing. You can say no and will probably need to be persistent in repeating this. Our driver is happy to help you with your bags. 2

3 IDENTIFICATION / PASSPORT All visitors are required to carry identification with them whenever they leave the Centre. You will need to bring a photocopy of your passport from home. It is common for Iris vehicles to be stopped at police checkpoints where you will be asked for your identification. We recommend that you do not carry your passport original with you off-centre for security reasons. We are sorry that we cannot photocopy or print documents for you here at Zimpeto or notarise copies for you. TO THE CENTRE DONATIONS Iris Ministries is a faith ministry, entirely dependent upon the generosity and responsiveness of God s people to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. While there is no direct charge for your accommodation, we appreciate your sensitivity to the many expenses related to your visit such as accommodation, transport, laundry, gas/electricity, staff wages for the Centre s Mozambican workers. There is ABSOLUELTY NO OBLIGATION but if you do feel led to give, please do so directly to a member of the Hospitality Team. TO THE CHILDREN Please do not give gifts directly to the children at Zimpeto. We very much appreciate the heart of visitors to give to the children of Zimpeto. We ask though that, during your stay, you DO NOT give any items or money directly to the children who live here. If you would like to give to a particular child, please speak to one of the Hospitality Team who will coordinate this via the dorm parent/s. We very much desire that relationships between visitors and our resident children are all about the imparting of life, wisdom and encouragement, and not just about the gifts that they might receive from you. Wherever possible, we seek to make sure that not just a few of our bolder, better English speakers receive from the generosity of our visitors. It is so good when visitors build relationships with particular children; please be aware though that often it is the same kids to whom visitors gravitate over and over again because of their English skills or their extroversion, and therefore often the same children who benefit from visitors generosity. We ask also that all donations to the children remain anonymous. CURRENCY MONEY The local currency is the metical which can generally be obtained through ATM machines using cards with the PLUS symbol and VISA cards which require a pin number. US dollars and South African rand are the most useful types of currency to bring with you and can be easily exchanged. Please note that Mozambique only accepts US bills issued since Sterling and Euros can also be exchanged. Travellers cheques are not recognised here. FOOD AND SOUVENIRS Food costs here are similar to grocery stores in developed nations, but be mindful of the exchange rate for your country s currency. The supermarket accepts Visa and Mastercard. There may be opportunity for you to go to the tourist markets to purchase souvenirs. Souvenirs are relatively cheap and spending money at the markets supports the local industry. Meals out will cost an average of about USD $8.00 to $ You are welcome to eat meals with the children, at no charge. Their meals are bread for breakfast and rice with toppings for lunch and dinner. 3

4 HEALTH There are no vaccines required by the Mozambican government. You should ensure that your standard vaccines such as Tetanus, Typhoid, Meningitis and Hepatitis A, MMR, DPT and Polio are up-to-date. Please check with a travel nurse, your doctor or the CDC website for current recommendations, and particularly in relation to tuberculosis which is common in Mozambique. Please note that the Mozambican government has recently changed its requirements for Yellow Fever immunisation. This is now required for those arriving from the countries of Angola, Brazil, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania. If your route takes you through these countries, you must carry documentation of your immunisation. Malaria prophylaxis is compulsory for all visitors to Zimpeto. You must bring your preventative medications with you: there will not be opportunity for you to purchase these in Mozambique. Malaria prophylaxes may be daily or weekly get your doctor s recommendation. Please note that, in Mozambique, malaria may be resistant to Doxycyxline. The general recommendation is Malarone, Mefloquine or Larium. Note that Larium can have some very serious side effects so discuss the issues with your doctor, especially if you have never used it before. In all cases, follow your doctor's recommendation. Mosquito nets are provided for the use of all visitors. There is clean water at the centre and flush toilets. It is a requirement for visiting Zimpeto that you purchase Emergency Medical Insurance or Travel Insurance. Please check with your travel agent or insurance company for more information. For minor medical issues, the Zimpeto Base has a clinic and, for more serious needs, there is a private clinic/hospital in the city. Remember to bring your insurance papers (or copies) with you when you travel. We suggest that you bring with you a basic first aid kit containing items you may need. Our nurse suggests: rehydration sachets, anti-emetics, anti-diarrheals, pain/fever meds, allergic reaction meds, band aids, antiseptic, insect bite relief spray, cold/flu medicine, Vitamins B and C to boost your immune system, perhaps a round of antibiotics just in case. Please talk to your doctor and follow his/her recommendations. Also remember to bring enough of any regular medications you are on. ACCOMODATION Rooms contain metal bunk beds and sleep anywhere from 4-8 people per room. We have only two couples rooms with a double bed. It is generally not possible to meet individual requests for rooms. Each bed will have sheets, one blanket, pillow and a mosquito net. (We are always in need of more linen so, if visitors would like to bring linen and leave it when they go home, we would be very appreciative). If you are coming in the colder months of June to September, the nights can get very cold. You will need to bring a sleeping bag for warmth. Please note that Zimpeto is limited in the accommodation space it can provide for visitors. During our busy times, especially the months of April through September, we may need to split teams. We may also need to separate husbands and wives into female and male rooms with others. It is possible that you will need to move rooms at some time during your stay if the visitors accommodation is close to full. We appreciate your patience with the limitations here and we will do the very best we can for you! We generally have hot water showers available to visitors but hot water is not always guaranteed. We do have flush toilets and clean running water at this base. 4

5 CLOTHING Please read carefully before you start packing! Mozambican clothing is significantly more conservative than in the west. Visitors must dress to respect the culture here. Visitors wearing inappropriate clothing will be asked to change their clothing immediately. Please note that Mozambicans wear their best clothes to church and expect visitors and missionaries to dress nicely also. Female visitors are to wear skirts or capulanas (a piece of fabric that Mozambican women wrap around like a skirt) to church and ministry activities, including outreaches. Capulanas can be purchased in the Hospitality Shop for 150 meticais which is equivalent of about USD $5. ALL VISITORS Even in the more secluded area of the Visitors Compound, please respect the dress code required of all visitors to Zimpeto, thank you. You will be asked to change if you are not abiding by the dress code below. No knees to be showing at any time No shorts at any time, for men or women, except when swimming at the pool. Below-the-knee cutoffs or ¾ pants that cover the knees at all times are acceptable. We ask that visitors do not sunbathe in the Visitors Compound. Please cover all tattoos as best you can, especially large ones in respect of the culture here. WOMEN All pants, capris, ¾ pants, dresses, skirts, wrap-around sarongs, capulanas MUST REACH BELOW THE KNEE at all times. Absolutely no shorts allowed, even in the Visitors Compound. No low-cut or revealing tops, thin or spaghetti straps or any shirt that exposes the bra straps front or back. If you are not sure, please ask a second opinion of the Hospitality Team. No shirts exposing the midriff. A hint: raise your arms above your head and, if your midriff (front or back) is showing, your t-shirt is too short. One piece bathing suits only, preferably with swimming shorts and-or t-shirt over them. No body piercings other than one piercing in the earlobes. Please cover or remove all other piercings. MEN Long-style shorts that reach below the knee for every-day wear Long pants for church services and all other ministry activities T-Shirts are acceptable but not muscle shirts please Shorts only for swimming (no speedo-style swim suits) No piercings COMMUNICATION Before you leave home, it is best to advise your family and friends that they may not hear from you for the duration of your time away. We provide limited internet to visitors but our internet is not reliable. The hospitality number below can be used by your family to contact you in emergencies only please. Please take note of the contact numbers below. Carry these with you when you travel. If, during your trip, you miss a flight or a flight is cancelled/delayed, call Hospitality to advise us of your change in arrival information. The number is We do not generally check s on weekends or at night. If you do not notify us of travel changes, there will be no one to meet your flight and you will need to take a taxi. The address to give the taxi driver is: Km 11, Avenida de Mozambique. Your taxi ride should cost no more than about mts or $25 US). 5

6 CONTACT Cell Phone HOSPITALITY DEPT This is the best number to ring! Land Line ZIMPETO RECEPTION Postal Address PO Box West Acres 1211 Nelspruit, South Africa Website Please note that this list is not comprehensive. WHAT TO PACK Clothing listed above A notarised copy of your passport to carry with you at all times All travel documents, FINALISED ie all tickets and bookings/reference numbers. We re sorry that we cannot print documents or make phone calls for you and the internet often does not work here. Umbrella or light rain jacket for summer months, fleece for winter months Towel, face cloth All toiletries Mosquito repellent containing high % DEET Basic first aid kit Disinfectant lotion for hands Sun screen (note that some malaria prophylaxes make one s skin more sun-sensitive) Any medications that you use (keep in carry-on luggage while travelling) including malaria prophylaxis Any additional linens you would like to use that are not provided (see above) An adaptor for Mozambican plugs (2 pin round) and a converter for 220V electricity (most computers, digital cameras and MP3s do not require a converter). We re sorry we cannot provide adaptors to visitors. Bible Flashlight/torch Flip Flops/thongs for the shower (optional) Earplugs Any special food items you may want before your first trip to the grocery store eg muesli bars, nuts, protein shakes etc. If you arrive after 6pm in the evening, you will need to bring snacks for dinner as dinner service here is finished. Water bottle Portuguese Dictionary (optional) OUTREACHES Outreaches take place overnight Friday or Saturday on most weekends throughout the year. You will camp out in tents, sleep on the ground and eat with the locals. There will be opportunities to minister with the team of pastors who run Iris outreaches. Rolland and Heidi Baker would like as many visitors as possible to go out with the Revival Team into surrounding communities to plant and encourage new churches, evangelise and run medical clinics. We have a limited supply of tents and sleeping bags for visitor use and, at busy times, do not have enough for everyone. We appreciate the donation of any tents and sleeping bags you can bring with you and leave once your outreach is over. Optional: inflatable mattress/camping mat Sturdy walking shoes/socks Hat and sunglasses Small backpack (there will not be room for suitcases or large amounts of luggage on the bus) 6

7 WEEKLY SCHEDULE Times are subject to change and are approximate. Even so, we ask that visitors please be on time for all activities. DAILY SIRENS 0600 Children get up (0700 Sat/Sun/Holidays) 0700 Breakfast (0800 Sat/Sun/Holidays) 1230 Lunch 1600 Showers 1730 Dinner (1700 Thursday due to Church) 2100 Return to Dorms (2200 Fri/Sat/Holidays) SUNDAY WHERE TO MEET 0900 PRE-SERVICE PRAYER Prayer Hut 1000 CHURCH Church MONDAY 0900 ORIENTATION MEETING All new visitors to attend Visitors Dining Room 1000 STAFF WORSHIP You are encouraged to attend Prayer Hut SHOP/INTERNET Shop/Internet Café 1900 VISITORS HOMEGROUP An Iris or other DVD will be shown Visitors Dining Room TUESDAY 0900 SHOPRITE SUPERMARKET Numbers limited (2 per team only) Outside Compound 1000 CHILDREN S CHURCH During school terms Church 1200 PRAYER MEETING All Welcome Prayer Hut 1600 STREET MINISTRY Outside Compound INTERNET/FACEBOOK Visitors Dining Room WEDNESDAY 0900 (OR 1400) VISIT OTHER MINISTRIES See sign-up wall Outside Compound 1000 CLINIC PRAYER MINISTRY Clinic 1600 STREET MINISTRY Outside Compound THURSDAY SHOP/INTERNET Shop/Internet Café 1115 ORIENTATION MEETING All new visitors to attend Visitors Dining Room 1400 HOSPITAL MINISTRY Outside Compound 1830 CHURCH Church FRIDAY 0830 OUTREACH MEETING If going on outreach this weekend Dining Room 0900 BOCARIA MINISTRY Outside Compound 1400 SHOPRITE SUPERMARKET Numbers limited (2 per team only) Outside Compound VARIES OVERNIGHT OUTREACH Away until Saturday afternoon Outside Compound 1745 SOM DE SEU YOUTH SERVICE First Friday of the month Meet outside Church INTERNET/FACEBOOK Visitors Dining Room SATURDAY 1000 CITY MARKETS Shopping and lunch Outside Compound 1400 HOSPITAL MINISTRY Outside Compound VARIES OVERNIGHT OUTREACH Away until Sunday afternoon Outside Compound ALL DAY REST, PROJECTS, SPEND TIME WITH THE CHILDREN WHEN THERE ARE NO SCHEDULED ACTIVITIES Do a special work project listed on the sign-up wall. Visit the Baby House or take a baby out for some one-on-one time. Help in a dorm. Ask a long-term missionary if you can help with anything. Play soccer or basketball with some children. Give an English or Maths lesson to some kids. Spend time with the educators/tias. Go to the markets with some children. Rest. Pray. There is always plenty to do at Zimpeto! 7

8 OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE IN THE DORMITORIES The dorms (camaradas) are divided by age and sex. Below is a list of the various dorms at Zimpeto. Each dorm has an overseeing missionary (dorm parent) and an educator (a Mozambican worker) in charge of the dorm as well as chefes (a Mozambican youth responsible for each room). To contact a dorm parent, speak to the Hospitality Team on-call person. Baby House 1 4 Laura s Boys Dorm 5-8 Tracey s Dorm 4 6 Boys Dorm 9-12 Transition Dorm 4 6 Boys Dorm Ros and Steve s Dorm 9-12 Boys Dorm Girls Dorm 4 18 Boys Dorm ADOPT-A-DORM While you are here, you may wish to "adopt" a dorm. Ask the Hospitality Team to put you in touch with the relevant dorm parent when you arrive, or us in advance, noting your interest. Check the Sign-Up Wall for special projects in these dorms. NURSERY Our Nursery cares for several under-one s at a time who always need some extra cuddling and attention. Visiting hours are , and BABY HOUSE The Baby House accommodates up to 38 children aged 1 4. These children have been abandoned or orphaned, or their parents were unable to care for them. There are many ways to help in the Baby House. You are welcome to spend time in the Baby House or to take a child out for some on-on-one play time. You can help in the Baby House or in the evenings for quiet play time before the children go to bed. TRACEY S DORM Eight 4-6 year-old boys and girls live-in with Tracey and a Mozambican tia (dorm parent). If visitors contact her in advance, she is open to receiving their help with activities. Visits must be planned in advance and visitors are asked not to visit without prior arrangement. The Hospitality Team can help you with this. ROS AND STEVE S DORM One of the mini-dorms here at Zimpeto, Ros and Steve s dorm houses six boys and girls aged from 9 to 12. They are always please to have visitors spend time teaching English to the children. Craft activities are a particular highlight for them! Please see the hospitality on-call person to arrange a visit. LAURA S DORM Around forty 5 to 8 year old boys. On Tues, Wed and Thurs afternoons, Laura separates her dorm into groups for activities. They may play football, play in her yard on playground equipment, do various crafts, etc. Each group is in need of adult volunteers to assist. This is a great opportunity to be with the kids in a more personal setting. Each evening after showers, Laura runs a short TLC time for kids who need a band-aid, a chat or a hug. If you have first-aid experience, you can help. If you don t, you still have much to offer during this time of comforting the kids and settling them down at the end of the day. Please contact Laura via the Hospitality Team for times and activities. VELLA S DORM Eight 4 to 6 year old boys live with Vella and a Mozambican tia (dorm parent). If visitors contact her in advance, she is very open to their help with afternoon activities. Visits must be arranged in advance via Hospitality and visitors are asked not to visit the house without prior arrangement. OLDER BOYS DORMS Other dorm parents also run activity programmes each week that you are welcome to get involved with, for example a weekly milk and cookies time and discipleship groups. See the dorm parent or educator. 8

9 WEEKLY MINISTRY ACTIVITIES Subject to change Following is a list of the weekly activities for which you will have opportunity to sign up during your stay. Most outreaches and other events have restricted numbers due to transport limitations. We thank you in advance for understanding that we do our very best to make room for as many people as possible on each outing. Team may need to split into groups. BIBLE SCHOOL Due to the miraculous revival that has been taking place in Mozambique, there has been a great need to equip and train the many pastors and leaders of the churches being planted all over the country. We are blessed to have a Bible School here at Zimpeto and welcome visiting pastors to inquire about possible opportunities to teach in the Bible School during your visit with us. BOCARIA (GARBAGE DUMP) FRIDAY MINISTRY The Bocaria ministry goes out weekly on Friday to minister to the people in and around the Bocaria. The schedule includes a church service, evangelism, home visitation, prayer ministry and distribution of food. There may be opportunity for you to help with wound care or children s ministry. Come prepared to pray and perhaps even to preach a short message. Prepare yourself well for the morning. Pray, eat a good breakfast, wear a capulana/longer skirt (women) or long trousers/pants (men) and wear sturdy shoes. Bring your notarised passport copy. DO NOT BRING ANY VALUABLES OR YOUR CAMERA WITH YOU. We suggest that you do not bring a bag at all just a water bottle, bible and hat. Be prepared for possibly severe heat, dust, smoke, smells and flies. If you would like to help with games, dramas or teaching please tell the missionary who goes with you. Any involvement encouraged! At the Bocaria, you MUST STAY WITH YOUR GROUP. Do not go off alone and do not lag behind. CLINIC The Clinic is a certified facility that serves people from the community and the children who reside at Zimpeto. There are opportunities throughout the week to pray for the many people lined up waiting for attention from the medical staff or those attending the Baby Milk Programme. If you have experience in the health care field and would like to spend some time in the Clinic, please talk with a member of the Hospitality Team regarding how to do this. Your role will probably be as an observer. The medical staff is always eager to have people pray over the patients in their care. DOM ORION CHILDREN S CENTRE Some Wednesdays a group of visitors go with a missionary to visit a children s centre down the road that is run by the Catholic church. Many of the children have special needs and appreciate the love, care and attention they get from visitors. Go prepared to love, pray and play with kids who are left out or rejected by their society. HOSPITAL MINISTRY Visits are made to the local hospital twice a week, to pray for and minister to the sick. Visitors will go with a Mozambican on a centre vehicle or local bus/ chapa. PLEASE - NO CAMERAS OR VALUABLES. You will need metacais in small change for the chapa. MACHAVA CHILDREN S CENTRE This Iris Children s Centre is the second base that Heidi and Rolland Baker established in the south of Mozambique. The centre provides a home and school for approximately 40 children aged 5 to 16. There is a Bible College, Church and also a ministry to assist the poor in the surrounding community. This centre has a very different feel to Zimpeto. It is in a rural setting and has many fewer children. Well worth a visit! Visits to Machava take place every third Wednesday. 9

10 OUTREACHES The Revival Team goes out each week to the bush for evangelism and ministry. At the beginning of each week, sign-up sheets will indicate where the teams will be going for that week. If you sign up for outreach, you then need to attend a short preparation meeting at 0845 on Friday in the dining room. While some of the revival team outreaches are day trips, most involve overnight stays. These trips will require tents and sleeping gear which you can borrow by signing them out at the prep meeting. Please sign all items back in when you return them, noting any missing equipment or repairs needed. PRAYER There are many opportunities to pray at Zimpeto. On Tuesday at there is often a prayer meeting in the prayer hut all welcome (check the whiteboard). Pray with other visitors or go for a prayerwalk around the Centre. Pray with the children while you re playing. Pray with the youth while you re chatting with them on the playground. Pray in the Baby House while the children are playing. Pray with the babies at bed time... The possibilities are endless! RESOURCE ROOM/LIBRARY In January 2006 a new library was opened for the children and adults of the Centre in a renovated classroom of the school. It contains mostly Portuguese books, a few English books, some puzzles, and a TV/DVD player to show videos. We are always adding to our collection. The library is open every morning from 9-11 for school classes to use, as well as from 2-4 each afternoon. It is often packed with 30+ children so we welcome your help! SOM DE SEU This is an evening youth service in the city. Travel either on the open flat-bed truck or in the bus with the youth and witness what God is doing in their lives. Check the sign-up wall for days and details. SPECIAL PROJECTS There are always projects which require an extra hand. Please look for signs posted on the sign-up wall in the short-term kitchen for the priority projects while you are here. If you have particular skills which you would like to offer during your stay (e.g. medical doctor, computer programmer, seamstress, artist, carpenter, mechanic...) please contact the Hospitality Team. STREET MINISTRY Many of the children from the Centre have come to us via the Street Ministry which goes out on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. A church service with the homeless and local people is scheduled as well as outreach at some of the prisons in Maputo. Go prepared to share a testimony and pray for a lot of people. Do not take a camera or valuables. RECOMMENDED READING Visitors regularly request the titles of books that might help them to prepare for their visit. This is by no means an exhaustive list! Learning to Love: Passion, Compassion and the Essence of the Gospel Rolland and Heidi Baker There is Always Enough Rolland and Heidi Baker The Hungry Always Get Fed Rolland and Heidi Baker Compelled by Love Heidi Baker and Shari Pradhan Visions Beyond the Veil H.A. Baker From Foreign to Familiar Sarah Laniers Ministering Cross- Culturally Sherwood G. Lingenfelter and Marvin Mayers Re-Entry Peter Jordan 10