Jefferson Baptist Church 2014 Mission Trip

Transcription

1 Jefferson Baptist Church 2014 Mission Trip

2 2014 Portugal Mission Trip Dates: July 5-12, 2014 Cost: $1500 (church members) OR $2200(non-church members) Deposit: $300 Deposit Due: May 4, Please turn in deposit along with Mission Trip Application to the Jefferson Church Office or to Lindsay Masters. Ages: 15 and up Lodging: We will stay in a hotel/condo with 2-3 per room complete with a bedroom, living room, kitchenette, and bathroom. Transportation: We will travel throughout Portugal by foot, bus with passes, and by rental van. Cost Includes: Airfare, lodging, transportation, meals (except travel days and free day in Lisbon) Documents Needed: Mission Trip Application, Liability Waiver, Medical Form, Scholarship Form and 3 Color Copies of your passport Contact: Lindsay Masters // // Lindsaymasters@yahoo.com The Mission in Portugal: Jefferson Baptist has partnered for 3 years with Don and Billie Dixon in Portimao, Portugal at the southern tip of Portugal. This is a beautiful city full of beaches, cliffs, and much more. Although the people in this area are struggling financially, the area is developed and everything is at their fingertips. However, Portugal is less than 2% Evangelical Christians. There is a great need for Jesus in this country. Through the partnership with the Dixons, Jefferson has been able to send two teams to serve as camp counselors in local sports kids camp. The primary goal is to engage with the youth and college aged camp counselors during the day (or monitors as they call them) and host different cultural parties as a way to invest in the lives of the Portuguese and share Jesus love with them through relationships. Also, the missionaries have started an American Football League as a way to show God s love through sports. People with football experience or interest are highly recommended to serve on this team. This is a unique place where a bottled Gospel presentation usually does not work well. Relationships are key on this trip! The Lord will challenge you to be intentional with the people he puts in your path. 2

3 Team Options: Members ages 15 to 26 will be expected to serve as monitors at the kids sports camp during the day. All other members might be able to serve at the school but there are also other avenues to serve such as beach sports ministry (volleyball, soccer, surfing, etc.), prayer walking, evangelism alongside the missionaries, serving in the local food bank, teaching English as a Second Language, and other options are available as well depending on the skill set of each individual. In the evenings, there are typically culture parties that involve cooking an American meal, singing, leading games, sharing about American or even Christian life. MEDICAL ISSUES If any member of the mission team has any existing medical conditions that are being treated by a physician, it is very important that the treating physician, the team leader and the mission coordinator are aware of the condition. The team member should ensure that they have adequate medicine and the permission of their physician for the length of the mission trip. The stress of travel and change in environment and physical activity can often lead to potential illness if not addressed. These problems include but are not limited to: Dehydration Hotter temperatures can easily dehydrate the body. You can quickly get dehydrated without realizing it. Dehydration occurs faster than the team member may be used to because of the heat and emotional energy expended when performing mission work. Signs of dehydration are: fatigue, confusion or fuzzy thinking, inability to concentrate, dizziness, headaches, urine that is bright yellow gold, and salty lips when you lick them. The key is to keep hydrated. Drink plenty of purified water, which will always be available. Sun burn use sunscreen with SPF of 15 or higher to avoid sun burn in the hot and sunny climate of Portugal. Motion sickness If a team member is susceptible to motion sickness, please let the mission coordinator know in advance of leaving the airport. Sometimes a seat next to a window or up front in vehicles can ease the symptoms. If the team member regularly requires medicine to counteract the symptoms of motion sickness, please bring the medication on the trip. Taking a Dramamine (less drowsy formula) can help to alleviate this. MEDICATIONS Keep all medicines, vitamins and supplements in their original bottles as much as possible. Pills in plastic bags look suspicious. Buy smaller bottles and take these with you. Make sure you bring a sufficient supply of prescription medications to last for the duration of your trip. You may want to consider buying a small first aid kit in case of small medical issues. 3

4 IMMUNIZATIONS Everyone should have up to date routine vaccinations but no others are required. FOOD/WATER Purified water will be provided for you in water bottles each day and at the work site. ONLY DRINK PURIFIED WATER. It is very important for team members to drink plenty of water! Please bring a refillable water bottle to keep with you during your visit. HYGIENE Don't forget soap, a wash cloth, a toothbrush and toothpaste, shampoo/conditioner, plenty of hand sanitizer, and wipes in small packs to carry with you. Towels, sheets and pillows will be provided. SAFETY Although Portugal is a relatively safe country when it comes to crimes, when preparing for mission work in Portugal safety for the mission team is a high priority and should be taken very seriously. Carelessness on the part of one team member can potentially affect the entire team. It is important for team members to follow all instructions given by your Team Leader. Some of the many common crimes are car theft, pick pocketing, credit card fraud, robbery. These crimes are common but can be avoided by using everyday street smarts such as not carrying an excessive amount of cash, locking doors and windows, and staying in populated areas. Safety begins when you pack! Safety tips: Dress conservatively. Avoid the appearance of affluence. Carry the minimum amount of valuables necessary for your trip and plan a place or places to conceal them. Avoid hand bags, fanny packs and outside pockets which are easy targets for thieves. Inside pockets and a sturdy shoulder bag with the strap worn across your chest are safer. Walk in groups of no less than 3. Avoid walking at night if possible. TRAVEL TIPS Passport While traveling to and from Portugal, you must keep your passport with you at all times. You must make 3 color copies in case your passport gets stolen or misplaced. Leave one at home with a trusted family member, give one to your team leader, and another not on your person but with you. If you do not have a passport, order it now at travel.state.gov. It can take up to 6 weeks to receive a new passport. You will need your passport more than 6 weeks from the trip because we need it for trip logistics. Please make sure yours does not expire for 6 months after the return date of trip. 4

5 Money Your in country expenses, including tipping, have been completely covered. The only money you will need is for souvenirs, snacks and for the free day in Lisbon. You will need to exchange your money either at the airport on the way to Portugal or at your bank but know that you should call them two weeks in advance to request the specific currency which is euros. You may also take the money directly out of your account with an ATM card. You will need money for food in the airport as well. You will be taken to a grocery store when we get there to buy snacks if you would like to make anything there is a kitchenette in each room and a mini fridge. You can also bring some food with you if you d like but the food in Portugal is pretty good! Please call your bank before you leave and let them know the dates you will travel to Portugal Phone: Call your phone company and see what kind of plan you would like to get (if applicable). Text message plan is cheapest. You will have Wi-Fi at the hotel but in another building than your room. The missionaries will give us a couple of in-country cell phones for us to keep in contact with one another but these are only for in country use. Clothing: You will be given two t-shirts to wear each day as you work in the schools. You do not need to pack as many t-shirts. You ll need shorts or pants, tennis shoes and t-shirts each weekday as we work in the schools. Some days your group will go to the beach so you will want to have flip flops, swimsuit, beach towel and whatever else you usually bring. Remember: Modest is hottest so please wear modest swimsuits (one piece or tankinis ladies; no speedos men) Adapters: You will need an adapter and sometimes a converter. They have these at Target near the suitcase or at Pearson s on Jefferson Hwy. -Voltage: Volts (U.S./Canada are Volts) -Electronic devices typically only need an adapter not a converter. Hair dryers, curling irons, need an adapter and voltage converter. Time Difference: Portugal is 6 hours ahead of CST. Gifts: You will most likely build relationships with people so it is nice if you would like to bring a gift to give them (i.e. Bible, Tony s, LSU shirt). You can also get gifts to give to the missionaries personally or for them to use in ministry or give out to others. 5

6 Possible Donation Items: - NCAA official size footballs (deflated) -Bottles of Tabasco sauce -LSU Memorabilia -Café Du Monde Beignet mix -Some boxes of jambalaya (Zatarans). PACKING Each team member is allowed to check one 50-lb. bag. Each bag cannot exceed 62 in overall dimension. You are also allowed one carry-on bag. This can weigh no more than 40 lbs. The team leader might also ask you to carry an extra bag with donations, football equipment, etc. This bag is your responsibility throughout the entire travel day. Be sure ALL luggage, even carry-on, have your name and address. A brightly colored tie is also a good idea. Dress for Weather It s the summer time in Portugal. The weather is pleasant with it being a beach town. Plan accordingly but note that shorts must be appropriate length. We are striving to be above reproach with the Portuguese people. Dress for Activities Dress for the week is casual and comfortable! Comfortable walking/working shoes are a must throughout your trip. You will wear the two tshirts given to you while at the kids camp. In the evenings, you can wear shorts or jeans and tshirts or dress shirts to dinner and the culture parties. Dress for Modesty Modest dress is the rule. We are trying to be a light to the Portuguese people so we do not want to cause them to stumble in anyway, especially in something like our dress. 6

7 PACKING LIST Pack a complete change of clothes and travel-sized toiletries in your carry-on bag in case of lost or misplaced luggage. This does happen! And if you do not pack a backup most likely it will be your luggage to get lost. Please be prepared! If you are taking any medications or have contact lenses, be sure to pack these inside your carry-on as well. Make sure you have enough for the time frame of the trip. Active wear appropriate for hot weather Sleep clothes (modest) Sunglasses/hat to protect against sun Tennis shoes (two pairs) Flip flops for shower Sunscreen and aloe Bible and journal (pen/pencil) Toiletries Washcloth and extra towel Beach towel Book sack or small bag (to carry personal items, water, food to and from work site; especially to the beach) Hand sanitizer Refillable water bottle Watch Single-use packets or electrolyte replacement or drink mix Anti-diarrheal meds, Dramamine Prescription medications Plastic bag for dirty laundry Rainproof windbreaker and/or umbrella that fold up small Passport/copy of passport Cash for souvenirs Camera and accessories Disposable wipes for hand cleaning You will not need bedding, it is provided for you FLEXIBLE ATTITUDE SERVANT S HEART 7

8 Ministry Aspects: As you prepare to come, keep this in mind. Western Europe is one of the last places that a canned Gospel presentation seems to work. Sharing personal testimony and responding (prayerfully), pleasantly and politely to their questions helps them see you care. There is a time for sharing the Gospel directly with people in Portugal but typically it is not right at the beginning of an encounter or friendship. The people in Portugal have been religiously persecuted in the past and are no longer interested in religion at all. Missionaries in Portugal have found it to be important to seek out deep, meaningful relationships with the Portuguese and through these relationships they see Jesus in your life, speech and conduct. Many times, the Portuguese begin to ask questions about Jesus in turn. This trip is not for the faint of heart, not because the conditions are tough because things are very nice in Portugal. However, this trip will challenge your walk with the Lord and the work you do in his name. You may not see immediate results of seeds you plant or lead someone to Christ. It can be discouraging and you can feel useless. However, this trip will challenge you to have faith in God, not yourself, and that He is the one at work in people and works intricately in the lives of people, even if we do not see immediate results. Be encouraged and be challenged on this trip! EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION: Lindsay Masters: //Lmasters@jeffersonbaptist.org Jefferson Baptist Church: Jefferson Baptist Address: 9135 Jefferson Hwy., Baton Rouge, LA, David Goza (Pastor at Jefferson Baptist Church) DLgoza@jeffersonbaptist.org International Mission Board Missionaries in Portugal: Don and Billie Dixon United States Embassy in Portugal Phone: or and press 0 Fax: lisbonweb@state.gov Website: 8

9 Things to do and Turn In Get a black 2014 Mission Trip informational packet with Mission Trip Documents and start filling them out to turn in Mission Trip Application Form (due with deposit) Medical Release Form (notarized) Liability Form (notarized) 3 Color Copies of Passport (international) Scholarship Form (if applicable) Order passport NOW if you do not already have one Pay Deposit (bring to JBC Church Office on due date) Final Payment brought before you leave on trip Attend all group meetings prior to trip Notary: At one of our group meetings, we will have a notary come to notarize all necessary forms for free! Please make every effort to be there. If not, you will need to get your forms notarized by a notary as soon as possible. Group Meetings and Conference Calls: Please make every effort to attend each group meeting leading up to the trip. These are important for team bonding, spiritual preparation, logistics and planning and much more. If you cannot make a meeting please let the team leader know as soon as possible. 9

10 Tentative Daily Schedule Saturday, July 5th Meet at Jefferson Baptist in Gym and pack- up. Depart for New Orleans International Airport and fly out Sunday, July 6 th Arrive in Lisbon; Half day tour of Lisbon Travel to Portimao by train or rental van Arrive in Portimao. Settle in at hotel. Go to grocery store. Group time and dinner. Monday- Friday, 8:00-9:00: Breakfast and Team Group Devotion 9:00 am to 4:00 pm: Day serving at school OR Other options 4:30 pm: Flag football on the beach (optional) 7:00 p.m. Dinner and Cultural Exchange with Monitors and Football Team Friday, July 11 th : 8:00-9:00: Breakfast and Team Group Devotion 9:00 am to 4:00 pm: Day serving at school 7:00 pm.: Going Away Party at Jonathan and Tom Miron s 2:00 am: Goodnight Saturday, July 12th Head to Airport. Depart from Lisbon. Arrive in New Orleans Arrive at Jefferson Baptist Church

11 Portugal Missionaries Don & Billie Dixon Don and Billie are from Knoxville, Tennessee and mostly grew up there. They have two sons, Donny and Doug, and are proud grandparents of quadruplets! Once surrendering to missions in 1987, the Dixons have served in Brazil for 11 years, France for 2 years, and Portugal for 8 years. Their main ministries are American Football, baseball and basketball, English classes, arts & crafts, recreation, music, drama, beach ministry, community relationships and Deaf student education. Billie has learned and is helping Deaf children and adults in her fourth Sign Language (American, Brazilian, French, and now, Portugal's Sign Language) and developing witnessing relationships within the Deaf community. In the Spring of 2012, started the American Football team known as the Algarve Pirates. The team is now in its second season and at least three decisions for Christ have already come through this ministry with others engaged in ongoing Bible study and/or dialogue regarding their spiritual life and biblical Christianity. The 30-35% unemployment among young people in Portugal continues to help attract young men to the football ministry while also making the financial aspect of this sports ministry extremely challenging as they continue to struggle to pay for field rental, travel, referees and equipment. Short-term mission teams and partnerships workers have and continue to serve with them in the football outreach, deaf, English conversation groups, ESL and social ministry such as the Soup Kitchen and Clothes Closet for the unemployed/low income residents in our area. Here are our current praise & prayer requests: 1. Praise Him & continue to pray for the continued witness dialogue and growing spiritual consciousness of our contacts in Portugal (football players, English students, Deaf children, city leaders & workers, and their family members and friends. Pray specifically for "Bela", "Mila", "Fabio M.", Rui N., Ligia, Rodolfo, Sanussi (Muslim) & deceased coach Llew Gitten's wife, Jane & family. Pray as well for Nuno L.'s & Davi M.'s discipleship & growth. 2. Billie's health and the diagnosis & treatment to send into remission her auto-immune flare-up and all the symptoms & her return to full health and energy. (Praise Him she has improved but pray for the ongoing symptoms of scalp swelling & burning, joint & muscle pain and lack of full energy.) 3. Specifically for all the plans, preparations and for each and every individual the Lord is calling to come & serve in some way this year and beyond. Also for the preparation of the hearts of all who are to be encountered for furthering witness/relationships as well as for the new ones that are to be begun. 4. For the growth of the witness through the Algarve Pirates & American Football and for the resolution of the financial shortage as we remain behind on paying for field rental and the league travel & game expenses. 5. Family health & concerns in the U.S.