PI Trip Goers Guide Join The Adventure! Partnership International exists to facilitate short-term missions by connecting churches, pastors, businesses, and individuals to great missions opportunities in the United States and around the world. Our desire is to connect you to God s heartbeat by providing a bridge to the lost masses around the world. We have developed relationships with phenomenal missionaries, organizations, and the church globally in order to strategically plan life-changing missions experiences. We are committed to simplifying the process and giving your team the greatest moments of their lives for the kingdom. Whether you are a leader or a trip goer, we have the resources in place to maximize the effectiveness of the mission. We believe that Short-Term Missions will deepen your faith, develop your identity, and provide one of the greatest tools of discipleship for your life. By being a Trip Goer, you are fulfilling scripture and living a life of obedience to accomplish the Great Commission!! 1
TOP 5 REASONS/EXCUSES WHY YOU SHOULD GO 1-Lack of treasure-how can I raise the money for the trip? We have seen thousands of financial miracles for those who obey God and commit to a mission. God provides for those whom He calls. 2 Corinthians 8:14 2-Lack of time-where will I ever find the time? We make time for things that are worth our time. The heart of God for the lost requires an urgency in our response. 1 Corinthians 10:33 3-Lack of talent-what do I have to offer? God is way more interested in your character than your talent. His #1 requirement is availability and obedience. 2 Corinthians 9:13 4-Lack of trust-what if I commit and God does not come through? Faith is the fuel of all great people and all great accomplishments. This is not about your strength, it is about His. Acts 27:25 5-Lack of training-am I really qualified to do this kind of work? Partnership International is committed to pre-trip and on the field training of all its teams and team members. You will grow more than ever before. 2 Timothy 2:2 FUND RAISING HELP & IDEAS Money is an area that keeps many people from going. We have seen literally thousands of financial miracles that have enabled people to go. God provides for those whom He calls. Seeing the money come in can really help grow your faith as well as bring in a group of people to pray for you before, during, and after the trip. Fund raising needs to start as soon as possible. It takes time. At least 20% should come from your personal finances. Make a plan. Start budgeting right away. You may have to give up a soft drink or coffee or postpone a purchase. If it's worth going it's worth some sacrifice. Sell something on Craig's List or Ebay. Collect items from family and friends for a garage sale. Do some part-time work. Send personal letters asking for donations. These should not be sent to the church congregation in general unless they are family or an especially close friend. This is probably where you will raise the most money. Spend some time writing the letter and developing the list. Recipients should not be made to feel guilty or pressured. Don t apologize for asking for support; you are sacrificing and trying to be obedient to God by going on this trip. This is an opportunity for them to participate. Let them see your heart. Check out the PI sample letter at http://www.partnershipinternational.org/ pdf/sampleletter.pdf. There are other examples on line. Have your trip leader or pastor look over your letter before you send it out. A $25 per plate dinner away from the church and not targeted at church members works well. A raffle and silent auction for donated items at the dinner can raise a good amount in a short time for the team. Maybe your pastor would allow a special offering to be taken. If you are expecting a gift for a special occasion like a birthday, ask for money that could be applied to your trip instead. Check the internet for more fund raiser ideas. There are lots of them, some good, some not so good. All group fund raisers should be approved by the trip leader and/or church leadership. Fund raisers are good for unity on the team. It creates synergy. Get everyone on the team involved!! 2
THE DON TS FOR FUND RAISERS Don't saturate your church with too many requests for donations or small fundraisers. Better to have one or two big events and a single offering. Small fundraisers frequently take a lot of time and bring in very little money. If expectations are high it can be discouraging. Do some research and see if it's really worth the effort. PASSPORTS Every person going on a trip to another country is required to have a passport. The state department's web site, travel.state.gov, can provide you with additional passport information and walk you through the process. Passport applications can also be obtained on line and at some local post offices. The web site may help you find other locations where an application can be obtained. It may take 10 weeks or more to receive your passport after the application is sent in so start as soon as possible in case there any delays. There is approximately a $150.00 fee for a passport if you have never had one before. It is less if you are a minor, or if you are renewing your passport. This fee is not included in the price of the trip. A color copy of your passport or a copy or your passport application must be sent to PI at least 60 days before the trip. If you already have a passport it must not expire for 6 months after the end of trip date. Make sure you take a color copy of the passport with you on the trip. SHOTS Partnership International would like each trip goer on every trip to have a current tetanus shot as a minimum, whether it's a stateside or international trip. If you are traveling outside the country we encourage you to investigate what vaccinations are recommended. In a few rare cases shots are required to enter certain countries, but beyond that it is up to the individual if he or she wants to get the vaccinations that are suggested. Each country has its own guidelines. Your doctor or your local county health department may be able to give you that information and the vaccinations. Someone familiar with travel vaccinations is usually your best resource. Keep in mind some areas of a country and different seasons may have different recommendations. Some vaccinations may require a series of shots so you should visit your provider at least 60 days before the trip. Earlier is better in case there are delays of some kind. There is a charge for the vaccinations. Different places charge different amounts so you may want to shop around. This charge is not included in the cost of the trip. More information can be obtained from the CDC web site at cdc.gov. If you have a medical condition it's always a good idea to talk to your doctor about the trip you're planning to go on. You will be required to fill out the medical release form and return it to PI 60 days prior to the trip.! 3
GETTING SPIRITUALLY READY FOR THE TRIP *Personal prayer The ACTSI formula is a good model because it reminds us of all the components of powerful prayer. Adoration - praise God for who he is and for his character Confession - ask God to forgive sin and failures Thanksgiving - thank God for what he has done for you Supplication - pray for what you need from God Intercession - pray for what others need from God (specifically pray for personal spiritual growth, the team's personal needs, your ministry activities, your love for the people you will reach to grow, the location where you will minister, the health of the team, the leadership) *Bible study God often speaks to us through His Word. Quality not quantity is the key. Take about fifteen minutes with a good study bible and pick one chapter for the day. Ask God to speak to you and look for ways that His word can be applied to your life. Things can get busy on the trip, don't neglect your prayer and Bible study. *Journaling This is the practice of keeping a record of your daily walk with God. It builds and records your spiritual history. PI will provide a journal for you so that you can write down exactly what you are thinking and feeling about your life and walk with God. This is important so that you can remember what God has done before, during, and after your trip. *Testimony You should prepare a brief testimony of how you entered into a relationship with God. You may be asked to share in a group setting or utilize it one-on-one. Keep it current--talk about what God is doing in your life right now. Someone can argue with you about a doctrine, but no one can debate your personal experience with God. *Others praying Ask some people you are close to if they will commit to pray for you before, during, & after the trip. *Recommended reading The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel A Tale of Three Kings by Gene Edwards Primal by Mark Batterson Crazy Love by Francis Chan 1-I believe the Bible to be the inspired and the only infallible, authoritative Word of God. STATEMENT OF FAITH 2-I believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 3-I believe in the deity of Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, in His present rule as head of the church, and in His personal return in power and glory. 4-I believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful men, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential. 5-I believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a Godly life. 6-I believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost: that the saved are saved unto the resurrection of life, and the lost are lost unto the resurrection of damnation. 7-I believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ, with equality across race, gender, and class difference! 4
CONDUCT ON THE TRIP *Attitude Be forgiving. / Don't be easily offended. / Be patient. / Don't criticize. / No matter what happens we are to be a reflection of Christ and His love. / The people we are serving will be observing us. / Remember the big picture and why you are there. / This is about giving up your rights. *Servant hood We're here to serve the people, the missionaries, pastors and each other. / Put away pride. / Do anything you are asked to do with joy. / Put everyone else ahead of yourself. / Submit to the leadership. *Sacrifice This should cost you something. / Growth is usually uncomfortable. / The accommodations and food may not be what you're used to. / God wants to do something new in you. / It's not meant to be a vacation. *Cultural sensitivity Try to always put yourself in the shoes of the people you are serving, how would you feel? Be open. / Be flexible. / Things may be done differently and on a different time schedule than you are used to. / Be teachable. / Avoid criticism. / Wear modest clothing. Things that are acceptable to us may be offensive to them. We want their eyes on Jesus, not us. / Music should be Christian. *Words Be careful of your words. Some people will not be good at speaking English so they may not try it, but they may be able to understand it. / Words can make or break a trip. / Complaining and a bad attitude can infect the entire team and ruin the experience for everyone involved. / Sarcasm is not very helpful. / The opposite can be true, too. / A few people with good attitudes and positive words can make it a great trip. / Trips usually require patience and flexibility from everyone. / Don't forget to laugh at yourself and the situation sometimes. / If things are bugging you, pray about it before you talk about it. *Relationships This isn't really the time for developing romantic relationships. / Stay focused on the mission. / Don't let distractions rob you. / This trip is a unique time for God to work in you and through you. / Many personalities make up a team, so be tolerant. / Some who have never been on a trip may be struggling. / Unity on the team is very important. / Build each other up. / Take advantage of this opportunity to build relationships with those you are serving. / The jobs you will be given to do are important, but ultimately it's the eternal things that really matter the most. *Early return If a trip goer feels they must return home early for a non-emergency reason, the trip goer will cover any extra expenses. / The return will be dependent on the situation. / If the goer is under 18 years old, written and signed permission must be obtained from the parent or guardian. EMERGENCIES You will be given contact information before you leave so that your family could reach you in case of an emergency. This would be for emergencies only. If you have a medical emergency while on the trip, you will be covered by trip insurance that is included in the cost. This is secondary insurance so if you already have health insurance you should bring your own card. For international trips only, you will be given a card for the trip insurance that you should carry with you.! 5
MISCELLANEOUS HELPFUL STUFF Be on time. Be at all the pre-trip and post trip meetings. Get your sleep at night. / Being too tired will affect your ministry. / Be considerate of others trying to sleep. Keep your body fueled up. / Eat when you should. / Drink extra water when it s hot. Bring some money for gifts, souvenirs, snacks, and a meal or two. / Keep a little extra money with you all the time for emergencies. / An offering will be taken from the team at the end of the trip for the missionary, the ministry, or a special project of that ministry. Have the name and address of the place where you are staying, phone number of the missionary or local pastor your team is working with, and a color copy of your passport or picture id with you all the time. Stay in groups of three or more. / There should always be at least one guy in the group. Don't go barefoot. A foot injury can turn a great trip into one that's not as good. Don't make promises to the people you are ministering to or the host that you can't keep. In other countries, make sure it's ok to flush the toilet paper. For safety reasons it's better not to give out information about where you are staying, instead direct people to the church or the next outreach location. If you get lost or left behind, stay where you are. If you move around you'll be harder to find. Do some research on the place you are going to before you leave, like their history, culture, religion, current events, what God is doing there, etc. The state department web site has some good information. Also check out the CIA website, click on world fact book. If you're going someplace that speaks another language, try to learn at least a few words or phrases. Language is frequently the greatest barrier to ministry. Just a few words in their language is usually well received and can help break the ice...they even may want to practice their English on you. If your trip is to another country, tap water and uncooked food could make you sick. Always follow the trip leader's instructions on drinking, eating, brushing your teeth with tap water, etc. In other countries water is usually hard to come by so keep the showers short, besides some else is probably waiting, and don't swallow the water in the shower. Safety is a high priority. / Be aware of your surroundings. / Take your time. / Use safety equipment. / It's not just your leader's responsibility, but yours as a trip goer as well.! 6
PACKING Two medium suitcases are recommended; one for personal items and clothing, the other for ministry items. Depending on the type of trip, you may want to bring inexpensive toys for kids, schools supplies, face painting supplies, Bibles, medicine, tools, or whatever may be needed. More information on your particular trip will be made available. Remember you may have to carry them yourself so try to pack light. These will both be checked if you are flying. Check with your carrier on restrictions and extra fees, especially overseas. In addition, a small backpack is also a good idea for packing extras and for excursions away from your lodging after you arrive. If you are flying, it s handy as a carry on for personal items like medications, glasses/contacts, snacks, and a change of clothes in case your luggage is lost. Check with your carrier on restrictions for carry-ons, too. Liquids are restricted. Here is a list of generally recommended items for all trips. This may vary somewhat depending on the location, season, and the culture if it's a trip out of the country: bible pens sunscreen bug spray prescription medications in original containers (should have some extra just in case there is an unexpected delay returning home) over the counter meds for upset stomach, headache, etc personal hygiene stuff a light jacket, even in hotter climates it can come in handy in the evenings a small, inexpensive flashlight money swimsuit, modest for everyone modest clothing for work and outreach, plus some sleepwear. pack light, you may need to wear the same thing more than once church clothes, skirt / dress for women, collared shirt & slacks for men, (shorts can be worn during free time & nicer dress clothes for church services) picture id and a copy health insurance card and a copy boarding passes inexpensive camera flip flops comfortable, closed toed shoes required for walking, work, and ministry hat ear plugs bandanas are good for lots of things IN ADDITION FOR INTERNATIONAL TRIPS passport and a color copy copy of immunizations money belts are not a bad idea in foreign countries, it's a good place to keep important documents as well as money don't bring expensive stuff we will let you know for your particular trip if you need to bring towels, sleeping bags, pillows, sheets or other specific items some cultures don't allow women to wear pants, shorts, or sleeveless tops in public or men to wear shorts. you'll be advised before you leave if there are restrictions! 7
CHECKLIST OF THINGS TO BE SENT TO THE PI OFFICE AND DEADLINES 120 DAYS PRIOR Application and non-refundable fee of $115 (additional forms will be sent to you by PI after the application and fee are received) 90 DAYS PRIOR 1st payment If flying, a copy of the flight itinerary. / No purchase of tickets should be made until the itinerary is approved by PI / Remember that airfare is an additional expense and not covered in the price of the trip. 60 DAYS PRIOR 2nd payment Assumption of risk and releases for 18 years of age and older(signed and witnessed) Health information sheet for 18 years of age and older Parental consent, certification, assumption of risk, and medical treatment authorization for under 18 years of age (signed by parents or guardians and notarized) Health information sheet for under 18 years of age Color copy of passport (or copy of passport application) Passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the end date of the trip 30 DAYS PRIOR Final payment Final payment is due 30 days prior, but will be accepted up to 15 days before the start of the trip with a penalty of 10% of the total cost of the trip. No money will be accepted after that and the reservation for that person will be cancelled. GENERAL INFORMATION Church teams should submit all payments to their team leader and make all checks out to your sponsoring church. Churches will submit one check made out to Partnership International for the team according to the payment schedule. Individuals should make all checks payable to Partnership International and send them directly to the PI office according to the payment schedule. All payments and paperwork should be sent by a traceable mail source (Fed Ex, Ups, USPS, etc...) Payment by credit card is available with a 4% convenience fee added to the total paid by credit. TRAVEL ARANGEMENTS Flight arrangements can be made through our travel partners City Express Travel, let them know you are traveling with Partnership International for a quick response: www.cityexpresstravel.net 1-(800) 678-5340. Travel to any location is provided by the trip goer and is not included in any mission trip cost.! 8
WHEN YOU GET HOME *Changes You'll probably be excited to return home and enjoy all the comforts and conveniences that go with it, but your emotions may be all over the map for awhile. What you may find is that you have changed. Your perspective probably will be different. Material things will seem less important and you may dislike the commercialism. You may even feel some anger or guilt about having so many things; it's normal. You may feel closer to God and his purpose than ever before. People may not quite understand what you are feeling. This is the time to pray that these changes in you will be permanent. It's easy after a while to slide back to where you were if you allow it. The enemy would like nothing better than to rob you. Refer back to your journal about what took place in you and through you. God may have placed a calling on your life during the trip no matter what age you are. Pray for guidance and clarity. Talk to someone in leadership about it. *Sharing Take opportunities to share your experiences with family and friends, and maybe speak at church. Be patient with them if they don't share the same emotions and enthusiasm you have. They will be trying, but they didn't experience what you did. Meet with your trip group to share pictures and talk about the trip and what's happened to you after you returned. Use the internet to get the word out about what God did in you and on the trip. Keep your journal going for a week or two at least after you return. *Letters Send out thank you letters with details about the trip to those that supported you with a donation or prayers. Consider writing a thank you letter to the missionary or local pastor you worked with or to someone there you developed a special relationship with. *Prayer Consider if God would have you make a donation or commit to pray for the place you have been and the ministry you worked with there. Pray for your team as they adjust and that what God has done won't be undone. *Meetings Commit to be at all the post trip meetings.! 9