Questions?

I'm sure that you have a few questions. Here are some answers to FAQs.

What ROLE will I have on the mission trip?
If you’re not in the Medical, Dental or Veterinary field then your options are pretty wide open. We have many areas that need to be filled and are vital to the success of each trip. You may find yourself handing out shoes, rice and beans; filling prescriptions in the pharmacy; working with the children in the Vacation Bible School; assisting the Dentists; working with the Vets; handling crowd control; or assisting the Pastors during the services. There is something for everyone to do. And you may do several of them during your stay in the mission field.

I’m older/younger and to be honest not in the best shape. Are there any age or physical requirements to go on a mission trip?
Yes there are. Although we don’t have an age restriction we typically don’t take small children with us. If under 18, then a parent/guardian must be with them. Noone likes adult whiners and definitely don’t want younger ones either! This is difficult work so every member must be able to do his/her own part. If you’re a parent, you understand your children best so check with your Team Captain about bringing your child. For adults, as we stated the work can be difficult. You will be essentially outdoors for the entire week and it can get hot. You know your body and what it can and cannot do. If you know you have some physical ailments, check with your physician and discuss with him/her the idea of going on the trip. You don’t want to jeopardize your well being and the success of the trip. However, in the end it’s up to the Team Captain – in consultation with the Team Physician – who will make the final call.

What are the living conditions like in the mission field?
If you’ve ever been tent camping then you will understand what it is like. Typically we will take over a school complex. These are usually 8-10 cinder block buildings. There is of course no air conditioning. Usually there is running water, but there may not be flushing toilets. We empty the classrooms of all the chairs and desks and set up our clinics. We bring our own mattresses so you will sleep on the floor. We also bring many box fans to keep us cooler during the day and at night if needed. Three meals a day are prepared by our own cooks. You will not go hungry. We bring all our own bottled water. We have shower stalls and use hoses to wash with in the morning or at night before bed. You will go to bed tired around 9pm and wake when the rooster crows or the donkeys bray or the monkeys screech, or when your fellow team mates rouse you. In short, you’re going to “rough it” for four days. Most team members say “Hey for four days I can handle most anything.” I suspect you will be able to do so as well.

Are we in any danger while on the mission trip?
A team member once made the comment: “You can’t be any safer than where the Lord wants you to be.” We firmly believe that. Let’s face it; we take our lives into our own hands driving down the Interstate. But the fact is, you are visiting a foreign country and you do need to be aware of your surroundings. As in any big city, you should walk in groups and not wander about alone. While in the school compound you’re very safe. Typically the villagers will assign “Vigilantes” who will provide security for the clinics during the day and stay awake at night while we sleep.

What do I need to bring with me?
We have an excellent packing list which is included with this Handbook. In addition, during our team meetings, you will hear from other team members what other items worked for them.

So what else do I have to do besides showing up at the airport?
There is a lot that needs to be done prior to leaving. One of the biggest parts of our mission trips is the pharmacy. Each year we collect from various sources thousands of pills which our medical team will dispense in the clinics. Each of these prescriptions need to be put into small cellophane baggies and labeled in Spanish. So we have “Pill Packing Parties” to accomplish this task. We have team meetings where important information is given. We may need you to help pack the hundreds of boxes we ship. We will have fund raisers to help offset the costs of our pharmacy, medical supplies, food, shipping and other expenditures. We would want you to participate in all these activities.

What is a typical week like in the mission field?
Our trips are eight days. We leave on a Saturday or Sunday and return the following week on the same day. We get to Managua in the evening. The full time Missionaries meet us at the airport with a large bus which we will then load our luggage onto. At the mission home they will have a prepared meal for us. We will then go to bed in dormitories and rise early the next day to a full breakfast before hitting the road for the village. Once we arrive and set up the clinics we will usually see about 100 people for a “run through” on the first day. We eat around 6:30pm. Each evening there is a church service for the villagers which we like to attend. We go to bed by about 9 pm and wake around 5:30 am. We eat around 7am then have a private team devotional and then start seeing patients around 8 am. We will do this for three more days and then leave on the sixth day. We have the seventh day free to sightsee, shop and have fun. We come home on the eigth day. While on the trip you typically will not have communication with home, but we do have a phone tree. When we arrive we call one family member who will then call the others. We do this when we return from the field as well, so they will get two calls letting them know you’re safe.

Do I need to be bilingual for the trip?
No hablo Espanol? No problemo! We hire Nicaraguan college students who are fluent in English. Typically each medical station and each ministry will have an interpreter. It is very helpful if you know some Spanish – hello, goodbye, thank you, what is your age, etc. Most of us speak very little Spanish and have yet to have a problem on any trip.

I am a medical professional. What do you need from me before the trip?
Physicians, Dentists, Physician Assistants, Nurses and Veterinarians need to furnish us with a copy of your diplomas and your current license. We MUST have this at least two months prior to the trip. There are no exceptions to this rule. The Nicaraguan government is very strict about this.

What documents and vaccinations will I need for this trip?
You will need a Passport which needs to be valid for at least six months AFTER the trip. So if you were to go in August 2007, then it must be valid until February 2008. With regard to vaccinations we have a listing of suggested immunizations listed later in this Handbook.

I feel that God is calling me for this trip, but I cannot afford the cost. What can I do?
We request that every team member write a letter to friends, relatives, church members, co-workers, business associates and let them know that you’re going on a mission trip. We suggest this because we find that there are those who GO and those who SEND. Not everyone can do what you are about to undertake. But they may be excited for you and wish to help. This blesses them with the opportunity to send someone who wants to go. We have a sample letter later in this Handbook which you may use as a guide to write your letter. Many times when team members do this, they will get MORE than they need to go. Typically, team members will then ask that their additional funds be used to offset those other team members who may come up short in their fundraising efforts. We can then use these funds to help them. In short – Don’t worry about the money.