Dominican Republic (Northwest)

What is the Goal of the Trip?

The purpose is to bring skills and training to support, equip, and empower the local church or school to accomplish specific tasks/projects. All service projects will align with existing, healthy missional efforts focused on empowerment, spiritual restoration, community building, education, and family strengthening. Participants will engage in various cross-cultural serving and learning activities.

What Heart Posture is Needed for the Trip?

As team members are learning from and engaging with others, team members should have a heart posture of humility and remember that culture does not make people, people make the culture. You are part of the long-term team and are expected to participate in all their team-wide activities, events, fasts, meals, prayer meetings, work meetings, etc. Be ready to be flexible, as activities are often subject to change due to various factors.

Other Expectations include:

• In light of our value to hear and obey the Holy Spirit, we expect all team members to spend individual time in the Word and prayer outside of group prayer meetings. This may sound far too obvious, but this can be a hard discipline to carry out, especially when on a village trip. We can’t emphasize enough the need to daily abide in the Lord!
• Come ready and eager to learn, as life and ministry here are most likely different from what you’re accustomed to.
• Be aware of your personal needs to maintain spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically health. If you need something, ask. 
• Trip participants will be self managed so willingness and experience having gospel conversations and engaging with strangers is important. 

What to Expect

Typical Day Includes

• Saturday- Saturday

  • Saturday: Arrive, Settle in on campus, Orientation

  • Sunday: Church, Relax on campus, Visit the coffee shop/MOH market

  • Monday-Thursday: Strategic Ministry Time or Church Advancement Projects in the community

  • Friday: Excursion Day

  • Saturday: Depart to airport

What are the Accommodations Like?
They will stay at the Mission of Hope campus which has its own security and is gated. There is a medical room with a doctor on site. Guys and girls will stay in separate housing. 

What’s the Location Like?

• Weather: The climate is tropical. 
• City vs. rural: Makarios has a ministry center and lodging outside of the city. The majority of ministry will happen in and around the towns they work in. 
• Public transportation/walking: All transportation outside of the ministry compound will be conducted by Makarios' buses. 
• Flights: Traveling usually takes 2 layovers.  
• Food: All of the meals are prepared at the Mission of Hope campus and there is a cafeteria and coffee shop on site. If you have any food allergies you will need to bring supplemental food since they are not able to avoid cross-contamination. Due to kitchen limitations and lack of storage space, this food needs to remain with you and needs to be non-perishable (rice cakes, peanut butter packets, tuna packets, protein bars, etc.) For severe food or substance allergies, plan to carry two EpiPens. Mission of Hope uses peanut butter on the food buffets at every meal.

Is it safe?

We take the safety of students very seriously and will follow the protocol in place by the Student Ministry. Students will operate in groups of 3 (including at the airport and going through security). The Mission of Hope compound is gate with its own security and the ministry partner will always be with the group at the ministry project sites. Although we cannot foresee all circumstances, we do our best to mitigate any risk and to keep students as safe as possible. 

Trainings

We desire you to pursue Jesus in your daily life and grow to be more like Him. We will provide trainings that walk through abiding and resting in Jesus (John 15), ministry overview and expectations, culture, poverty, and logistics. While we can’t perfectly prepare you for everything you might encounter, we do our best to train you with everything you’d need for your trip. 

Trip Leaders

Being a short-term mission trip leader is a rewarding experience. It makes you a part of the Great Commission, letting you respond to God’s call to the nations in a sacrificial way while also shepherding a group of people. Check out the benefits and expectations here. If you are interested in being a trip leader, you apply through the application and complete the "Trip Leader" question section. 

Financial Information and IRS Guidelines for Donations Given to Fund Short-Term Trips

• Budget: The cost of the trip is based on traveling to and from Austin and includes all trip insurance, transportation, supplies, lodging, and meals for the duration of the event. You can see the estimated breakdown of the budget here to learn more. 

• IRS Guidelines: Gifts to the For The Nations Fund are used to support the church's global mission initiatives. You may preference the use of your gift, and we will endeavor to use the funds as you desire, but in order for the contribution to be tax deductible, the church must have ultimate control/discretion as to how the money is spent. This means that any financial gifts towards trips are non refundable. 

• If a trip is canceled due to unforeseeable circumstances, refunds will not be issued in compliance with the IRS guidelines. In some cases, it may be determined to allow raised funds to be applied to future trips.

• Student Drop Deadline: Any student that has to drop out of the trip after April 7 for any reason is required to raise the full amount of the trip to cover the trip expenses incurred by the church on their behalf. Any charitable contributions received that exceed trip costs are not legally refundable.