Made it to DR!

We have landed and now have a three hour bus ride.

Airport

We made it through check in and security smoothly. We are now waiting a couple of hours for our flight.

Tips for Parents

Connecting with Your Kids Before, During and After the Trip

Many of us have experienced highs and lows in our spiritual life. Through those experiences we learn much about ourselves and how we should move forward in our world. However, students have a harder time with this process. For many of them, this mission trip might be the first time they have experienced these emotions. Coming home can be a difficult process for them. As adults, thinking through how to help them deal with this transition before, during and after the trip is important. For you as parents, it can be difficult to find ways to help your student communicate about the experience. Here are a few ideas to think about as your student goes on this mission trip.

Before:

As your student prepares for the upcoming mission trip, there are many ways you can help them in that process. Here are some ideas:

• Pray with your student. By praying with them you will become a spiritual partner for the trip and help them solidify this discipline in their lives.

• Research the trip. Help your student research the trip. One idea is to research the town and culture your student is going to. The more you learn, the more prepared both you and your student will be.

• Challenge your student. You have a good handle on the strengths and weaknesses of your student. Set a challenge for them on this trip. How could he or she grow spiritually? Relationally? In teamwork? In communication? In responsibility? A mission trip isn't just an opportunity to travel and experience a new place or culture; it's an opportunity to grow.

During:

Just as your student is on a journey with God during this trip, God has lessons for you to learn as well. Consider some of these ideas to help you and your student get the most out of this experience during the trip.

• Study the same Scripture passages. Find out what Bible passages your student will be studying during the trip. I've made this easy for you by providing you with our "DR Field Guide" which contains all of the scripture and devotionals for the week. By participating in the same study, you will be able to better understand what God is teaching your student.

• Develop a prayer team. Consider getting together with the parents of the other students on the trip and praying for the team. You may only have time to do this once while they are gone, or you could do it several times. These students will have a unique bond because of their time together. Developing a parents prayer team will create unity that goes beyond the students to include the parents as well.

• Keep a journal of your prayers. Another great idea is to keep a journal of the prayers you prayed for your student while they were away. When they return you can share it with them and see how many of those prayers were answered.

• Allow them space. Be sure to allow your student to experience the trip without having to think about home all the time. Try to keep your contact with them to a minimum during the trip. They will have a more meaningful experience if they feel free from their normal life at home. You can keep up with what we are doing by checking this site. There is a space here for you to comment on the posts, let us know you are praying, or offer a word of encouragement to the team.

After:

The transition after a mission trip can be very difficult for students. They will need help understanding and applying the lessons they have learned. As a parent, you can play a vital role in this process. Here are some ideas to consider.

· Allow your student time to process. Don't expect to get all the answers to your question right away. It takes students time to understand and apply their experience. Be patient with them.

· Plan time to communicate about the trip. Ask your student for an hour or two to spend with you talking about the trip. Do this within the first three days of returning home. This will allow you to focus on your student and allow them uninterrupted time to tell their story.

· Ask questions about what they learned, not what they did. The easy stories to tell are the ones that deal with what your student saw, ate, or did. The hard - but more meaningful - interaction encourages your student to tell you what they learned and how they changed. Ask how they saw God at work.

Some sample questions:

§ What did you learn about yourself?

§ What did you see God do in and through you?

§ What Bible study method did you like the best?

§ What applications did you make from the Bible studies?

§ How did teamwork play a part in accomplishing your mission?

§ How did you see God at work? How did He intervene? Answer prayer? Show His faithfulness?

§ What is your plan for staying connected to God?

§ How has this experience changed your mission at home, at school, at youth group?

· Ask the deeper question. When your student tells you about the work project or the ministry project, ask a deeper follow up question. This will help your student come to a deeper understanding of their experience. A good place to start is by asking questions such as: How did that make you feel? What did you learn from that? What did that motivate you to do?

· Realize the difficulty of re-entry. Understand that your student will not only be struggling from culture shock as he or she returns, they will also be mourning the loss of their team. Being alone for the first time in nine days can be difficult after living on a mission with a team of great people. Don't be surprised if they want to continue to spend time with their teammates. Be sure to allow them time to readjust to family life as they come off the trip.

· Plan to process the experience with them more than once. It is important to realize that the learning for a student can happen weeks after the experience is over. Be sure to ask your student what they are still learning from their trip one to three months after the trip is over. This will force the student to reconsider what they have learned and how the trip has had a lasting impact on his or her life.

Adapted from Mission Life by LeaderTrecks

Team Meeting June 6th!

Just made the final arrangements for our long awaited team meeting. It will be Friday, June 6th from 5:45 - 7:30 @ the Meade's (4266 Springbrook). I want to start right away with the meeting stuff so please be sharp!

I also want to include parents (one or both) at this meeting so that everyone gets a chance to meet each other and get all the info. Parents sometimes enjoy meeting other parents (I know... it's weird).

I'll have a whole packet of info for parents with flight times and all that jazz. If you are a parent and you can not make it to the meeting just let me know and I will get you the packet.

For the meeting, we will be eating dinner at the Meade's. They are providing the burgers, dogs, and beverages. We all need to bring a passing dish.

Seniors & Freshmen: bring desserts
Juniors & Sophomores: bring sides

This is an important meeting so please make plans to be there with the team!

In the mean time... email me with all of your questions and I will be sure to have answers for you at the meeting.

10 days till we leave!!!

Thanks,

Mr. n

Updates & What to Bring to DR

Hey DR Team!

Here are a couple of updates…

1. Thanks for checking the blog for updates and new info. Tell your friends and family that they can check this site while we are in DR for updates and photos of the team.

2. At one point I had discussed with some of you the possibility of not having a resort night before we leave DR. After reviewing our flight schedule, our hosts in DR have decided it is in everyone’s best interest to stay at a resort in Santo Domingo on the 16^th. So we are back to our original plan.

3. In a previous post I mentioned mosquito nets. If you are thinking about purchasing a mosquito net I wanted to offer some suggestions. First, get something simple, not a big complex setup that won’t fit in your suitcase. Second, look for permethrin treated products or some do-it-yourself permethrin. That is the chemical that is most effective in warding off the “bugs”. Third, consider ordering with a friend to save shipping costs if you are buying online. Lastly, I have provided a few links below to help you get started shopping around if you are looking for a net.

Permethrin Products: REI, Campmor,

Mosquito Nets: REI, Campmor,

Pretreated Net: Travel Health Help

4. Here is a tid-bit of knowledge to store in a handy place in your carry on (along with a pen). The address for your visa forms (that you fill out on the airplane) is:

Juventude con Una Mision
KM 4, Entrada del Salto Jimenoa
Piedra Blanca, Jarabacoa

5. Many of you have asked for a “What To Bring” list… so here you go: (this is also available on our blog site)

CLOTHING

Dress on the base and in Jarabacoa is fairly casual. Most people wear jeans, shorts and t-shirts on the base. You should also bring a light jacket and an umbrella.

Bring a mixture of clothing that will allow you enough variety, but won't weigh your bags down too much. We suggest bringing at least 2 pairs of jeans, along with light cotton trousers or sweatpants, shorts if you wear them, and several t-shirts. You should also bring one set of old clothes that can be used for construction work and one set of nicer clothes to wear to church or to a restaurant. You will also need at least one pair of walking shoes/sneakers, and a pair of sandals to wear inside the house.

GENERAL HOUSEHOLD ITEMS

The base will provide pillows and blankets, but you should bring you own sheets, pillow cases, and towels. A mosquito net is optional, if you want to be extra cautious, feel free to bring one.

Other household items you may want to bring include a hair-dryer, an alarm clock, and a flashlight. Consider sharing a hairdryer among friends, to cut down on space needed in your luggage. Voltage is the same as in the US (no adaptors needed).

Don’t forget to bring a camera if you have one and a generous amount of film (or memory for your digital camera) since film is expensive here.

DAY TRIPS

It will be helpful if you bring a small backpack. The backpack may also be useful for day trips or for other projects in the city or nearby towns.

STUDY ITEMS

Bring a pen, a notebook and don’t forget your Bible!

COSMETICS/TOILETRIES

Come prepared with your own bug spray, anti-itch medicine (for bug bites), shampoo, toothpaste, soap etc ... sunscreen is recommended. Our team will have a small first-aid kit with things like aspirin, band-aids, Imodium (just in case), antiseptic cream to cover most situations. Remember to pack all these liquids in your checked baggage and not in your carry on!

HEALTH

Most people ask about Malaria risk in DR but Typhoid is actually more common than Malaria in the area we will be traveling to. No specific immunizations are required before traveling to DR, but we advise you to check with your doctor on any suggestions he has for any kind of vaccinations for your time in DR. If you are taking any specific medication we advise you to get enough of it to last you during your time there, as it may be impossible to get your medication there. The pharmacies do sell a variety of medications, but might not sell the one you need.

MISCELLANEOUS

Please be aware that you'll be sharing a dormitory-style room with several others, and there won't be too much room for personal belongings. Consider the fact that Mother Teresa and her sisters “traveled only with such personal luggage as could be contained in a bucket or a cardboard box”.

Here are a few miscellaneous things to have in your bucket…

· refillable water bottle. (this should be empty and packed in your checked luggage)

· personal bottle of hand sanitizer. (sometimes it's good to have this when adequate hand washing facilities are not readily available.)

· work gloves

· batteries for your camera

· charger for your camera (or rechargeable batteries)

· a basketball or other sporting equipment (consider donating it at the end of the week)

· insect repellant (don’t let me emphasize this too much!)

6. Finally, I am still working on a date for one more team meeting before we leave. You wouldn’t believe how crazy the school calendar is these days (or maybe you would as most of you are involved in all those sports!). I will keep you posted. But for now… maybe all this info will keep you happy for a few days.

Email me with any specific questions you have! And keep praying!

Frequently asked questions and their answers

Below is a list of Questions and Answers sent to me by our hosts in Jarabacoa. Please take a minute to read them over so that you are informed about some of these expectations.

thanks,

mr. n

Q. Is there cell service? Do you sell phone cards to use on the base?

A. We do not sell phone cards, but there is a store just up the road that has some and we can pick them up in town. We have Claro, Viva, Tricom, and Orange. You will have to check with your provider to see if your phone will work here.

Q. What rules do you have about the use of the phone?

A. Staff would have limited access to our phones for business purposes only. The reason being we have no way to charge for the calls. Calling home to let someone know your group arrived safely would count as business. It does not cost us for incoming calls.

Q. Do you have an emergency contact phone number @ the base that I could give to the staff & parents?

A. Our number here at the Center is 1-809-307-5925. During week days there will probably be someone who will answer that phone. We also have a pay phone with the #1-809-248-7557. Otherwise you can give them my number: 1-809-309-5927. I usually have my phone with me all the time.

Q. Do we need to exchange money @ the bank?

A. We can do that once you get here. You can do it at the airport when you arrive, but we can get a better exchange rate here in Jarabacoa.

Q. Do you know the exchange rate?

A. Current exchange rate is around 34 pesos/1USdollar

Q. How do you usually handle the type of thing?

A. We usually take you guys into town (or someone from your team) the first day.

It is usually better for one or two individuals to handle all the exchange. Usually that is one of us and one of your leaders.

Q. What about drinking water?

A. Bring a water bottle, but we do have filtered water available. We also give everyone a bottle of water when they arrive, just in case they forgot (and because you are usually thirsty when you get off the plane!) We do sell water bottles in our store and they are widely available in this country. They usually sell for 10 pesos which is about 30 cents US.

Q. Do we need to bring food with us? Is there a place to keep food?

A. We do not usually give teams access to the refrigerator unless it is a medical necessity. We do have a small store here on the base that sells drinks, chips, snacks, t-shirts, books, etc. That can be accessible when you guys need/want it. As far as keeping food in the dorms, it will be OK as long as it is kept in sealed bags or containers. What you need to worry about are ants, roaches, and mice if you have open food in your rooms.

We really feed you guys well and provide snacks, so there shouldn't be a need to bring a lot of food with you. I would encourage everyone to try something different and eat what we provide. It kind of takes away from the cross-cultural experience if you bring a lot of food from home with you.

Q. Are there meeting rooms available?

A. We have a large classroom, a gazebo, and the dining room that all can be used for meetings. We also have sound equipment available.

Q. Is there a cloths line where they could hang towels after they use the pool?

A. Yes, we have lines on the roof of the main building and behind the dorms. There is also a railing on the balcony off the upstairs dorm that gets used for that as well.

Q. Are there laundry facilities?

A. Our washers are for staff and Center use only. We do have outside sinks for doing laundry by hand located behind the main dorm building.

Q. Are there certain times of the day when showers can be taken, and does it depend on the water supply?

A. The time of day for showers will depend on your schedule. We should have water all the time.

Q. Is the voltage the same voltage as the US?

A. Yes, it is the same.

Q. What kind of housing do you have?

A. We have dorms with bunks. Guys will be in one dorm and girls in another. We provide blankets and pillows, but we ask that you bring your own sheets and towels. We have two couple rooms available. The dorms are pretty rustic, but there is running water, hot showers, and regular toilets.

Q. Is there Internet access?

A. We have wireless Internet access here at the base. You may bring your own laptops to connect.

Q. Does the pool have any rules that we should know about? Are there times or days that we are allowed to use the pool? The pool can be used anytime during the day up until quiet time at night. Quiet time is usually around 10:30 or so. If you do swim there should be someone else at least at the poolside in case anything happens. We ask that girls wear one piece suits or wear a t-shirt over a two-piece. We also ask that girls and guys do not wear their suits around the base without being covered up with a shirt and shorts.

Q. What is the food like?

A. All you meals are included in the cost of your stay. We will go into town twice to eat, once to a chicken place that is great and once to pizza. The other meals will be at the base. Breakfast is traditional American food, cereal, pancakes, eggs, etc. Lunch is our main meal and that usually consists of rice in some form, beans and meat, chicken, beef, or pork. Dinner can vary. It is usually a little lighter than lunch, but if you guys are working hard on projects, we make sure you have a substantial meal for dinner, too. That will be something like spaghetti, tacos, salami and mongu (typical Dominican dinner meal, mongu is boiled and mashed plantains). We also serve salad with lunch and fruit at each meal. We will go into town for ice cream one night after dinner.

If you go online to www.ywamdr.org and click on Jarabacoa you can view some pictures of the base.

DR Q & A

Below are answers to some of your most recent questions. Please read this carefully and pass it along to your parents for their information.

Thanks,

Mr. n

Q: What are the Swimwear requirements?

A: Our main goal is modesty. When going to and from the pool, we ask that guys wear a shirt and girls have some kind of cover-up. That can be a shirt and shorts or whatever.

Q: What precautions do we need to make against bug bites and disease?

A: You'll remember that in the info sheet for the trip I noted that there are no "required" vaccinations. However, I am not a health care specialist and therefore direct you to the CDC website for information on disease prevention. There is helpful information regarding DR here and specific info on avoiding insect bites here. Our friends in DR have recently given me the following information and I pass it on to you not as a professional medical opinion but simply as information. Please see your health care provider for recommendations on any medications or immunizations.

"I do not recommend that you guys take malaria meds because it is so rare (but possible) in the DR, but that is up to you. You guys will be in bunks and the top ones do not have a way to hang a mosquito net. The bottom ones you can. Mosquito and no-see-um bites are a big problem and I strongly suggest that you use repellent at all times. You might want to get a typhoid shot, because that is more common. I have not heard of many cases so far this year, but last year there were many in our area."

Q: Obviously we will bring work clothes, but are there any specific requirements there?

A: In the DR guys do not go shirtless, even when working. We ask that you guys wear t-shirts. The pool and the beach are an exception. Skirts are not necessary. Girls should wear long pants or capris when off campus. When on campus or if playing sports, shorts are fine as long as they are not too short. For church skirts or pants are acceptable.

Q: Do we need to bring sleeping bags or is bedding provided?

A: Pillows and blankets are provided. We ask that you bring your own sheets and towels. They have received some new pillows, but could use more. It would be a blessing if you could bring pillows to leave there, but if you need the space for other things, that is OK.

Q: Are washers available to us if we need them?

A: Teams do not use the washers because they are old and break frequently. There are sinks available behind the dorm where things can be washed by hand. There are lines by the sinks as well as on the roof of the main building for drying clothes. Laundry soap is sold in small bags in the colmado (small store) so you do not need to bring laundry soap.

Q: Is there a need for us to bring any basketballs or other sporting equipment?

A: They could use a couple of basketballs and volleyballs. It would be awesome if we could find a way to bless them with some of these as well.

Q: What should we bring for medical supplies?

A: We need to bring tylenol or ibuprophen, benedryl, hydrocortizone cream, triple antibiotic ointment, bandaids and some gauze pads and tape. Also, maybe some kind of antiacid like pepto bismal and imodium, just in case. There are also pharmacies in town where we can buy most things that we would need if we run out of anything. We will have a team supply of these items but you may also consider having your own benedryl and hydrocortisone cream so that it's handy when you need it.