LAZARUS PROJECT

MISSION TRIP GENERAL INFORMATION

The Lazarus Project welcomes Mission Teams to visit the Village of Hope School and its additional projects in Haiti. All trips are to be scheduled through the Haiti office. The Director can be contacted at: villageofhope@hughes.net. The staff will make every attempt to accommodate a team’s preferred dates, but adjustments may have to be made in light of school and administrative schedules and/or scheduling conflicts with other teams. As a general rule, teams are preferred the first and third weeks of the month. Each team will select a team leader and it will be one of that person’s responsibilities to commence the correspondence with the Haiti Director (see below for additional Team Leader responsibilities).

Length of stay: In light of the cost and distance involved, stays of at least 5 days are recommended. Mid week arrivals and departures are acceptable as are weekend one’s. Many teams have enjoyed sharing Sunday service with the children at the school and plan their travel in order to be in Haiti on a Sunday.

Team Size: The optimum size for a mission team is from 8-12 participants, with an ABSOLUTE maximum of 14. Difficulties are encountered with transportation, supervision, work scheduling, etc. for larger groups. Team members are usually formed from the same organization or geographical area but it is possible to have members join together from different areas.

Age: Age of team members has ranged from 12 yrs to 82. Estimation of maturity and physical ability of team members are more critical factors than age. For Youth groups it is suggested that there be at least one adult per three youth.

General Health Considerations: Haiti, like most third world countries is not very handicap friendly. Participants should be in fairly good health and able to walk unassisted over uneven terrain.

Costs: Team members and/or the team organization are responsible for various costs as listed below:

1. Air travel to and from Haiti.

2. Ground transport in the U.S.

3. Room and Board ( 3 meals/day) at Hope House and ground transportation in Haiti of $40.00 US per person per night. A portion of these funds are also used for a team insurance to cover emergency medical evacuation if required.

4. Funds will be needed for tipping porters at the airport (approx. $15.00 US per group ) and for luggage carts ($2.00 US each) .

5. Most teams select to eat at a local restaurant at least once during their trip (usually after Church on Sunday). Cost is approx. $20.00 US per person.

6. Teams will be asked to contribute towards a whole or a part of the cost of their work project. This may be done by carrying supplies to Haiti and/or through financial assistance to purchase items in Haiti. Projects will be planned as well in advance as possible.

7. Funds for incidentals and souvenirs.

8. Although not mandatory, some teams like to leave a little tip for the Hope House staff, especially if they have provided some special assistance.

9. Although not required, teams visiting for the first time may wish to be accompanied by an experienced Lazarus project volunteer. If so, the team will be responsible to cover the travel costs and lodging in PAP for the volunteer. The Lazarus Project volunteer provides guidance through the airports supervises baggage handling and takes care of tipping. He/she also works with the team leader to handle financial matters for the group in Haiti and works with local leadership in planning and executing work projects.

Housing: Hope House is the permanent residence for the Haiti Director and guest house for visiting Mission teams. Each guest room has toilet and shower facilities and is air conditioned. Accommodation is shared with 2-5 people to a room. There are several single beds but most are bunk beds.

Haiti staff will prepare all meals. Depending on need team members may be asked to assist with serving and clean up.

Ground Transportation: Teams will be driven in a large open bed truck with wooden benches on each side. Thus team members should have the physical ability to climb in and out of the truck.

Communications: Limited Internet and cellular phone services are available at Hope House. Ideally groups should designate one person to send messages home, using yahoo or a similar web based server. The old adage that “no news is good news” is recommended to be shared with the folks at home.

Focus of Group: If has proven better for group cohesiveness, logistics and safety that the team is unified in its purpose. Too many agendas, i.e. different projects at different ministry sites, can be problematic. Time will be set aside to visit the various Lazarus Project Ministries (Little Children of Jesus and Food for the Poor). Additional tours and souvenir shopping may also be arranged pending availability of time and the security situation.

Spiritual Experience: A mission trip can be a profound spiritual experience. To enhance this potential, group exercises of a spiritual nature should not be under-played—e.g. grace at meals, morning and evening prayer, sharing of experiences and reflections and communion. The group’s pastor (if present) should work with the director in maximizing this aspect of the experience. As the group is being formed all team members should be informed as to the spiritual nature of the trip.

Security: VOH will do its utmost to ensure the security of the team while they are in Haiti. The staff monitors the security situation on a routine basis and will keep the team informed of any possible threats to their security.

General expectations: As representatives of the Body of Christ, all participants are expected to conduct themselves appropriately at all times, respecting the Values and Mission of the Lazarus Project. This includes proper dress and behavior. Public use of alcohol and tobacco are to be avoided. Even at the compound, discretion is encouraged.

New participants: Organizations/churches making repeat trips are asked to include as many new participants as possible in order to give the broadest possible exposure to the ministry. It is natural for those who have been on a trip to want to come back, but experience has shown that the biggest rewards are often reaped by first-time participants.

Additional Assistance: Groups can provide additional support to the ministry by carrying needed supplies and materials with them. Many team members carry their personal items in a carry on bag and use their suitcases, containers or boxes to carry up to 50 pound in each. (check with the airline regarding restrictions).

Additional Team Leader Responsibilities:

. Maintains communication with the Director in Haiti regarding all aspects of the Mission trip

. Submits information for emergency medical information

. Completes team profile form sent by the Director

. Heads up the coordinating/preparation meetings and communication between team members

. Provide orientation to the team members regarding the Lazarus Project and its Missions in Haiti. Additional information will be provided upon arrival by the Director in Haiti.

. Prepare a trip report and provide pictures for use on the VOH website and Newsletter

. Works closely with the Director in Haiti during the stay to ensure the best experience for the team members and smooth functioning of the team.

.Responsible for collecting Room and Board fees from all team members in Haiti

This is a general information paper for those interested in learning about Mission Trips. Once a group has decided to pursue this opportunity (often life altering) and has set up dates with the Director in Haiti, additional detailed information will be provided to the team leader to assist with the trip planning and organization.