Hondruas Trips FAQ
GENERAL
WHAT KIND OF COMMITMENT WILL THERE BE OUTSIDE OF THE TRIP? There will be meetings to prepare for the trip. The number of meetings needed will vary and
depend upon what trip you take and what activity we have planned for the trip
DO I NEED ANY SPECIFIC SKILLS TO SERVE? I.E. CONSTRUCTION On trips with construction, a majority of the tasks are capable of being done by anybody who is willing to do it. There are many opportunities on a mission trip to use your specific skills, gifts and talents.
WHAT ARE THE AGE REQUIREMENTS FOR SOMEONE INTERESTED IN GOING ON THE TRIP? Everyone is welcome and all youth are encouraged to go with their parents but youth desiring to go without their parents must be in grade 9 or higher.
ARE THERE ANY PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS? Transportation and accommodations at the hotels are generally comfortable and similar to the US. The trip to the school is ~45 min over gravel roads. There are small hills and uneven terrain at the school, so any back, hip, or knee issues may limit your comfort. If it is rainy season, it is possible that we may be required to walk part of the way to the schools depending upon road conditions.
TRAVEL & LODGING
WHAT FORM OF IDENTIFICATION DO I NEED? You are required to have a passport that has at least six months before expiration at the time of travel. If you do not have one you will need to obtain one as soon as possible. The Hilliard Post Office is a full service passport provider. In most cases it takes at least 4-6 weeks to obtain a passport, but sometimes there are delays. Plan accordingly.
WHAT KIND OF TRANSPORTATION WILL I BE USING IN-COUNTRY? I.E. MOTOS, MOTORCYCLES, BUSES, ETC. Typically, we travel in pick-ups, vans and buses.
- Flights: there are no direct flights so you'll have a layover. We typically depart from Port Columbus International early morning on departure day and return late evening on our return day.
- Ground transport - from airport to lodging: think of 3-5 hour roller coaster ride. We're exaggerating, but only slightly.
- Ground transport - to and from villages: same as above, only shorter duration.
WHAT WILL THE LODGING BE LIKE? Hotel style lodging. Exact details are provided on each team's private site once you're booked for the trip.
WILL WE HAVE A DAILY ITINERARY TO FOLLOW? Typically there is a plan for the day, but that may change depending on what comes up on any given day. Last minute changes should be expected and flexibility is very important no matter where you go. Keep in mind that other cultures view time differently than we do. For example, your definition of being punctual may be much more strict and literal than the definition of punctuality in some cultures. Remember where you are.
CAN I BRING ELECTRICAL DEVICES, I.E HAIR DRYERS, ELECTRIC RAZORS, C-PAP MACHINES, ETC. Yes. We will inform you well in advance whether you will need a converter. We also recommend using caution bringing computers, tablets, and other expensive electronic devices, as they are typically worth much more than what you paid for them in the United States. Generally speaking, if you can live without it, do not bring it. When deciding what items to bring on the trip, keep in mind that Life Community Church is not liable for lost or stolen personal property.
SAFETY
IS WHERE I AM GOING SAFE FOR PEOPLE FROM THE U.S.? We always travel in groups. Don’t wander off alone or even with another person. Always let people know where you are and never walk around at night. Team members are encouraged to never to go anywhere alone and must always inform a team leader about their whereabouts. Most, if not everything, you do will be done together as a team. Please stay with the team as much as possible and be respectful to your team leader, who is in charge of and accountable for knowing where you are. This is for the safety of the team. Don’t wear fancy or expensive jewelry. Do not carry cell phones in your back pocket. Make sure money/cash is never exposed.
We have never had any problems in the past, and we trust the Sowers4Pastors team that hosts us. Nevertheless, we can’t guarantee that adverse circumstances will not occur, just as there are no guarantees when you go on vacation.
WHEN IN-COUNTRY, WILL I BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH PEOPLE IN THE STATES? WILL I BE ABLE TO USE A CELL PHONE? Yes. We typically stay in places that have Wi-Fi available. Most cell phone companies will charge extra fees to use a cell phone without Wi-Fi. While we do encourage you to communicate with loved ones and supporters regularly to let them know how your trip is going, we also suggest that you do not spend too much time on phones and computers, since it can detract from your overall experience and can affect team unity.
MEDICAL
IS THE WATER SAFE TO USE AND DRINK? The water is NOT safe to drink in most places. We strongly recommend you drink only bottled water. This includes brushing your teeth and rinsing out your mouth. We even recommend you keep your mouth closed in the shower.
AM I REQUIRED TO GET SHOTS AND/OR TAKE MEDICATION? We highly recommend you see your doctor before going on a mission trip. Information regarding suggested immunizations will be provided at the time of trip registration. At times specific vaccines or medications may be suggested or even required depending on when you visit.
A very valuable resource is cdc.gov. On this website, you will find specific vaccines to consider getting based on the specific country being traveled to. We recommend you check this website three months before your departure date.
WHAT ABOUT BUG SPRAY? YES, bring some! It is important to take insect precautions all of the time. Use a bug repellent of <28% DEET, anything more doesn’t add any more protection, just skin irritation.
WHAT ABOUT TRAVELING SICKNESS OR DIARRHEA? Talk to your doctor about bringing along antibiotics for traveler’s Diarrhea. Also visit cdc.gov/travel to find more information about “safe food and water” and “special needs travelers” and information on “insect protection.” Some medicines to keep in mind when talking to your doctor are: Zithromax, Cipro, and Levoquin
WHAT ABOUT MOTION SICKNESS? If you are at all prone to motion sickness please plan to bring something to mitigate your reactions. If you get sick driving in the US you WILL get sick driving in Honduras. The driving is fast, swerving, and not smooth.
WHAT IF I HAVE FOOD ALLERGIES OR AM A PICKY EATER? Please let your team leader know in advance and in-country if you have food allergies so we can accommodate your food needs for all meals. We ask that you be open to trying the food that is prepared for the team. In some cases, locals are volunteering their time to make meals for mission teams.
FUNDRAISING
Fundraising strategies vary by team type. We'll cover this in more detail at your first meeting. Below is some general information.
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF SOMEONE GIVES ME MONEY PERSONALLY FOR THE TRIP?Cash the checks made payable to you and then turn in all cash, clearly marked with your name. It will be added to a “bucket” in our tracking that’s just for you, to be applied at financial checkpoints as needed after all team funds are applied, OR to pay your account in full if your “bucket” funds are sufficient to do so.
- Help pay toward someone else’s balance
- Donate to Sowers4Pastors either directly or through LCC
CAN I DEPOSIT MORE MONEY IN THE SAME WAY I MADE A DEPOSIT? Generally no, but please check with your team leader first
WHAT IF SOMEONE MAILS A CHECK TO ME THAT'S MADE PAYABLE TO LCC? Turn in the check at the next team meeting
IF MY ACCOUNT BALANCE IS PAID IN FULL DO I NEED TO PARTICIPATE IN FUNDRAISERS? Yes. BUT ALSO, if we’ve raised enough funds as a team we won’t do further fundraisers.
WHAT IF I CAN'T RAISE ENOUGH MONEY? All monetary deadlines will be communicated well in advance. If you know ahead of time that you are unable to meet a financial deadline, please communicate this to your team leader.
IF WE RAISE ENOUGH FUNDS AS A TEAM WILL MY DEPOSIT BE RETURNED TO ME?
-OR-
WHAT IF SOMETHING HAPPENS AND I CAN’T GO ON THE TRIP, WILL I GET A REFUND? Due to our non-profit status and IRS regulations, no money may be refunded after a donation is turned in for a mission trip. However, money may be transferred to another trip within one year of the most recent donation. If a person cancels within six weeks of the departure date, he or she may have to forfeit all funds raised for a mission trip since Life Community may be required to pay travel cancellation fees.
CAN I MODIFY THE “FINANCIAL SUPPORT” SECTION OF MY FUNDRAISING LETTERS? No
FINANCES
HOW MUCH DOES THIS COST? Generally $1500-$2000 depending on airfare.
CAN I GET A REFUND IF I CANCEL? Due to Life Community Church’s non-profit status, no money may be refunded after a donation is turned in for a mission trip. However, money may be transferred to another trip within one year of the most recent donation. If a person cancels within six weeks of the departure date, he or she may have to forfeit all funds raised for a mission trip since Life Community may be required to pay travel cancellation fees.
- Airfare leaving from and returning to Columbus, Ohio
- Lodging (typically a hotel that includes Wi-Fi)
- Private Transportation in the country where you will be traveling
- Food (typically three meals per day once on site)
- Water
- Medical insurance