Mission Trips
dates
Departure: July 21, 2012
Return: July 31-August 1, 2012
timeline & checklist
October – November:
- Be sure to sign up to take part in the mission trip. A group of ten members will make up the team. Several alternates may be identified in the case that original team members are unable to attend.
- Save your pennies! While your actual time in India will be surprisingly cheap, getting there will be the most expensive part of the trip. Start saving as soon as possible!
- Attend the mission trip meeting on the designated date in order to discuss expectations, concerns, and details for a smooth process.
- The team will need to establish primary and secondary goals and outcomes for the trip.
December – February:
- Possible church fundraisers might be beneficial to consider as a team.
- Depending upon the goals for the trip, additional communication with the rest of the church body will likely be helpful.
- Secure a legal passport if you don’t already have one.
March – April:
- Be sure that your shot records are up to date. (My doctor suggests to be up to date on the following: Typhoid, Tetnus, Hepititus A & B, and Polio)
- It is also not a bad idea to go ahead and get precautionary meds (malaria pills and cypro tablets). Vitamin C capsules will also help keep you from catching a cold or bug while you are away.
- (Mid-April) Check flight itineraries and decide on flight numbers and airlines as a team. Apply for the six month Indian visa specified at the meeting. It is very important that all team members remain consistent with this step. I sent mine through Travisa (Washington D.C.) and got it back within a week.
- Book flights (after visas are returned) by the end of April. Be sure to print off a hard copy of ticket with confirmation number included.
May – June:
- If you are leaving kids with someone other than a parent, invest in a Power of Attorney as a simple precaution that will give you peace of mind.
- Begin locating and collecting the recommended items to take along on the trip.
July:
- Pray for guidance, safety, and God’s grace.
- Make plans for how yard work and mail will be handled in your absence.
- Pack bags at least three days in advance in order to give yourself a chance to remember anything you may have forgotten.
- Be sure to have a comfortable backpack to be carried everywhere you go for your tenure in India.
- Team members will register with the U.S. Consular as a matter of precaution.
- If your home will be left unattended, cut back your A.C.
- Get ready to take part in one of the most spiritually rewarding experiences of your life!
estimated expenses
- Airline ticket: $1500-1700 round trip (How do they sleep at night?)
- Taxi from airport to train station/bus stop: $15 each way ($30 total)
- Transport between Hyderabad and Eluru: $60 each way ($120 total)
- Hired driver and taxi in Eluru: $100 for entire trip
- Hotel room at Eluru’s nicest hotel: $200 for entire trip (assuming one member will share)
- Food: $100-150 entire trip
- Visa to India: $150
- ESTIMATED TOTAL: $2200.00 – $2450.00
Note: I did not account for spending money. However, gifts and shops are extremely inexpensive and cheap. $300 would give you more than you would likely want to spend. A passport (if you don’t already have one) is also about $150. The shots and meds are relatively inexpensive.
helpful hints & tips
- Pack light and try to keep total weight of each suitcase under fifty pounds. I recommend one suitcase per ticket. Additional baggage or weight will likely incur additional charges with airlines.
- Thrift stores are a great place to find clothing to take on the trip. Twenty bucks can outfit your entire trip. It is recommended to take lightweight long sleeve shirts and pants (cotton is best). Although the temperature will likely be between 85-95 degrees, the protection from mosquitoes is well worth the extra sweat. Treat clothing with presoak. It will last for up to six washes and works well to keep the bugs away without making you smell like bug spray.
- Spend the five or ten bucks to get yourself a money belt or pouch. There are several varieties and all will provide added security for your cash and passport.
- While the hotel will be clean, most locations wash laundry by hand. Therefore, sheets and bedding will not look gleaming white like they do at home. If this concerns you, bring sheets for your bed. Also, we will likely be riding in a train or bus for transport between Hyderabad and Eluru. Bringing a small travel size pillow in your backpack may prove a luxury.
- Toiletry items are far different and/or scarcer in India. I recommend bringing a few rolls of toilet paper for each team member. Baby wipes are helpful for freshening up when away from showers. Germ-X and Lysol are highly recommended. If the containers are larger than 3oz., you will need to pack them in your suitcase. Also get a few of the mini bottles of Germ-X to carry along in your pocket.
- Pack a box of plasticware in your luggage, just in case.
- Pack DEET (25-50%) bug spray in your luggage.