Advocacy Foundation Missions - International

The e-Advocate Quarterly Magazine Matthew 28: 19-20 | Mark 16: 15

Advocacy Foundation Missions International

“Helping Individuals, Organizations & Communities Achieve Their Full Potential”

Vol. VII, Issue XXX – Q-4 October | November | December 2021

The Advocacy Foundation, Inc. Helping Individuals, Organizations & Communities Achieve Their Full Potential

Advocacy Foundation Missions International Fighting for Changes in the Science of Juvenile Justice Reform

“Helping Individuals, Organizations & Communities Achieve Their Full Potential

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www.TheAdvocacyFoundation.org Page 2 of 63

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Table of Contents Advocacy Foundation Missions - International

Biblical Authority I.

Introduction

II.

Modern Missions

III.

Jamaica (Caribbean)

IV.

Zimbabwe (African Savannah)

V.

Suriname (South America)

VI.

South Africa

VII. Criticism

Attachments A. Planning A Short-Term Mission B. Mission Trip Planners Guide C. Mission Trip Landmines

Copyright Š 2014 The Advocacy Foundation, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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Biblical Authority ______

Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV) 19

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.� ______

Mark 16:15-18 (NIV) 15 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 "He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. 17 "These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover ."

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Introduction A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin missionem (nom. missio), meaning "act of sending" or mittere, meaning "to send". The word was used in light of its biblical usage; in the Latin translation of the Bible, Christ uses the word when sending the disciples to preach in his name. The term is most commonly used for Christian missions, but can be used for any creed or ideology.

A Christian missionary can be defined as "one who is to witness across cultures". The Lausanne Congress of 1974, defined the term, related to Christian mission as, "to form a viable indigenous church-planting movement". Missionaries can be found in many countries around the world.

Jesus instructed the apostles to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19–20, Mark 16:15–18). This verse is referred to by Christian missionaries as the Great Commission and inspires missionary work.

Modern Missions With a dramatic increase in efforts since the 20th century, and a strong push since the Lausanne I: The International Congress on World Evangelization in Switzerland in 1974, modern evangelical groups have focused efforts on sending missionaries to every ethnic group in the world. While this effort has not been completed, increased attention has brought larger numbers of people distributing Bibles, Jesus videos, and establishing evangelical churches in more remote areas.

Internationally, the focus for many years in the later 20th century was on reaching every "people group" with Christianity by the year 2000. Bill Bright's leadership with Campus Crusade, the Southern Baptist International Mission Board, The Joshua Project, and others brought about the need to know who these "unreached people groups" are and how those wanting to tell about the Christian God and share a Christian Bible could reach them. The focus for these organizations transitioned from a "country focus" to a "people group focus". (From "What is a People Group?" by Dr. Orville Boyd Jenkins: A "people group" is an ethnolinguistic group with a common self-identity that is shared by the various members. There are two parts to that word: ethno and linguistic. Language is a Page 7 of 63

primary and dominant identifying factor of a people group. But there are other factors that determine or are associated with ethnicity.)

What can be viewed as a success by those inside and outside the church from this focus is a higher level of cooperation and friendliness among churches and denominations. It is very common for those working on international fields to not only cooperate in efforts to share their gospel message but view the work of their groups in a similar light. Also, with the increased study and awareness of different people groups, western mission efforts have become far more sensitive to the cultural nuances of those they are going to and those they are working with in the effort.

Over the years, as indigenous churches have matured, the church of the "Global South" (Africa, Asia, and Latin America) has become the driving force in missions. Korean and African missionaries can now be found all over the world. These missionaries represent a major shift in church history.

Brazil, Nigeria, and other countries have had large numbers of their Christian adherents go to other countries and start churches. These non-western missionaries often have unparalleled success because they need few western resources and comforts to sustain their livelihood while doing the work they have chosen among a new culture and people.

Main articles: London Missionary Society, Church Mission Society, China Inland Mission, Church's Ministry Among Jewish People and Baptist Missionary Society.

One of the first large-scale missionary endeavours of the British colonial age was the Baptist Missionary Society, founded in 1792 as the Particular Baptist Society for the Propagation of the Gospel Amongst the Heathen.

The London Missionary Society was an evangelical organisation, bringing together from its inception both Anglicans and Nonconformists; it was founded in England in 1795 with missions in Africa and the islands of the South Pacific. The Colonial Missionary Society was created in 1836, and directed its efforts towards promoting Congregationalist forms of Christianity among "British or other European settlers" rather than indigenous peoples.

Both of these merged in 1966, and the resultant organisation is now known as the Council for World Mission.

The Church Mission Society, first known as the Society for Missions to Africa and the East, was founded in 1799 by evangelical Anglicans centred around the anti-slavery activist William Wilberforce. It bent its efforts to the Coptic Church, the Ethiopian Church, and India, especially Kerala; it continues to this day. Many of the network of churches they established became the Anglican Communion.

In 1809, the London Society for Promoting Christianity Amongst the Jews was founded, which pioneered mission amongst the Jewish people; it continues today as the Church's Page 8 of 63

Ministry Among Jewish People. In 1865 the China Inland Mission was founded, going well beyond British controlled areas; it continues as the OMF, working throughout East Asia.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) has an active missionary program. Young men between the ages of 18 and 25 are encouraged to prepare themselves to serve a two-year, self-funded (often subsidized by the LDS Church), full-time proselytizing mission. Young women who desire to serve as missionaries can serve starting at the age of 19, for one and a half years. Retired couples also have the option of serving a mission. Missionaries typically spend two weeks in a Missionary Training Center (or two to three months for those learning a new language) where they study the scriptures, learn new languages when applicable, prepare themselves to teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and learn more about the culture and the people among whom they will be living. As of January 2014, the LDS Church has over 80,000 missionaries worldwide and over 10,000 Welfare Services Missionaries.

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Modern Missions The Lausanne Congress of 1974, birthed a movement that supports evangelical mission among non-Christians and nominal Christians. It regards "mission" as that which is designed "to form a viable indigenous church-planting and world changing movement."

This definition is motivated by a theologically imperative theme of the Bible to make God known, as outlined in the Great Commission. The definition is claimed to summarize the acts of Jesus' ministry, which is taken as a model motivation for all ministries.

This Christian missionary movement seeks to implement churches after the pattern of the first century Apostles. The process of forming disciples is necessarily social. "Church" should be understood in the widest sense, as a body of believers of Christ rather than simply a building. In this view, even those who are already culturally Christian must be "evangelized".

Church planting by cross-cultural missionaries leads to the establishment of self-governing, selfsupporting and self-propagating communities of believers. This is the famous "three-self" formula formulated

by Henry Venn of the London Church Missionary Society in the 19th century.

Cross-cultural missionaries are persons who accept church-planting duties to evangelize people outside their culture, as Christ commanded in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18–20, Mark 16:15–18).

The objective of these missionaries is to give an understandable presentation of their beliefs with the hope that people will choose to following the teaching of Jesus Christ and live their lives as His disciples. As a matter of strategy, many evangelical Christians around the world now focus on what they call the "10/40 window", a band of countries between 10 and 40 degrees north latitude and reaching from western Africa through Asia.

Christian missions strategist Luis Bush pinpointed the need for a major focus of evangelism in the "10/40 Window", a phrase he coined in his presentation at the missionary conference Lausanne 1989 in Manila. Sometimes referred to as the "Resistant Belt", it is an area that includes 35% of the world's land mass, 90% of the world's poorest peoples and 95% of those who have yet to hear anything about Christianity.

Modern pioneering missionary doctrines now focus on inserting a culturally adapted seed of Christian doctrines into a self-selected, self-motivated group of indigenous believers, without removing them from their culture in any way.

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Modern mission techniques are sufficiently refined that within ten to fifteen years, most indigenous churches are locally pastored, managed, taught, self-supporting and evangelizing. The process can be substantially faster if a preexisting translation of the Bible and higher pastoral education are already available, perhaps left-over from earlier, less effective missions.

One strategy is to let indigenous cultural groups decide to adopt Christian doctrines and benefits, when (as in most cultures) such major decisions are normally made by groups.

In this way, opinion leaders in the groups can persuade much or most of the groups to convert. When combined with training in discipleship, church planting and other modern missionary doctrine, the result is an accelerating, self-propelled conversion of large portions of the culture.

A typical modern mission is a co-operative effort by many different ministries, often including several coordinating ministries, such as the Faith2Share network, often with separate funding sources. One typical effort proceeded as follows: 1. A missionary radio group recruits, trains and broadcasts in the main dialect of the target culture's language. Broadcast content is carefully adapted to avoid syncretism yet help the Christian Gospel seem like a native, normal part of the target culture. Broadcast content often includes news, music, entertainment and education in the language, as well as purely Christian items.

2. Broadcasts might advertise programs, inexpensive radios (possibly spring-wound), and a literature ministry that sells a Christian mail-order correspondence course at nominal costs. The literature ministry is key, and is normally a separate organization from the radio ministry. Modern literature missions are shifting to web-based content where it makes sense (as in Western Europe and Japan).

3. When a person or group completes a correspondence course, they are invited to contact a church-planting missionary group from (if possible) a related cultural group. The church-planting ministry is usually a different ministry from either the literature or radio ministries. The church-planting ministry usually requires its missionaries to be fluent in the target language, and trained in modern churchplanting techniques.

4. The missionary then leads the group to start a church. Churches planted by these groups are usually a group that meets in a house. The object is the minimum organization that can perform the required character development and spiritual growth. Buildings, complex ministries and other expensive items are mentioned, but deprecated until the group naturally achieves the size and budget to afford them. The crucial training is how to become a Christian (by faith in Jesus Christ) and then how to set up a church (meet to study the Bible, and perform communion and worship), usually in that order.

5. A new generation of churches is created, and the growth begins to accelerate geometrically. Frequently, daughter churches are created only a few months after a church's creation. In the fastest-growing Christian movements, the pastoral Page 12 of 63

education is "pipelined", flowing in a just-in-time fashion from the central churches to daughter churches. That is, planting of churches does not wait for the complete training of pastors.

The most crucial part of church planting is selection and training of leadership.

Classically, leadership training required an expensive stay at a seminary, a Bible college.

Modern church planters deprecate this because it substantially slows the growth of the church without much immediate benefit. Modern mission doctrines replace the seminary with programmed curricula or (even less expensive) books of discussion questions, and access to real theological books. The materials are usually made available in a major trading language in which most native leaders are likely to be fluent. In some cases, the materials can be adapted for oral use.

It turns out that new pastors' practical needs for theology are well addressed by a combination of practical procedures for church planting, discussion in small groups, and motivated Bible-based study from diverse theological texts. As a culture's church's wealth increases, it will naturally form classic seminaries on its own.

Another related mission is Bible translation. The above-mentioned literature has to be translated. Missionaries actively experiment with advanced linguistic techniques to speed translation and literacy. Bible translation not only speeds a church's growth by aiding self-training, but it also assures that Christian information becomes a permanent part of the native culture and literature. Some ministries also use modern recording techniques to reach groups with audio that could not be soon reached with literature.

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Jamaica Caribbean – International Waters Jamaica is an island country situated in the Caribbean Sea, comprising the third-largest island of the Greater Antilles. The island, 10,990 square kilometres (4,240 sq mi) in area, lies about 145 kilometres (90 mi) south of Cuba, and 191 kilometres (119 mi) west of Hispaniola, the island containing the nation-states of Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

Jamaica is the fifth-largest island country in the Caribbean.

Once a Spanish possession known as Santiago, in 1655 it came under the rule of England (later Great Britain), and was called Jamaica. It achieved full independence from the United Kingdom on 6 August 1962. With 2.8 million people, it is the third most populous Anglophone country in the Americas, after the United States and Canada. Kingston is the country's largest city and its capital, with a population of 937,700. Jamaica has a large diaspora around the world, due to emigration from the country.

Jamaica is a Commonwealth realm, with Queen Elizabeth II as its monarch and head of state. Her appointed representative in the country is the Governor-General of Jamaica, currently Patrick Allen. The head of government and Prime Minister of Jamaica is Portia Simpson-Miller. Jamaica is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy with legislative power vested in the bicameral Parliament of Jamaica, consisting of an appointed Senate and a directly elected House of Representatives. Jamaica is divided into 14 parishes, which are grouped into three historic counties that have no administrative relevance.

1

Cornwall County Hanover

Capital Lucea

Middlesex County 450 6 Clarendon

km

2

Surrey 2 Capital km County May Pen 1,196 11 Kingston Kingston 25 Capital

km

2

2 Saint Elizabeth Black River 1,212 7 Manchester Mandeville 830 12 Portland 3

Saint James

4

Trelawny

Montego Bay

595

8

Saint Ann

St. Ann's Bay

Falmouth 875

9

Saint Catherine

Spanish Town

Savanna-

5 Westmoreland la-Mar

807

10 Saint Mary

Port Maria

Port Antonio

814

Saint Half Way 453 Tree Andrew Saint Morant 1,192 14 743 Bay Thomas 1,213

13

611

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Jamaica is the third largest island in the Caribbean. It lies between latitudes 17° and 19°N, and longitudes 76° and 79°W. Mountains, including the Blue Mountains, dominate the inland. They are surrounded by a narrow coastal plain. Chief towns and cities include the capital Kingston on the south shore, Portmore, Spanish Town, Mandeville, Ocho Ríos, Port Antonio, Negril, and Montego Bay on the north shore.

Kingston Harbour is the seventh-largest natural harbour in the world, which contributed to the city being designated as the capital in 1872.

Tourist attractions include Dunn's River Falls in St. Ann, YS Falls in St. Elizabeth, the Blue Lagoon in Portland. Port Royal was the site of a major earthquake in 1692 that helped form the island's Palisadoes.

The climate in Jamaica is tropical, with hot and humid weather, although higher inland regions are more temperate. Some regions on the south coast, such as the Liguanea Plain and the Pedro Plains, are relatively dry rain-shadow areas.

Jamaica lies in the hurricane belt of the Atlantic Ocean and because of this, the island sometimes suffers significant storm damage. Hurricanes Charlie and Gilbert hit Jamaica directly in 1951 and 1988, respectively, causing major damage and many deaths. In the 2000s (decade), hurricanes Ivan, Dean, and Gustav also brought severe weather to the island.

Among the variety of terrestrial, aquatic and marine ecosystems are dry and wet limestone forests, rainforest, riparian woodland, wetlands, caves, rivers, seagrass beds and coral reefs. The authorities have recognized the tremendous significance and potential of the environment and have designated some of the more 'fertile' areas as 'protected'.

Among the island's protected areas are the Cockpit Country, Hellshire Hills, and Litchfield forest reserves. In 1992, Jamaica's first marine park, covering nearly 6 square miles (about 15 km2), was established in Montego Bay. Portland Bight Protected Area was designated in 1999.

The following year Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park was created on roughly 300 square miles (780 km2) of wilderness, which supports thousands of tree and fern species and rare animals.

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Demographics According to the 2011 census, the data is as follows:

Ethnic Group % Black Jamaican (including Black, Mulatto/Mixed, Black-Indian and Black-Chinese) 91.4% 3.4% Asian Jamaican 1.2% White/European Jamaican 0.8% Other

Much of the Jamaican Black population are of African or partially African descent with many being able to trace their origins to West Africa, as well as Europe and Asia. Many Mixed Jamaicans self-report as Black - as is the case with many other anglophone Caribbean islands.

Asians form the second largest group and include East Indians and the Chinese.

In recent years, immigration has increased, coming mainly from China, Haiti, Cuba, Colombia, and Latin American countries; 20,000 Latin Americans reside in Jamaica. About 7,000 Americans also reside in Jamaica, as well as many first-generation American, British and Canadians of Jamaican descent.

Crime Jamaica has had one of the highest murder rates in the world for many years, according to UN estimates. Some areas of Jamaica, particularly cities such as Kingston, experience high levels of crime and violence. Many Jamaicans are hostile toward LGBT and intersex people. Various mob attacks against gay people have been reported, prompting humanrights groups to call Jamaica "the most homophobic place on earth."

In 2005, Jamaica had 1,674 murders for a murder rate of 58 per 100,000 people. That year, Jamaica had the highest murder rate in the world. In November 2008, the Jamaican Parliament voted to retain the death penalty, which is performed by hanging.

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There were 1,682 reported murders in 2009 and 1,428 in 2010. Since 2011 the murder rate has continued to fall following the downward trend started in 2010, with increases in police patrols, curfews and more effective anti-gang activities. In 2012, the Ministry of National Security reported a 30 percent decrease in murders. Many of the murders in Jamaica are connected to organized crime in the country's urban centers; and most of this organized crime involves the illegal drug trade.

The U.S. Department of State reported that brutality with homosexuals, mainly by private citizens, was widespread in 2008. Homosexuality per se is not illegal in Jamaica; however the Offenses Against the Person Act criminalizes buggery (anal sex) as well as "acts of gross indecency" between men. Many Jamaicans are hostile toward LGBT and intersex people, and several mob attacks against gay people have been reported. International human rights groups, the local LGBT rights organization, Jamaica Forum for Lesbians AllSexual and Gays (JFLAG) and many Jamaicans have called on the government to take measures to protect LGBT people, including repealing the buggery law.

Religion Christianity is the largest religion practised in Jamaica and according to the 2001 census, the country's largest denominations are the Church of God (24% of the population), Seventh-day Adventist Church (11%), Pentecostal (10%), Baptist (7%), Anglican (4%), Roman Catholic (2%), United Church (2%), Methodist (2%), Moravian (1%) and Plymouth Brethren (1%) The Christian faith gained acceptance as British Christian abolitionists and Baptist missionaries joined educated former slaves in the struggle against slavery.

The Rastafari movement had 24,000 adherents, according to the 2001 census. Other religions in Jamaica include Jehovah's Witnesses (2% population), the BahĂĄ'Ă­ faith, which counts perhaps 8,000 adherents and 21 Local Spiritual Assemblies, Buddhism, and Hinduism. There is a small population of Jews, about 200, who describe themselves as Liberal-Conservative. The first Jews in Jamaica trace their roots back to early 15th century Spain and Portugal. Other small groups include Muslims, who claim 5,000 adherents, as do the Mormons.

Culture Though a small nation, Jamaican culture has a strong global presence. The musical genres reggae, ska, mento, rocksteady, dub, and, more recently, dancehall and ragga all originated in the island's vibrant, popular urban recording industry. Jamaica also played an important role in the development of punk rock, through reggae and ska. Reggae has also influenced American rap music, as they share roots as rhythmic, African styles of music.

Some rappers, such as The Notorious B.I.G. and Heavy D, are of Page 18 of 63

Jamaican descent. Internationally known reggae musician Bob Marley was also Jamaican.

Many other internationally known artists were born in Jamaica, including Millie Small, Lee "Scratch" Perry, Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, Big Youth, Jimmy Cliff, Dennis Brown, Desmond Dekker, Beres Hammond, Beenie Man, Shaggy, Grace Jones, Shabba Ranks, Super Cat, Buju Banton, Sean Paul, I Wayne, Bounty Killer and many others. Band artist groups that came from Jamaica include Black Uhuru, Third World Band, Inner Circle, Chalice Reggae Band, Culture, Fab Five and Morgan Heritage. The genre jungle emerged from London's Jamaican diaspora. The birth of hip-hop in New York City owed much to the city's Jamaican community.

Sports Since independence Jamaica has consistently produced world class athletes in track and field. In Jamaica involvement in athletics begins at a very young age and most high schools maintain rigorous athletics programs with their top athletes competing in national competitions (most notably the VMBS Girls and Boys Athletics Championships) and international meets (most notably the Penn Relays). In Jamaica it is not uncommon for young athletes to attain press coverage and national fame long before they arrive on the international athletics stage.

Over the past six decades Jamaica has produced dozens of world class sprinters including Olympic and World Champion Usain Bolt, world record holder in the 100m for men at 9.58s, and 200m for men at 19.19s. Other noteworthy Jamaican sprinters include Arthur Wint – the first Jamaican Olympic Gold Medalist, Donald Quarrie – Olympic Champion and former 200m world record holder, Roy Anthony Bridge, part of the International Olympic Committee, Merlene Ottey, Delloreen Ennis-London, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce – the current World and Olympic 100m Champion, Kerron Stewart, Aleen Bailey, Juliet Cuthbert, Veronica Campbell-Brown, Sherone Simpson, Brigitte Foster-Hylton, Yohan Blake, Herb McKenley, George Rhoden—Olympic Gold Medalist, Deon Hemmings – Olympic Gold Medalist as well as former 100m world record holder and 2x 100m Olympic finalist and Gold medal winner in the men's 2008 Olympic 4x100m Asafa Powell.

Jamaica has also produced several world class amateur and professional boxers including Trevor Berbick and Mike McCallum. First-generation Jamaican athletes have continued to make a significant impact on the sport internationally, especially in the United Kingdom where the list of top British boxers born in Jamaica or of Jamaican parents includes Lloyd Honeyghan, Chris Eubank, Audley Harrison, David Haye, Lennox Lewis and Frank Bruno.

Education Page 19 of 63

The emancipation of the slaves heralded in the establishment of the Jamaican education system for the masses. Prior to emancipation there were few schools for educating locals.

Many sent their children off to England to access quality education.

After emancipation the West Indian Commission granted a sum of money to establish Elementary Schools, now known as All Age Schools. Most of these schools were established by the churches. This was the genesis of the modern Jamaican school system.

Presently the following categories of schools exist:  





Early childhood – Basic, Infant and privately operated pre- school. Age cohort – 2 – 5 years.

Primary – Publicly and privately owned (Privately owned being called Preparatory Schools). Ages 3 – 12 years.

Secondary – Publicly and privately owned. Ages 10 – 19 years. The high schools in Jamaica may be either single-sex or co-educational institutions, and many schools follow the traditional English grammar school model used throughout the British West Indies.

Tertiary – Community Colleges, Teachers’ Colleges with The Mico Teachers' College (now The MICO University College) being the oldest founded in 1836,The Shortwood Teachers' College (which was once an all-female teacher training institution), Vocational Training Centres, Colleges and Universities – Publicly and privately owned. There are five local universities namely: The University of the West Indies (Mona Campus); the University of Technology, Jamaica formerly The College of Art Science and Technology (CAST); the Northern Caribbean University formerly West Indies College; the University College of The Caribbean and the International University of the Caribbean.

Additionally, there are many community and teacher training colleges.

Education is free from the early childhood to secondary levels. There are also opportunities for those who cannot afford further education in the vocational arena through the Human Employment and Resource Training-National Training Agency (HEART Trust-NTA) programme, which is opened to all working age national population and through an extensive scholarship network for the various universities.

Students are taught Spanish in school from the primary level upwards; about 40–45% of educated people in Jamaica knows some form of Spanish.

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The Economy Jamaica is a mixed economy with both state enterprises and private sector businesses.

Major sectors of the Jamaican economy include agriculture, mining, manufacturing, tourism, and financial and insurance services. Tourism and mining are the leading earners of foreign exchange. Half the Jamaican economy relies on services, with half of its income coming from services such as tourism. An estimated 1.3 million foreign tourists visit Jamaica every year.

Supported by multilateral financial institutions, Jamaica has, since the early 1980s, sought to implement structural reforms aimed at fostering private sector activity and increasing the role of market forces in resource allocation. Since 1991, the government has followed a programme of economic liberalization and stabilization by removing exchange controls, floating the exchange rate, cutting tariffs, stabilising the Jamaican currency, reducing inflation and removing restrictions on foreign investment. Emphasis has been placed on maintaining strict fiscal discipline, greater openness to trade and financial flows, market liberalisation and reduction in the size of government. During this period, a large share of the economy was returned to private sector ownership through divestment and privatisation programmes.

The macroeconomic stabilisation programme introduced in 1991, which focused on tight fiscal and monetary policies, has contributed to a controlled reduction in the rate of inflation. The annual inflation rate decreased from a high of 80.2% in 1991 to 7.9% in 1998.

Inflation for FY1998/99 was 6.2% compared to 7.2% in the corresponding period in CUU1997/98. The Government of Jamaica remains committed to lowering inflation, with a long-term objective of bringing it in line with that of its major trading partners.

After a period of steady growth from 1985 to 1995, real GDP decreased by 1.8% and 2.4% in 1996 and 1997, respectively. The decrease in GDP in 1996 and 1997 was largely due to significant problems in the financial sector and, in 1997, a severe island-wide drought (the worst in 70 years) that drastically reduced agricultural production. In 1997, nominal GDP was approximately J$220,556.2 million (US$6,198.9 million based on the average annual exchange rate of the period).

The economy in 1997 was marked by low levels of import growth, high levels of private capital inflows and relative stability in the foreign exchange market.

Recent economic performance shows the Jamaican economy is recovering. Agricultural production, an important engine of growth increased 15.3% in third quarter of 1998 compared to the corresponding period in 1997, signaling the first positive growth rate in the sector since January 1997. Bauxite and alumina production increased 5.5% from Page 21 of 63

January to December, 1998 compared to the corresponding period in 1997. January's bauxite production recorded a 7.1% increase relative to January 1998 and continued expansion of alumina production through 2009 is planned by Alcoa. Jamaica is the fifth largest exporter of bauxite in the world, after Australia, China, Brazil and Guinea.

Tourism, which is the largest foreign exchange earner, showed improvement as well. In the third quarter of 1998, growth in tourist arrivals accelerated with an overall increase of 8.5% in tourism earnings in 1998 when compared to the corresponding period in 1997.

Jamaica's agricultural exports are sugar, bananas, coffee, rum, and yams.

Jamaica has a wide variety of industrial and commercial activities. The aviation industry is able to perform most routine aircraft maintenance, except for heavy structural repairs.

There is a considerable amount of technical support for transport and agricultural aviation. Jamaica has a considerable amount of industrial engineering, light manufacturing, including metal fabrication, metal roofing, and furniture manufacturing.

Food and beverage processing, glassware manufacturing, software and data processing, printing and publishing, insurance underwriting, music and recording, and advanced education activities can be found in the larger urban areas. The Jamaican construction industry is entirely self-sufficient, with professional technical standards and guidance.

Since the first quarter of 2006, the economy of Jamaica has undergone a period of staunch growth. With inflation for the 2006 calendar year down to 6.0% and unemployment down to 8.9%, the nominal GDP grew by an unprecedented 2.9%. An investment programme in island transportation and utility infrastructure and gains in the tourism, mining, and service sectors all contributed this figure. All projections for 2007 show an even higher potential for economic growth with all estimates over 3.0% and hampered only by urban crime and public policies.

In 2006, Jamaica became part of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) as one of the pioneering members.

The global economic downturn had a significant impact on the Jamaican economy for the years 2007 to 2009, resulting in negative economic growth. The government implemented a new Debt Management Initiative, the Jamaica Debt Exchange (JDX) on 14 January 2010.

The initiative would see holders of Government of Jamaica (GOJ) bonds returning the high interest earning instruments for bonds with lower yields and longer maturities. The offer was taken up by over 95% of local financial institutions and was deemed a success by the government. Owing to the success of the JDX program, the Bruce Golding-led government was successful in entering into a borrowing arrangement with the IMF on 4 February 2010 for the amount of US$1.27b. The loan agreement is for a period of three years.

In April 2014, the Governments of Jamaica and China signed the preliminary agreements for the first phase of the Jamaican Logistics Hub (JLH) - the initiative that aims to position Kingston as the fourth node in the global logistics chain, joining Rotterdam, Page 22 of 63

Dubai and Singapore, and serving the Americas. The Project, when completed, is expected to provide many jobs for Jamaicans, Economic Zones for multinational companies and much needed economic growth to alleviate the country's heavy debt-toGDP ratio. Strict adherence to the IMF's refinancing programme and preparations for the JLH has favourably affected Jamaica's credit rating and outlook from the three biggest rating agencies.

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Zimbabwe The African Savannah Zimbabwe, officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country located in southern Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. The capital and largest city is Harare.

Historically, Zimbabwe was occupied by a succession of powerful kingdoms and empires, and was the site of major migrations and trade routes. The present territory was first demarcated by Cecil Rhodes' British South Africa Company during the 1890s, becoming the self-governing colony of Southern Rhodesia in 1923. In 1965 the conservative white minority government unilaterally declared independence as Rhodesia. The unrecognized state endured international isolation and a 15-year civil war that culminated in universal enfranchisement and de jure sovereignty in April 1980.

An ethnically diverse country of roughly 13 million people, Zimbabwe has 16 official languages, with English, Shona and Ndebele being most common. President Robert Mugabe is head of state and government, and commander-in-chief of the armed forces.

Renowned as a champion for the anti-colonial cause, Mugabe is also viewed as authoritarian responsible for Zimbabwe's problematic human rights record and substantial economic decline. He has held power since 1980: as head of government until 1987, and head of both state and government since then.

Zimbabwe is a landlocked country in southern Africa, lying between latitudes 15째 and 23째S, and longitudes 25째 and 34째E. Most of the country is elevated in the central plateau (high veld) stretching from the southwest to the northwest at altitudes between 1,200 and 1,600 m. The country's east is mountainous with Mount Nyangani as the highest point at 2,592 m. About 20% of the country consists of the low veld under 900m.

Victoria Falls, one of the world's biggest and most spectacular waterfalls, is located in the country's northwest as part of the Zambezi river. The country has a tropical climate with a rainy season usually from late October to March. The climate is moderated by the altitude. Zimbabwe is faced with recurring droughts; and severe storms are rare.

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The country is mostly savannah, although the moist and mountainous east supports tropical evergreen and hardwood forests. Trees include teak and mahogany, knobthorn, msasa and baobab. Among the numerous flowers and shrubs are hibiscus, spider lily, leonotus, cassia, tree wisteria and dombeya.

There are around 350 species of mammals that can be found in Zimbabwe. There are also many snakes and lizards, over 500 bird species, and 131 fish species.

Demographics Zimbabwe's total population is 12.97 million. According to the United Nations World Health Organisation, the life expectancy for men was 37 years and the life expectancy for women was 34 years of age, the lowest in the world in 2006. An association of doctors in Zimbabwe has made calls for President Mugabe to make moves to assist the ailing health service. The HIV infection rate in Zimbabwe was estimated to be 14% for people aged 15–49 in 2009. UNESCO reported a decline in HIV prevalence among pregnant women from 26% in 2002 to 21% in 2004.

Some 85% of Zimbabweans are Christian; 62% of the population attends religious services regularly. The largest Christian churches are Anglican, Roman Catholic, Seventh-day Adventist and Methodist. As in other African countries, Christianity may be mixed with enduring traditional beliefs. Besides Christianity, ancestral worship is the most practised non-Christian religion, involving spiritual intercession; the Mbira Dza Vadzimu, which means "Voice of the Ancestors", an instrument related to many lamellophones ubiquitous throughout Africa, is central to many ceremonial proceedings. Mwari simply means "God the Creator" (musika vanhu in Shona). Around 1% of the population is Muslim.

Bantu-speaking ethnic groups make up 98% of the population. The majority people, the Shona, comprise 70%. The Ndebele are the second most populous with 20% of the population. The Ndebele descended from Zulu migrations in the 19th century and the other tribes with which they intermarried. Up to one million Ndebele may have left the country over the last five years, mainly for South Africa. Other Bantu ethnic groups make up the third largest with 2 to 5%: these are Venda, Tonga, Shangaan, Kalanga, Sotho, Ndau, Nambya, Tswana, Xhosa and Lozi.

Minority ethnic groups include white Zimbabweans, who make up less than 1% of the total population. White Zimbabweans are mostly of British origin, but there are also Page 26 of 63

Afrikaner, Greek, Portuguese, French and Dutch communities. The white population dropped from a peak of around 278,000 or 4.3% of the population in 1975 to possibly 120,000 in 1999 and was estimated to be no more than 50,000 in 2002, and possibly much less. Most emigration has been to the United Kingdom (between 200,000 and 500,000 Britons are of Rhodesian or Zimbabwean origin), South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Coloureds form 0.5% of the population, and various Asian ethnic groups, mostly of Indian and Chinese origin, are also 0.5%.

According to 2012 Census report, 99.7% of the population is of African origin. Official fertility rates over the last decade were 3.6 (2002 Census), 3.8 (2006) and 3.8 (2012 Census).

Environmental Issues Large parts of Zimbabwe were once covered by forests with abundant wildlife.

Deforestation and poaching has reduced the amount of wildlife. Woodland degradation and deforestation, due to population growth, urban expansion and lack of fuel, are major concerns. and have led to erosion and land degradation which diminish the amount of fertile soil. Zimbabwe is a country that relies mostly on hydroelectric power. Zimbabwe had once relied heavily on electricity from Mozambique and other neighbouring countries.

Government Zimbabwe is a republic with a presidential system of government. The semi-presidential system was done away with the adoption of a new constitution after a referendum in March 2013. Under the constitutional changes in 2005, an upper chamber, the Senate, was reinstated. The House of Assembly is the lower chamber of Parliament.

President Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (commonly abbreviated ZANU-PF) has been the dominant political party in Zimbabwe since independence. In 1987 then-prime minister Mugabe revised the constitution, abolishing the ceremonial presidency and the prime ministerial posts to form an executive president, a Presidential system. His ZANU party has won every election since independence, in the 1990 election the second-placed party, Edgar Tekere's Zimbabwe Unity Movement, won only 20% of the vote. During the 1995 parliamentary elections most opposition parties, including the ZUM, boycotted the voting, resulting in a nearsweep by the ruling party. When the opposition returned to the polls in 2000, they won 57 seats, only five fewer than ZANU.

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Presidential elections were again held in 2002 amid allegations of vote-rigging, intimidation and fraud. The 2005 Zimbabwe parliamentary elections were held on 31 March and multiple claims of vote rigging, election fraud and intimidation were made by the MDC and Jonathan Moyo, calling for investigations into 32 of the 120 constituencies.

Jonathan Moyo participated in the elections despite the allegations and won a seat as an independent member of Parliament.

General elections were again held in Zimbabwe on 30 March 2008. The official results required a runoff between Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai, the opposition leader; the MDC challenged these results, claiming widespread election fraud by the Mugabe government. The run-off was scheduled for 27 June 2008. On 22 June, citing the continuing unfairness of the process and refusing to participate in a "violent, illegitimate sham of an election process", Tsvangirai pulled out of the presidential run-off, the ZEC held the run-off and President Mugabe received a landslide majority.

Provinces Zimbabwe has a centralised government and is divided into eight provinces and two cities with provincial status, for administrative purposes. Each province has a provincial capital from where official business is usually carried out.

The names of most of the provinces were generated from the Mashonaland and Matabeleland divide at the time of colonisation: Mashonaland was the territory occupied first by the British South Africa Company Pioneer Column and Matabeleland the territory conquered during the First Matabele War. This corresponds roughly to the precolonial territory of the Shona people and the Matabele people, although there are significant ethnic minorities in most provinces. Each province is headed by a Provincial Governor, appointed by the President. The provincial government is run by a Provincial Administrator, appointed by the Public Service Commission. Other government functions at provincial level are carried out by provincial offices of national government departments.

The provinces are subdivided into 59 districts and 1,200 wards (sometimes referred to as municipalities). Each district is headed by a District Administrator, appointed by the Public Service Commission. There is also a Rural District Council, which appoints a chief executive officer. The Rural District Council is composed of elected ward councillors, the District Administrator and one representative of the chiefs (traditional leaders appointed under customary law) in the district. Other government functions at district level are carried out by district offices of national government departments.

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At the ward level there is a Ward Development Committee, comprising the elected ward councillor, the kraalheads (traditional leaders subordinate to chiefs) and representatives of Village Development Committees. Wards are subdivided into villages, each of which has an elected Village Development Committee and a Headman (traditional leader subordinate to the kraalhead).

Human Rights There are widespread reports of systematic and escalating violations of human rights in Zimbabwe under the Mugabe administration and his party, the ZANU-PF. In 2011, there were reports of 640 corpses having been recovered from the Monkey William Mine in Chibondo.

They were allegedly authenticated by the Fallen Heroes Trust of Zimbabwe and the Department of National Museums and Monuments who are leading the exhumation process as victims of the Ian Smith regime during the liberation war. One body was identified as a ZANLA cadre, Cde Rauya, by the Fallen Heroes Trust Chief exhumer. Government Minister, Saviour Kasukuwere admitted the remains were discovered in 2008, but claimed the remains were decades old despite clear evidence the exhumed skeletons still had hair and clothes. But Solidarity Peace Trust, said that the presence of soft tissues "is not necessarily an indicator that these bones entered the grave more recently, although it could be."

Journalists found a body in the mine with 'what appeared to be blood and fluids dripping onto the skulls below'. The opposition MDC called for research on all violence that included killings of its supporters during disputed elections in 2008. Amnesty International expressed concern that "international best practice on exhumations is not being adhered to." Adding that, "mishandling of these mass graves has serious implications on potential exhumations of other sites in Zimbabwe. Thousands of civilians were also killed in Matabeleland and Midlands provinces in the mid 1980s and are allegedly buried in mine shafts and mass graves in these regions."

According to human rights organisations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch the government of Zimbabwe violates the rights to shelter, food, freedom of movement and residence, freedom of assembly and the protection of the law. There have been alleged assaults on the media, the political opposition, civil society activists, and human rights defenders.

Opposition gatherings are frequently the subject of brutal attacks by the police force, such as the crackdown on an 11 March 2007 Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) rally and several others during the 2008 election campaign. In the attacks of 2007, party leader Morgan Tsvangirai and 49 other opposition activists were arrested and severely beaten by the police. After his release, Morgan Tsvangirai told the BBC that he suffered Page 29 of 63

head injuries and blows to the arms, knees and back, and that he lost a significant amount of blood.

Police action was strongly condemned by the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, the European Union and the United States. While noting that the activists had suffered injuries, but not mentioning the cause of them, the Zimbabwean government-controlled daily newspaper The Herald claimed the police had intervened after demonstrators "ran amok looting shops, destroying property, mugging civilians, and assaulting police officers and innocent members of the public". The newspaper also argued that the opposition had been "willfully violating the ban on political rallies".

There are also abuses of media rights and access. The Zimbabwean government suppresses freedom of the press and freedom of speech. It has also been repeatedly accused of using the public broadcaster, the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, as a propaganda tool. Newspapers critical of the government, such as the Daily News, closed after bombs exploded at their offices and the government refused to renew their license.

BBC News, Sky News, and CNN were banned from filming or reporting from Zimbabwe.

In 2009 reporting restrictions on the BBC and CNN were lifted. Sky News continue to report on happenings within Zimbabwe from neighbouring countries like South Africa.

In February 2013, Zimbabwe's election chief, Simpson Mtambanengwe, resigned due to ill health. His resignation came months before the country's constitutional referendum and elections The Zimbabwean Economy Mineral exports, gold, agriculture, and tourism are the main foreign currency earners of Zimbabwe. The mining sector remains very lucrative, with some of the world's largest platinum reserves being mined by Anglo American plc and Impala Platinum.

The Marange diamond fields, discovered in 2006, are considered the biggest diamond find in over a century. They have the potential to improve the fiscal situation of the country considerably, but almost all revenues from the field have disappeared into the pockets of army officers and ZANU-PF politicians. In terms of carats produced, the Marange field is one of the largest diamond producing projects in the world, estimated to produce 12 million carats in 2014 worth over $350 million. Zimbabwe is the biggest trading partner of South Africa on the continent.

Taxes and tariffs are high for private enterprises, while state enterprises are strongly subsidised. State regulation is costly to companies; starting or closing a business is slow and costly. Government spending was predicted to reach 67% of GDP in 2007.

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Tourism was an important industry for the country, but has been failing in recent years.

The Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force released a report in June 2007, estimating 60% of Zimbabwe's wildlife has died since 2000 due to poaching and deforestation. The report warns that the loss of life combined with widespread deforestation is potentially disastrous for the tourist industry.

The ICT sector of Zimbabwe has been growing at a fast pace. A report by the mobile internet browser company, Opera, in June/July 2011 has ranked Zimbabwe as Africa's fastest growing market.

Since 1 January 2002, the government of Zimbabwe has had its lines of credit at international financial institutions frozen, through US legislation called the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act of 2001 (ZDERA). Section 4C instructs the Secretary of the Treasury to direct directors at international financial institutions to veto the extension of loans and credit to the Zimbabwean government.

According to the United States, these sanctions target only seven specific businesses owned or controlled by government officials and not ordinary citizens. An independent study has shown that the sanctions have adversely affected the welfare of ordinary citizens.

Zimbabwe maintained positive economic growth throughout the 1980s (5% GDP growth per year) and 1990s (4.3% GDP growth per year). The economy declined from 2000: 5% decline in 2000, 8% in 2001, 12% in 2002 and 18% in 2003. Zimbabwe's involvement from 1998 to 2002 in the war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo drained hundreds of millions of dollars from the economy. The downward spiral of the economy has been attributed mainly to mismanagement and corruption by the government and the eviction of more than 4,000 white farmers in the controversial land redistribution of 2000. The Zimbabwean government and its supporters attest that it was Western policies to avenge the expulsion of their kin that sabotaged the economy.

By 2005, the purchasing power of the average Zimbabwean had dropped to the same levels in real terms as 1953. In 2005, the government, led by central bank governor Gideon Gono, started making overtures that white farmers could come back. There were 400 to 500 still left in the country, but much of the land that had been confiscated was no longer productive. In January 2007, the government even let some white farmers sign long term leases. But, at the same time, the government continued to demand that all remaining white farmers, who were given eviction notices earlier, vacate the land or risk being arrested. Mugabe pointed to foreign governments and alleged "sabotage" as the cause of Page 31 of 63

the fall of the Zimbabwean economy, as well as the country's 80% formal unemployment rate.

Inflation rose from an annual rate of 32% in 1998, to an official estimated high of 11,200,000% in August 2008 according to the country's Central Statistical Office. This represented a state of hyperinflation, and the central bank introduced a new 100 billion dollar note. On 29 January 2009, in an effort to counteract runaway inflation, acting Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa announced that Zimbabweans will be permitted to use other, more stable currencies to do business, alongside the Zimbabwe dollar. In an effort to combat inflation and foster economic growth the Zimbabwean Dollar was suspended indefinitely on 12 April 2009. Zimbabwe now allows trade in the United States Dollar and various other currencies such as the South African rand, euro, Sterling, and Botswana pula.

Since the formation of the Unity Government in 2009, the Zimbabwean economy has been on the rebound. GDP grew by more than 5% in the year 2009 and 2011. In November 2010, the IMF described the Zimbabwean economy as "completing its second year of buoyant economic growth". Zimplats, the nation's largest platinum company, has proceeded with US$500 million in expansions, and is also continuing a separate US$2 billion project, despite threats by Mugabe to nationalise the company. The pan-African investment bank IMARA released a favourable report in February 2011 on investment prospects in Zimbabwe, citing an improved revenue base and higher tax receipts. In late January 2013, the Zimbabwean finance ministry reported that they had only $217 in their treasury and would apply for donations to finance the coming elections that is estimated to cost 107 million USD.

Largest cities or towns of Zimbabwe

Harare

Bulawayo

http://www.geohive.com/cntry/zimbabwe.aspx Rank Name Province Pop. 1 Harare Harare 1,485,231 2 Bulawayo Bulawayo 653,337 3 Chitungwiza Harare 356,840 4 Mutare Manicaland 187,621 5 Epworth Harare 167,462 6 Gweru Midlands 157,865 7 Kwekwe Midlands 100,900 8 Kadoma Mashonaland West 92,469 9 Masvingo Masvingo 87,886 10 Chinhoyi Mashonaland West 77,929

Mutare

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Refugee Crisis The economic meltdown and repressive political measures in Zimbabwe have led to a flood of refugees into neighbouring countries. An estimated 3.4 million Zimbabweans, a quarter of the population, had fled abroad by mid-2007. Some 3 million of these have gone to South Africa and Botswana.

Apart from the people who fled into the neighbouring countries, there are approximately 36,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs). There is no current comprehensive survey, although the following figures are available:

Survey national survey former farm workers victims of Operation Murambatsvina people displaced by political violence

Number Date 880– 2007 960,000 1,000,000 2008

Source Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee UNDP

570,000

2005

UN

36,000

2008

UN

The above surveys do not include people displaced by Operation Chikorokoza Chapera or beneficiaries of the fast-track land reform programme but who have since been evicted.

Education Due to large investments in education since independence Zimbabwe has the highest adult literacy rate in Africa which in 2013 was 90.70%. This is lower than the 92% recorded in 2010 by the United Nations Development Programme and the 97.0% recorded in the 2002 census, while still substantially higher than 80.4% recorded in the 1992 census. The education department has stated that 20,000 teachers have left Zimbabwe since 2007 and that half of Zimbabwe's children have not progressed beyond primary school.

The wealthier portion of the population usually send their children to independent schools as opposed to the government-run schools which are attended by the majority as these are subsidised by the government. School education was made free in 1980, but since 1988, the government has steadily increased the charges attached to school enrolment until they now greatly exceed the real value of fees in 1980. The Ministry of

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Education of Zimbabwe maintains and operates the government schools but the fees charged by independent schools are regulated by the cabinet of Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe's education system consists of 2 years of pre-school, 7 years of primary and 6 years of secondary schooling before students can enter university in the country or abroad. The academic year in Zimbabwe runs from January to December, with three terms, broken up by one month holidays, with a total of 40 weeks of school per year.

National examinations are written during the third term in November, with "O" level and "A" level subjects also offered in June.

There are seven public universities as well as four church-related universities in Zimbabwe that are fully internationally accredited. The University of Zimbabwe, the first and largest, was built in 1952 and is located in the Harare suburb of Mount Pleasant.

Notable alumni from Zimbabwean universities include Welshman Ncube; Peter Moyo (of Amabhubesi); Tendai Biti, Secretary-General for the MDC; Chenjerai Hove, Zimbabwean poet, novelist and essayist; and Arthur Mutambara, President of one faction of the MDC. Many of the current politicians in the government of Zimbabwe have obtained degrees from universities in USA or other universities abroad.

The highest professional board for accountants is the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Zimbabwe (ICAZ) with direct relationships with similar bodies in South Africa, Canada, the UK and Australia. A qualified Chartered Accountant from Zimbabwe is also a member of similar bodies in these countries after writing a conversion paper. In addition, Zimbabwean-trained doctors only require one year of residence to be fully licensed doctors in the United States. The Zimbabwe Institution of Engineers (ZIE) is the highest professional board for engineers.

Education in Zimbabwe became under threat since the economic changes in 2000 with teachers going on strike because of low pay, students unable to concentrate because of hunger and the price of uniforms soaring making this standard a luxury. Teachers were also one of the main targets of Mugabe's attacks because he thought they were not strong supporters.

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Suriname South America Suriname (also spelled Surinam), officially known as the Republic of Suriname, is a country on the northeastern Atlantic coast of South America. It is bordered by French Guiana to the east, Guyana to the west and Brazil to the south.

Suriname was colonized by the British and the Dutch in the 17th century. In 1667 it was captured by the Dutch, who governed Suriname as Dutch Guiana until 1954. At that time it was designated as one of the constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, next to the Netherlands and the Netherlands Antilles (dissolved in 2010). On 25 November 1975, the country of Suriname left the Kingdom of the Netherlands to become independent. A member of CARICOM, it is considered to be a culturally Caribbean country and has extensive trade and cultural exchange with the Caribbean nations.

At just under 165,000 km2 (64,000 sq mi), Suriname is the smallest sovereign state in South America. (French Guiana, while less extensive and populous, is an overseas department of France.) Suriname has a population of approximately 566,000, most of whom live on the country's north coast, where the capital Paramaribo is located.

Suriname is a mostly Dutch-speaking country; Sranang, an English-based creole language, is a widely used lingua franca. It is the only independent entity in the Americas where Dutch is spoken by a majority of the population.

Suriname is the smallest independent country in South America. Situated on the Guiana Shield, it lies mostly between latitudes 1째 and 6째N, and longitudes 54째 and 58째W. The country can be divided into two main geographic regions. The northern, lowland coastal area (roughly above the line Albina-Paranam-Wageningen) has been cultivated, and most of the population lives here. The southern part consists of tropical rainforest and sparsely inhabited savanna along the border with Brazil, covering about 80% of Suriname's land surface.

The two main mountain ranges are the Bakhuys Mountains and the Van Asch Van Wijck Mountains. Julianatop is the highest mountain in the country at 1,286 metres (4,219 ft) above sea level. Other mountains include Tafelberg at 1,026 metres (3,366 ft), Mount Kasikasima at 718 metres (2,356 ft), Goliathberg at 358 metres (1,175 ft) and Voltzberg at 240 metres (790 ft).

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Demographics According to the 2012 census, Suriname had a population of 541,638 inhabitants. It is made up of several distinct ethnic groups. 

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East Indians form 27% of the population. They are descendants of 19th-century contract workers from India. They are from the Indian states of Bihar and Eastern Uttar Pradesh, in Northern India, along the Nepali border.

Surinamese Maroons form 21.7% of the population and are divided into five main groups: Ndyuka (Aucans), Kwinti, Matawai, Saramaccans and Paramaccans.

Surinamese Creoles form 15.7% of the population. They are the mixed descendants of West African slaves and Europeans (mostly Dutch).

Javanese (descendants of contract workers from the former Dutch East Indies on the island of Java, Indonesia), form 14% of the population. mainly in Nickerie, Saramacca, Wanica, Paramaribo and Commewijne Chinese, mainly descendants of the earliest 19th-century contract workers. The 1990s and early 21st century saw renewed immigration on a large scale. In the year 2011 there were over 40,000 Chinese in Suriname.

Indigenous Americans, the original inhabitants of Suriname, form 3.7% of the population. The main groups being the Akurio, Arawak, Kalina (Caribs), Tiriyó and Wayana. They live mainly in the districts of Paramaribo, Wanica, Marowijne and Sipaliwini.

Europeans, descendants of Dutch 19th-century immigrant farmers, Portuguese from Madeira and other European peoples. The descendants of Dutch immigrant farmers are known as "Boeroes" (derived from boer, the Dutch word for "farmer").

Most Boeroes left after independence in 1975. Today there are about 1000 boeroes in Suriname, of which some are still present in the agricultural sector of Suriname.

Levantines, primarily Maronites from Lebanon, and Jews, mainly descendants of Sephardic Jews and Ashkenazi Jews. In their history, Jodensavanne plays a major role. Many Jews are mixed with other populations.

Brazilians, many of them gold miners.

The vast majority of people (about 90%) live in Paramaribo or on the coast. There is also a significant Surinamese population in the Netherlands. In 2005 there were 328,300 Surinamese people living in the Netherlands, which is about 2% of the total population of the Netherlands, compared to 438,000 Surinamese in Suriname itself.

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Diversity Owing to the country's multicultural heritage, Suriname celebrates a variety of distinct ethnic and religious festivals.

National celebrations           

1 January – New Year's Eve March (varies) – Holi-Phagwa March/April – Easter 1 May – Labour Day 5 June – Indian Arrival Day 1 July – Keti Koti, Emancipation Day (end of slavery) 8 August – Javanese Arrival Day 9 August – Indigenous People's Day 25 November – Independence Day 25 December – Christmas 26 December – Boxing Day

There are several Hindu and Islamic national holidays like Diwali (deepavali), Phagwa and Eid ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-adha. These holidays do not have specific dates on the Gregorian calendar as they are based on the Hindu and Islamic calendars, respectively.

There are several holidays which are unique to Suriname. These include the Indian, Javanese and Chinese arrival days. They celebrate the arrival of the first ships with their respective immigrants.

Economy Suriname's democracy gained some strength after the turbulent 1990s, and its economy became more diversified and less dependent on Dutch financial assistance. Bauxite (aluminium ore) mining continues to be a strong revenue source, and the discovery and exploitation of oil and gold has added substantially to Suriname's economic independence.

Agriculture, especially rice and bananas, remains a strong component of the economy, and ecotourism is providing new economic opportunities. More than 80% of Suriname's land-mass consists of unspoiled rain forest; with the establishment of the Central Suriname

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Nature Reserve in 1998, Suriname signalled its commitment to conservation of this precious resource. The Central Suriname Nature Reserve became a World Heritage Site in 2000.

The economy of Suriname is dominated by the bauxite industry, which accounts for more than 15% of GDP and 70% of export earnings. Other main export products include rice, bananas and shrimp. Suriname has recently started exploiting some of its sizeable oil and gold reserves. About a quarter of the people work in the agricultural sector. The Surinamese economy is very dependent on commerce, its main trade partners being the Netherlands, the United States, Canada, and Caribbean countries, mainly Trinidad and Tobago and the former islands of the Netherlands Antilles.

After assuming power in the fall of 1996, the Wijdenbosch government ended the structural adjustment program of the previous government, claiming it was unfair to the poorer elements of society.

Tax revenues fell as old taxes lapsed and the government failed to implement new tax alternatives.

By the end of 1997, the allocation of new Dutch development funds was frozen as Surinamese Government relations with the Netherlands deteriorated. Economic growth slowed in 1998, with decline in the mining, construction, and utility sectors. Rampant government expenditures, poor tax collection, a bloated civil service, and reduced foreign aid in 1999 contributed to the fiscal deficit, estimated at 11% of GDP. The government sought to cover this deficit through monetary expansion, which led to a dramatic increase in inflation. It takes longer on average to register a new business in Suriname than virtually any other country in the world (694 days or about 99 weeks).        

GDP (2010 est.): U.S. $4.794 billion.

Annual growth rate real GDP (2010 est.): 3.5%.

Per capita GDP (2010 est.): U.S. $9,900.

Inflation (2007): 6.4%.

Natural resources: Bauxite, gold, oil, iron ore, other minerals; forests; hydroelectric potential; fish and shrimp.

Agriculture: Products—rice, bananas, timber, palm kernels, coconuts, peanuts, citrus fruits, and forest products.

Industry: Types—alumina, oil, gold, fish, shrimp, lumber.

Trade: o Exports (2012): $2.563 billion: alumina, gold, crude oil, lumber, shrimp and fish, rice, bananas. Major consumers: US 26.1%, Belgium 17.6%, UAE 12.1%, Canada 10.4%, Guyana 6.5%, France 5.6%, Barbados 4.7%.

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o

Imports (2012): $1.782 billion: capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs, cotton, consumer goods. Major suppliers: US 25.8%, Netherlands 15.8%, China 9.8%, UAE 7.9%, Antigua and Barbuda 7.3%, Netherlands Antilles 5.4%, Japan 4.2%.

Largest cities or towns of Suriname

Paramaribo

Lelydorp

Rank Name District Pop. 1 Paramaribo Paramaribo 223 757 2 Lelydorp Wanica 18 223 3 Nieuw Nickerie Nickerie 13 143 4 Moengo Marowijne 7 074 5 Nieuw Amsterdam Commewijne 4 935 Nieuw Nickerie 6 MariĂŤnburg Commewijne 4 427 7 Wageningen Nickerie 4 145 8 Albina Marowijne 3 985 9 Groningen Saramacca 3 216 Moengo 10 Brownsweg Brokopondo 2 696

Education Education in Suriname is compulsory until the age of 12, and the nation had a net primary enrollment rate of 94% in 2004. Literacy is very common, particularly among males. The main university in the country is the Anton de Kom University of Suriname.

From elementary school to high school there are 13 grades. The elementary school has six grades, middle school four grades and high school three grades. Students take a test in the end of elementary school to determine whether they will go to the MULO (secondary modern school) or a middle school of lower standards like LBGO. Students from the elementary school wear a green shirt with jeans, while middle school students wear a blue shirt with jeans.

Students going from the second grade of middle school to the third grade have to choose between the business or science courses. This will determine what their major subjects will be. In order to go on to study math and physics, the student must have a total of 13 points. If the student has fewer points, he/she will go into the business courses or fail the grade.

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South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is a country located in Southern Africa. It has 2,798 kilometres (1,739 mi) of coastline that stretches along the South Atlantic and Indian oceans.

To the north lie the neighbouring countries of Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe; to the east are Mozambique and Swaziland; and within it lies Lesotho, an enclave surrounded by South African territory. South Africa is the 25th-largest country in the world by land area, and with close to 53 million people, is the world's 25th-most populous nation.

South Africa is a multiethnic society encompassing a wide variety of cultures, languages, and religions. Its pluralistic makeup is reflected in the constitution's recognition of 11 official languages, which is among the highest number of any country in the world. Two of these languages are of European origin: English and Afrikaans, the latter originating from Dutch and serving as the first language of most white and coloured South Africans.

Though English is commonly used in public and commercial life, it is only the fourth most-spoken first language.

About 80 percent of South Africans are of black African ancestry, divided among a variety of ethnic groups speaking different Bantu languages, nine of which have official status.

The remaining population consists of Africa's largest communities of European (white), Asian (Indian), and multiracial (coloured) ancestry.

All ethnic and linguistic groups have political representation in the country's constitutional democracy, which comprises a parliamentary republic and nine provinces. South Africa is often referred to as the "Rainbow Nation," a term coined by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and later adopted by then-President Nelson Mandela as a metaphor to describe the country's newly developing multicultural diversity in the wake of segregationist apartheid ideology.

The country is one of the few in Africa never to have had a coup d'ĂŠtat, and regular elections have been held for almost a century; however, the vast majority of black South Africans were not enfranchised until 1994. Racial strife between the white minority and the black majority has played a large part in the country's recent history and politics.

Apartheid was instituted in 1948 by the National Party, though racial segregation existed prior to that date. Discriminatory laws began to be repealed or abolished from 1990 Page 42 of 63

onwards after a long and sometimes violent struggle by the African National Congress and other anti-apartheid activists.

South Africa is ranked as an upper-middle income economy by the World Bank, and is considered to be a newly industrialised country. Its economy is the second largest in Africa, and the 34th-largest in the world. In terms of purchasing power parity, South Africa has the seventh-highest per capita income in Africa, although poverty and inequality remain widespread, with about a quarter of the population unemployed and living on less than US$1.25 a day. Nevertheless, South Africa has been identified as a middle power in international affairs, and maintains significant regional influence.

South Africa is located at the southernmost region of Africa, with a long coastline that stretches more than 2,500 km (1,553 mi) and along two oceans (the South Atlantic and the Indian). At 1,219,912 km2 (471,011 sq mi), South Africa is the 25thlargest country in the world and is comparable in size to Colombia. Mafadi in the Drakensberg at 3,450 m (11,320 ft) is the highest peak in South Africa. Excluding the Prince Edward Islands, the country lies between latitudes 22째 and 35째S, and longitudes 16째 and 33째E. The interior of South Africa consists of a vast, in most places, almost flat, plateau with an altitude of between 1,000 m (3,300 ft) and 2,100 m (6,900 ft), highest in the east, sloping gently downwards towards the west and north, and slightly less so to the south and south-west. This plateau is surrounded by the Great Escarpment whose eastern, and highest stretch is known as the Drakensberg.

Demographics South Africa is a nation of about 52 million people of diverse origins, cultures, languages, and religions. The last census was held in 2011. South Africa is home to an estimated 5 million illegal immigrants, including some 3 million Zimbabweans. A series of antiimmigrant riots occurred in South Africa beginning on 11 May 2008.

Statistics South Africa asks people to describe themselves in the census in terms of five racial population groups. The 2011 census figures for these groups were Black African at 79.2%, White at 8.9%, Coloured at 8.9%, Indian or Asian at 2.5%, and Other/Unspecified at 0.5%. The first census in South Africa in 1911 showed that whites made up 22% of the population; it declined to 16% in 1980.

South Africa hosts a sizeable refugee and asylum seeker population. According to the World Refugee Survey 2008, published by the US Committee for Refugees and Page 43 of 63

Immigrants, this population numbered approximately 144,700 in 2007. Groups of refugees and asylum seekers numbering over 10,000 included people from Zimbabwe (48,400), The Democratic Republic of the Congo (24,800), and Somalia (12,900). These populations mainly lived in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, Cape Town, and Port Elizabeth. Many refugees have now also started to work and live in rural areas in provinces such as Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape.

Politics South Africa is a parliamentary republic, although unlike most such republics the President is both head of state and head of government, and depends for his tenure on the confidence of Parliament. The executive, legislature and judiciary are all subject to the supremacy of the Constitution, and the superior courts have the power to strike down executive actions and acts of Parliament if they are unconstitutional.

The National Assembly, the lower house of Parliament, consists of 400 members and is elected every five years by a system of party-list proportional representation. The National Council of Provinces, the upper house, consists of ninety members, with each of the nine provincial legislatures electing ten members.

After each parliamentary election, the National Assembly elects one of its members as President; hence the President serves a term of office the same as that of the Assembly, normally five years. No President may serve more than two terms in office. The President appoints a Deputy President and Ministers, who form the Cabinet which consists of Departments and Ministries. The President and the Cabinet may be removed by the National Assembly by a motion of no confidence.

In the most recent election, held on 7 May 2014, the African National Congress (ANC) won 62.2% of the vote and 249 seats, while the main opposition, the Democratic Alliance (DA) won 22.2% of the vote and 89 seats. The Economic Freedom Fighters, founded by Julius Malema, the former President of the ANC's Youth Wing who was later expelled from the ANC, won 6.4% of the vote and 25 seats. The ANC has been the governing political party in South Africa since the end of apartheid.

South Africa has no legally defined capital city. The fourth chapter of the Constitution of South Africa, states that "The seat of Parliament is Cape Town, but an Act of Parliament enacted in accordance with section 76(1) and (5) may determine that the seat of Parliament is elsewhere." The country's three branches of government are split over different cities. Cape Town, as the seat of Parliament, is the legislative capital; Pretoria, as Page 44 of 63

the seat of the President and Cabinet, is the administrative capital; and Bloemfontein, as the seat of the Supreme Court of Appeal, is the judicial capital, while the Constitutional Court of South Africa sits in Johannesburg. Most foreign embassies are located in Pretoria.

Since 2004, the country has had many thousands of popular protests, some violent, making it, according to one academic, the "most protest-rich country in the world". There have been a number of incidents of political repression as well as threats of future repression in violation of this constitution leading some analysts and civil society organisations to conclude that there is or could be a new climate of political repression, or a decline in political tolerance.

In 2008, South Africa placed 5th out of 48 sub-Saharan African countries on the Ibrahim Index of African Governance. South Africa scored well in the categories of Rule of Law, Transparency & Corruption and Participation & Human Rights, but was let down by its relatively poor performance in Safety & Security. In November 2006, South Africa became the first African country to legalise same-sex marriage.

The Constitution of South Africa is the supreme rule of law in the country. The primary sources of South African law are Roman-Dutch mercantile law and personal law with English Common law, as imports of Dutch settlements and British colonialism. The first European based law in South Africa was brought by the Dutch East India Company and is called Roman-Dutch law. It was imported before the codification of European law into the Napoleonic Code and is comparable in many ways to Scots law. This was followed in the 19th century by English law, both common and statutory. Starting in 1910 with unification, South Africa had its own parliament which passed laws specific for South Africa, building on those previously passed for the individual member colonies.

The judicial system consists of the magistrates' courts, which hear lesser criminal cases and smaller civil cases; the High Courts, which are courts of general jurisdiction for specific areas; the Supreme Court of Appeal, which is the highest court in all but constitutional matters; and the Constitutional Court, which hears only constitutional matters.

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Nearly 50 murders are committed each day in South Africa. In the year ended March 2009 there were 18,148 murders, in contrast the UK had 662. Middle-class South Africans seek security in gated communities. The private security industry in South Africa is the largest in the world, with nearly 9,000 registered companies and 400,000 registered active private security guards, more than the South African police and army combined. Many emigrants from South Africa also state that crime was a big motivator for them to leave. Crime against the farming community has continued to be a major problem.

It is estimated that 500,000 women are raped in South Africa every year with the average woman more likely to be raped than complete secondary school. A 2009 survey found one in four South African men admitted to raping someone and another survey found one in three women out of 4000 surveyed women said they had been raped in the past year. Rapes are also perpetrated by children (some as young as ten). Child and baby rape incidences are some of the highest in the world, largely as a result of the virgin cleansing myth, and a number of high-profile cases (sometimes as young as eight months) have outraged the nation.

The South African Economy South Africa has a mixed economy, the second largest in Africa after Nigeria. It also has a relatively high GDP per capita compared to other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa ($11,750 at PPP as of 2012). Despite this, South Africa is still burdened by a relatively high rate of poverty and unemployment, and is also ranked in the top 10 countries in the world for income inequality, measured by the Gini coefficient. Unlike most of the world's poor countries, South Africa does not have a thriving informal economy; according to OECD estimates, only 15% of South African jobs are in the informal sector, compared with around half in Brazil and India and nearly three-quarters in Indonesia. The OECD attributes this difference to South Africa's widespread welfare system. World Bank research shows that South Africa has one of the widest gaps between per capita GNP versus its Human Development Index ranking, with only Botswana showing a larger gap.

After 1994 government policy brought down inflation, stabilised public finances, and some foreign capital was attracted, however growth was still subpar. From 2004 onward economic growth picked up significantly; both employment and capital formation increased.

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South Africa is a popular tourist destination, and a substantial amount of revenue comes from tourism. Illegal immigrants are involved in informal trading. Many immigrants to South Africa continue to live in poor conditions, and the immigration policy has become increasingly restrictive since 1994.

Principal international trading partners of South Africa—besides other African countries—include Germany, the United States, China, Japan, the United Kingdom and Spain.

The South African agricultural industry contributes around 10% of formal employment, relatively low compared to other parts of Africa, as well as providing work for casual labourers and contributing around 2.6% of GDP for the nation. Due to the aridity of the land, only 13.5% can be used for crop production, and only 3% is considered high potential land.

In August 2013, South Africa was ranked as the top African Country of the Future by FDi magazine based on the country's economic potential, labour environment, cost-effectiveness, infrastructure, business friendliness, and Foreign direct investment Strategy.

The FSI ranks South Africa as the 36th safest tax haven in the world, ahead of the Philippines but behind the Bahamas.

Education The adult literacy rate in 2007 was 88.7%. South Africa has a 3 tier system of education starting with primary school, followed by high school and tertiary education in the form of (academic) universities and universities of technology. Learners have twelve years of formal schooling, from grade 1 to 12. Grade R is a pre-primary foundation year. Primary schools span the first seven years of schooling. High School education spans a further five years. The Senior Certificate examination takes place at the end of grade 12 and is necessary for tertiary studies at a South African university.

Public universities in South Africa are divided into three types: traditional universities, which offer theoretically oriented university degrees; universities of technology ("Technikons"), which offer vocational oriented diplomas and degrees; and comprehensive universities, which offer both types of qualification. There are 23 public universities in South Africa: 11 traditional universities, 6 universities of technology and 6 comprehensive universities.

Under apartheid, schools for blacks were subject to discrimination through inadequate funding and a separate syllabus called Bantu Education which was only designed to give Page 47 of 63

them sufficient skills to work as laborers. In 2004 South Africa started reforming its higher education system, merging and incorporating small universities into larger institutions, and renaming all higher education institutions "university" to redress these imbalances.

Public expenditure on education was at 5.4% of the 2002–05 GDP.

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Criticism Certain issues have brought criticism to missionary activity. This has included concerns that missionaries have a perceived lack of respect for other cultures. Potential destruction of social structure among the converts has also been a concern. The Akha people of South East Asia are an example of those who believe that missionaries are only converting others for personal gain. The Akha people have complained the missionaries are more worried about building a church than building a clinic in a village that is very unhealthy.

Many traditional values of the Akha have been lost as a result of these conversions.

The Huaorani people of Amazonian Ecuador have had a well-documented mixed relation with Evangelical Christian missionaries and the contacts they brought to their communities, criticized by outsiders.

Christian missionaries have made many positive contributions around the world.

A recent study, published in American Political Science Review (Cambridge University Press), focusing on Protestant missionaries, found that they have often left a very positive societal impact in the areas where they worked. "In crossnational statistical analysis Protestant missions are significantly and robustly

associated with higher levels of printing, education, economic development, organizational civil society, protection of private property and rule of law and with lower levels of corruption".

Westernization Objections to missionary work among isolated, indigenous populations involve the claim that the goal of mission is to Westernize them.

Such claims have been raised by indigenous rights groups organizations, such as Friends of Peoples Close to Nature and Survival International.

Communicating Diseases Missionaries, along with other travelers, brought diseases into local populations.

Smallpox, measles, even the common cold, have been blamed on their arrivals.

David Igler of the University of California, Irvine, includes missionary activity as a cause of spreading germs.

However, he says that commercial traders were the main agents of disease. ... other diseases arrived on noncommercial voyages; missionary activities certainly spread germs, and Page 50 of 63

Spanish conquests had dispersed deadly germs in parts of the Americas and Pacific prior to the late eighteenth century. Yet, for the period between the 1770s and the 1840s, trading vessels were the main agents of disease, creating in the Pacific what Emmanuel Le Roy Ladurie has called a "paroxysm" of the "microbian unification of the world." By 1850, the microbes of Europe, Asia, and Africa circulated in almost every Pacific population.

Statistical Patterns Political scientist Robert Woodberry uses statistics to argue that conversionary Protestants were a crucial catalyst in spreading religious liberty, education,

and democracy. He shows that statistically the prevalence of such missionaries account for half of the variance in democracy in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Oceania. In a 2014 Christianity Today article he remarks that "Areas where Protestant missionaries had a significant presence in the past are on average more economically developed today, with comparatively better health, lower infant mortality, lower corruption, greater literacy, higher educational attainment (especially for women), and more robust membership in nongovernmental associations."

Controversy and Christian missionaries

“

"This proselytization will mean no peace in the world. Conversions are harmful to India. If I had the power and could legislate I should certainly stop all proselytizing ... It pains me to have to say that the Christian missionaries as a body, with honorable exceptions, have actively supported a system which has impoverished, enervated and demoralized a people considered to be among the gentlest and most civilized on earth".

In India, Hindu organisations such as the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh assert that most conversions undertaken by zealous evangelicals occur due to compulsion, inducement or fraud. In the Indian state of Tripura, the government has alleged financial and weapons-smuggling connections between Baptist missionaries and rebel groups such as the National Liberation Front of Tripura. The accused Tripura Baptist Christian Union is a member body of the Baptist World Alliance.

"In mid-May, the Vatican was also cosponsoring a meeting about how some

�

religious groups abuse liberties by proselytizing, or by evangelizing in aggressive or deceptive ways. Iraq ... has become an open field for foreigners looking for fresh converts. Some Catholic Church leaders and aid organizations have expressed concern about new Christian groups coming in and luring Iraqis to their churches with offers of cash, clothing, food or jobs.... Reports of aggressive proselytism and reportedly forced conversions in mostly Hindu India have fueled religious tensions and violence there and have prompted some regional governments to pass laws banning proselytism or religious conversion....

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Sadhvi Vrnda Chaitanya, a Hindu monk from southern India, told CNS that India's poor and uneducated are especially vulnerable to coercive or deceptive methods of evangelization.... Aid work must not hide any ulterior motives and avoid exploiting vulnerable people like children and the disabled, she said."

In an interview with Outlook Magazine, Sadhvi Vrnda Chaitanya said "If the Vatican could understand that every religious and spiritual tradition is as sacred as Christianity, and that they have a right to exist without being denigrated or extinguished, it will greatly serve the interests of dialogue, mutual respect, and peaceful coexistence."

Aid and Evangelism While there is a general agreement among most major aid organizations not to mix aid with proselyting, others see disasters as a useful opportunity to spread the word. One such an occurrence was the tidal wave (tsunami)

that devastated parts December 26, 2004.

of

Asia

on

"This (disaster) is one of the greatest opportunities God has given us to share his love with people," said K.P. Yohannan, president of the Texas-based Gospel for Asia.

In an interview, Yohannan said his 14,500 "native missionaries" in India, Sri Lanka and

the Andaman Islands are giving survivors Bibles and booklets about "how to find hope in this time through the word of God." In Krabi, Thailand, a Southern Baptist church had been "praying for a way to make inroads" with a particular ethnic group of fishermen, according to Southern Baptist relief coordinator Pat Julian. Then came the tsunami, "a phenomenal opportunity" to provide ministry and care, Julian told the Baptist Press news service.... Not all evangelicals agree with these tactics. "It's not appropriate in a crisis like this to take advantage of people who are hurting and suffering", said the Rev. Franklin Graham, head of Samaritan's Purse and son of evangelist Billy Graham."

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The Christian Science Monitor echoes these concerns... "'I think evangelists do this out of the best intentions, but there is a responsibility to try to understand other faith groups and their culture,' says Vince Isner, director of FaithfulAmerica.org, a program of the National Council of Churches USA." The Bush administration has made it easier for U.S. faith-based groups and missionary societies to tie aid and church together.

For decades, US policy has sought to avoid intermingling government programs and religious proselytizing. The aim is both to abide by the Constitution's prohibition against a state religion and to ensure that aid recipients don't forgo assistance because they don't share the religion of the provider.... But many of those restrictions were removed by Bush in a little-noticed series of executive orders -- a policy change that cleared the way for religious groups to obtain hundreds of millions of dollars in additional government funding. It also helped change the message American aid workers bring to many corners of the world, from emphasizing religious neutrality to touting the healing powers of the Christian God.

Christian Counter-Claims Missionaries say that the government in India has passed anti-conversion laws in several states that are supposedly meant to prevent conversions from "force or

allurement," but are primarily used, they say, to persecute and criminalize voluntary conversion due to the government's broad definition of "force and allurement." Any gift received from a Christian in exchange for, or with the intention of, conversion is considered allurement. Voice of the Martyrs reports that aid-workers claim that they are being hindered from reaching people with much needed services as a result of this persecution. Alan de Lastic, Roman Catholic archbishop of New Delhi states that claims of forced conversion are false. "'There are attacks practically every week, maybe not resulting in death, but still, violent attacks,' Richard Howell, general secretary of the Evangelical Fellowship of India tells The Christian Science Monitor today. 'They [India's controlling BJP party] have created an atmosphere where minorities do feel insecure.'" According to Prakash Louis, director of the secular Indian Social Institute in New Delhi, "We are seeing a broad attempt to stifle religious minorities and their constitutional rights...Today, they say you have no right to convert, Tomorrow you have no right to worship in certain places." Existing congregations, often during times of worship, are being persecuted. Properties are sometimes destroyed and burnt to the ground, while native pastors are sometimes beaten and left for dead.

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References 1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missionary 2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mission_%28Christianity%29 3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamaica 4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_in_Jamaica 5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Jamaica 6. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zimbabwe 7. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suriname 8. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Africa 9. http://worldrenew.net/sites/default/files/resources/Planning%20a%20short%20ter m%20mission%20trip%20with%20World%20Renew%20DRS.pdf 10. http://www.womensministry.net/public/images/Mission%20Trip%20Planner%27s %20Guide.pdf 11. http://www.breakfreeyouthministry.com/Other%20Stuff/Ministry%20Documents/ mission_trip_land_mines.pdf

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Attachment A Planning A Short-Term Mission

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Mission Trip Planning Guide

Overview

KEY QUESTIONS TO ASK

Drawing on lessons learned by Lions who have conducted medical and humanitarian missions for the past several decades, this guide was developed to not only help clubs plan a successful mission trip that will benefit a community in need, but also help Lions make the most of the project while developing new friendships and having an enjoyable experience.

Before conducting a mission trip, clubs should be able to answer the following questions: Why is this trip important?

How will the community in need benefit from this project?

How will your mission team benefit from this project?

Getting Started

Do the benefits to the community outweigh the benefits to your mission team?

When planning a mission trip, there are many things to take into consideration such as site preparation, team orientation, transportation and logistics, event promotion, and fundraising.

Are similar resources or services already available? How will your mission affect local healthcare providers?

The steps outlined in this guide will help you think through some of the preparations you will need to make in order to avoid unnecessary challenges/issues that could negatively impact your project.

What is the unique value added by your mission team?

What is the long‐term impact of this project?

How will the resources/services provided by your team be sustained in the future?

Specific steps include information on: 

Establishing a planning committee and developing an action plan;

What are some of the challenges your team may face before, during, or after the trip?



Obtaining necessary resources and approvals;

How will these challenges/issues be addressed?



Organizing and training the mission team;



Implementing your project; and

Do you have the necessary financial and human resources to successfully carry out the project?



Reflecting on lessons learned and planning your next steps.

Do you have the support you will need from the community and local authorities?

Lions Mission Trip Planning Guide

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Step 1: Establish a planning committee and develop an action plan.

Before any services are offered, it is important to determine staffing and on‐site coordination needs, as well as standard operating procedures.

When providing services to a large number of people over a short period of time, for example, it is important to determine how incoming patients will be managed (and pre‐screened if needed). It may be necessary to designate a specific number of patients (by appointment) to each service provider and assign volunteers to direct incoming patients to where they need to go. When faced with a language barrier between patients and providers, additional staff may be needed to provide interpretation services. It is also important that both the providers and patients have access to water and food.

Once you have determined where your mission project will take place and what specific needs will be met, it is important to designate a planning committee that will help ensure the success of the project.

The planning committee should consist of Lions representing both the sponsor and host clubs, as well as individuals who can offer additional expertise related to the logistics, approvals and clearances, cultural orientation, language (translation/interpretation), fundraising, as well as communication and promotion strategies.

(See the appendix on page 5 for a suggested list of sponsor and host club responsibilities.)

NOTE: While specialized services may be provided by members of the mission team (typically outside of the community that is being served), there may be opportunities to build capacity through training of local providers who may be able to offer similar services in the future or on a more long‐term basis.

When developing an action plan, it may be helpful to keep the following preparations/arrangements in mind: Materials and Resources Determine what supplies, equipment, and resources are needed for your project and how these will be attained. Clubs should consider sourcing materials and resources locally to avoid unnecessary shipping costs and customs barriers, and be able to support the local economy.

Mission Team Travel Arrangements Because travel by members of the sponsor club may be costly (particularly when traveling internationally), it is important to give careful consideration to the number of people who will join the mission team and whether any services can be offered by the host club.

Site Preparation and Coordination Sponsor and host clubs should work together to obtain the necessary approvals for the use of facilities and carrying out work that may be regulated by the local government. When conducting medical missions for example, the local government (such as the ministry of health) may have specific guidelines related to medical practices within that particular country.

Lions Mission Trip Planning Guide

When traveling outside of your home country, it is important to review travel warnings (typically issued by the state department), obtain official travel documentation and entry visas, look into travel/emergency health insurance coverage, and consult with a travel clinic on any additional vaccinations and medications.

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NOTE: Before purchasing airline tickets, it may be helpful to check with airline companies on any discounts or special programs for non‐profit humanitarian projects. It is also important to book your tickets early and understand what can and cannot be carried onboard an airplane or packed in your luggage.

Budget When planning a mission trip, it is important to take account of all the necessary expenses and how they will be funded. A detailed budget should cover all aspects of the mission, including mission team travel and lodging, supplies and materials, logistical support, facility/equipment rental, taxes and fees, and other expenses. Some of these costs can be leveraged by sourcing materials and resources locally, drawing on assistance by the host club, or by individual donations and/or grant funding.

Shipping, Customs, and Other Logistics When shipping supplies and materials (such as eyeglasses, hearing aids, or medical equipment), it important to determine the most cost‐ effective options and whether you can take advantage of any discounts or programs for non‐profit humanitarian projects.

Fundraising and Promotion In order to obtain funding and support for your project (that may come from individual donations or grants), it is important to be able to demonstrate the need for your project and how it will make a difference.

Perhaps one of the biggest challenges related to the shipment of supplies and materials is getting them cleared through customs. It is therefore important to understand the restrictions and/or customs fees associated with the shipment of supplies and materials from one country to another. This is where the host club can be especially helpful in making special arrangements, particularly when working with local authorities.

When applying for grant funding, you will need to understand what can and cannot be covered by the grant, be able to meet all the grant criteria, and give yourself sufficient time to prepare the grant application and receive the award (grant reviews often take several months).

Lessons Learned: Shipping of Eyeglasses

After completing your project, special attention should be given to acknowledging your sponsors/contributors and demonstrating the success of your work. Hearing stories of how the project touched the lives of disadvantaged individuals can be especially rewarding for someone who has helped to fund your project (and may do so again in the future).

“On two missions, the glasses that were shipped to another country were detained at the border. We were forced to examine patients for three days without the glasses and told them to return on the fourth day to get their glasses. The local host Lions were able to ‘pry’ the glasses loose and we were able to dispense 2,000 – 2,500 glasses in one day.”

To learn about the various grant programs offered by the Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF), visit the LCIF Web site at www.lcif.org.

‐ Dr. Gary Anderson, OD Grand Rapids Lions Club

Lions Mission Trip Planning Guide

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Step 2: Obtain necessary clearances and approvals.

mission and have sufficient time to make changes and address unanticipated challenges.

In addition to guidelines and regulations related to international travel and shipment of supplies and materials, it is also important to understand what approvals may be needed for the use of facilities and/or provision of certain services.

Whether this means seeking an approval from a local authority or a specific office/individual, the sponsor and host clubs should be aware of what approvals are needed and make sure they are obtained before any services are provided to the community.

Step 5: Reflect on lessons learned and plan your next steps.

After completing the project, it is important to reflect on lessons learned (what worked, what did not work, where changes are needed) and arrange for special recognition of everyone who contributed to the project. A follow up visit with local authorities and key sponsors may also be helpful to express your appreciation and obtain support for future projects.

A Story from the Field

Step 3: Organize and train the mission team.

“On my first mission to Guatemala in 1990, one of the patients I saw was a young mother who made tortillas for a living. After examining her, I discovered that she was extremely nearsighted. We did not have glasses that would enable her to have good vision for distance. Since she does not drive and she used “ped‐power” as her mode of transportation, I decided that it would be best to correct her vision so that she would have clear vision ~ 4 – 5 feet in front of her. When the glasses were placed on her face, she looked around and around, since she was finally ‘seeing’ her surroundings for the very first time. She then started to cry and said that she would now be able to see her baby clearly.”

Decide on who will be part of the mission team and what specific role each member will serve on the project. It is also important to determine what specific responsibilities will be carried out by the sponsor and host clubs.

When serving a community outside of your home country, the traveling mission team should have a basic understanding of what to expect in terms of cultural norms, language, dress code, food, climate, lodging, and on‐site transportation. The host club can be especially helpful in providing insights and orient the team on what to expect when preparing for the trip.

It may also be helpful to provide the mission team with an on‐site contact list and a few key phrases and words in the local language.

‐Dr. Leila Chinn, OD, MBA Walnut Creek Ygnacio Valley Lions Club

Share your story Be sure your club secretary includes information about your mission project in the Lions monthly service activity report where they can provide a description of the project, upload photos, and share this with other clubs.

Step 4: Implement your project.

When the mission team arrives, the host club should be prepared to provide on‐site transportation, accommodations, and any other support as decided during the planning stages of the project. It is important to understand who is responsible for each aspect of the Lions Mission Trip Planning Guide

For More Information: Visit the LCI Web site at www.lionsclubs.org and keyword search “missions,” or contact us at missions@lionsclubs.org to be connected with other Lions who are active in missions.

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Appendix: Suggested Sponsor and Host Club Responsibilities Sponsor Club

Host Club



Provide specialized services



Secure and prepare on‐site facilities



Take care of travel arrangements for the mission team



Promote the event to the local community



Recruit and manage volunteer and paid staff



Provide orientation (in consultation with the host) for all members of the mission team



Establish and maintain local partnerships



Work with local health professionals (at the host site) and provide training as needed



Obtain support/approvals from local authorities



Provide oversight for services/health professionals as needed



Recruit local healthcare providers



Source equipment/supplies and other resources



Handle logistics such as:



Provide equipment/supplies as needed



Provide supplemental funding as needed

o o o o o o o o o o

Patient appointments On‐site coordination/in‐take Volunteers/support staff Translation support Water/food for patients, staff, volunteers Shipments (receiving/customs/storage) Safety/security Troubleshooting Mission Team orientation Follow up

Sponsor and host clubs should work together to develop a detailed action plan that applies to the project/ local context and outlines the following: 1. Goals and objectives for the project with specific outcome indicators, such as: Number of patients to be served Number of staff to be trained Services to be provided

2. Action steps and specific roles and responsibilities for the sponsor and host clubs o o o

3. A list of materials and resources needed for the project 4. Detailed budget with information on how the necessary funding will be secured and shared by the sponsor and host club 5. Evaluation and communication/promotion strategy for the project

Lions Mission Trip Planning Guide

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Attachment B Mission Trip Planner’s Guide

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Going in Jesus’ Name!

Mission Trip Planner’s Guide Prepared by Carla McDougal You’ll find tips to help you plan and execute your mission trip whether at home or overseas. It also includes 19 handouts with six days of prepared devotionals for your team to do prior to the mission trip.

Carla McDougal and Womensministry.net

MISSON TRIP PLANNER’S GUIDE Prepared by Carla McDougal (This guide is written from my own experience. It is up to each mission trip leader to determine the plan, direction, research government docs, shots needed, etc. It is not an exhaustive guide, but one to begin your planning. The organization you are connecting with will also have guidelines for your group.)

Preparation for Mission Trip Prayer Team – Ask the Lord to bring together a prayer team to pray for the Lord to reveal the purpose, mission, destination, team members, date, organization, etc.

Mission Organization - Seek an established mission organization to work through for the mission trip. Many, if not most, have ongoing relationships with churches, missionaries, and mission organization around the world. As a result, they have pre-planned trips already on the calendar. In most cases, these organizations take care of the details of the trip. This frees you from the headache of flight reservations, hotels, meals, trip insurance, etc. Here are a couple of viable mission ministry options that I have personally worked with over the years… 

Tirzah International - Their network of over 150,000 continues to address key issues affection women and children: poverty, modern day slavery, HIV, AIDS, lack of access to education for girls and violence against women and girls. Website - http://tirzah.org/ Contact - John Crews - jcrews@tirzah.org



Vision Trust - Their Mission is to develop orphaned and neglected children into mature Christians equipped to live in their own culture. We do this by enabling Christian nationals to meet the physical, educational, emotional and spiritual needs of these children. Website - www.visiontrust.org Contact - Mark Cornelison mark@visiontrust.org



WMN NOTE: Additionally, your denomination will often have a mission department that you can contact. Compassion International and Buckner International offer trips worldwide related to children. World Hope Ministries International offers trips worldwide with Bible Institutes, Women’s conferences and ministry to children in multiple formats.

Mission Trip Team Size - Determine the number of mission trip team members. I have been on

trips with fifty people and on trips with just two people. Here are some factors to consider as you determine the size of your group. A large group takes more time to get from one place to another. If a group is too small, you miss opportunities to connect with the people of the country you are visiting.

From my personal experience, I've found that a group of 8-10 people is an ideal size.

As you begin to put together your group, you'll need to decide if you want this to be an open group or hand-picked. If it is an open group, offer a general meeting to those interested. Then, provide a deadline date for a deposit securing a spot on the trip. The mission organization will help you with dates and deadlines. Note: Begin the planning process as early as possible - at least 5-6 months in advance.

Pre-Planning Informational Sheet – Fill out Handout #1 as you plan the mission trip.

Budget (Handout #2) – Fill in the Budget and have available to pass out at the Informational Meeting.

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Passports – application forms are available at the post office or download them from the state

department web site: http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english.html. This site has lots of information about how and where to apply for a passport, how much it costs, how long it takes, etc.

Passport forms can also be obtained by calling the National Passport Information Center at 888-3628668.

Visas - Research visas requirements and medical requirements for your host country. Visa

requirement info: http//travel.state.gov/foreignentryregs.html or you can call the U.S. State Department at 202-663-1225. For extra help contact Travel Document Systems to help your team obtain visas in a timely fashion. Their number is 800-874-5100; fax 202-638-4674.

Medical - If you already have the vaccination requirements for the country, prepare to present this

information to the team. Medical info on country & vaccines needed: www.cdc.gov/travel/index.htm.

Remember to ask about medical insurance coverage at the informational meeting for when they are overseas. If it does not cover internationally, consider getting a short –term policy.

Prayer Team – Ask God to bring together a prayer team over your mission trip. These are people who are necessarily going on the trip, but are the prayer warriors over the mission team.

Emergency Contact Plan - While you are on the mission trip, your team needs to have a reliable

way of passing information between the team members and their families at home. It is very helpful to have one contact person at home who acts as the information center for communication in both directions. This eliminates confusion and miscommunication for all. Your team should develop a contact plan listing all the member’s names, their family contacts and phone numbers and all the important names and numbers in the host country. This list will be given only to the local contact person, the team leaders, the pastor and the church office. Every team member doesn’t need a copy.

Develop a Team Member Roles List - Determine the roles needed for the team. For example,

administrator, point person, treasurer, photographer, journalist, prayer team leader, devotional leader, craft organizer, skit leader, emergency coordinator, worship leader, translator, etc. Assign a point-person to act as the administrator of the group. She will be the one who is the contact for the mission organization or ministry your group will work with throughout the trip. One option is to open a private Facebook group for the team. This allows everyone to keep in touch with the details, prayer requests, and more. For most people today this works better than email. But, if not all the team is on Facebook email works fine too.

Prepare a Mission Trip Calendar – Preparations should begin at least 6 month before the

scheduled mission trip (No later than 5 months). Determine date of trip, informational meeting, funding deposits-deadlines, team meetings, etc. Have this available for the Informational Meeting.

Fundraising - Briefly discuss the fundraising needs for your team. You may decide to raise funds as

a team rather than individually. If you plan to raise funds as a team, brainstorm some creative ideas and prioritize them; then set dates for the top fundraising activities. Ask someone to volunteer to organize the activity. If members are required to raise their own funds, encourage them to compose their own fundraising letter. It should be no longer than one page and include the dates, destination and purpose of the trip. Suggest that they tell the reader how much they have already raised and how much they have left to go.

Fundraising Suggestions   

Spaghetti dinner – consider selling tickets beforehand Silent / Loud Auction – of donated products or services Two-by-Two House Work – hire out pairs of team members to do an hour or two of house work for a donation

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  

Bail Me Out – ask for donations to bail the pastor out of his / her “jail cell” at a central location.

Per-Day Supporters - Ask supporters to sponsor the team for one day of the mission trip. Determine the amount of time and divide the total costs of the trip by the number days to get a per-day sponsorship amount.

Fund-raising.com - Check out the website at: http://fund-raising.com/ideabank.html

Informational Meeting – Logistics      

Discuss the purpose, mission goals, plans, dates, cost, deadlines, flights, expectations, etc.

Prepare folders for prospective mission team members. Include all the handouts from this Mission Trip Planner Guide. Explain each one to the group.

Read through the “God’s Principals for Successful Mission Trips” (Handout #4) Review the schedule between now and departure date.

Passport – Encourage them to order passports NOW and to double check expiration dates for those who have existing passports.

Fund Raising/Support – encourage them not to say “no” because of the cost, but trust God will provide the way if He is prompting them to go.

Building the Mission Team    

 





Assign Prayer Partners to lift one another up as they prepare and bond as a group.

Unity - Read Eph 4:1-6 and Phil 2:1-4 about becoming one in the Body of Christ.

Determine the meeting/planning schedule.

Each time the group meets, ask one of the members to share their testimony. This way the team gets to know each other better and it gives the members an opportunity to practice sharing their story. (Don’t forget Handout #7) Brainstorm ideas for the trip together as a group. Recognize the different gifts and talents God has brought together.

Learn more about your host country. Ask for volunteers to gather information on your destination country to be presented during future sessions or while on the mission trip.

Ask them to send you a brief reflection on “What we want you to know about us before you come.” They could include such items as: o Cultural do’s and don’ts o Characteristics of great missions o Songs o Humor o Geography & demographics (population, ethnic groups, major religious) o History, politics & economy o Culture, customs & courtesy As the team forms, pray for the Lord to give your group a Focus Verse. One idea might be Psalm 133. This chapter focuses on a team being unified. Remember there is an enemy who wants to kill, steal, and destroy our work for Jesus. When a team is unified and equipped with a variety of God-given gifts and talents, it brings strength and oneness to the whole group.

Plan to do the Mission Team Individual/Group Bible Study BEFORE the trip. Do the individual studies at home and plan to discuss them in your group meetings prior to the trip. See Handout #19 on page 25 for prepared devotionals for 6 days.

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Mission Trip Planner’s Handouts 1. Pre-planning Informational Sheet 2. Mission Trip Budget 3. Mission Trip Registration 4. Mission Trip Recommendation Form 5. God’s Principles for Successful Mission Trips 6. Trip Information Sheet Guide 7. Questionnaire: Why Do I Want To Go? 8. My Story: Guidelines in how to write your testimony 9. Please Be A Prayer Partner 10. Support Raising Letter 11. Emergency Medical Information 12. Permission to Travel in a Foreign Country 13. Team Covenant 14. Common Sense Suggestions for Staying Healthy 15. Packing Tips 16. Example of Packing Lists 17. Basic First-Aid Kit 18. Handling Jet Lag 19. Mission Team Individual/Group Bible Study

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Handout # 1

Pre-Planning Informational Sheet 

Trip purpose and dates



Maximum / minimum group size / age limits



Costs for transportation, lodging, food

_______________________________________________



Insurance needs

_______________________________________________



Equipment needs

_______________________________________________



Country contact person (s) (name, position, email, phone, fax)

_________________________________________________________ _____________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Contact Mission Organization or Host Country Missionaries to discuss: 

Trip purpose & dates



Maximum / minimum group size / age



Limitations

________________________________________________



Transportation

________________________________________________



Food & lodging

________________________________________________



Language(s) spoken on site

________________________________________________



Equipment needs

________________________________________________



Costs and fees

________________________________________________



How to send money to the country in advance ________________________________________________



Leadership from the organization on site

________________________________________________



Medical facilities

________________________________________________

________________________________________________ ____________________________

If planning a Mission Trip without an established organization – Contact travel agency find out information regarding the following items: 

Flight costs and airport fees

________________________________________________



Times

________________________________________________



Restrictions

________________________________________________



Routes

________________________________________________



Luggage allowances

________________________________________________

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Handout #2

Mission Trip Budget Planner Team Costs (per person): Airfare & taxes

________________________

In-country transportation

________________________

Housing

________________________

Food

________________________

Gifts in country

________________________

Materials & Supplies for Project

________________________

TOTAL

$ _______________________

*This is the amount each person must pay “upfront.”

Personal Costs Passport / Visas

________________________

Immunizations

________________________

Food & Lodging on the way

________________________

Laundry

________________________

Souvenirs / Gifts

________________________

Donations

________________________

Miscellaneous

________________________

TOTAL

$ _______________________

*This is the amount each person will need for other expenses.

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Handout # 3

Mission Trip Registration Name Birth date (Exactly as it appears on your passport, driver’s license or birth certificate) Address __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ City / State/ Zip _________________________________________________________________________________________________ Home Phone __________________________________Cell Phone ______________________________________________________ Closest Relative: Name & Phone (not going on mission) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ E-mail address __________________________________________________________________________________________________ 1.

Please list some ways you have served the Lord.

2.

Why would you like to participate in the mission trip?

3.

What kind of skills, knowledge and spiritual gifts to you have to offer for this trip? Do you speak another language?

4.

List your strengths: People skills, administrative, construction, teaching children, youth adults, etc.

5.

Do you have any special medical or dietary needs? Do you have medical insurance? If yes, with who? Please list all pertinent insurance information.

6.

Please briefly describe you spiritual journey and testimony. (if necessary, use separate piece of paper)

I request permission to participate in the mission to ________________________________________(Country) on ______________________________________(dates). I will ask my church family to pray for me for the Lord’s guidance as I prepare and participate in this mission.

Signature ___________________________________________________________________ Date _______________________________ Please return the completed registration form to: Name of Mission Organizer ____________________________________________________________________________________ Address __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ City / State / Zip ________________________________________________________________________________________________ Phone number, Fax, E-mail _____________________________________________________________________________________

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Handout #4

Mission Trip Recommendation Form To be filled out by a pastor, campus minister, youth minister, or lay leader who knows the applicant well. A relative or close friend of the applicant should not fill it out.

Recommendation for: Name ______________________________________________________________________ Person applying for Mission trip to___________________________________________________ (country) on _______________________________________________________(dates) Recommendation prepared by: Name

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Address __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ City / State / Zip ________________________________________________________________________________________________ Home Phone # ______________________________________________Cell:_______________________________________________ Relationship to the applicant:

___________________________________________________________________

1.

How many years have you known the applicant and in what setting?

2.

Please describe the applicant’s spiritual walk with Jesus?

3.

What are the applicant’s strengths?

4.

This person is planning to go on an out of the country mission trip where he/she will be in an unfamiliar environment. Flexibility will be an especially important character trait in the crosscultural situation. Please describe any special areas of concern you have about this applicant.

Signature ________________________________________________________________________ Date:_________________________ This information is confidential and will be shared only with those persons responsible for the safety and wellbeing of the team. Please return the completed recommendation to: Name of Mission Organizer ____________________________________________________________________________________ Address __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ City / State / Zip ________________________________________________________________________________________________ Phone number, Fax, E-mail _____________________________________________________________________________________

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Handout #5

GOD’S Principles for Successful Mission Trips God is the Head of the Mission    

You are not taking God to this place, rather God is taking you! (Gen. 12:1-3; Ps. 139:1-10) God has been at work in this place long before you arrived. God has a plan for this community, these people and this person (Jer. 29: 11; 1 Tim. 2:3-5, II Peter 3:9) Follow God’s lead not yours.

God will always be with you. (Matt. 28:20b; Rom. 8:38-39; Heb. 13:5.)

Open Heart, Open Hands     

An open heart is free to be filled by the Holy Spirit and to overflow with His love.

(John 14:15-17; Acts 13:2-4; Rom. 5:3-5) An open heart is free to be broken by the injustice and poverty of the world.

(Deut. 15:7-8; Ps. 918; Ps. 82:3-4l; Gal. 2:10) An open heart is ready to receive.

An open hand is a sign of good will and humility. (Gal. 5:22-23) An open hand cannot clutch a clock, a schedule or a stereotype.

Doing is Less Important than Being      

Be like Jesus, walk as Jesus walked. (1 John 2:6; Matt. 5:1-16; John 15: 1-14) Be human beings not human doings! (1 Thess. 5:11) Focus on people, not just on the task. (1 John 3:18) Work on building relationships, not monuments. (Rom. 12:9-15) Take a deep breath when things don’t start or end on time; there are more important things in life than sticking to a schedule.

Be flexible – things will rarely go as you planned.

A Servant’s Heart    

Learn from your hosts; honor them and God by serving them. (John 13:12-17) Find out what your host prays for and then commit to praying for it, too.

(James 5:16) Practice humility! (Luke 22:24-27; James 4:10) There are many ways of doing things; yours is only one and it may not be right for this time or place. Be adaptable – try new things, set aside biases and work on fitting into the culture

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Handout #6

Trip Information Sheet

Destination Country and Ministry Location

__________________________________________________________

Dates

__________________________________________________________

Nature of trip and skills needed

Describe the ministry or task you plan to do. Example: we will help construct a new home in the barrios of Agua Prieta, Mexico. We will also do a food distribution, clothing distribution, work at a soup kitchen, visit an orphanage and play soccer with the local high school.

Purpose of trip

Describe the larger purpose of your mission experience. Example: To discover how our Lord is working in the country in Mexico or to encourage our church back home to pray for and support the mission.

Cost

Include a payment schedule. The first few payments should cover the cost of the plane ticket by the time of reservation / purchase (three to four months before the trip). Include a note that the price of the trip is subject to change due to inflation or other reasons.

Leaders and contact information

Describe how to apply for the trip and who the leaders are. Tell where to send the registration form and payments – include the address and phone number. Include a note that says: checks should be made out to (Name of organization/ministry/etc.) __________________________________________________________ and sent to: Name _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Phone numbers _________________________________________________________________________________________________ Email _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Handout # 7

Why Do I Want to Go? Prayerfully ask God whether you should go on this mission trip. If the answer is “no,” do not push your own agenda. Wait for God’s ‘go signal” – maybe next year’s mission is the one God has in mind for you. If the answer is “yes”, then go ahead and answer the following questions.

1. Why I want to be a part of this mission team:

2. My goals for the trip are:

3. The concerns that are on my mind include:

4. What I think I can contribute to the team:

5.

What I expect to learn:

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Handout #8

Tips for Sharing Your Story (Testimony)     

Limit your testimony to three or four minutes.

Use easily understandable language. Avoid Christian talk that new or non-believers might not understand, e.g. sanctification, the blood of Jesus washed away my sins.

Avoid idioms and slang. They often cause misunderstanding or embarrassment when translated.

Begin with a greeting in the host country language. Remark on something you appreciate about their country, the culture or the hospitality you have received.

Write out your testimony. This helps you to cover the important points in a short period of time.

Once you are comfortable sharing your story, you may not need to refer to your notes.

My Story (Testimony) 1.

How my life was before my relationship with Jesus Christ (where I focused most of my energy; where I found security):

2.

Share your story of how you came to know Jesus as personal Lord and Savior:

3.

How my life is different since I decided to live my life for Christ; how Jesus changed my attitude and behavior; how I know God is real (share this as if you are writing a thank you note to God):

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Handout #9

Prayer Partner Request Dear friend, Please consider being a prayer partner for our trip to ____________________________________________________ on ______________________________________________________ (dates).

Thank you for praying for our team and me as we participate in this short-term mission experience.

Our main goal as a team is to…. (describe your “primary reason”)

I would really appreciate your prayers for…. (share prayer requests and needs)

Team Member Name:

______________

Address: Phone / e-mail: Date of Mission Trip: *********************************Cut here************************************ Please fill out the bottom section and return it to the team member. Keep the top half and post it where you will see it every day, for example, on your refrigerator, on the bathroom mirror, or next to the TV remote control.

Yes, I will pray for you and your team from now until your return from your trip to: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ (country) Prayer Partner Name Address: Phone Number: Email Address:

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Handout #10

Support Raising Letter (Sample) Date _________________________________ Dear _________________________________, I am writing you to let you know that I need your help as I step out in faith. This spring break / summer a mission team from our Organization/ Church is going to ______________________________. We leave on ____ and return home on .

Our main goal as a team is to

(Explain the mission, purpose, reason for the trip)

. While

we are in _________________________, we will be _______________________________________________________ (describe your project or the nature of your trip). I am really excited to see what God will teach me and to see how God will use us to be the hands and feet of Jesus. I would really appreciate your prayers for: __________________ (prayer requests).

Would you consider supporting our team financially, too? Each person on our team needs to raise $__________________. I have already raised $________________ but still need to raise $________________ before _______________ (date). If you are able, please donate $25, $50 or whatever you feel led to give toward our support. Please make your tax 窶電eductible gift payable to:_______________________________ (Name of Organization or Church) with a note saying that it is a financial gift for the mission trip to _____________________ (Mission Trip name) with fund raising credit to _____________________ (your name).

(You might include the fund raising ideas your team has available as well) Thank you! Your prayer and financial support mean a lot to our team.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Your name

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Handout #11

Emergency Medical Information Your Name: ___________________________________________________________________ Passport #:_____________________ Name of emergency contact (Not on the trip): _______________________________________________________________ Relationship: _____________________________E-mail: ______________________________________________________________ Day phone #: _____________________________Evening phone #:___________________________________________________ Your doctor’s name, phone # and e-mail: ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Do you have any special medical conditions that might cause a problem during our time on mission? (allergies, blood pressure, etc.)

Do you have any special dietary needs?

List all prescription medication you are taking:

Insurance carrier: (Make sure your policy covers you overseas.) __________________________________________ Policy #: ______________________ Group #________________________ Contact phone # _____________________________ In the event of a medical emergency, I hereby authorize those in charge to take me to the nearest licensed physician, medical center or hospital, and to secure necessary treatment (medications, injections, anesthesia or surgery) to protect my wellbeing. I will be responsible for all medical costs not covered by my insurance.

Signature

Date

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Handout #12

Permission to Travel in a Foreign Country (Sample Only) (Permission is required of anyone less than 18 years of age. Please check the United States required document and forms for updates to this form) Date _______________________ Dear Consul General: We / I _________________________________________________________________________ (Parents or Guardians Name) of ________________________________________________________________________ (Address) are parents or guardians and have legal custody of ______________________________ (Minor Child’s Name) a minor child, who resides with us at the address set forth above. We / I hereby authorize the minor to travel in ______________________________________________ during the dates of ___________________________ (trip dates) with _____________________________ (Organization Name) and the Designated group leaders (s) listed below: _________________________________________, __________________________________________________ (Leader’s Names) _____________________________________________________, _____________________________________________________________ (Parent / Legal Guardian) (Parent / Legal Guardian) NOTE: IN the case of two parent families / Legal guardians, BOTH parents / legal guardians must sign this form and have it notarized. In the case of single parent families, the sole parent / legal guardian may sign.

NOTARY STATE OF

COUNTY OF

Be it remembered, that on this day, __________________________________________________ (Date) before me, the undersigned, a Notary Public in and for the county and state aforesaid, came ______________________________________________________________ (Parent / Legal Guardian) who is personally known to me to be the same person(s) who executed the above and foregoing instrument, and they duly acknowledge the execution of the same. IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my official seal on this day and year above written. ________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

(Date commission Expires)

(Notary Public)

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Handout #13

Team Covenants 

I will pray for one another and our hosts.



I will remember it is God’s mission.



I will have a servant’s heart.



I will show the attitude of a learner.



I will respect the host culture – e.g. dress codes, customs, and other religions.



I will be considerate of others first before myself.



I will not gossip.



I will abstain from using profanity, smoking, alcohol and the use of illegal drugs.



I will encourage honest and open communication.



I will submit to the authority of our team leader(s) and or hosts. Eph. 5:21.



I will voluntarily give up the right to privacy and individualism in order to live and work together as a unified team.



I will participate in all team activities.



I will refrain from pursuing any romantic relationships while we are on this mission trip (with team members or with hosts – this is more for youth group trips)



I will, as the need arises, correct one another with gentle speech. (Prov. 27:5-6)



I will follow the guide in Matt. 18: 15 – 20 for resolving conflict.



I will be slow to anger and quick to forgive. (James 1:19; Heb. 12: 14-15)

Signature of team member

Date_______________________

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Handout #14

Common Sense Suggestions for Staying Healthy (This is a sample list. Create your own according to your trip. One of the best websites for information on staying healthy overseas is www.lonelyplanet.com)              

Drink only boiled, bottled, or treated water.

Avoid ice unless you are sure it is safe.

Brush your teeth with safe water.

Eat food that is thoroughly cooked and hot.

Avoid fresh salads, fruit or raw vegetables (unless you peel them).

Avoid street vendor food.

Wash your hands every time you get a chance.

Wear insect repellent that contains DEET. Wear sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher).

On the work site, wear eye and ear protection when needed.

Be careful with power tools.

Use ladders carefully.

Get help with heavy loads.

Know your limits and do not exceed them.

Common safety measures when traveling in unfamiliar places:         

Always go with a buddy. Do not go wandering around alone.

Always let your team leader know where you are going.

Obey the team leaders’ instructions.

Stay alert but not paranoid.

Stay with the crowds and the traffic.

Do not leave your bags unattended.

Carry only small amounts of cash.

Leave jewelry at home: wedding rings, gold/silver jewelry, etc.

Keep a hand on your bag; carry your wallet in a front pocket.

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Handout #15

Packing Tips 1.

Pack light – take half of what you think you need!

2.

Pack one suitcase and one carry-on. Pack only as much as you can carry.

3.

If there are a lot of trip supplies, take an extra suitcase for them only. Plan to leave the suitcase there or use a collapsible one to pack in your suitcase.

4.

Take one credit or debit card if needed. Leave extra credit cards at home. ATM’s are available in most cities worldwide. For currency conversion information, see www.oanada.com.

5.

Avoid taking contact lenses if possible.

6.

Pack liquids like lotions and aftershave in re-sealable plastic bags / Ziplocs

7.

Tell the leader if you have medication that requires refrigeration.

8.

IMPORTANT: Pack your carry-on bag with extra set of clothes, essential toiletries, and medicines so that you can survive for several days if your luggage is delayed / lost.

9.

Pack in “used” suitcases, not brand new ones.

10. Pack the heaviest items on the bottom.

11. Tie a colored ribbon / yarn on the handle of each team member’s suitcase to make them easy-to-identify at baggage claim. Suggestion: Create a “Mission Trip Tag” preferably in a bright color and attach one to each suitcase so they are easily spotted.

12. Mark each bag with your name, address and telephone number, but ideally, this information should be on a covered luggage tag so that it cannot be read by the casual passer-by.

13. Dress modestly out of respect for the host culture. No tube tops, short shorts, sleeveless blouses or shirts, t-shirts with crude slogans, etc. Have a Mission Trip Shirt made for all the team. Wear it when you travel/fly out and in to the county. This identifies the team as “one.”

14. Simplify your hair dressing and make-up routine. If possible, leave blow dryers and curling irons at home. Not easy for girls!

15. Leave jewelry at home. Wedding rings and watches are OK. 16. Try to make this a non-techno trip. Leave radios, TV’s, iPod, CD players, cell phones, and Gameboys, etc. at home when possible. This way you focus on each other and develop meaningful relationships.

17. Have one team member bring a basic first-aid kit for the whole team. (See First –Aid Kit items).

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Handout #16

Example of a Packing List

(This will vary from mission trip to mission trip) Important Documents / Devotional Items  Plane Ticket  Bible  Passport with visa if needed (Make 2 copies of passport/visa. Leave one at home with someone and store the other one in your backpack/purse)  Journal  Picture ID  Pens / pencil  Money  Address list  Money belt  Reading material  Keys to luggage  Travel insurance card

Toiletries (carry on) / Clothes       

Personal prescriptions Toiletries (toothbrush, paste, soap, shampoo, deodorant - sample size, razor, comb/ brush, feminine products, travel toilet paper) Mirror, Make-up (min. only) Tissue packets Medicines for diarrhea, allergy (Benadryl), Tylenol, prescribed meds, antibiotic anointment (Polysporin), Band-Aids, Probiotics, etc.

Water Bottle (refillable with filter works great for stateside, but don’t depend on the filter overseas) Sunscreen, lip balm, insect repellent, water purification tablets, hand sanitizer

Clothes               

Walking shoes/ Tennis shoes Work clothes – jeans, t-shirt, light jacket Church Clothes – in most countries women must wear a dress/skirt and not show their shoulders. Confirm with the organization/host country what is appropriate. It’s better to dress moderately with modesty) Sweater, pants, socks, underwear, cotton shirts, t-shirts Flip-flops for showers Towel/Wash cloth Bedding Poncho/Umbrella Sweatshirt Modest sleepwear Walking shoes Money belt, Back pack, passport holder Sun hat / bandana / Sunglasses Modest swimsuit NOTE: pack one change of clothes in carry-on

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Other Good Stuff / Ministry Items                    

Flashlight & batteries Work gloves & shoes Camera, extra battery Small pocketknife, Tools (that you can donate) if needed!

Re-sealable bags Ministry materials - ask leaders Voltage converter Outline of your testimony Pictures of family Musical instrument Travel clock/ alarm Servant’s heart Sleeping bag & Pillow Simple gifts for hosts Granola bars Flexibility Small laundry soap Travel Toilet Paper Positive attitude Travel games

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Handout #17

Basic First-Aid Kit                              

Aspirin or Tylenol Decongestant for colds & flu – (take before flights to avoid damaging ears) Antihistamine (e.g. Benadryl) Antiseptic (e.g. Betadine) Triple-antibiotic ointment or germicidal soap Band – Aids Adhesive pads of all sizes – 2 ½ by 3 ½ to 2” x 3” Adhesive tape Non-prescription pain killer Cough drops Tweezers Ice pack Scissors Matches Sanitary pads Cotton Eye-wash Thermometer Ace Bandages Diarrhea medication (e.g. Imodium) Rehydration mixture (in case of severe diarrhea) Gatorade powder works well.

Laxative Pepto-Bismol – chewable is less mess Cold & sore throat medication Anti-itch ointment for stings, bites, sunburn (e.g. calamine lotion) Thermometer Ace bandage Water purification tablets Bee sting / snake bite kit Additional Items:

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By Carla McDougal @ www.reflectivelifeministries.org/

Handout #18

Tips for Managing Jet Lag

1. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables for two days before you leave and three days after you arrive at your destination. Eat pasta or rice the night before your flight.

2. Avoid heavy meals for 24 hours before your flight (e.g. hunks of meat, fatty or fried food).

3. About 48 hours before your flight, set your watch to the time of your destination country. Make sure this is not your alarm clock! Begin to adjust your daily schedule to match that of your destination country.

4. Drink plenty of water and fruit juices, especially during the flight. Avoid caffeine and alcoholic drinks.

5. After you arrive, spend as much time as possible outdoors in natural lighting.

This will help your body to naturally adjust to the time change.

6. Make a special effort to get plenty of exercise in the first couple of days after arrival. Also, walk around the plane once every hour on long flights.

7. Count on your body to take about one day to adjust to each hour of difference in time. So, for example, it will probably take about three days for your body to adjust to a three-hour time difference between your home and the destination country.

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Handout #19

Mission Trip Individual/Group Bible Study Reflect on The Word Reflection #1 - God Loves All People, from All Nations Individual Reflection Time Purpose: Develop an appreciation and openness to other cultures Pray: Ask the Lord to give you insight, understanding, and a fresh perspective into His Word.

Read: John 4:4-42: Jesus and the woman at the well 

Where was Jesus and the disciples headed?



In those days the Jews would never have walked through Samaria to get to Galilee. Why? Because the Samaritans were considered an “unclean” group of people. What attitude was Jesus trying to demolish in the disciples and for future believers?



What do you notice about how Jesus approached the woman?



What did Jesus do?



What did Jesus NOT do?



Describe how their conversation progressed.



Was the woman a good “missionary?” Why or why not?



What do Jesus and the Samaritan woman teach us about how to minister cross-culturally?

Group Discussion 

Discuss the answers to the questions in the Individual Reflection Time



Summarize what you learned from John 4:4-42



Have a team member (previously asked to prepare) to give a short presentation on the geography of the country. Share some insights.



What are some language phrases from the country? What is the historical Christian influence?



Discuss the Geography & Demographics

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Reflection #2 - Viewing Others through God’s Eyes Individual Reflection Time Purpose: To see others the way God sees them Prayer: Ask God to open your heart and mind to His Truths planted in today’s scriptures. 

Review “God’s Principles for Successful Mission Trips” (Handout #5). Focus on the first principle, “God is the Head of the Mission Program.”



Read the following verses and answer the questions…



o

Ps. 66:5 Come and see what God has done…

o

Acts. 10:34-5 God does not show…

o

Ps. 139:7-10 Where can I go from your Spirit?

o

1 Tim 2:3-4 God’s desire is…

What do you learn from these verses about viewing others through God’s eyes?

Group Discussion 

Discuss the answers to the Individual Reflection Time



Pray Together - Ask different team member to pray for one area… 

Pray for the country.



Pray for the people your group will meet.



Pray to seek God’s guidance in all activities.



Pray for patience, especially when God’s surprises do not fit in with your preconceived plans.



Pray for the Holy Spirit to open your hearts to show you ways to love the people God brings to your group on the trip. How can we love them through Jesus?



Pray the group has a teachable spirit.

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Reflection #3 - An Open Heart and Respect toward Others Individual Reflection Time Purpose: Learn to let go and trust God. Prayer: Ask God to give you an open heart and respect toward others. 

What are some things you need to change in your attitude, character, or actions before the mission trip?



How would you respond to this scenario…?

You are living in close quarters with several other people in a tropical climate, working all day, coming back to your barracks hot and sweaty and hungry. Upon arrival, you discover that the electricity is off and there is no water available for showers. Not only are you tired from working but also you are tired because you did not get enough sleep the night before because the rooster woke you up too early. All you want is a simple shower and some sleep, but you find that it is not going to be very simple.

Possible ways I could react to this situation:



Read Romans. 12:3-6a, Matt. 18:15-20.



After reading the scripture how should I respond to the scenario above?



Ask God to prepare your heart for the unexpected and to react in a manner that reflects Jesus.

Group Discussion 

Discuss the questions and scenario above.



What are constructive and biblical ways to resolve conflict?



Discuss positive phrases to remember in the midst of conflict:



Pray as a group over these issues and ask God to unify your group in a powerful way. Praise Him for the differences among you. Ask for your hearts to “beat as one” for Jesus as you serve Him through this trip.

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Reflection #4 - More Like Jesus Individual Reflection Time Purpose: Become more like Jesus in our attitudes and behavior.

Prayer: Ask the Lord to transform you into His reflection through His Word today. 

Read Luke 10.



Why did Jesus send His followers out “two-by-two” in verse 1



Why did Jesus mention “eating and drinking whatever they give you” in verse 7?



What are things that gave the disciples joy? (v.17)



What did Jesus say their joy ought to be based on…? (v.20)



What was Jesus referring to in v. 24?



Explain the parable of the Good Samaritan.



What is the “better part” that Jesus was referring to when speaking to Martha? (v.42)



Pray for the Lord to make you more like Jesus.

Group Discussion 

Discuss the answers to the above questions.



How do you feel about this statement? “When we focus on BEING the person Christ wants us to be, God will empower us to DO what needs to be done. Doing is less important than being.”



Pray together about putting people first above the mission work.

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Reflection #5 - Develop a Servant’s Heart Individual Reflection Time Purpose: Ministering with the heart of a servant Prayer: Ask God to help you develop a servant’s heart––one that is filled with love, grace, and mercy. 

Reflect on John 13 1-17 - The Washing of the Disciples Feet



How do you respond to this verse? “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave.” Matt 20:26-27



Ministering with a servant’s heart is usually not glamorous or self-glorifying. More often than not it involves sweating, scrubbing, and doing for something else without demanding recognition.



Having a “servant’s heart” means that I will…



How do you relate to your teammates and the people we will minister on the trip?



Things I really appreciate about my teammates…

Group Discussion 

Discuss the questions in the Individual Reflection Time.



Spiritual Inventory



o

Two things I am very happy about in my spiritual life…

o

Two areas where I would like to grow in my walk with Jesus…

Pray for unity among the group and for each to develop servant’s hearts.

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Reflection #6 - God Is With Us Individual Reflection Time Purpose: Reflect on God’s faithfulness.

Prayer: Ask the Lord to reveal His faithfulness through the scriptures. 

Reflect on Hebrew 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you: never will I forsake you. What impresses you?



Learn to encourage to one another. Read John 13:2-10. Imagine yourself as one of the disciples reclining around the table that evening as Jesus lovingly washed and dried twelve pairs of feet. What do you learn from this block of scripture?



Imagine Jesus kneeling before you and washing your feet. What would you say to Him? How might you feel about the King of kings, Lord of lords bowing at your feet? What would you say to Him?



Ask the Lord to give you an encouraging attitude toward your team. Ask God to confirm His faithfulness, love, and encouragement to you as you plan for the mission trip.

Group Discussion 

Discuss the Individual Reflection Time together.



What fears do you have of going on this mission trip? How do you need to trust in God’s faithfulness?



How can we as a group encourage one another now, on the trip, and to the people we will come in contact with on the trip?



Pray together over all of these areas.

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Attachment C Mission Trip Landmines

Page 59 of 63

Ten Mission Trip Land Mines

by Bill Allison www.cadreministries.com

We had just put the finishing touches on what I thought was a great summer mission trip. For a number of people in our group, this was their first time on any sort of mission trip, and since I love watching God use first-hand mission experiences to transform lives, I was pumped up.

As our group was saying goodbye to our newly-made friends overseas, I watched a fifteen-year-old girl from our group walk over to a teenage male, a national and friend of the missionary who hosted us. I was sure she just wanted to say farewell to him. But she didn’t say a word. To my total astonishment, she simply walked up to him, put her hands on his shoulders, tilted her head, leaned into him, and gave him a l o n g, s l o w k i s s... a kiss that, from my perspective, seemed to last for an eternity. The young man looked stunned but delighted.

(Let’s just say that he didn’t run away crying to his mommy, nor did he file a sexual harassment complaint. He may, however, still be telling the story to his friends some twenty years later.) I, along with the rest of our group, the hosting missionaries, and the other national believers, didn’t enjoy the kiss nearly as much. I felt my heart jump out of my chest and flop hopelessly on the ground in a mixture of blood-boiling anger and deep discouragement.

Talk about missing the point of a mission trip! How could she even think that was in the realm of the appropriate? How could we ever undo the collateral damage of this little but profoundly inappropriate goodbye kiss?

This young girl had stepped on a mission trip land mine. Our group and God’s work in that area of the world paid the price in damage.

Make no mistake about it: On a mission trip, the collateral damage of one small misstep could have a profoundly negative effect on you, your group, and your ministry.

The fact is that there are a lot of mission trip land mines buried just beneath the surface... waiting patiently... for you or someone from your group to make one wrong step. Shouldn’t you know where these land mines are buried so you can avoid stepping on them?

It’s my desire to show you and those in your group where some of the most common mission trip land mines are hiding so that you can avoid stepping on (c) 2008 Bill Allison

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them and, thus, suffering the consequences. The list that follows is not exhaustive or prioritized in order of importance. I simply offer these ten mission trip land mines in the spirit of Proverbs 22:3: “A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.”

Mission Trip Land Mine #1 Romance Since many people who go on short term mission trips are young and single, a further word of caution needs to be said here. Under “normal” circumstances, romance between two single people of the opposite sex and appropriate age can be a wonderful thing. However, mission trips are hardly normal circumstances.

Romance between two unmarried people while on a mission trip tends to disrupt the unity of the team because those romantically involved only want to be around each other, rather than be a part of the team. The impact of the trip for those who become romantically involved is thwarted because they tend not to be concerned about the mission experience and what God is doing in and through them. They’re focused on their love life. This unmarried lovey-dovey couple can send all kinds of potentially inappropriate messages to the people of the country you are in. (In some countries I've been in, just taking a walk alone with a person of the opposite sex carried with it immoral connotations.)

We would do well to live above reproach and live life well on the safe side, especially while we are on a mission trip. Short term missionaries must be taught to be very careful in this area because one wrong move could set a missionary's work back for a long time.

Mission trips are not the time or place for romance.

Compounding the problem is the fact that people from other countries watch American movies and/or television. Consequently, they have ill-informed, preconceived ideas about what American men and women are like based on what they have seen. While we know that this would be like doing a study on rabbits based on Bugs Bunny cartoons, it doesn't change the way American men and women are perceived. You need to know this.

To avoid all possible hassles, I recommend that you have everyone sign off on a "no romance with anyone" rule while on the mission trip. The rule should include no-romancing with anyone on the team, anyone from another visiting team, or anyone living in the country in which you will be serving. It would be to your advantage to repeat the "no romancing with anyone" rule regularly at your orientation meetings and while you are on the mission trip whenever necessary.

If Lance Romance is unwilling to put his love life on hold for the short time it takes (c) 2008 Bill Allison

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to go on the mission trip, then I wouldn't bother taking him. The same goes for Lucy Lovesick. Those who get involved in romance while on a mission trip often end up missing the whole point of the trip and cause unnecessary problems for the rest of the team—and the hosting missionaries.

How will you ensure that you and those on your team will avoid stepping on the land mine of romance?

Mission Trip Land Mine #2 An Inflexible Attitude Often, mission trips take people to places that tend to be a little more politically, socially, and economically volatile. Consequently, any given situation on a mission trip can change quickly. How will your group handle this volatility?

Furthermore, what many of us consider to be necessities are not always assessable abroad. (Sorry ladies, that 110 curling iron will get fried when you plug it into a 220 outlet... and thus... no more primping.) How will your group make due with what is available? Flexibility is imperative while on a short term mission trip.

One of your rigid rules must be: "Be flexible!"

Once while we were in a very poverty-stricken part of the world, our team bought thirty bags of cement and headed out to build a church. Much to our dismay, we couldn't get any water! (Where we were, the water came in trucks and you had to buy barrels of it.) We waited for a couple of hours and still no water. We ended up donating the cement to the church for a different group to use at another time when water would be available, and then we went and did some landscaping and a roofing job at another location. Not exactly what we had set out to do that day, but it was a great lesson in flexibility.

Being flexible tends to drive certain personality types crazy because they desire to have everything planned out ahead of time. The hard truth is that ministry in another culture isn't that cut and dried. That means you MUST be flexible. It's a real drag for the hosting missionary or mission agency if you and your team are not flexible.

What will you do to make sure that you and those on your team avoid stepping on the land mine of an inflexible attitude?

Mission Trip Land Mine #3 An Undefined Work Project Not having a clearly defined work project is a fast track to trouble. Many times we create our own problems because of the lack of a simple plan of action. (c) 2008 Bill Allison

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Each day there should be at least a basic idea as to what the team will be doing. Even things such as mowing the grass, painting the church, and helping in the kitchen can be great daily work projects and help in keeping the team's focus on serving. Without a daily work project, the team's focus tends to move from the idea of serving others to being served, from being a short term missionary to a tourist. Keeping in mind what I just said about being flexible, it wouldn't hurt you to have a daily Plan A, Plan B, and a Plan C just in case. Do your best to have a clearly defined work project each day.

What do you need to do before you leave on this mission trip to avoid the land mine of an ambiguous work project?

Mission Trip Land Mine #4 Focusing Too Much on the Work Project Considering what I just said about not having a clearly defined work project on which to focus, it’s also critically important to point out that it is possible to focus too much on a work project. A daily work project is very important, but not more important than interacting with people, especially the nationals!

A mission trip, like all ministry, is about people, not projects.

Think about it. All work projects have their end in serving people. Many short term mission groups expend all their money and energy in a work project without ever really interacting with anyone outside of their group. Then they have the nerve to go back to their church and talk about their great mission trip.

What good does it do a group of Americans to go on a mission trip, do a work project and not interact with any of the nationals? (It’s possible to feed the homeless but never interact with them... or even smile at them.) That's not missions. That's American. Don’t just build a home. Build a friendship. (It’s amazing how much of a connection one can build even with a language barrier.) While on a mission trip, it’s vitally important to keep in mind that missions is people, not projects. Work projects are important, but not all important.

What do you need to do right now to make sure that you and those in your group don’t step on the land mine of focusing too much on a work project?

Mission Trip Land Mine #5 Withdrawal When someone is in a strange environment, surrounded by unfamiliar people speaking an unfamiliar language, immersed in a totally different culture, the natural tendency is to shy away from it all. However, withdrawing from these diverse cultural situations will greatly hinder the mission trip's effectiveness.

Experiencing a different culture is an important part of a mission trip. Therefore, (c) 2008 Bill Allison

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it's very important to have a "go for it" attitude! When you come to a cultural situation that is strange to you, don't shy away. Go for it!

The food? Go for it!

Eating the food of other cultures seems to be a problem for many Americans.

But think this through with me. Why would you want to travel all the way to Mexico and turn down the opportunity to eat authentic Mexican food? You may never pass this way again... and Taco Bell is NOT a legitimate substitute! But people often push back and say, “But Bill, if I eat this food, I’m going to get diarrhea.” I smile, look them in the eyes, and say, “Of course you will. But is it a real mission trip if you don’t get diarrhea? I think not.” I then put my arm around this person, double check to make sure we have our diarrhea medicine, and we go eat real tacos. (They are delicious!)

It’s important to note that, in some cultures, if food is refused even in a polite way, it is nearly equal to a rejection of the people and their culture. A person with a "go for it" attitude will eat whatever the nationals are eating and not complain! (A simple prayer that I have said a few times before a meal goes something like this, "Lord, if I can get this down, you keep it down!") A "go for it" attitude is a must for a positive missions experience—especially at dinner time.

Besides it is not everyday you get to eat a grub worm, a lizard tail, or an ostrich!

It is a shame to pass by experiences you are not likely to ever have again. Don't withdraw. Go for it!

One time when I took a group to Mexico, we worked at an orphanage laying cement for a basketball court. The orphanage director wanted to do something special for us, so he had some of the ladies make us some soup. The main ingredient was cow intestines. We told our group in advance at our orientation meetings that they were to eat whatever was set before them, as much as possible. I was so proud of one young man who ate what he could and then went outside to discretely vomit. The irony of this situation is that when this group sits around reminiscing about the good times, this soup story usually comes up—no pun intended.

The once-in-a-lifetime opportunities? Go for it!

When I went to Brazil, they needed someone to butcher chickens so we could have chicken for dinner. Growing up in a housing project, I didn't get too many opportunities to butcher chickens, so I volunteered. It was quite an experience —especially since I had to use a knife (they didn’t have a machete). I haven't been asked to do something like it since (thank God), but I'm glad I did it then.

(c) 2008 Bill Allison

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The language? Go for it!

Even though I am among the worst at learning foreign languages, I always just dive right in and try to use what little I know when I am on a mission trip. I always get laughed at by the nationals because I so badly butcher their language, but they seem to appreciate me trying. I have said some real dumb things on accident, but that's just part of a good mission experience. (One missionary asked me, “Why do you keep calling that kid ‘dog’?” Oops! I guess there is a difference between “Pedro” and “perro.” My bad. No wonder the kid never responded to me. But boy, the dogs hounded me—pun intended this time.)

Having a "go for it" attitude will help you shed the ugly American image that we have in many places. Also, it gets you out of your comfort zone, where you have to trust God. And anytime you’re trusting God, that’s a good thing. Keep in mind that when you get back to America, it's too late to take advantage of the diverse cultural experiences you could have had during your mission trip.

Withdrawing hinders the impact of the mission trip, so have a "go for it" attitude.

How will you ensure that you and the people in your group avoid the land mine of withdrawal—and not miss the opportunity to trust God in a new way?

Mission Trip Land Mine #6 A Lack of Orientation If you haven’t picked up on the idea that this article should be used in your orientation BEFORE your team leaves for a mission trip let me underscore that right now. Why wouldn’t you want to warn your team about the mission trip land mines out there as a part of your orientation meetings? Prefield training is often the difference between a good short term mission trip and a bad one.

During orientation, the leader must communicate pertinent information about such things as culture, interpersonal relationships, and any rules for the team's trip. Without a thorough and engaging orientation program, the team doesn’t have a chance to build momentum for the mission trip.

Mission trips would be great if it weren’t for the people on the team...

Since I’ve been on mission trips where the interpersonal relationships have gotten ugly (some of our groups put the “FUN” in dysFUNctional), I highly suggest that you strategically invest some time in your prefield orientation training those on the team to love God and each other. You’re going to need this! Cadre Ministries can connect your team with a trainer who can bring Ministry Is Relationships training to your team. At a minimum, you’re going to need a devotional guide that will daily encourage and equip those on your team to love God and people in practical, hands-on ways. For this, we suggest Cadre’s One Another Living Guide. This devotional is a journey through the adventure of living out twenty-five “one another” verses in the Bible. (For example, love one (c) 2008 Bill Allison

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another, pray for one another, and encourage one another.) If your mission trip is a ten-day trip, you can start everyone in the devotional guide fifteen days BEFORE you leave... and walk through the last ten “one anothers” as a team while on the mission trip.

To whom do you need to give this article and how can you use it in your next orientation meeting?

Mission Trip Land Mine #7 Fatigue Almost every short term mission trip that I have had the privilege to participate in has been physically exhausting. That's why I always laugh inside when I hear comments like, "They go on a mission trip every year because it's more or less a vacation." This comment usually comes from a very uninformed person. The truth is that the schedule starts around 6 AM and runs till around midnight. This is okay for the first two or three days, but then the emotional unravelling begins to show. People get on each other's nerves. Words are said. Emotions run high to low. Also, work ethic slips and complaints start to surface. Team unity hits a low.

The first couple of nights, the excitement of the trip keeps people up at night. If a group is sleeping in the same room (males with males and females with females), the first couple of nights mean a lot of conversation. About the third day of the trip, you need to make sure everyone gets right to sleep, because if they don't, you will have problems that you wouldn't otherwise have had. If you need to, sleep in one day or take one day off. A team that is physically exhausted is not likely to have a positive mission experience. Vince Lombardi said, “Fatigue makes cowards of us all.” Fatigue can turn an otherwise loving person into an angry and emotionally out-of-control idiot—just ask my kids.

Learn to read your group, lest a lack of rest hinders the impact of the trip.

What would be the signs that those in your group are leaning on the land mine of fatigue?

Mission Trip Land Mine #8 A Lack of Food On a mission trip life can get very busy. You might be tempted to skip a meal or eat very little because you don't have time. Been there, done that, and didn’t like it. (Nor did those in my group.) That’s why I’m telling you: Don't do it! A wellfed group is a happy group. And a happy group stands to gain much from a mission experience. Your team should have plenty of food to eat. Ideally, water should be available at all times. It may be to your advantage to have light food/goodies/snacks available too, but not enough to take away appetites for the main meals. (c) 2008 Bill Allison

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This “feed-the-team” principle especially goes for young men. Young men can eat like horses. I've seen the nicest men turn into monsters when their stomachs were empty. But enough about my issues. Save yourself some trouble. Feed the team.

What do you need to do before the mission trip to ensure that you and your team don’t step on the lack of food land mine?

Mission Trip Land Mine #9 A Lack of a Biblical Foundation It seems that fewer and fewer people who claim to know and love God are intentional about reading, studying, and applying the Bible. Yeah, they go to church and are conversant about God and spirituality. But a mere 9 percent of all people who claim to have a relationship with Jesus Christ actually hold to a biblical worldview. Something is missing in our Christian lives. I think it’s the APPLICATION of the Bible to every nook and cranny of our lives... also known as discipleship (Luke 6:46-49) and spiritual maturity (Hebrews 5:13-14).

A mission trip is an opportunity to reengage Christians with God via The Holy Bible. That’s why I require everyone going on a mission trip to find a verse of Scripture that they can base the trip on and then memorize it. People need to have a foundation in the Word of God for missions involvement. Without a biblical foundation for missions involvement, people will base their trip on emotions. The problem is that our emotions change. When things get tough (and they will), our emotions tell us to quit and complain. The Word of God is stable, and it doesn't change like our emotions tend to. With a verse or two of Scripture firmly fixed in the mind and heart through memorization, God's stable Word can override our unstable emotions. As we make our emotions subject to the Word of God, the result is stability in our lives.

Emotional Roller Coaster in Brazil Let me illustrate what I am saying with an experience that I had when I was on a short term mission trip. Right before I left to go to Brazil for six weeks, my church had a commissioning service for me. One of our spiritual leaders read and expounded on II Timothy 2:3, "Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ" (KJV). I decided to make that verse the verse I would base my trip on.

Three weeks later, I was out in the middle of nowhere in a tribe in Brazil, sick and dehydrated from experiencing dysentery for ten days. I remember laying in my hammock when a tremendous fear and doubt came over me. I started to panic. Did I have something internally wrong with me? I was afraid that I'd die (c) 2008 Bill Allison

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and never see my family and friends again. Just about the time my emotions had a good hold on me, my mind flashed back to my commissioning service three weeks earlier. In my mind, I watched one of the elders of our church read, "Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." I can't explain the peace that came over me as I understood that God wanted me to endure this little inconvenience I was going through and that He would take care of me. The Word of God stabilized my emotions, and I was able to continue on even though my emotions were telling me to panic.

At some point on every mission trip, the flesh will run out of gas and the emotions will start to take over. At that point, people will need to rely on the Word of God —not their emotions.

What practical steps will you take to equip yourself and the team to avoid the land mine of a lack of a biblical foundation?

Mission Trip Land Mine #10 Culturally Insensitive Dress It's very important to know what the appropriate dress is for the country in which you will be working. Here are some clothing issues that could cause problems: Bright colors scream "look at me.” When you are in another country and culture, the goal is to blend in as much as possible—not to stick out as much as possible. I was reminded of this recently during a trip to Egypt. It was quite easy to identify the tourists from the nationals... and that is not a compliment. Do not wear bright colors unless it’s considered the normal dress for that culture.

Rethink wearing gold and diamond jewelry. If it’s not your wedding band, you may want to leave it at home.

At the risk of sounding like a guy with five daughters (yep... it’s true), women have to be very sensitive about their shirts. The problem is, for obvious reasons, women’s shirts can be too tight, too loose, too high, or too low. (Sorry ladies.) The less revealed the better. Be sure to have this clothing chat with the young women in your group before you leave.

Guys working with shirts off is offensive in some cultures. Find out from the hosting missionary what is culturally acceptable.

Wearing shorts can also be a problem in some cultures. Again, before you leave, find out what is culturally acceptable from the hosting missionary.

Use discretion. (c) 2008 Bill Allison

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Perhaps the safest bet is to wear modest jeans and a comfortable fitting work shirt to work in. You may want to take something a little nicer for church or special occasions. Do your homework and find out what is proper in the culture in which you will be living. It’s safe to always err on the conservative side.

What homework do you need to do to make sure you and your team don’t step on the land mine of culturally insensitive dress?

What Now? 1.

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Give this article to each person on your mission team and have them read it—marking it with a pen as they read.

Gather the team together to discuss the article.

Have each person sign off on the Checklist Covenant on the next page.

Guide the team through the Free Mission Trip Training Session included in this article.

Contact info@cadreministries.com to bring Cadre’s Ministry Is Relationships training to your team.

Visit www.cadreministries.com/store to get Cadre’s devotional, the One Another Living Guide, for each member of your team.

About Cadre Ministries...

Our Obsession: Equipping Local Churches to Make Volunteers WILDLY Successful!

Cadre Ministries is a [501(c)(3)] not-for-profit ministry.

To be trained to take Cadre training to your church/ministry, contact info@cadreministries.com and ask about Cadre’s certification process.

For information about bringing a certified Cadre trainer to coach and train the volunteer teachers, leaders, and youth workers in your church/ministry, contact info@cadreministries.com.

For Cadre training resources visit www.cadreministries.com/store.

Cadre’s fun-loving staff serve as support-based, God-dependent missionaries who can only do this ministry with Cadre because of generous friends like you.

To make an online, tax deductible donation to Cadre Ministries: GO HERE. All other tax deductible donations can be sent to: Cadre Ministries PO Box 278 Sycamore, IL 60178 (c) 2008 Bill Allison

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A Checklist Covenant to Help You and Your Team Avoid Stepping on a Mission Trip Land Mine...

Check off and sign.

I have read the article, Ten Mission Trip Land Mines.

I understand and will obey the “no romancing with anyone” rule.

I understand and will obey the “be flexible” rule.

I know what work projects we will be doing on the mission trip. Our work projects are ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ I clearly understand that missions is about people, not projects.

I will do my best to have a "go for it" attitude and not withdraw when I encounter culturally different circumstances.

I understand that orientation meetings are critical to the success of our mission trip and will participate in each orientation meeting.

While on the mission trip, I will go to sleep when my leader tells me.

While on the mission trip, I will keep hydrated by drinking water and take time to eat even when I get incredibly busy.

I have a biblical foundation for my involvement on this mission trip. I have memorized the following passage of Scripture: ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ I will dress in such a way as to honor Jesus Christ and the culture of the people whom I am serving.

Signature: ____________________________________________ Date: _________________ (c) 2008 Bill Allison

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A Free Mission Trip Training Session...

On Your Own: Create a list of at least five more mission trip land mines not touched on in the article: Why is this a land mine?

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With Your Team: Gather your team together and have everyone share their lists of mission trip land mines. On a piece of large poster board, create your group’s top ten mission trip land mines. Be sure to discuss these questions: 1.

Why are these mission trip land mines?

2.

What could happen if a team member steps on each of the land mines on your list?

(c) 2008 Bill Allison

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Recommended Resources for Mission Trips At a minimum, you’re going to need a devotional guide that will daily encourage and equip those on your team to love God and people in practical, hands-on ways. For this, we suggest Cadre’s One Another Living Guide. This devotional is a journey through the adventure of living out twenty-five “one another” verses in the Bible. (For example, love one another, pray for one another, and encourage one another.) If your mission trip is a ten-day trip, you can start everyone in the devotional guide fifteen days BEFORE you leave... and walk through the last ten “one anothers” as a team while on the mission trip.

Note: For orders of 10 or more, you get a FREE PDF download of the One Another Small Group Guide.

Cadre Ministries can also connect your team with a trainer who can bring Ministry Is Relationships training to your team.

To order online, go to www.cadreministries.com/store.

For questions, info@cadreministries.com.

(c) 2008 Bill Allison

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Notes ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

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Notes ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

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