KNOW BEFORE

YOU

KNOW

BEFORE

Information, forms and ideas for members of

OKLAHOMA VOLUNTEERS IN MISSION Teams

BEFORE

YOU

KNOW

GO GO

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Oklahoma Volunteers In Mission

United Methodist Ministry Center 1501 N.W. 24th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73106-3635, (800) 231-4166, FAX: (405) 530-2048 www.okvim.org

“The mission of the Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.”

Rev. Jeremy Basset Director (405)530-2028 [email protected]

Rev. Richard Norman Associate Director (405) 530-2032 [email protected]

Lori Foster Coordinator (405) 530-2070 [email protected]

Kristin Terrell-Wilkes Coordinator (405) 530-2029 [email protected]

Dear OKVIM team member, The staff of OKVIM and I are delighted that you will be embarking upon an OKVIM mission, surely one of the most meaningful and life-changing expressions of Christian service available to us. You can be sure that your presence in God’s mission will be transformative, both for you and your fellow team members as well as those amongst whom you will serve. We are clear that the purpose of your mission (to share the love of Jesus Christ in ways that make a Christian difference) is more important than any task you might be performing, as vital as those tasks certainly are. By keeping your focus on that profound purpose, and preparing yourself as best as you can for your mission, you will be a true difference-maker in the lives of many others. This manual has been put together to help you in your preparations as well as to help your team leader in his/her difficult task of covering all the bases. Your team leader, already trained and certified to perform this role, has undertaken a huge task in agreeing to lead you and the other team members through your upcoming mission. Your diligence in preparing yourself thoroughly by attending all the requested orientation meetings and going through this manual will ease his/her task enormously! You will find a lot of helpful information to prepare you for mission in this manual, as well as some ideas of how to pray for your mission, what to take with you, and even some books to read, movies to watch and websites to visit that will enhance your mission understanding and experience. There are also some forms to complete at the back of this manual. These will need to be completed and turned in to your team leader before your departure. There is also a personal reflection form to be filled in and turned into your team leader after your mission is completed. Your team leader will give you instructions on how to complete these forms at one of the orientation meetings you will hold before departure. If you have any questions about your mission, please ask your team leader: he/she is there to do exactly that. He/she will contact the OKVIM office if further help is needed in answering your questions. We look forward to hearing the stories of your mission when you return. Who knows, they might even turn up on the pages of our ministry’s journal, SHARE! Please know we will pray for you in preparation for and throughout your mission. May you experience God’s presence and power as you go to serve in His wonderful name!

Rev. Jeremy Basset, Director, and the Staff of OKVIM

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Table of Contents

Page

4 .................... Purpose, Values, Task, and Mission Covenant

6 .................... Attitudes, Behaviors & Characteristics (ABC’s)

7 .................... Pray for our Mission Team

8 .................... How to Obtain a Passport

9 .................... Personal Air Miles Policy

General Travel Information

10 .................. OKVIM Travel Insurance

11 .................. Team Member Packing List

12 .................. “Staying Healthy Abroad” by Christopher R. Cox

16 .................. “Debriefing the Mission” by Mike Woodruff

18 .................. “Debriefing the Mission: Home Again!” by Linda Olson

20 .................. Resources for Personal Preparation

FORMS ____________________________________________________

22 .................. Explanation of Forms

24 .................. Medical Information and Emergency Contact Information

26 .................. Youth Liability Release Form (under the age of 18)

28 .................. Adult Liability Release Form

30 .................. Notification of Death Form (International missions only)

32 .................. (Post-mission) Team Member Reflection Form

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Purpose, Values, Task, and Mission Covenant

OUR PURPOSE The purpose of Oklahoma Volunteers In Mission is to share the love of Christ in ways that make a Christian difference.

OUR VALUES We will seek to glorify God in all that we do by acting on our belief that the commitment to Christ and service

are inextricably bound together. We will be an extension ministry of the United Methodist Church in Oklahoma, responding to the specific

requests of Methodist-related churches and agencies, both locally and around the world, and will partner with them in mission.

We will equip our leaders and team members for effective ministry and seek, through our tasks and sharing of our own time, talents and lives, to build relationships that enhance ministry and fulfill our purpose.

We will value and respect other cultures and ways of life and will conduct ourselves accordingly. We will fulfill our commitment to every mission by returning home and sharing the story of Christian difference

making.

OUR TASK The task of Oklahoma Volunteers in Mission is to share our abilities in partnership with our team members and those who host our teams. As servants, we participate in accomplishing particular goals set by and in cooperation with our hosts – in their time and in their way.

A NOTE ABOUT OUR PURPOSE AND TASK It is most important that we be constantly mindful of the primary nature of our purpose. The task is important but is always to be secondary to realizing our true mission as Christians together…to share Christ’s love. When we are faithful in our purpose, the difference that Christ intends will be made.

MISSION COVENANT I realize that the following commitment is crucial to the effectiveness, quality, and positive expression of our mission together. As a participating member of the Volunteers In Mission team, I agree to: 1. Lift up Jesus Christ with my thoughts, words, and actions.

2. Develop and maintain a servant attitude toward the people our team serves as well as toward each team member.

3. Pray for and support my Team Leader and his/her decisions. 4. Respect the host’s view of religious faith, realizing that different people have different expressions of faith. 5. Accept the ministry that is going on in the area where I am serving as well as the local approach to the mission,

though it may differ from my own approach.

6. Abstain from the use of alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs, medications not prescribed to me, inappropriate clothing, gambling and profanity during the mission.

7. Refrain from negativism and complaining. Travel and ministry outside my church may present unexpected and

even undesired circumstances. However, my support and creativity will enhance the moment.

8. Refrain from gossip. If it is not true, good, and positive, I will not say it. 9. Remember that I am a servant of Jesus Christ called to be in ministry with the host team. I will serve as best I can

so that both the spiritual purpose and the task of the mission will be accomplished. _________________________________________ _______________________________ Signature Date

_________________________________________ _______________________________ Printed Name Dates of Mission and Team Number

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Attitudes, Behaviors & Characteristics (ABC’s)

A VIM team is the physical representation of the Body of Christ. As team members share the love of Jesus Christ, both in the local church and in the mission field, they represent Christ’s presence in the place where they serve.

Essential qualities of effective team members are: 1. A Christ-centered life. 2. Commitment to the mission work of the church, exemplified by an enthusiastic and positive attitude. 3. Willingness to follow guidance of the Team Leader. 4. Flexibility and openness to other cultures and ways of worship. 5. Willingness to serve in friendship and mutuality with the host and the host church. 6. A cooperative and courteous way of relating to others.

Attitude of Servanthood 1. Lift up God in all that you do; radiate Christ’s love by actions, attitude, and words. 2. Recognize that attitude and behavior are crucial to the effectiveness of the team’s mission. 3. Keep an attitude that is characterized by love, patience, joy, and service. 4. Be flexible. Be patient. Be relaxed. 5. Adapt to different living conditions (schedule, noise, food, work, etc.). 6. Remember that relationships with people are more important that work results. 7. Serve Christ and his people so that both the purpose and the task of the mission will be accomplished.

Cultural Sensitivity 1. Remember that team members are servants of Jesus Christ, called to be in ministry with the host team. 2. The UMVIM experience is God’s. You are not in charge. You are God’s servant. 3. Expect things to be radically different from home. Prepare for less comfort and a different diet. 4. Expect different ways of doing things. Understand that cultures are different, not superior or inferior. 5. Respect the host’s religious faith. The expressions of faith may be different from those of team members. 6. Be supportive of the ministry that is going on in the area where the team is serving. 7. Look forward to meeting new friends and experiencing a unique Christian fellowship. 8. Look forward to the experience of a lifetime. Expect to learn new skills and ways of thinking. 9. Don’t worry about time. Most of the people will not own a watch. One volunteer quotes someone from another country as

saying, “In the USA everyone has a watch but no one has time. Here we don’t have watches, but we have time.” 10. Refrain from negativism and complaining when unexpected and undesired circumstances occur in travel and ministry. 11. Rejoice in the Lord always and be thankful for the diversity of God’s people.

Teamwork 1. Share Christ’s spirit of kindness, acceptance, and unity. 2. Think team, not self. Participate in and cooperate with all team activities. Accept assignments for team duties. 3. Be sensitive to others and considerate of them. Be willing to listen – really listen. 4. The purpose is to share Christ’s love in a spirit of kindness, acceptance, and unity. 5. Respect the leadership of the UMVIM Team Leader, recognizing that some decisions will need to be made by him or her. 6. Attend training sessions. Complete and turn in forms and money on due dates as indicated by the Team Leader. 7. Covenant with the team for a work schedule while at the mission. Have realistic goals for your part of the team task,

knowing that physical conditioning, equipment, and travel to the worksite may limit team output. 8. Creatively support and encourage fellow team members in fulfilling the purpose of the mission. 9. Recognize the unique contribution of each team member.

Spiritual Growth 1. Have a healthy prayer life. Pray for and support the Team Leader in her or his decisions. 2. Be open to the Holy Spirit and to what God may be saying. 3. Be willing to learn, to grow and to expand your own horizons. 4. Expect a wonderful Christian experience. Be open and responsive to God’s blessings. 5. Ask your local church for prayers of encouragement and support of the mission. 6. Learn a few songs (in the language of your host country, if possible), as the team may be asked to sing. 7. Keep a mission journal. Note how you saw God at work each day. Tell the story of the mission when you return home.

Personal and Financial Responsibility 1. Ask for local church financial support and help with fundraising. 2. Do not give gifts, especially to children, unless you can give to all equally. If someone asks for help, refer them to the local

pastor for assistance. Resist giving money to individuals. 3. Abstain from the use of alcohol, tobacco, illegal drugs, and profanity from the time of departure until the return home. The

impression volunteers give to the community affects the Christian witness of the mission. 4. Pack lightly. You must carry what you bring. 5. Be modest in the clothing you wear. Inappropriate clothing is offensive in many cultures. 6. Be very careful with your luggage, purse, money, and all personal belongings, especially when loading and unloading. 7. Follow all health and safety precautions.

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How to Obtain a Passport Four weeks prior to your mission, make sure that you have given a copy of your passport to your team leader. If you have not received your passport three weeks prior to the mission, please ask your team leader to call OKVIM with the last four digits of your social security number, your date of birth and your name as it appeared on the application. Two weeks prior to the mission, if still not resolved, you should contact your U.S. Senator’s office. If you have difficulty reaching your U.S. Senator, contact OKVIM. Please do not wait until the week (or day) before the mission to notify OKVIM that you are still waiting on your passport. The general information given below is from the U.S. State Department Website at http://travel.state.gov/passport. For more detailed information, fees, forms, etc., please go to this website and follow the links provided therein. The Passport Services Office provides information and services to American citizens about how to obtain, replace or change a passport. A passport is an internationally recognized travel document that verifies the identity and nationality of the bearer. A valid U.S. passport is required to enter and leave most foreign countries. Only the U.S. Department of State has the authority to grant, issue, or verify United States passports. New Application for a U.S. Passport To obtain a passport for the first time, you need to go in person to one of 6,000 passport acceptance facilities located throughout the United States with two photographs of yourself, proof of U.S. citizenship, and a valid form of photo identification such as a driver’s license. Acceptance facilities include many federal, state and probate courts, post offices, some public libraries and a number of county and municipal offices. There are also 13 regional passport agencies, which serve customers who are traveling within 2 weeks (14 days), or who need foreign visas for travel. Appointments are required in such cases. You will need to apply in person if you are applying for a U.S. passport for the first time; if your expired U.S. passport is not in your possession; if your previous U.S. passport has expired and was issued more than 15 years ago; if your previous U.S. passport was issued when you were under 16; or if your currently valid U.S. passport has been lost of stolen. Renewal of a U.S. Passport You can renew by mail if your most recent passport is available to submit and it is not damaged; if you received the passport within the past 15 years; if you were over age 16 when it was issued; and/or if you still have the same name, or can legally document your name change. You can get a passport renewal application form by downloading it from the Department of State website. If your passport has been altered or damaged you cannot apply by mail. You must apply in person. Passport Card The passport card facilitates entry and expedites document processing at U.S. land and sea ports-of-entry when arriving from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda. The card may not be used to travel by air. Otherwise, it carries the rights and privileges of the U.S. passport book and is adjudicated to the exact same standards. The Department of State is issuing this passport card in response to the needs of border resident communities for a less expensive and more portable alternative to the traditional passport book. The card has the same period of validity as a passport book: 10 years for an adult, five for children 15 and younger. Adults who already have a fully valid passport book may apply for the card as a passport renewal and pay only $20. First-time applicants pay $45 for adult cards and $35 for children.

IMPORTANT NOTE FOR ALL PASPORT HOLDERS: Your passport must not expire within six months of the conclusion of your travel AND must have two blank facing pages. Authorities will refuse boarding to those who are not in compliance. Please renew your passport if necessary.

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Personal Air Miles Policy and General Travel Information

Air Miles Policy

OKVIM will work in cooperation with individual team members who have access to airline miles under the following conditions: 1. Use of air miles can only be considered when 12 or more members of the team are paying full group rate for their

tickets. This ensures that they receive a group rate and benefits, and that the team is not financially penalized du to exclusion of one or more members from the group arrangements.

2. The itineraries of those using personal air miles must be the same as that of the team. Individuals who have miles must make the exact same arrangements for travel as the team. Not traveling with the team can cause hardships for our hosts and for the team.

3. Team Leaders are responsible for making requests that air miles be used on behalf of their members under the same conditions as cash paid airline arrangements through OKVIM. Requests will only be considered prior to the utilization deadline (100 days prior to the mission). Team leaders will submit the request(s) to the OKVIM, so please work through your team leader.

4. Team Leaders must present copies of itineraries for those who have arranged to use air miles to the OKVIM office prior to ticketing the team. This ensures that OKVIM has documentation of travel arrangements made for all missioners.

General Travel Information

When traveling outside of the US, be sure to leave a copy of your passport with someone at home and carry a copy with you when you travel. In case of loss or theft, it may be replaced much faster with a copy handy. It is also advisable to keep a written record or copy of credit card numbers and instructions for cancellations in case of theft.

It is also advised that, when outside of the US, you take your passport, but leave your driver’s license at home unless you will be driving in another country. In that case, be sure to make a copy of your license and leave the copy at home also.

When entering another country and filling out visa forms, you should always describe the reason for your visit as “pleasure” or “vacation” and not “work” or “missionary”. To work as a missionary in a foreign country usually requires a lengthy application process and is intended for those who will be staying in the country longer than OKVIM teams.

When traveling, it is advisable to carry as small a bag as possible. Wear fanny packs and backpacks on the front of your person. Put billfolds in front pockets. Avoid purses with long shoulder straps. It is advisable to carry important documents and/or money in money belts or bags worn under clothing.

When in other countries, leave expensive jewelry and sunglasses at home. It may even be advisable to leave look-a-likes (such as copies of Ray Ban’s) at home. In some countries, where petty theft is a problem, thieves will grab things off of your person. It is better not to tempt them.

Cameras, camera batteries, film and film developing are almost always more expensive in other countries.

A few countries provide tax rebates for certain purchases upon exiting with the required receipts. It is a good idea to keep all receipts for purchases handy in such a case.

Some stores and credit card companies may charge more if you pay with a credit card. It is a good idea to ask first.

Beware not only of the water quality, but also ice cubes and certain fruits and vegetables, especially lettuce. As a rule, “peel and eat” fruits and vegetables are ok.

Research to see if a team member will be able to obtain signal and international phone calls on their cellular phones or see if it is possible to rent a cellular phone in the country you are serving. Make sure team members have the address and phone number of the lodging location in case team members get separated from the group.


OKVIM Travel Insurance

MISSIONS WITHIN THE UNITED STATES Missioners traveling under the auspices of OKVIM within Canada and the United States, its territories and possessions, including Puerto Rico, will be covered for injury for the duration of the mission. The plan covers medical payments up to a limit of $10,000.00 per person, and $3,000,000.00 per occurrence. This insurance does not cover illness not caused by injury.

MISSIONS OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES The key features in your international travel insurance and the limits of coverage are: 1. Accident AND Medical coverage for all medical needs up to $25,000

a. After a $50 deductible, 100% of all medical expenses will be covered b. Includes pre-existing condition coverage of up to $15,000 ($2,500 for members 65 or older)

2. Emergency Medical Evacuation: $50,000 3. Emergency Medical Repatriation: $50,000 4. Accidental Death & Dismemberment $10,000 5. Emergency Dental: $100 (or $500 for accidents) 6. Return of Mortal Remains: $50,000 7. Emergency Medical Reunion (brings one person from U.S. to be with afflicted member) $50,000 8. Return of Minor Child(ren) : $50,000 9. Interruption of Trip (in event of death in family or major disaster to residence): $5,000 10. Loss of Checked Luggage: $250 11. Local Ambulance Expense: $5,000 12. Assistance Services: 24/7 multilingual assistance for referrals, medical consultations, arrangements for benefits

above, etc. Coverage for each team is confirmed by email to the team leader. Each missioner receives a virtual ID card which is sent to the team leader. No age restrictions (except as noted in pre-existing conditions). Coverage is on an excess basis. (If missioner has private medical insurance, this policy picks up where theirs

leaves off. If missioner has no private insurance, this policy becomes the primary coverage).

It is a requirement of this policy that proof of initial treatment outside the USA be provided to validate any claim. Claims have been denied because missioner did not seek medical consultation outside the USA. A comprehensive description of the coverage is available.

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Team Member Packing List

Passport (if required)

Vaccination certificates (if required) and yellow-colored international immunization card

Copies of medical information, notification of death, liability release, medical release forms

Clothing (work, casual, and dress, if needed); proper clothing for the culture

One change of clothing, medications, and documents in carry-on bag

Comfortable shoes

Hat for working in the sun, sunscreen, sunglasses

Work gloves

Bathing suit (if in warm climate)

Rain gear (if in rainy area)

Sleeping bag and pillow (if needed)

Towel and wash cloth

Flashlight

Bible

Notebook, pencil/pen, stationery

Collapsible drinking cup

Cash (Depends on how many souvenirs you plan on purchasing)

Travelers checks (if you desire to use them and they can be used in the area you will be in)

Medications that you may need

Copies of prescriptions of drugs you are taking with you

Extra pair of glasses and/or contacts; extra hearing-aid batteries

Insect repellent

Toiletries, i.e. soap, shampoo, lotion, toilet paper

Travel alarm

Moist towelettes

Snack food (your own personal treats)

Dictionary with English and language of the host country

Desire to love as Christ loves, positive attitude, Christian spirit, and servant mentality

Reminder: Leave travel schedule, host country contact and phone numbers with family or other contacts at home.


“Staying Healthy Abroad” - Article by Christopher R. Cox, Travel + Leisure From contaminated water to malaria, international travellers confront a wide array of health risks. Here, 10 essential tips that will help you prepare for your next trip. Nearly half of all visitors to developing countries will get sick during a two-week trip, according to Dr. Phyllis Kozarsky, a travel-health consultant for the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). But health problems aren't limited to these regions, of course; viruses don't recognize borders, and accidents can and do happen anywhere. "American travellers tend to think of the world as a giant amusement park—that they can have a wonderful experience with little risk," says Dr. Edward T. Ryan, director of the Travellers’ Advice and Immunization Center at Boston's Massachusetts General Hospital. "The reality is that the world is a risky place. A well-informed traveller is most likely to come back healthy." Taking these 10 precautions should be as much a part of your trip preparation as buying a plane ticket or booking a hotel. Before you go

1. Do your homework. Know the health risks of your destination and what immunizations are required by checking the country's Consular Information Sheet on the State Department Web site (www.travel.state.gov). Some countries, such as Uganda, require proof of yellow fever vaccination prior to entry. The CDC site also offers a travellers' health section (www.cdc.gov/travel) and the International Society of Travel Medicine site (www.istm.org) has a link to Outbreak News, a rogues' gallery of "hot zone" diseases compiled by the CDC and the World Health Organization. The list should compel any reader to make a doctor's appointment, ideally at least one month before heading overseas, to ensure routine immunizations are current and to begin specific vaccines or prophylactic drugs, such as an anti-malarial, if required.

2. Consider a travel-medicine consultation if you're heading to a high-risk area. Although a personal physician can advise on destinations such as Europe, Dr. Jay Keystone, a Toronto-based travel- and tropical-medicine specialist, recommends visiting a travel-health clinic for anything more complex. You can find a comprehensive list of travel clinics on both the CDC and ISTM Web sites. "Family physicians don't have the time to keep up with the risks and outbreaks, disease and drug-resistance patterns, or the newer vaccinations and drugs," says Keystone, who is also the former president of the ISTM.

3. Check your current health insurance policy. It's crucial to have medical insurance that's valid overseas, says Dr. Joan Pfinsgraff, director of health intelligence for iJET, an Annapolis, Maryland, international risk-assessment firm. Since many health care plans don't cover emergency medical evacuation or even basic medical attention overseas, you should consider buying a travel-health insurance policy. The State Department Web site lists companies such as Travelex Insurance Services (www.travelex-insurance.com; 800/228-9792) and Travel Guard International (www.travelguard.com; 800/826-4919) that provide supplemental insurance. [OKVIM missioners are covered under a worldwide assistance plan. Medical evacuation and basic medical attention are both covered under this plan.]

4. Consider purchasing evacuation insurance.

Many air-ambulance companies do not repatriate patients to hospitals in their home countries but instead transport them to the nearest acceptable medical facility. However, travel-insurance providers MedjetAssist (www.medjetassist.com) and Global Rescue (www.globalrescue.com) will fly patients to the U.S. hospital of their choice; individual and family policies are available for trips lasting from seven days to one year.

5. Pack a small medical kit. The CDC has a helpful checklist: items such as tweezers, a digital thermometer, anti-diarrhoeal medications, and hydrocortisone cream. Depending on your destination or allergies, you may want to include insect repellent, anti-malarial medications, water-purification tablets, prescription pills for skin or parasite infections, and an epinephrine auto-injector. Medex Assistance sells several kits on its site (www.medexassist.com; from $18). Also: bring extra prescription drugs, and carry them in clearly labelled, original containers. It may be hard to find your medications while abroad.

6. Carry your medical history with you at all times.

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7. Travellers who suffer from a chronic or pre-existing condition should bring a copy of their medical history (which can be stored on a wallet-sized disk or USB drive). Med-InfoChip (877/872-3475; www.medinfochip.com; from $70) sells USB drives that contain prepared forms for information on allergies and medications, medical history, and doctor contacts.

Once you're there

8. Don't drink the water. It may seem obvious but it bears repeating: In undeveloped countries, stick with bottled water in sealed containers, even for brushing your teeth, Pfinsgraff advises. (Refilling discarded bottles with tap water is a thriving business in many poor countries, so be sure that the bottles you buy are sealed.) Also, resist the urge to buy food from street vendors and avoid fruit that's already been peeled, salad, and leafy green vegetables. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or use an antibacterial hand sanitizer.

If you become ill

9. Seek top-notch medical care. A high-end hotel's concierge should have the names and numbers of reputable physicians, dentists, and clinics. Some hotels, such as the Four Seasons Buenos Aires, have an in-house registered nurse. Many others, such as the Conrad Bangkok, have doctors on call 24 hours a day.

If you buy travel-health insurance, you can get referrals from your provider. Otherwise, the consular-services section of an American Embassy can suggest preferred physicians and facilities. Also, the non-profit International Association for Medical Assistance to Travellers (www.iamat.org) inspects clinics and has a list of English-speaking, Western-trained physicians around the world. Membership is required, but it's free.

10. Avoid buying medication locally. "A large number of anti-malarials and antibiotics available overseas are counterfeit," Kozarsky says. Drugs in many developing countries can be purchased without a prescription, so if you must buy medicine abroad, make sure you get your hotel doctor to okay it. A 2004 study in the journal Tropical Medicine & International Health found that 53 percent of anti-malarials purchased in five Asian countries were bogus. Other medications may be adulterated with additional narcotics.

Follow up at home

1. If you have a fever, seek medical attention. Up to 11 percent of returning travellers can experience febrile illness, according to a study published in the journal of the American Academy of Family Physicians. If you've been to a malarias area, a fever is "a medical emergency,'' Kozarsky says, and you need to see a doctor immediately. The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (www.astmh.org) has a list of post-travel experts.

Prescription for confusion Many prescription and over-the-counter drugs have the same (or similar) brand names as drugs sold overseas—but contain different active ingredients. Here, a few to look out for.

U.S. Brand Name and Purpose Overseas Brand Name and Purpose Ambien

sleeping pill Ambyen (U.K.)

abnormal heart rhythm Allegra

allergy medication Allegro (Germany)

headaches Prozac

antidepressant Prazac (Denmark) high blood pressure

For the full list, go to www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/reports/confusingnames.html.


Avian flu First it was mad cow. Then it was SARS. Now the disease that everyone is concerned about is avian flu. If a worldwide pandemic does happen, there could be travel restrictions and enforced quarantines. However, at press time, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was not recommending that you cancel your travel plans—especially since avian flu was reportedly on the wane in Asian countries. Here's what you need to know if you're headed to one of the 10 countries where an outbreak has occurred. Most trip-cancellation insurance plans will cover medical and travel expenses should you catch avian flu while travelling (though no tourist has to date). They will also cover you if your trip is interrupted due to quarantine or a flight ban in the country you're visiting. But if you cancel your trip ahead of time because you hear about an outbreak of avian flu, most policies won't pay. For that, you need to buy a policy that has a "cancel for any reason" option, which will add 40 to 50 percent to the premium, according to Jim Grace, president of online travel-insurance vendor InsureMyTrip.com. The site has two such policies available, from M. H. Ross and TravelSafe. Stay away from live poultry farms and markets—even in urban centers. The virus is passed primarily through poultry feces and blood, but can be transmitted via other secretions too. It's safe to eat poultry and eggs, says Christine Pearson, a spokesperson for the CDC, as long as they are cooked thoroughly (at 165 degrees Fahrenheit). Finally, if you develop flu-like symptoms while travelling, seek medical care immediately. —M.A. For the most up-to-date information, log on to: www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/pandemic/en/index.html www.cdc.gov/flu/avian

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Debriefing the Mission by Mike Woodruff

I’m almost 40 years old. I’ve been a Christian over half that time. I have a master’s degree in divinity, more than a dozen years in ministry, and a job that regularly keeps me in touch with missionaries and leading Christian nationals all over the world. I’ve read about missions, written about missions, raised money for missions, and been on more short-term mission trips than I can immediately recall.

However (drum roll please), when it comes to reentry—that two-week period immediately following cross-cultural outreach—I’m a mess. In fact, more often than not I turn into a puddle of goo. One minute I’m happy. The next I’m in serious need of Prozac. At noon I’m planning a return trip to Guatemala, and at 12:15 p.m. I’m promising to never leave the U.S. again. Right is left and up is down (except when it’s up). Which side of the street do we drive on again? Can I drink the water? What time is it in Kenya right now? Did I really just spend a $1.44 for a cup of coffee? While people are starving? I must not be a Christian!

Reentry is a confusing, upside-down whirlwind of emotions that can put even veteran missionaries on their ears. And if it does that to people who don’t regularly spend much time on their ears, imagine how it can affect teenagers who regularly do! Which means that you deserve 20 years of hard labor—or two hours watching presidential election debates—if you don’t take the time to weave debriefing into the fabric of every mission trip you lead.

A Definition

Though the word itself has CIA overtones, debriefing is simply a matter of helping people reflect on their experiences. It can be done in a group setting or solo, both during the trip or after it. And in fact, there is no one right way to debrief. Because people—even those who look alike, dress alike, and have pierced the same body parts—are unique. But there is a goal: We need to help people process what they’ve learned so they can grow in Christ and become of greater value to his work in the world.

Rest assured, if you leave your students alone, they will sort through their experiences and lock into some high and low points. But they’re also likely to take a circuitous path and return home more hurt than helped by the trip. I find it helpful to think about debriefing as a process that occurs in four stages:

Pre-Trip

Several years ago I joined a half dozen buddies on a hike to the top of Mount Baker in Washington. It’s a

three-day ordeal for a novice, and while it’s no Mount Everest, it’s far more taxing and dangerous than any E-ticket ride at Disney World. We had a wonderfully challenging climb to the summit and enjoyed glissading—i.e., skiing without skis—back down to base camp.

But after that point, the trip fell apart. Why? Because we were emotionally unprepared for the six-hour hike back to the van. We never talked about the last part of the trip. I never even thought about it. In fact, I sort of mindlessly figured that once we stepped off the glacier, took off our crampons, and unhitched our ropes, we were done. But we weren’t. We faced a 10-mile hike, all carrying 40-pound packs, on a dangerous ridge. And we’d been up for 20 hours when we started. Needless to say we were a surly group when we finished. But it didn’t have to be that way.

The next year we climbed a different mountain and easily survived an equally difficult hike out. Why? Because I started preparing people for the descent while the trip was still months away.

And that’s when debriefing starts! Months in advance. Your students need to be told—when they pay their deposits—to expect a disorienting reentry. Parents must be told that their kids may be out of sorts when they return. Everyone is miles ahead even if you pass out a packing list that includes "bring a good attitude for reentry because it can be confusing" right next to "bring bug spray, a Bible, and Spanish- English dictionary."

I’m not suggesting that we offer kids a heads up in order to take the pain away. It’s necessary for students to struggle with the gross inequities of wealth and opportunity on our planet. I want them to wrestle with spending more money on a movie than it takes to feed a third-world AIDS orphan for a week. I think we should be worried if their transitions back into Western culture are seamless. I just don’t want them becoming catatonic or ripping anyone’s head off during their reentry struggles. That’s why advanced warning can help kids stay sane. They face enough emotional peaks and valleys during adolescence—as adult leaders, we need to help them process the additional ones that short-term mission trips will add.

During the Trip

The second natural stage for debriefing occurs during the trip itself, especially if you’re on the field for more than a week. It can be as simple as ending the day with some probing questions: What’s been the

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high point of your trip so far? The biggest surprise? How did God break your heart today? What was the biggest lesson you’ve learned? What was the memory you will most likely hold onto? What do you think God is calling you to do?

You can also encourage your kids to spend 20 minutes writing in their journals. But even that can be more deliberate—and should be if you’ve had a particularly taxing day or if the team is facing some internal conflict. Sometimes I’ve found it helpful to give people a couple hours on their own to simply sit before God. Other times it’s wise to gather the group together for a Bible study or circle of encouragement (i.e., pick a person and have everyone on the trip share one thing they appreciate about that person, then move around the circle until everyone has been affirmed).

Pre-Reentry

When the hostages were released from captivity in Iran, the U.S. Army flew them to Germany for a week before reuniting them with their families. Why? Because our government learned a hard lesson from the Vietnam War: People under great stress in faraway lands need places to catch their breath before they’re dropped back into everyday life.

If possible add a day to your trip and spend it someplace between the field and home. Devote part of the time for fun: Go to a nice restaurant. Visit a museum. Hit the beach. Act like tourists. Give your group a chance to stop thinking and to begin unwinding.

Then gather your students together for an extended time of prayer, sharing, and reflection. If the group needs prompting, ask any of the standard debriefing questions listed above—or others like them. Be careful to facilitate the discussion in a healthy way.

Everyone needs a chance to share. Broad, sweeping promises to God—or others—are to be avoided. Remind your kids that they’re emotionally vulnerable and that it’ll take time to really sort through everything God is teaching them.

Post-Trip

In the days and weeks following your mission trip, there is value in pulling your team together just to talk. The first, obvious opportunity is after the pictures are developed—and in some settings you can get away with just a little gathering to look at slides, eat some ethnic food, and retell funny stories. But after other trips—especially longer ones or those that were particularly taxing emotionally—you may need to be more thoughtful.

After one spring-break trip where God had touched a number of students’ lives, the group felt that our regular debriefing drill was inadequate. The group wanted more time together, and that led about 60 of them to meet for prayer late into the night—every night—for a week. I didn’t know what to do about their meetings and briefly entertained the idea of telling them to phase them out so they could get back to being students. But in the end I simply decided to leave them alone. Eventually they felt God’s call to "do something local." The result was the formation of a soup kitchen that continues to provide a weekly meal to the poor more than a decade later.…

I realized the importance of mission trip debriefing after hearing a college pastor say that he didn’t want any more of his leaders "ruined by summer missions projects."

It reminded me of how close I came to being a short-term ministry causality myself. After leading a team of college students on a spring-break trip to inner-city Los Angeles, I returned home so drained and confused that I thought about quitting the ministry. I was exhausted, restless, and depressed—and couldn’t bear the thought of returning to the office.

It was only after I reread my journal entries for that same trip—taken a year earlier—that I remembered I felt the same way then and that the feelings left after a few days. Armed with that additional insight, I started to set a different pace on future trips and came home prepared to face the confusion. As leaders we can not afford to do otherwise.

Some jobs aren’t over until the paperwork is finished. Your job as mission trip leader isn’t finished until debriefing is over.

Mike Woodruff divides his time between serving on the staff of Christ Church Lake Forest (Illinois) and directing several other ministry projects, including The Ivy Jungle Network, a loose association of men and women who minister to collegians. He's also the author of Managing Youth Ministry Chaos (Group).

The above author bio was current as of the date this article was published. © 2001 Youth Specialties Permission is granted to distribute articles to other youth workers within your church, but may not be re-published (print or electronic) without permission. Found on http://www.youthspecialties.com/articles/topics/missions/debriefing.php


Debriefing the Mission by Linda Olson Home Again!

How to survive and grow in your re-entry from a cross-cultural experience Whether you went on a mission trip this summer or know someone who did, you might want to learn more about “re-entry”—what happens upon returning to your home culture. Re-entry culture adjustment is simply the transition back into one’s home culture after living for a time in another. It can be major, including confrontation with one’s own personal identity and the impact upon that identity of both one’s home and foreign cultures. What causes this re-entry time to be difficult for some? Generally it’s because the person has changed or is changing in attitudes and values, and is coming back to an environment that has not changed in the same way. (For long-termers, the home culture may have changed drastically since the time they originally left. For short-termers, it’s the person who has changed most over such a short period, while the home culture has changed less dramatically.) The deeper these attitude and value changes are in the individual, the more likely it is that the transition period will be unsettling. Points of dissonance that a returnee may experience include:

Unexpected tiredness, confusion and sometimes discouragement.

An awareness of habits or behaviors that were second nature before leaving but seem meaningless or disturbing once home.

Adjustment to role changes, either defined or undefined, that lead to an unsettled feeling.

A change in responsibilities, a change of pace. An unexpected adjustment period leading to

frustration or anxiety. A sense of loneliness and a need for a close

friend to listen. An inability to express or share the experience

and resulting changes. A reaction to North American affluence. A reaction to values presented in the media. Disillusionment with the abundance in the

North American church and seeming lack of concern for the world.

How do people handle this re-entry time? There are three basic reactions or ways of handling this

transition time. One may experience a little of each in the process. The Assimilators seem to slide right back into the home culture with little to no problem and appear almost to have forgotten their short-term. These people seem to have adjusted well, but may have missed out on the greatest growth opportunity, for they don’t seem to integrate the things they saw, learned and questioned into a new view of life and the world. The Alienators seem to reject the home culture, although for the very short-term traveler this may not last long. They may be very pessimistic and critical of the home culture, realizing that they too were a part of it. They may nitpick about small things, missing the range of possible social structures and their appropriateness for creating personal alternatives for life values. They may finally succumb to the home culture out of a need to belong somewhere. As with Assimilators, this reaction does not afford a growthful re-entry.

Integrators expect the dissonance they are experiencing, although maybe not in each form it appears. They are able to identify the changes they have undergone or are still experiencing and don’t demand immediate closure on them. They desire to see their short-term cross-cultural immersion have a lasting impact on their lives and the lives of others. This means that they will grapple with how to integrate the things they saw, learned and questioned into creative alternative choices.

How can I become an Integrator and experience growthful re-entry? The first step is realizing what can happen on re-entry. Most people spend all of their time training for the new culture they will enter, but give little time and attention to their return. Expectations play a key role in this transition time. If you are expecting a re-adjustment process, you can create the space and time for it and will be less likely to get discouraged while it is happening. Here are a few other helpful hints: Upon initial re-entry, get balanced sleep, balanced meals and balanced exercise. These will help combat the jet lag, tiredness and apathy that sets in the first few days upon return.

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Spend some time thinking through expectations. Think about the expectations you had going into your experience, how you felt in the midst of it and what you’re thinking and feeling now that you have returned. Notice any dissonance you may feel now as you return and journal. Notice what values and attitudes are changing. Remember to apply the training you received before leaving. The tools you learned for crossing into a new culture are just as helpful for returning to your home culture. Debrief with others. Find one other person or a group and ask each other questions like these: Tell me about the faces and lives of people you met. What stories mark your time with some significance? Or even insignificance? What did you learn about God? About yourself? What voices did you hear that also need to be heard here at home? Where do we go from here? Reread your journal. Read one entry every day for several weeks and ask God to remind you of the things he was teaching you then. Pray—alone, with others, with a prayer partner. Pray for the people you met, the church, each other, the people you want to tell your story to.

Give yourself a spiritual checkup: Do I feel closer or more distant from God? What will help my love for Christ grow? Do I need to try something new in my devotions? Take a few long walks for my Quiet Time? Spend a day in a personal retreat? Be disciplined, yet creative. Remember that your spirituality is not limited to a “productive Quiet Time.” God is present with you throughout the day no matter how you feel. Recall the success and accomplishments of the short-term and develop a list of gifts and strengths that God gave and affirmed. Likewise, make a list of weaknesses and areas where God moved in spite of yourself. Learn how to answer—not despise!—the question when someone asks, “How was your summer?” Use a few descriptive words and ask if you can spend more time together to share from both of your summers. Become a storyteller and learn to tell your story well. Is there life after a short-term cross-cultural experience? There most certainly is! And the ones who have the greatest impact upon others are those who take the time to process and integrate their experience with plans for the future. Have a blessed re-entry!

Linda Olson makes her home in Denver with her husband, Joel, and three children. In addition to providing missions training for InterVarsity, Linda is studying for a Ph.D. and teaching at the University of Denver in the field of human communications.

Reprinted and adapted from the Global Projects Journal Guide from InterVarsity Missions. ©2002 found at http://www.intervarsity.org/slj/article/1439


Resources for Personal and Team Preparation

We all have different amounts of time to devote to preparing ourselves for mission. The important and necessary information is contained in the preceding pages. Hopefully, you and your fellow team members will be able to spend time, alone or together, in processing all of this better to prepare you for your upcoming mission.

What follows below are some additional resources we recommend as ways for you to immerse yourself in the mission experience. It is not intended that you attempt to do all of what is offered, but you might well be able to do some.

Movies to Watch: Comments from Amazon.com product notes. The God’s must be Crazy When a primitive Bushman finds a coke bottle, he sets out to return it to the gods, and encounters the insanity of “civilization" for the first time. (Comedy) The Mission Featuring a majestic score by Ennio Morricone and lush Oscar-winning cinematography by Chris Menges, it won the top prize at Cannes in 1986 and was nominated for a Best Film Oscar. The film is shot through with piercing, haunting imagery, pictures of enduring imaginative force. A visually stunning epic, THE MISSION recounts the true story of two men--a man of the sword (Robert De Niro) and a man of the cloth (Jeremy Irons)--both Jesuit missionaries who defied the colonial forces of mighty Spain and Portugal to save an Indian tribe from slavery in mid-18th-century South America. Mendoza (De Niro) is a slave trader and colonial imperialist who murdered his own brother (Aidan Quinn) and seeks penance for his sins by becoming a missionary at Father Gabriel's (Irons) mountaintop mission. The Mission is a rich and thought-provoking. It contains moving images of despair, penance, and redemption that are among the most evocative ever filmed. Beyond the Gates of Splendor "Beyond the Gates" is a feature length documentary film experience about the Waodani Indians and the missionary men and women who have given their lives to reach them. This powerful emotional journey begins with the Waodani describing their way of life before the missionaries visited them in 1956. Narrated by the son of one of the missionaries and each of the wives of the men who died, the audience takes a nostalgic trip back in time to see how the men and women came to meet up with each other in Ecuador. An inspiring story of forgiveness and love. At the End of the Spear "End of the Spear" is the remarkable journey of a savage Amazon tribesman who becomes family to the son of a North American man he kills. Mincayani (Louie Leonardo) is a Waodani warrior who leads the raid that kills Steve Saint's father and four other missionaries. Through a suspenseful series of events Steve Saint (Chase Ellison) is able to visit Mincayani's tribe. Steve tries to learn which warriors killed his father, but has to leave with his question unanswered. Steve returns to the Waodani as an adult (Chad Allen). Together Mincayani and Steve confront the true meaning of the life and death of Steve's father, and the other men who were killed.

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Books to Read: Chacour, Elias, and David Hazard.

Blood Brothers. Grand Rapids, MI: Chosen, 1984

Gittins, Anthony J. Called to Be Sent: Co-missioned as Disciples Today. Liguori, MO: Liguori Publications, 2008

Gittins, Anthony J. Ministry at the Margins: Strategy and Spirituality for Mission. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis, 2002

Guess, Catherine Ritch. Because He Lives: Faith, Hope and Love in Action. Hendersonville, NC: CRM Books, 2010

Ives, Jane P. Transforming Ventures: A Spiritual Guide for Volunteers in Mission. Nashville, TN: Upper Room, 2000

Livermore, David A. Serving with Eyes Wide Open: Doing Short-term Missions with Cultural Intelligence. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2006

Reilly, Beth, and Molly Marsh. Getting Ready to Come Back: Advocacy Guide for Mission Teams. Washington, DC: Bread for the World, 2009

Richter, Don C. Mission Trips That Matter: Embodied Faith for the Sake of the World. Nashville, TN: Upper Room, 2008

Websites to Visit:

www.okvim.org The website of Oklahoma Volunteers In Mission

www.gbgm-umc.org The website of the General Board of Global Ministry, the mission agency of the United Methodist Church worldwide. http://gbgm-umc.org/vim/umvimmap.htm

The map of VIM projects available through the GBGM http://new.gbgm-umc.org/about/us/mv/programs/

More about the various mission programs available through GBGM for volunteers http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/

The website of the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), the not-for-profit global humanitarian aid organization of the United Methodist Church.

www.state.gov Scroll down and go to the home page to “Learn About” the country to which you will be traveling.

www.worldbank.org An additional source for information about your host country.


Explanation of Forms

The following forms are required to ensure all liability and safety issues are taken care, as per the policy of

the Oklahoma Annual Conference:

International Mission:

1. Medical Information and Emergency Contact Information 2. Parental Consent (under 18 years old)** or Release Form (18 years old or older) 3. Notification of Death 4. Copy of passport (page with your photo on it)

National Mission:

1. Medical Information and Emergency Info 2. Parental Consent (under 18 years old)** or Release Form (18 years old or older) 3. Copy of photo ID

** For international missions, Parental Consent (Legal Guardian) for minors must be signed and notarized by both parents (legal guardians). This is required even if one or both parents are on the mission. Every minor must have signatures of both parents (even if divorced or separated), especially when traveling outside the USA. If one parent is deceased, attach a copy of the death certificate. If one parent has sole custody due to divorce, attach a copy of the divorce decree. Be prepared to show at border crossings. These requirements are those of Mexico especially, but could also be applicable for other countries, too.

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Team Member Reflection

Name of Team Leader: __________________________________________________________________________ Date of Mission: ________________________

Mission Site: __________________________________________________________________________________ Team Number: _________________________

Please fee free to comment in detail on any of the questions below.

Personal Reflections 1. Did this mission fulfill your initial expectations of (or reasons for going on) this mission? Please explain.

2. In what specific ways did you (or your team) “share the love of Christ in ways that make a Christian difference?”

3. What was the single most meaningful moment of the mission for you? What touched your heart the most?

4. In six words or less, how would you describe the experience?

5. If someone you knew expressed an interest in participating on a VIM mission, what would you tell them? 6. What ONE thing would you have changed about the mission experience? On a scale where 1 = “Strongly Disagree” and 7 = “Strongly Agree,” please circle your response to each of the questions below.

Strongly Neutral Strongly Not Disagree Agree Applicable

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 N/A

Team Dynamics & Leadership

1. Our group worked as a team, interacting well with each other in all aspects of the mission. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 N/A

2. My Team Leader prepared me well for the mission prior to our departure. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 N/A

3. I felt safe and confident in my Team Leader’s abilities at all times. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 N/A

4. Strong spiritual leadership was provided throughout the mission. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 N/A

5. My team participated in meaningful devotions on a daily basis. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 N/A

6. My Team Leader communicated well with the team on a daily basis. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 N/A

7. When an unexpected (or crisis) situation arose on the mission, my Team Leader handled the situation in an effective and Christian manner. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 N/A

Site Evaluation 1. Our team received useful on‐site orientation from the host.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 N/A

2. I found our living arrangements satisfactory. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 N/A

3. There was good coordination with the local personnel. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 N/A

4. I had sufficient opportunities to worship and interact with the local people. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 N/A

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Reflections Specific to MEDICAL Team Members Only Did you identify specific equipment needs for the site? Was there adequate workspace? A potable water supply? A power source? Were there problems with availability of or dispensing of drugs? If so, explain. What ongoing problems in the host community with water supply, sanitation, and nutrition did you observe? Is there a need for programs in immunization, maternity care, and well‐child supervision? What was the team’s relationship to local health personnel? What arrangements were made for patient follow‐up? Is there a need for dental care, vision care and glasses, specialty teams? Other Comments Please feel free to comment on any of your answers above or on any aspect of the mission. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Name (optional) ________________________________________________________________________

Documents

KNOW BEFORE