WHAT WILL WE BE DOING?

You will be doing whatever needs to be done at that point in the building process of the school. You may be involved in any of the following activities: laying brick, clearing land, framing or finish carpentry, planting the orchard, sewing curtains, painting, cleaning, or any other task as assigned by the team leader. So willing hands are what is needed! In addition, you will have opportunity to meet the children living in the village, read to them, play games, and share your love of God with them. And each and every day you will begin and end your day with your team – praying together, processing your experience, and allowing God to speak to you from His Word.

Eight of your eleven days in Zambia you will be living in Chongwe village involved in the above activities. You will have the opportunity to worship in two different African churches during your stay. Toward the end of your stay, you will travel and spend two days in Livingston where you will visit one of the seven natural wonders of the world – Victoria Falls – a true sight to behold. While in Livingston you will also go on a game drive at a wildlife park and see African animals in their natural habitat – up close and personal! A beautiful, scenic boat ride down the Zambezi River and a trip to the cultural market are also included in your stay in Livingston. The other four days of your trip will be devoted to travel – getting to and from Zambia!

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO GO?

Anyone with a heart for:

• Honoring God – saying, “Here am I, Lord, send me.”
• Truly serving others
• Meeting, helping, and encouraging children, youth, and adults from a vastly different
  culture
• Working alongside Zambian workers to help build the Esther School – a school for orphan and under-resourced children in Chongwe, Zambia
  

Anyone with a willingness and ability to:

• Work hard to bring a future and a hope to children
• Meet people and make many new friends
• Build unity and help establish koininia among team members as you pray and study God’s Word together
• Sleep on bunk beds and share close living quarters

Anyone over the age of:

• 18 and physically able to keep up with the rigorous demands of living and working in a
  third world country (Note: It is possible that in future years, students accompanied by parents may be eligible for missions trips to the Esther School.)
  
  

WHERE WILL WE STAY?

In Chongwe, you will be staying in the first of several faculty houses planned for the Esther School – a comfortable home with 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, plus sinks in each bedroom. Electricity is provided via solar power. A computer will be available for emailing home. Cooking will be provided by local Zambian women for all meals in Chongwe.

While in Livingston, you will stay at a very pleasant guest house, called Chanters Lodge. Meals will be provided. The costs for all meals in Zambia are included. The cost for the game drive and the boat ride are included in the package price. Spending money for souvenirs from the cultural village, for church offerings, for gifting to others, or for any other purposes you must provide.

You will receive a packing list once you are officially registered for the trip, but for now you can plan to bring older work clothes suitable for pleasant weather, in the upper 60’s – upper 80’s Fahrenheit, 15°-30° Celsius. Comfortable work boots and walking shoes are important. A light jacket will be needed. A rain jacket and umbrella and rain boots will be needed in March as this is the end of the rainy season in Zambia. Women should plan to wear long skirts for church and if going into town. Jeans are probably ok for working at the school. Modest dress is required at all times. Men will need work t-shirts and jeans as well as casual pants and nicer shirt for church. Opportunities will exist for hand washing clothes so bringing fresh clothes for each day is not needed or advised.

Plan to bring lots of smiles and hugs for the children, but NOT toys and gifts. We know this is difficult to hear, but toys reinforce unhelpful stereotypes. A list of books and games that will be kept at the Esther School will be included with your packing list. So if you want to bring any of those items, please check the list.

WILL MY GROUP BE SPLIT UP?

Yes and no. For the work days in Chongwe, it is likely that members of the team will be assigned to different tasks. However, for daily devotions and prayer, for meals, and for the trip to Livingston, team members will be together.

WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TRAVELING INTERNATIONALLY?

Traveling internationally for long distances is definitely not for those that grow weary easily! Dress comfortably and in layers. Overnight flights can be very chilly. We will have a long layover in London, and for those interested, a trip into London via The Tube (train) for a couple of hours will likely be possible; (costs not included in package). Jackets are usually needed for this outing.

Passports are, of course, required. It is a good idea to make three extra copies of your passport – one to leave at home, one to keep with you, but in a different location than near your passport. Visas are purchased upon arrival at the airport and range in price from $50-$150. (This may depend upon the day or the person issuing the visa!) Be prepared to pay this money in US dollars – larger bills preferred, meaning$50 -$100 bills only. This fee is not included in the cost paid to GEMS for the trip.

WHAT IS THE COST?

Your costs are TAX DEDUCTIBLE, are listed in two parts, and include the following:

Airfare | $1,600 - $2,900

• Round trip airfare from Toronto to Zambia or from Chicago to Zambia (select airport closest to you). Flights from these airports will be arranged by GEMS through a missionary travel agency. (Oftentimes fares are discounted through this agency + flying missionary status allows us to check three bags at no extra expense.) The price range listed is based on recent projection of flight costs.
• The sooner flights are booked, the cheaper they usually are. Flights will be booked when all costs listed below have been received.

Food, lodging, transportation, attractions, and donation | $1,695

• All meals for the 8 1/2 days in Chongwe and 2 1/2 days in Livingston (meals while traveling to and from Zambia are your own expense)
• Lodging in the new faculty house located at the school
• Lodging in Livingstone for two nights
  www.chanters-livingstone.com/sights.cfm
• Transportation to/from airport; to/from/throughout Livingston
• $500 p/p donation to the Esther School
• Game drive through National Wildlife Park near Livingston
• Boat ride on Zambezi River
• Admission to Victoria Falls
• T-shirt

FOR MORE INFORMATION

For more information or to find the travel requirements for non-U.S./Canadian Citizens, visit:

• Canada Border Services Agency
• Foreign Affairs Canada
• U.S. State Department
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection

HOW TO REGISTER

Missions registration opens February 1, 2010. To register, download the registration form, complete it, and mail, fax, or scan and email to: Zambian Mission Trip, GEMS Girls’ Clubs, PO Box 7259, Grand Rapids, MI, 49510; fax: 616 241 5558; jan@gemsgc.org.

Registration payment must be made in US dollars; however, not all monies are due with the application. Simply submit the required information along with a non-refundable deposit of $100 US per person to reserve space for the March 2011 trip. This $100 will be subtracted from the final costs of your airfare. The $1,695 is due by January 15, 2011 for the March trip. The airfare costs are due no later than January 30, 2011. Please keep in mind that the sooner we receive the airfare payment, the sooner we book your flight which generally reduces airfare costs. GEMS accepts checks, money orders, Visa, Mastercard, or Discover payments in US funds only.

CANCELLATIONS

What if I need to cancel?

Please be advised that no refunds will be possible. Flight arrangements will be made upon receipt of the $1,695 needed for food, lodging, transportation, attractions, and donation to the Esther School. All other arrangements for the trip will be made upon receipt of the airfare portion of the total.

Extreme Weather or Disaster Cancellation 

If GEMS is unable to host an event due to extreme weather conditions or a national or international disaster, deposits cannot be refunded. If full payment has been made, refunds will again not be possible unless the properties and/or locations refund GEMS for these costs.

Smoking and Alcoholic Beverage Use Policy

GEMS maintains a no smoking and no alcoholic beverage use policy for the entire trip.