Duitama, 2013

Project Information

There is a great need for the amazing grace of Jesus to be shared throughout , Colombia, as well as the rest of the South Colombian Union Mission. This is an area that is predominately Catholic culture and has not previously received evangelism or medical teams.

The project will include evening evangelism meetings at separate locations, as well as Vacation Bible School programs for the children, medical/dental/eye clinics and English as a second language classes. We invite you to join us for this outreach. It will be a life-changing experience for you.

Project Dates

June 12 to 23, 2013 Orientation will be on Thursday, June 13, 2013 and meetings will begin Friday evening, June 14 through Saturday, June 22.

To Apply

To successfully apply, all mission project participants are required to complete the following documents and provide them to Quiet Hour Ministries:

1. Mission Project Application, with $100 deposit—nonrefundable. 2. Participant Medical History Form 3. Notarized Parental Consent and Medical Release Form. Send copy only, keep original with passport. *Required for participants under 18 years of age who travel into a foreign country without a parent 4. Clean, clear copy of passport picture page

Finances

Participant fee: $1,800 – includes airfare, food, lodging, insurance, local transportation and a contribution towards the mission project. Payment schedule:  $100 deposit (nonrefundable) due upon submitting application.  $900 due two months prior to mission trip (Monday, April 15, 2013)  $800 due six weeks prior to mission trip (Monday, April 29, 2013) Please Note: All participant fees must be paid in full prior to departure.

Travel

The travel arrangements will be made through Quiet Hour Ministries, as the airfare is included in your participation fee. Please make sure you have included your home departure airport on your application. Team members will fly into , Colombia, then will be transferred by bus to the project site and hotel.

Details about Your Destination: Duitama, Colombia

Duitama, in the Province, is located about 105 miles northeast of Bogotá, the capital of Colombia. According to local oral tradition, the city was founded by the Chief Tundama. Duitama lies along the Chicamocha River in the Mountains at an elevation of 8,300 feet above sea level. Its population is about 142,000.

Mission Project Components

The mission project will consist of the following components. You will have the opportunity to work in anyone or all of these areas:  Evangelism  Children’s ministry  Health Expo  Church construction  English as a second language classes

Vaccinations

Consult your family physician or your local health department/international travel clinic regarding the recommended vaccinations for travel to Colombia. All travelers should be up-to-date with routinely recommended vaccinations. Which other vaccinations you will need depends upon a number of factors including your age, health status, and previous immunizations. Check Travel Health Online (www.tripprep.com) or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov/travel) websites for more information on specific vaccinations that may be recommended.

Yellow fever is not generally found in Colombia at elevations over 7,500 feet. Proof of vaccination is required only if you are planning to visit jungle areas of Colombia. Malaria is not generally found at elevations over 5,500 feet.

Health Information

Travelers who rapidly ascend to elevations above 8,200 feet are at risk of developing altitude sickness. You should discuss this trip with your personal physician prior to departing the United States and get advice specific to you and your situation.

Intestinal problems due to drinking non-purified water, or eating something that has not been “decontaminated” (washed in Clorox water). All tap water is unsafe for drinking purposes. Diseases from food and water often cause vomiting and diarrhea. Make sure to bring diarrhea medicine with you so that you can treat mild cases yourself.

Precautions to prevent mosquito-borne illnesses include using mosquito repellant containing DEET, Picaridin, Oil of lemon eucalyptus/PMD (in EPA-registered repellent products, not essential oil), or IR3535, wearing clothing that covers the arms and legs, and avoiding dark-colored clothing, perfumes, colognes, and after-shaves.

Other common health concerns are:  Dehydration – Be sure to bring at least one water bottle (preferably more) and drink lots of water throughout the day.  Sunburn – Many times the sun is much more intense at our destination than back home. So sunburns can develop quickly. We recommend putting on sunscreen every day.  Exhaustion – Jet lag, long days of work and short nights of sleep require participants to pace themselves.

Water

It is important for every participant to assume that tap water is not safe to drink. Only drink purified water. Bottled drinking water can be purchased. You may also consider bringing a water purifier. Be aware that water filters are primarily for taste and do not remove contaminants. If you are interested in purchasing a water purifier, make sure that it is effective against protozoa/cysts, bacteria, and viruses.

Insurance and Safety

Quiet Hour Ministries provides Short Term Mission Insurance for each participant through Adventist Risk Management.

We will do everything possible to ensure the safety of our participants. All our activities are planned in consultation with local church leaders and area experts. Participants will not be allowed to venture off on their own. While we don’t expect any danger, we do take precautions that all activities involve a minimum of two adults.

Weather

Average temperatures for Duitama in June range from 66°F high to 48°F low, with about 45mm of rain.

Money

The currency in Colombia is the Colombia Peso (COP). Its exchange rate is about 1.8 COP to 1 USD.

The US dollar is the most widely accepted currency in Colombia. Other currencies may be harder to exchange or receive a less desirable rate. If you bring travelers’ checks, American Express in US dollars are the most widely accepted type.

Credit cards are accepted in major shops, hotels and restaurants. Visa and MasterCard are the most accepted. ATMs are widely available and can be used in English. Exercise the same level of caution you would in the United States when using unfamiliar ATM machines. Use ATM machines during the day, rather than at night. Most banks will charge a small fee for overseas ATM withdrawals. To prevent your credit/debit card from being declined, it is important to advise your card issuer of your travel plans in advance.

While traveling, we strongly recommend the use of a money belt to carry your cash. Do not carry large amounts of money in your purse or wallet.

Travel Documents

Every participant MUST have a valid passport to travel to Colombia. If you do not have a passport, you can get one at your local post office. It will take 4 - 6 weeks to process. It is generally recommended that you travel with at least 6 months validity on your passport at all times. Colombia requires that your passport be valid for at least 90 days beyond the date of your entry into Colombia.

If you are a U.S. citizen tourist staying for fewer than 60 days, a visa is not required. If you are not a U.S. citizen, visit www.traveldocs.com to find out if you need a visa and how to obtain one.

Airport departure tax is 34 USD, and sometimes an additional exit tax, the Colombian Administrative fee of 15 USD, which is not usually included in airline tickets purchased in the U.S.

What to Pack

Below are guidelines for what you should consider bringing. Items marked with an asterisk (*) are required.

Construction Team Gear  Blue jeans and/or painter’s pants  Two pairs of old shorts  Good working shoes (preferably with a reinforced toe)  Hat/cap for sun protection  Old T-shirts  Work gloves

Medical Team Gear  Scrubs or smocks  Eye protection  A head-mounting flashlight is recommended

Non-Work and Evangelism Team Gear  Casual clothes (jeans okay)*  Sabbath attire (modest dresses for women; slacks, shirts and ties for men; suits for speakers.)*  Sleepwear*  Tennis Shoes  Swimming suit

 Twin size flat sheets*  Small pillow  Towels and wash cloths  Flip-flops

Miscellaneous Items  Bible*  Camera  Clock  Flashlight  Lightweight day pack  Sunscreen  Sunglasses  Water bottle(s)*  Money for personal spending and freewill offerings  Mosquito repellant  Original Notarized Consent and Medical Release Form*  Passport*  Personal medications (Carry it with you. Do not pack this in your check-on luggage.)  Personal toiletries*  Mess kit* (All participants MUST bring their own Mess Kit, including a non-breakable plate, bowl, cup, knife, fork and spoon.)

What NOT to take

 Knives or firearms  Military-type or camouflage clothing  Books, magazines, or reading material inappropriate for Christians.  Jewelry: It’s just too much of a distraction. Wedding bands are okay, but please leave all other jewelry at home.  A bad attitude 

A Quick Note about Dress

The way the locals dress probably won’t be what you’re used to back home. And remember that many times the local church members will greet you at the airport. So be dressed appropriately upon arrival.

In most of the countries we visit the local people dress more cheaply and modestly than we do in America. So to avoid any offence, please wear modest, simple clothes.

We also recommend that women wear dresses or skirts and modest blouses to church. Many cultures have a hard time with woman wearing pants and/or thin-strap tops to church.

Please Note

This same information is posted on the Quiet Hour Ministries website (www.qhministries.org) and will be updated there as needed. If you have questions, email Ivelene Mullikin at [email protected] or call us at (800) 900-9021.