Solomon Islands YMA 2008 project information

Solomon Islands YMA 2008:

Aola

PROJECT INFORMATION

(updated March 4, 2008)

project dates:

	September 17 – October 5, 2008

application forms: All mission project participants are required to have the following documents filled out and sent to The Quiet Hour:

	1.	YMA Solomon Islands 2008 Mission Project Application
	2.	Participant Medical History Form
	3.	Notarized Parental Consent and Medical Release Form (required for participants under 18 years of age who travel into a foreign country without one or both parents) Send copy only, keep original with passport.
	4.	Clean, clear copy of passport picture page

finances:

1.	Participant's fee is $600 plus airfare.
2.	Payment schedule: $300 deposit due May 29, 2008.
		Final payment of $300 due August 29, 2008.
	Please note – All participant fees must be paid in full prior to departure.

travel:

Everyone is responsible for making their own travel arrangements. If you need suggestions or ideas, please contact us: 909-793-2588, x111; 1-800-900-9021; email Charlene West.

There are two methods of arriving in Honiara, Solomon Islands.

Traveling through Nandi Fiji, which is the cheaper route
Traveling to Brisbane, then catching a flight to Honiara, using either Solomon Air, or Air Nauru. If traveling via Brisbane, it is advisable to obtain a three-week ticket, which is by far the cheapest method of travel.

Important: You must arrive in Honiara (Capital city) on September 17.

Departure tax: You will need to pay a departure tax to leave the Solomon Islands. This will cost approx. $6 United States currency.

teams: The groups will be divided into these teams:

•	Evangelism teams
•	Evangelism Support teams (musicians, greeters, drama, visitation, etc.)
•	Construction teams
•	Medical/Dental/Optometry teams
•	VBS & Children's Ministry teams

Participants will not be required to work in all areas. We will do our best to give each participant a “taste” of the areas in which they have a special interest.

evangelism:

•	Information on the location of the meetings and the main speaker is still being developed.
•	Each meeting will include a health lecture, family talk (10 minutes each), and children’s program.
•	For each location, each group will be responsible for the special music as well as the song service. Moderate praise and worship style of music is encouraged. A piano and/or organ will be available at most venues.

construction:
	Construct a kitchen and dining room facility for Kopiu Academy.

Construction Crew members need to bring:
	Equipment specifics unknown at this time.

medical teams and eye clinic
The medical teams will consist of:
•	Dentists and dental assistants	•	Medical doctors
•	Optometrists and opticians	•	Other health professionals
•	Nurses	•	Trained and untrained assistants
Dental and eye care clinics are most effective.

children's ministry: Programs and activities for the children will occur one hour prior to each evangelism meeting. The programs will include songs, stories from the Bible, nature nuggets, puppets, and other activities as arranged by the team's children's ministry coordinator. In many cases, adults take an interest in the evining meetings as a result of the children's programs. Therefore, it is important that much emphasis and preparation are given to the children's programs and activities.

medical needs: Part of our team includes physicians and other health personnel. Our personal medical needs will be handled by our own medical personnel, except for emergencies that may require hospitalization. Each participant is required to fill out a health form that includes a “Consent to Treatment” authorization. Scratches and cuts fester very quickly so please bring your own medical powder and band aids for immediate treatment.

Each group is required to bring their own first aid kit. Items to be included are:

•	Ace bandage strips
•	Aloe vera or anything with benzocaine (for severe sunburn)
•	Antibiotics (although it is expensive and requires a prescription, Cipro is preferred because it covers the major dysentery pathogens)
•	Aspirin
•	Band aids and bandages–telfa pads and tape
•	Benadryl (for insect bites)
•	Cling tape (optional)
•	Cotton balls
•	Female hygiene items (such as tampons, etc.)
•	Hydrogen peroxide or betadine (for sterilization/cleaning)
•	Insect repellant
•	Motrin or Advil
•	Needles (to remove splinters, etc.)
•	Pepto Bismol
•	Polysporin (to fight infection and kill pain)
•	Saline solution (for eye wash)
•	Sore throat lozenges (for cold morning air, eating dust, too much talking, etc.)
•	Steri-strips (optional)
•	Sunblock (minimum of SPF 15; SPF 30-45 is preferred)

common ailments:
•	"Tourista"–intestinal problems due to drinking non-purified water, or eating something that has not been "decontaminated" (washed in Cloroxed water). All tap water is UNSAFE for drinking purposes. We will have plenty of purified water at each site.
•	Dehydration–All participants will be reminded many times each day to drink fluids.
•	Sunburn–This project is in the tropics. Fifteen minutes of unprotected skin will burn. All participants will be required to put sunblock on each morning.
•	Exhaustion–Long days of work and short nights of sleep require participants to pace themselves.

water: It is important for every guest to assume that tap water is not potable. Only drink purified water. Bottled drinking water can be purchased in most countries. Some may want to purchase a hand-held water-purification system at your local camping store to purify tap water. Let the camping store know your travel plans so they can recommend the best kind.

additional information: For additional information on health matters in each country, go to the Internet site www.tripprep.com and read the voluminous data they provide.

insurance: The Quiet Hour purchases Short Term Mission Insurance from General Conference Risk Management Services. Please note: The period of coverage is for 21 days, beginning on the day each participant begins his or her travel.

safety: The Quiet Hour team will do everything possible to ensure that participants are not knowingly taken into dangerous or life-threatening situations. YMA participants will not be permitted to take any side-trips without proper supervision. Before any excursions or trips are taken, we will consult with local experts and pastors.

climate: Before you travel, it is a good idea to have some knowledge of the climate. We have been told it is tropical with a daily average temperature of 85 degrees F, and high humidity. Evenings can be cool (down to 75 F). It is hot even in winter. Thus cool loose fitting cottons are best. Here are a few websites that can provide you with “world weather information.”

•	Weather Underground: local weather in Honiara, Solomon Islands
•	Intellicast: local weather in Honiara, Solomon Islandsal Fiji weather
•	Yahoo! Weather: local weather in Honiara, Solomon Islands
•	National Weather Service: local weather in Honiara, Solomon Islands

dress codes–men:

•

Church or meetings: Clothing for Sabbath and meetings should be neat and modest. A suit and tie are not necessary.

•

Daily activities: Casual attire, including modest pants and shorts, is appropriate.

•

Leisure time/excursions: Modest shorts, pants or jeans, and T-shirts are acceptable. No T-shirts with questionable or offensive logos.

MEN!! Please note! Leave the baggy, "let your boxers show" pants at home. These are not appropriate at any time.

•

Construction crew: Two pair old shorts and T-shirts, long sleeve shirt, long pants or jeans, leather gloves, gardening gloves, sunblock, work boots and tennis shoes.

•

Medical team personnel: If possible, wear smocks or surgical scrubs.

•

Kitchen crew: Grubbies, aprons, light-weight tops and slacks.

•

Jewelry: It’s just too much of a distraction. Please leave all of your “hard-wear” at home.

dress codes–women:

•

Church or meetings: Modest dresses and blouses or skirts, (with long or short sleeves) are required during the evangelistic meetings or during church. Sleeveless or spaghetti-strap tops are not appropriate in any setting. Wearing slacks or pants is not appropriate for church in this culture.

•

Daily Activities: Casual attire, including modest slacks and shorts, is appropriate.

•

Leisure time/Excursions: Modest shorts, pants or jeans, and modest tops are acceptable. One-piece bathing suits are preferable, but if two-piece, please cover with a long solid color t-shirt.

LADIES!! Please note! Leave the “low rider jeans” at home. (This is not a Brittney Spears look-alike mission trip!) The “low rider” style is VERY offensive to the local church folk.

•

Construction crew: Two pair old shorts and T-shirts, long sleeve shirt, long pants or jeans, leather gloves, gardening gloves, sunblock, work boots and tennis shoes.

•

Medical team personnel : If possible, wear smocks or surgical scrubs.

•

Kitchen Crew: Grubbies, aprons, light-weight tops and slacks or dresses.

•

Jewelry: It’s just too much of a distraction. Please leave all of your “bangles, baubles and beads” at home.

electricity: To be determined.

food and lodging: We always have some of the best cooks in the world on our team. The daily vegetarian meals will be prepared and served by YMA participants and staff. The cost for the meals and lodging has been included in the YMA participation fees.

internet access: Unknown.

money: The currency is the SBD. At this time it is 5.5006 to 1 US dollar. While traveling, we strongly recommend the use of a money belt to carry your cash or traveler’s checks. Do not carry large amounts of money in your purse or wallet.

calling home: There is absolutely no telecommunication of any kind at Kopiu, except by National Radio. However, urgent messages from home can be sent via the Solomon Island Mission Office.

travel documents:

Passport: passenger MUST have a valid passport to travel to the Solomon Islands with at lest six months of available travel on it. If you do not have a passport, you can get one at your local post office. It will take 10 - 16 weeks to process. While it is possible to pay extra money and get rush-delivery of a passport, if you are thinking about participating in this project, it is far wiser to secure one rather than waiting until you have made a firm decision to go.

Visas: U.S. Citizens will not need a travel visa to enter the Solomon Islands.

vaccinations: Consult your family physician or your local Health Department regarding the recommended vaccinations for travel to the Solomon Islands. Measures need to be taken to prevent Malaria; consult your personal physician about this and other medical needs. As a general rule, for travel into third world/developing countries, the following vaccinations are recommended: Yellow Fever, Hepatitis A and B, Typhoid, Meningitis, Cholera or Tetanus. Need more information? Check www.tripprep.com. If you register with your name and email address you can click on "Destination Information", scroll down and click on Solomon Islands for a detailed report about the country, including information about vaccines, malaria and other health issues.

what to take: (besides an adventurous spirit) The following are guidelines of items that you should consider packing:

Work gear

•	blue jeans and/or painter's pants
•	two pair old shorts
•	good working shoes (preferably with a reinforced toe)
•	hard had, straw hat or baseball cap for sun protection
•	grubby old long sleeved shirts
•	sunblock
•	sun glasses
•	old T-shirts
•	water bottle for the job site
•	work gloves (leather and gardening)

Non-work gear

•	casual shirts and blouses
•	modest shorts, skirts, and pants
•	Sabbath attire
•	bath robe
•	sleep wear
•	socks
•	tennis shoes
•	swimming suit (modest)
•	underclothes
•	twin size flat sheets
•	small pillow
•	towels and wash cloths
•	flip-flops (for showers)

Miscellaneous items

•	Bible
•	books for your own reading material
•	camera and film or digital cards
•	clock
•	flashlight
•	light-weight day pack
•	lotion and sunblock
•	Mess kit for eating in lightweight cotton bag with draw string to hang on line to dry
•	money for personal spending
•	mosquito repellent
•	original notarized consent-medical release form
•	passport
•	personal medications (Carry it with you. Do not pack this in your check-on luggage.)
•	personal toiletries
•	rain poncho
•	snacks
•	snorkel geal
•	solid shoes for reef walking
•	sport water bottle for drinking water
•	about $50 - $75 for souvenirs you will want to buy to take home to your friends and family
•	If you travel with a CD walkman, MP3 player or I-Pod, we will have a locked facility to secure these items in the Solomon Islands. For various reasons, we want all of these items to be out of sight while on the mission project.

what NOT to take: (leave at home all pre-conceived notions about mission trips)

•	knives or firearms
•	military-type or camouflage clothing
•	books, magazines, or reading material that would be deemed "inappropriate" for Christians

This page will be updated as we get the information.

If you have questions, e-mail Charlene West or call us at 800-900-9021 and ask for Charlene West.