Christian Heritage School Partnering with Praying Pelican Missions Puerto Rico Hurricane Maria Relief Saturday, June 30 Friday, July 6, 2018

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1 LEVEL 2 TRIP (General Description): Christian Heritage School Partnering with Praying Pelican Missions Puerto Rico Hurricane Maria Relief Saturday, June 30 Friday, July 6, 2018 Experience on a foreign field is not necessary, but evidence of experience with service/giving of self is a requirement (patterns of service = urban tutoring program, soup kitchen work, regular service at local church, etc.) Students should come prepared to build relationships with those they encounter by showing the love of Jesus in word and deed. Living/working conditions can be moderately uncomfortable. Basic skills for cross-cultural missions are reinforced. (Sharing testimonies, some door-to-door evangelism, ability and willingness to engage local community members, desire to serve children, etc.) Available to students currently in grades PROJECT/MINISTRY OVERVIEW and PRAYING PELICAN MISSIONS: In the last 15 years, PPM has emerged as a leading short-term missions organization, serving the needs of indigenous local churches, pastors, and communities around the world. PPM serves as a conduit, implementing and leading mission trips for churches, small groups, families, and individuals from North America, continually expanding and strengthening a network of pastors and communities both abroad and in the United States. Through Praying Pelican Missions, more than 40,000 short-term missionaries have served in over 1,000 different communities throughout their supported locations. Teams from all over the United States and Canada have partnered with Praying Pelican Missions, making them one of the largest providers of short-term missions opportunities. For a number of years, Praying Pelican has led short-term missions groups in Puerto Rico, partnering with local churches in order to meet the needs of those living in surrounding communities. The church is a central part of each community and the strength of missions is found in the church. Puerto Rican churches partner fully with PPM teams. From the pastor, to the church members, to the church youth, students will have some amazing opportunities to build relationships with local people and be fully immersed in their church and the Puerto Rican culture. Due to their strong presence in Puerto Rico, PPM was on site during the hurricane with a front-row seat to the devastation wreaked by Hurricane Maria. Their connection to the Puerto Rican communities, coupled with their connection to the outside world, made it possible for PPM to immediately amass missions teams able to arrive in Puerto Rico with the objective to rebuild and restore the island. Ministry opportunities will be determined by the church with which we are partnered. We will meet the needs of our host church and those in their surrounding community. 1

2 HURRICANE DEVASTATION: On September 30, 2017, category 5 Hurricane Maria devastated the island of Puerto Rico. In her wake, she left homes and office buildings destroyed, cell towers toppled, widespread flooding and approximately 499 fatalities. In effect, Puerto Rico was blown back to the Stone Age. It was inaccessible, no one was able to get on or off the island, and damage had to be assessed by airplanes flying overhead. It is estimated that Hurricane Maria s damage could cost upwards of $95 billion dollars to the Puerto Rican government and $40 billion to insurance companies. To date, devastation still exists in many areas of Puerto Rico, with the poorest people suffering the greatest amount of loss. Many find themselves living without a roof overhead, making it difficult to escape the hot sun and the rain. The interior portion of the country is still very difficult to navigate, but the more populated areas are beginning to return to some semblance of normalcy. While Puerto Rico is making progress according to a recent FEMA report, many residents are still without electricity, potable drinking water is still scarce in certain areas and many homes still await the blue roofs, tarps sent to Puerto Rico in an effort to place a temporary roof on homes. These blue roofs are being installed by the Army Corps of Engineers, so the wait is long. It will take years to completely restore Puerto Rico and many residents have opted to leave and not return. Hurricane Restoration Report Per FEMA: Water is available to most San Juan homes and businesses and is slowly being restored to the rest of the island. Electricity is slowly returning to the city, with the goal of complete restoration to San Juan and Ponce by early December; the goal for the entire island is late February. CHS team efforts will focus on hurricane clean-up and rebuild, but we will also minister in other areas as needed. Groups are also needed to help fill the gaps in church ministry left by Puerto Ricans who have permanently left the island to live abroad with family. PRAYING PELICAN HURRICANE RELIEF BOOTS ON THE GROUND PUERTO RICO UPDATE: Latest update 1/23/18: At this time, electricity has been restored to most of the city of San Juan. Efforts have first and foremost been focused there, with an eye towards restoring tourism, Puerto Rico s main source of commerce. Unfortunately, electricity for many other areas of the island has not yet been restored and getting potable water is also a huge challenge. Many of the more rural areas remain without a source for clean drinking water, making it very difficult for residents to maintain healthy conditions. Teams continue to arrive weekly and are making every effort to help restore urban and remote areas of Puerto Rico to their former glory. However, storm damage is widespread and severe and it s could take years to restore damaged homes and businesses located beyond the mecca of San Juan. Many Puerto Rican s have opted to leave in order to build a new life elsewhere and those lucky enough to have relatives in the United States have already relocated. These folks won t return to Puerto Rico. Missions teams arriving in the late spring can expect to work on restoring and repairing homes or churches in need. 2

3 TRIP COST: Airfare & Baggage: Carrier: Delta Airlines $413 CT Ground Transportation: Roundtrip transportation to Airport Room and Board: Includes accommodations and ground transportation $58 $615 Ministry Fee: Includes Project Fee and T-shirt $114 Total Cost of Trip: $1,200 NOTE: Group size is based on 15 students. If the group size decreases the cost will marginally increase. If the group size increases, the cost will marginally decrease. $200 TRIP AND AIRLINE DEPOSIT: A combined amount of $200 ($100 trip deposit and $100 airline deposit) is due with your application on Tuesday, January 30. In addition, four monthly installments will also be collected, with the final payment due May 10 th. Your Financial Obligation: Funds not raised by each payment plan deadline will become the responsibility of the student and/or their family at the time said payment is due. Students may not carry a balance from one month to the next. Any money owed at the time the final payment is due becomes the responsibility of the student and/or their family. The Department of Student Ministries does not possess the financial means to subsume debt and cannot fund unpaid balances. Please refer to the Financial Policy for complete details. TRIP MAXIMUM = 20 TRAVELERS: Evidence of Christian commitment, motivation for the trip and the order in which your application is received are the primary considerations for acceptance. 3

4 TRIP REQUIREMENTS: Participants Must: Have accepted Jesus as Savior and have a living, personal relationship with Him Be willing to share their lives in Christ and the Gospel message with other people Be willing to submit to authority Demonstrate a servant s heart Have some prior ministry experience Accept more difficult ministry and living conditions TRIP BENEFITS: A heart for prayer Expand vision for what God is doing in the world Confidence and Leadership skill development A desire to study God s word LODGING: Sleeping arrangements: Team members will be housed at a local church, school, or community center depending on the ministry site we are assigned. Team members should expect to sleep on the floor. Each team member will want to bring their own small air mattress, camping net, pillow, bedding, and towel(s). Sleeping areas will be segregated by gender, with separate men s and women s restrooms/showers. FOOD: While serving in your host community, a variety of meals will be offered, from local cuisine to typical American style food. PPM cook teams are trained, highly skilled and are able to adapt to special dietary needs (gluten free, vegetarian, lactose intolerant, etc.)! Usually the food is one of the team s highlights! Portions may be different than you are used to at home. Students should plan to bring healthy, filling snacks for in-between-meal or bedtime snacks. Please bear in mind that the people who you are serving may well be cooking your dinner; eat gratefully and enthusiastically. CURRENCY: The U.S. Dollar is the official currency of Puerto Rico. 4

5 ELECTRICITY: Puerto Rico has the same electrical current as the U.S. You will not need to purchase a converter or an adapter. DRESS CODE: Appropriate attire can vary from culture to culture. Inappropriate clothing can be anything from a distraction to an offense to the people you ll be serving. Please make sure to adhere to the guidelines below: Men s Attire: Shoulders should be covered (no tank tops, please) and shorts and swim trunks should both come to the knee. Please plan to look your best at church long pants and a collared shirt with closed-toe shoes are considered appropriate. Please do not wear t-shirts with pictures or sayings. Closed-toe shoes are mandatory for work site safety. Ladies Attire: Shoulders should be covered: no tank tops, strapless tops, spaghetti straps, plunging necklines or plunging/backless tops shall be worn. All skirts, dresses, and shorts should fall either at/or below the knee. Women are asked to wear one-piece swimsuits. Please plan to look your best for church, a modest dresses or skirt and sleeved top are fine. T-shirts for work days are acceptable, but should be free from pictures or sayings. Closed-toe shoes are a must for worksite safety. Skirts are not necessary for work sites. LANGUAGE: Spanish is the primary language of Puerto Rico. You are encouraged to learn a few key words or phrases to make communication easier. Please remember that there are many ways to communicate, gestures, playing sports, dancing with the kids, playing games with the youth and smiling at an adult are among the many ways you can communicate and build relationships. VACCINATIONS: The CDC recommends routine vaccinations for all people traveling to Puerto Rico. Along with routine vaccinations, they also recommend travelers get immunized against Hepatitis A and Typhoid as both can be transmitted through contaminated food or water. Travelers should also take precautions and use bug spray to avoid insect bites from mosquitoes. To stay updated on the latest findings, please visit the Center for Disease Control s website at 5

6 PASSPORTS: Because you are traveling within the United States, passports are NOT needed to enter Puerto Rico. However, you will need a photo ID for airport travel, if you do not have a driver s license or state ID, you will need to bring a valid passport for identification. PUERTO RICO INFORMATION: Topography: The island of Puerto Rico, considered part of the United States of America, is a very popular tourist destination because of its location, rich history and warm atmosphere. The island is located in the Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic, about 1,000 miles (1,600 km) southeast of Miami, Florida. Puerto Rico is almost rectangular in shape, approximately 100 miles long by 35 miles wide and is the smallest and the most eastern island of the Greater Antilles (Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica and Puerto Rico). It consists of the main island of Puerto Rico and several smaller islands and keys, including Vieques, Culebra, Culebrita, Palomino (known by some as the Spanish Virgin Islands), Mona and Monito. Puerto Rico is the third largest island in the United States and the 82nd largest island in the world. Puerto Rico is very mountainous (covering about 60%), except in the regional coasts, but Puerto Rico offers astonishing variety: rain forest, deserts, beaches, caves, oceans and rivers. Puerto Rico has three main physiographic regions: the mountainous interior, the coastal lowlands, and the karst area. Weather: Humidity is high, about 80% throughout the year. June temperatures fall around 89 degrees during the day and can dip to 76 degrees in the evening. 6

7 Culture: The rich culture of Puerto Rico has been greatly influenced by its history. With the blend of Taino Indians, Spanish and African cultures, comes a melting pot of people and traditions, as well as the impact of the United States political and social exchange into every aspect of life. Puerto Rico has almost no racial issues due to the influence of so many nationalities over the course of its vibrant history. Puerto Rican s are place a high value on family. They are open, friendly and welcoming to visitors. They also place a high value on their culture and their art, preferring to remain culturally different from the influence of the United States. 7

8 CHRISTIAN HERITAGE SCHOOL PAYMENT SCHEDULE FOR PUERTO RICO SATURDAY, JUNE 30-FRIDAY, JULY 6, 2018 Support Letters should be sent out no later than Friday, February 16, 2018 DROP POLICY: Although every effort will be made to retrieve and refund monies in the case of an extenuating circumstance, there are NO refunds for a participant drop at any time. If you do drop out, you will be completely responsible for the total trip cost. Trip Deposit & Airline Deposit: Due Tuesday, January 30 ($100 trip application, $100 airline deposit) Delta Airlines $200 Payment 1: Due Thursday, February 15 Payment 2: Due Thursday, March 1 Payment 3: Due Thursday, April 5 Payment 4: Due Thursday, May 10 $250 $250 $250 $250 NOTE: According to the IRS, money provided by parents is not considered a donation (no tax receipt will be issued). Trips are paid for solely by participants. Each month, payments must be remitted on time and in full. For those raising funds, the balance of your monthly payment will be sent to you a few days prior to each payment due date. It is your responsibility to pay the balance when it is due, we cannot carry a balance on your account. Thank you for understanding. Please see the Financial Policy for full terms of agreement. 8