A3 Community

Nepal Short-Term Service Trips Now Available!

Purpose:

The people of Nepal have been devastated physically, economically, emotionally and spiritually by the April and May 2015 earthquakes. You have an opportunity to provide basic assistance, encouragement, and most importantly, the love of Christ to the people of Nepal.

Timing:

June – December 2015

Maximum group size:

Eight persons

Trip length:

Seven days/six nights in country (travel additional)

• One day orientation
• Five days at ministry site
• One day visiting and sightseeing

Primary work:

There is an acute need to clear the debris created by the earthquakes so that homes, schools and other buildings can be rebuilt. You will be working alongside the local residents in this effort.

• This is the immediate need in the country.
• Assigning your group simple jobs that do not require skilled labor allows you to enter the country as tourists. Otherwise, you would need to obtain special visas and government permissions, which are difficult to obtain and expensive.
• More formal work like hut construction would require additional government permissions and paperwork.

“As much as people’s homes need to be rebuilt, the people’s spirits need to be rebuilt even more,” my friends told me. “Teams who will come and mingle with our people, lift the spirits of the children, and demonstrate the love of Christ will be vital to the healing of our people and the spread of the Gospel.”

Additional work and ministry:

In addition to your cleanup work, you will come prepared with VBS-style program and materials to help lift the spirits of the children and adults in the area. (Most schools have been closed since the earthquake.) Bring music, crafts, games, small giveaway gifts like ball caps, candy, etc., and ideas on how you would want to use them with children and adults.

• Regarding music, simple Christian songs are OK, as it will be announced that you are Christians.
• However, preaching of any kind, Bible distribution, and overt evangelistic activities are not permitted.
• Bringing candies and small gifts like ball caps is encouraged.

Supervision:

You will be working in country with leaders from the Evangelical Christian Fellowship of Nepal (ECFN). They are currently organizing and directing relief and rebuilding work to 12 of the hardest-hit districts in Nepal. At least one ECFN leader will be with your group at all times.

Location:

Kathmandu valley (Kathmandu city and the surrounding area).

• One of the many villages hit by the earthquake.
• The residents in all of these areas are predominantly Hindu.

Housing:

• If working in the KTM valley, you will house in a hotel or hostel.
• If working in a village, you will house in tents. In this case, you will bring a sleeping bag and pillow. You will be notified ahead of time if you will be working in the Kathmandu valley or an outlying village.

Food:

Your trip includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner for every day that you are in country. The fare is simple, tasty, and healthy--rice, lentils, cooked vegetables, bread, and occasionally meat. Drinkable water will be available at all sites.

You are encouraged to bring along your favorite portable snacks such as energy bars, nuts, and the like.

Medical:

Be prepared to handle your own minor first-aid issues. Bring along enough basic first-aid supplies or kits to accommodate your group. For more serious medical issues, facilities are available in the Kathmandu valley area.

Communication:

In the Kathmandu valley area, internet is generally available. Reliability varies with location and provider. In the outlying villages, internet is generally not available.

SIM cards are readily available and inexpensive. It is recommended that, at minimum, your group leaders purchase SIM cards. These can usually be used in both the Kathmandu valley and outlying villages, although there are village locations where mobile phone reception can be difficult.

Schedule:

When your group is confirmed, you will receive a tentative schedule for your trip. Please note that this schedule will change. This is the nature of service work in a disaster area.

Things to bring:

• Bible
• Sturdy work gloves and work boots
• Mosquito repellant
• First-aid kit
• Basic medicines for minor headaches, stomach ailments, etc.
• Portable snacks
• small giveaway gifts (e.g., keychains, ballcaps, candy, etc...)

Budget:

Per person, seven days & six nights (NOT including airfare, tourist-visa fees, and incidentals, etc.)

• Housing, food (breakfast, lunch, dinner), transportation... US$ 350.
• Family Rebuilding Package*... US$ 130.
• Total, per person... US$ 480.
• If your group wants to stay longer, add US$ 50. per day, per person, to the above total.

How to Get Started...

If you're interested in putting together a team from your church or school, we will be sharing more about the process soon. Stay tuned... In the meantime...

1. Pray.
2. Talk to your supervisor at your church or school fellowship. Make sure to include staff members from the very start.
3. Talk to potential team members so they can begin to pray.
4. Check back here for next steps...

Photo credits: Images courtesy Joe Handley and Robert Adair.