In the not so distant past most volunteer groups had to depend on the Partnership Missions Department to handle the ins and outs of a mission trip. In today’s world of internet, however, most information and services are now accessable to anyone. There are several websites we utilize on a regular basis that provide up-to-date information concerning missions opportunities and travel issues. So, here in one place are the “go-to” resources we use to answer questions from volunteers and aid in mission trip planning.
Project Search
- Of course, the first stop for KBC churches is to contact us about missions opportunities. If you’d like to check out the international projects featured on our website, simply click on this link to go directly to our listings http://www.kybaptist.org/kbc/welcome.nsf/pages/pshipintlproj or go to our website http://www.kybaptist.org/partnership.
- Another resource is my last post in which I reviewed how to find volunteer projects on-line. This features the IMB site as well as other IMB regional sites you can explore.
- Another helpful tool in the search process is a recent post, Criteria to Consider when Choosing a Country. This lists serveral things to think about when selecting a project.
Travel Agencies and Information
There are several agencies to choose from and the Partnership Missions Department has used different ones over the years. For mission trips it is usually advantageous to work with a firm that specializes in mission trips. Here are some that we have used in the past and present:
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Airprojects Travel – www.airprojects.travel/ They work primarily with trips to Latin America. We used them a lot with the Brazil partnership.
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Dehoney Travel – www.dehoneytravel.com This is a worldwide service we use presently.
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MTS Travel – www.mtstravel.com This is the agency most used by the IMB for their missionaries’ travel needs.
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Travel websites like www.Travelocity.com and www.Orbitz.com, or the airline’s website can be utilized to make travel reservations yourself.
- U.S. Department of State – www.travel.state.gov/ This U.S. government site provides information about international travel such as assistance to U.S citizens abroad, registration with U.S. Embassies, and travel tips. This is also where you will find information about U.S. passports, travel warnings, travel alerts, and country specific information.
- Country Calling Codes – www.countrycallingcodes.com/ This is a great site that takes the confusion out of calling from the U.S. to another country or vise-versa.
Travel Health and Security
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – www.cdc.gov/travel/ Here you can find out about immunization requirements and recommendations for specific countries, travel health precautions, and news of outbreaks from around the world. In addition there is health information for travel to over 200 international destinations and general advice on preventative measures you can take to stay healthy while traveling overseas.
- Overseas Security Advisory Council – www.osac.gov/ The Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) is a Federal Advisory Committee with a U.S. Government Charter to promote security cooperation between American business and private sector interests worldwide and the U.S. Department of State. Their website provides reports on the security situation in all parts of the globe. You can search the site by region or country.
- Passport Health – www.passporthealthky.com – They can answer questions concerning required vaccines and also administer the same. Louisville, KY
- International Travel Clinic – U of L – http://www.uoflhealthcare.org/Default.aspx?tabid=316 - Same services as above- Louisville, KY
Travel Insurance
- Adams and Associates International www.aaintl.com/ Adams & Associates International® (A&AI) has been exclusively involved in providing complete insurance services for International Missionaries and Mission Sending Agencies since 1980. This site offers general information, insurance programs, online services, claim services, and volunteer enrollment. The IMB and KBC Partnership Missions Department have utilized them for years and have had excellent service. Please note that volunteer teams are no longer required to have an IMB volunteer request number in order to get insurance through A&AI.
- Insurance Services of America. Christian organization that specializes in international health & life insurance for missionaries. They have plans available for short and long term, for both individuals as well as groups. Their group plan with an “all age” rate is the International Provider and it is found online at www.missionaryhealth.COM . For youth group coverage, with rates as low as 52 cents per day, their Day Tripper plan is the best option and can be found online at www.missionaryhealth.NET .
These are all great sources of travel information, however, concerning questions about specific areas it is always best to consult the local missionary whenever possible. As always, we are here to serve you and help you with your mssion trip arragnements.
