Brazil Mission Information

Transcription

1 Brazil Mission Information Mission trips are 8 to 10 days in length depending on the Brazil location and travel time required. Travel to Brazil with other team members to build a Lutheran church for an established congregation. Cost: $2,250, which includes round-trip airfare, hotel accommodations and most of your meals for one church. The cost for two churches is $2,800. Passport: You must have a current valid passport, which must not expire within six months of your travel date. It takes approximately six weeks to obtain a new passport. Visa: You must have a current Brazilian visa. Visa application forms are available at We will provide you with the necessary information. Shots: Required: Yellow fever Recommended: Hepatitis A & B, Diphtheria, Tetanus, Typhoid tablets and Malaria Tablets. You must take your immunization record, signed by a physician with you to Brazil. You will want to take $100-$200 for souvenirs, snacks & day trips. This trip will provide you a wonderful way to express and share you faith, and to receive great blessings from an awesome God. Portanto, vão e façam discipulos de todos as nações, batizando-os em nome do Pai e do Filho e do Espirito Santo, Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Mateus(Matthew) 28:19 1

2 Minimum Packing Suggestions At the very least, make sure that you bring the following items. Bible 1 pair casual shoes Several pairs of socks 1 church outfit 3 pairs work pants 3 work shirts Sunglasses/sunscreen Hand towel & wash cloth Immodium/Pepto-Bismol Camera Zip-lock bags(small & large) 3 garbage bags for laundry (if you want laundry service) Medicines Camera batteries 1 pair leather work gloves Hat Medicine Bring your medications, in their original containers. Be sure to let your team leader know about any special health problems, allergies and diet restrictions, etc. requiring attention while in Brazil. Food The team leader will pay for most of your meals. There may be a small refrigerator in your hotel room stocked with drinks and snacks. If you choose to take items from the refrigerator, you will need to pay for them personally at the front desk before we depart the hotel. Giveaways You may choose to bring some simple items to give away to children that will be around the work-site. Coloring books, crayons, gum, individuallywrapped candy, etc. will be well received. Be cautious and discreet when you hand out these items. When the children get overly excited, they tend to swarm whoever has free treats. 2

3 Safety Attention to safety is very important when traveling in South America. Please keep the following points in mind on your trip. Think safety at all times. This reflects judgement not fearfulness. Remain in the airport terminal facilities until departure. If you leave the airport, you may jeopardize your trip. Notify your team leader in writing concerning special dietary or other requirements. It takes planning to accommodate these special considerations. Being informed and responsible will insure enjoyment. Do not leave the team and/or work site without checking with the team leader. Set your own pace, and you will be a great volunteer. Anti-bacterial wipes or gel are essential to prevent infections. Stay in a group when sightseeing and shopping. Always let your team leader know your plans and whereabouts. In Brazil, drivers have the right of way and will run you down. Motorists will beep their horns but will not slow down for you. Please note that many drivers will drive with only parking lights on at night. When you arrive in Brazil, you will be issued an Immigration Document that must be kept with your passport for the duration of the trip and presented to the Federal Police in order to exit the country. Attach this document to your passport with a paperclip. 3

4 Immunizations In America, we enjoy a rather healthy and sterile environment. When visiting Brazil, however wise Americans take extra steps to safeguard their health against an environment that is full of potential microscopic hazards. Below is some information on various treatments that you should consider. Please do not use this information as a substitute for sound medical advice. You should discuss all immunization decisions with a trained health professional. For more information, you can visit Required Tetanus vaccination (within last 10 years) Yellow Fever Vaccine This vaccine is in the form of a shot and can have flu-like side-effects about ten days after the vaccinations. The side effects supposedly last only a day or so. However a few experience side effects. This vaccine offers ten years of immunity. You must get this from the County Health Department. In some areas of Brazil there are Yellow Fever roadblocks. If you do not have proof of immunization. You will be given a Yellow Fever vaccination. Recommended by the Center for Disease Control Hepatitis A Vaccine This is a series of two shots,the second given six months after the first. One shot gives 95% immunity, the second increases the immunity to 100% 20 years immunity. The series costs about $ Hepatitis B Vaccine This is a series of three shots, the second given one month after the first, the third given six months after the first. One shot gives 85 90% immunity, the second gives 95 98% immunity. The third increases the immunity to 100% 15 years immunity. The series costs about $ Many teenagers will have already had this series. Typhoid Vaccine This is available in two forms: shots or pills. One shot gives five years of immunity. The alternative is four pills taken one every other day until they are gone. The pills must be kept refrigerated, must be protected from light, and each dose must be taken at about the same time of day. If your lifestyle allows it (and you can find it in pill form), the four pills would be recommended because they offer ten years of immunity and based on some team members experiences fewer side effects than a shot. Your Typhoid vaccination regimen should be completed at least two weeks before departure. Cost is about $ Malaria Medication Only two alternatives are available for the areas of Brazil that we will be visiting. The first, and more highly recommended, is Mefloquine (trade name Lariam). However, this medication can have some significant psychotic side effects in a very small percentage of people. People who already have a psychological condition or who have taken anti-depression drugs should avoid this particular medication. Talk to the travel health nurse at your local Health Department to ask questions about your particular situation. The regimen is one pill taken weekly beginning two weeks before departure and continuing until four weeks after we return. Cost is $ for the entire regimen. 4

5 Funds The full balance for your trip is due one months prior to departure. The base cost is $2,250 per person and includes the following items. International round trip airfare Airport taxes Lodging Most meals in Brazil Airport transfers Additional Cost Ground transportation Taxes All gratuities Trip Insurance Ground and air Below are some costs that you may incur in addition to the base cost. Legalization fees for minors. Passport Spending and sightseeing Immunizations Visa Meals on non-workdays Base trip cost is subject to change due to destinations, inflation, time of year, etc. Deposit A $ commitment fee is due 3 months prior to departure date and is applied toward the total fare. Passport You need a U.S. passport. It must not expire for six months after your scheduled date of departure from Brazil. A copy of the first two pages of your passport should be carried in a different place from the original, in case you lose your passport. Visa Brazil requires American citizens to obtain a visa. Please complete a visa application form. Follow the instructions very carefully. We will help you fill out the on-line form Documentation for Minors For children under the age of 18 traveling with one parent or guardian, a legalization form is required, and it must be notarized. This form must be signed by both parents/guardians and should be sent with your visa application or passport. The fee for legalization is $20.00 (Disregard this if child is traveling with both parents). Additional information may be required if the parents are divorced or if the child is in single custody. Travel Documentation Submission Basic Preparations Signed visa application 1-photo for visa (must be a legitimate passport photograph) Signed passport Postal money order Please do not forget to sign your visa application and passport. Frequent Flyer Number If you have a frequent flyer number, please give it to us. 5

6 Entrance and Exit Permit Before arriving in Brazil you will be given the above form. Fill out the form following the instructions. This form must be kept with you while in Brazil and must be presented to the Federal Police at the airport. You cannot leave Brazil without returning this form to the Federal Police. 6

7 Brazil Customs Declaration Form You will be given a form before arriving in Brazil. Fill out the form following the instructions. You must claim your checked luggage, go through customs and return luggage to your airline. 7

8 United States Customs Declaration Form Before returning to the United States you will be given a customs form. You must claim your checked luggage, go through customs and check you luggage with your connecting airline. 8

9 Brazil Trip Do s and Don ts We try to not have too many rules, but some extra precautions must be taken to ensure that everyone has a fun and safe visit to Brazil. If you keep the following list of do s and don ts in mind when you are in Brazil, you and your team will be as safe and happy as possible, and the Brazilians you encounter will respect and admire your service. Don ts On your trip, please do not: drink water that is not bottled. eat any raw vegetables or fruits. eat any under-cooked pork. carry your wallet in your rear pocket. be late for the bus. leave anything on the bus. give money or gifts to the Brazilian workers at the work-site unless you clear it with your team leader. leave your hotel at night without permission of your team leader. throw anything, including candy from the bus. ( Scrambling children could end up under the bus flush toilet paper down the commode. (It must go in the trashcan in the restroom. Toilet paper will clog the plumbing system.) leave the hotel with your room key. ( Your roommates may need access before you do.) use the thumb and finger OK sign. ( It is vulgar in parts of Brazil). take credit for God s work. Do s On your trip, please do: use the thumbs up gesture to express approval or agreement to locals. (This gesture is widely understood and appreciated in Brazil.) function as a team. have fun. follow instructions from team leader. drink lots of fluids. apply sunscreen regularly. be aware of your surroundings at all times. be open to trying new things. be patient with the nationals and each other. Be flexible. (Plans will change frequently.) carry your wallet in your front pocket. 9