You have an eager group of qualified volunteers ready to go on a short-term mission assignment. Here are some practical "How Tos", to help your short-term missions program run smoother.
How To. . .
Find low airfares
You may receive a reduced price per traveller if you book 10 or more passengers on identical flights. Sometimes you'll get one free ticket for every 15 to 30 purchased. Mission Travel Services can negotiate this for you with the airline.
Deal with foreign air carrier schedules. (or non-schedules!)
Travel via commercial aircraft within developing countries can be quite different from Australian domestic flights! Just because your seats are booked and the flight is scheduled to leave doesn’t mean it will. Be patient and courteous with airline workers, strident complaining will accomplish little - better to stay calm and recognise that the ‘frontline desk’ staff can not make the aeroplane arrive/take-off any quicker than you can.
Obtain Travel insurance.
Travel insurance is offered by a wide range of providers and it is important to ensure your short-termers have adequate cover. ('Adequate' will mean different things in different countries but it is worth asking if you will have basic evacuation insurance in the policy.)
Seek low-cost accommodations.
When airline schedules necessitate an overnight stay in a foreign connecting city, the carrier will sometimes cover your hotel bill. Mission Travel Services can book your accommodation for stop-overs if it is required.
Obtain excess baggage allowance.
Mission Travel Services can advise you if it is possible to obtain an additional luggage allowance. This must be done in in advance of your departure. The regulations about luggage vary but some airlines are very strict and excess baggage charges can be very expensive.
Train and prepare your team.
If you are working with a mission agency on the arrangements for your mission trip, the agency might specify its requirements for team training and preparation. If they have training then do encourage all participants in your team to be involved and to take preparation for the trip seriously. Mission Travel Services also provides cost-effective short-term team training which can be done at a time and venue of your choice. Please contact Lisa Scerri
Obtain information about passports, visa's and health requirements:
Passports
Your local Australia Post office will be able to provide you with the paperwork to obtain or renew your passport or you can download the form from http://www.passports.gov.au This is not always a straight-forward administrative task because you will need to fulfil the requirements exactly, attend a short interview and provide amongst other things your:
-
Birth Certificate
you’ll need an original copy. -
Photos
two identical passport-size photos. Don't submit your own cut out of a party picture headshot or use photo’s from vending machines. They will be rejected. Get several extra photos – you might need to submit them with a visa application and so you can have spares in case your passport gets lost. Payment; the cost of a new standard Australian passport is $172.
If you have an existing passport you will need to check the expiry date, most passports for adults last 10 years but you will need to have six months validity on the passport before you travel. If in doubt check with your travel agent, at an Australian Post office or the passports website.
Visas
Depending on what the volunteers are doing, which countries they are visiting and how long they are going to be away the visa requirements will vary. Obtaining the right visa is essential and once the proper documents (passport, visa forms, photos, and sometimes a World Health Organization booklet with proof of necessary vaccinations) are submitted to the consulate or embassy, visa issuance can take anywhere from three to ten days but is sometimes much longer. Many countries require a passport be valid for six months from date of entry into the country before they will issue the visa. The visa almost always must be stamped in the valid passport pages, so have team members apply for their passports in plenty of time. Mission Travel uses Visalink as it’s visa processing organisation which takes all the headaches away for you.
Vaccines
Check with the Traveller’s Medical Centre or your own doctor to obtain information about the vaccinations necessary to enter some foreign countries. Many visa applications require proof of certain vaccinations-with time lapses between injections. It's wise for each traveller to check the validity of their tetanus /diphtheria, measles/mumps/rubella, and polio vaccines while asking about any special vaccinations that might be advisable.
Assembling a short-term missions team can be a challenging and rewarding experience. Careful advance attention to travel details allows more time for personal and spiritual preparation-as your team members equip themselves for their valuable mission assignment.
