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DOMINICAN REPUBLIC TEAM MEMBER HANDBOOK

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Service and Learning Teams 2014

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PRE-FIELD GUIDE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

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Welcome 4

Communication 5

Mission field profile 6

Service & Learning Team Program 7-8

Guide to planning, forming and sending

a Service & Learning Team 9

Early Planning 9

Approval and scheduling 9

Spiritual Preparation 9

General preparation 10

Documents and paperwork 10

Finances 10-11

Insurance 12

Luggage Requirements 12

What to Bring 12

Orientation 13

Health 13-14

Team schedule 14

Ministry Activities 14

Relationships with Nationals 15-16

Follow-up 16

Summary 17

Code of Ethics 18

Heading Home 19

Prayer of Archbishop Romero 20

Finally… 21

CRCNA Standards of Conduct 22

CRCNA Personal safety plan 23

Spanish Glossary 24

Table of Contents

PLEASE DISTRIBUTE THIS INFORMATION TO

ALL TEAM MEMBERS TO READ WELL IN ADVANCE

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Dear Service and Learning Teams:

We are so excited by your desire to serve God through Christian Reformed World Missions (CRWM).

We’re delighted you’ve chosen to join a CRWM Service and Learning Team as a volunteer missionary,

for what we expect will be an exciting and fulfilling journey.

Now that you have committed yourself to go to the Dominican Republic, you may be wondering about all

the details relating to passports, flights, immunizations, finances and what to bring. This handbook pro-

vides you with important information that can be used before, during, and after your time of service as a

CRWM volunteer.

Please know that if you ever have any questions, you may contact us via email or phone.

Our contact information is on the following page.

In His Service,

Lisa Sochacki

Christian Reformed World Missions

Program Coordinator

Volunteer Ministries

Welcome to Christian Reformed World Missions!

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Your main communication for serving with

Christian Reformed World Ministries in the

Dominican Republic, is through Christian

Reformed World Missions.

For US and Canada: Lisa Sochacki—

Program Coordinator: Volunteer Ministries

1700 28th Street SE

Grand Rapids MI 49508-1407

1-877-279-9994, ext 2750

(616) 224-0750

[email protected]

Dominican Republic Field Contacts

and Addresses

Mailing address & fax number for all missionaries: Agape DMG #13923

100 Airport Ave.

Venice, FL 34285

In-Country Addresses: Mission Office:

Phone: 1-809-565-9601

FAX: 1-809-547-3501

Ministry Center (Centro de Ministerio), where teams

in the Santo Domingo area are housed:

Calle 4 #6, Barrio Los Angeles,

Avenida Monumental km 13 Autopista Duarte

Phone: 809-564-3026 or 809-564-2963

Print and carry this page with you on your flight in order to have

the address of your lodging and the phone #s of contacts.

Communication

Name Work

Description Location

E-mail/Agape

Account # Phone #s

Steve & Sandra

Brauning

Partner consultant

and field adminis-

trator

Santo Domingo [email protected]

DMG13923

Home: 809-922-8486

Cell: 829-643-1098

Office: 809-565-9601

Duane & Shelley

Postma

Service &

Learning Team

Coordinator

(Jan-March each

year)

Sioux Center,

IA & Santo Domingo

[email protected] Home, Sioux Center

712-722-4440

Robert and Betty

Roldan Wood

Santo Domingo [email protected]

[email protected]

Home: 809-697-8261

Cell: 809-481-3923

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Missionary presence includes two career missionary

families, including Christian Reformed World Missions

(CRWM) and World Renew; a volunteer team coordinator

and partner missionary teachers.

1. People group: Christian Reformed World Missions

works with both Dominicans and Haitians in the Domini-

can Republic. The Haitian community includes immigrants

as well as second and third generation Dominicans of

Haitian origin. Many work for the sugar cane industry and

live in company owned villages called "bateys." Others

commute or live in squatter areas in the larger urban cen-

ters where they work at labor-intensive jobs. Haitians are

the largest foreign minority group in the Dominican Re-

public and most lack permanent legal documentation by

the Dominican government, and face the reality of being

deported at any time. They are the poorest of the poor in

the D.R. There is estimated to be over one million people

of Haitian descent living in the D.R., about 10% of the

total population.

2. La Iglesia Cristiana Reformada en la República

Dominicana (ICRRD — the Christian Reformed

Church in the Dominican Republic) is our main partner.

Over 12,000 persons attend the ICRRD regularly. There

are about 190 congregations spread throughout the coun-

try in 13 zones. About 130 are organized churches with

ordained pastors and the rest are chapels or preaching

stations. CRWM supports the following church ministries

with grants and missionary participation:

a. Bible Institute training on basic and advanced levels,

b. local, regional and national church development and

consultation,

c. evangelism and discipleship training and ministry,

d. church growth support and consultation,

e. construction program for church, pastor housing and

ministry centers,

f. diaconal committee development.

3. Christian Reformed Schools (COCREF) provides

quality Christian day school education (K-12) in 16

marginal communities, reaching approximately 4,000

students from both churched and unchurched families.

200 national teachers, supervisors and other staff are the

backbone of COCREF. CRWM provides a substantial

grant as well as institutional, pedagogic and financial

consultation.

4. Community Development: Through partnerships, the

CRC is involved in community development here in the

D.R. Disaster relief, micro-credit, food security and

diaconal development are some of the ways that World

Renew partners and serves in order to impact the country

with the integral, holistic, transformational power of the

Gospel.

5. Other Partner Agencies: Santiago Christian School is

a bilingual primary and high school, at which a number of

partner CRC missionaries serve. UNEV and UNELA are

evangelical university partners with mission and church

for higher education. The Strategy for Transformation is a

regional youth ministry with a director in the D.R., partner-

ing with the CRC. Worldwide Christian Schools partners

with COCREF in coordination with CRC ministries. The

CRC Racial Reconciliation Ministry has a facilitation team

here as well.

6. North-South Exchange through Service and Learning

teams, volunteers, ecumenical connections, and inter-

church partnerships is an important way for us to fulfill the

CRWM vision “to glorify God by leading the CRC to

respond obediently to our Lord’s commission to witness

to the good news of God’s Kingdom and make disciples

of all nations.”

Mission Field Profile Christian Reformed World Missions in the Dominican Republic

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Introduction

Christian Reformed World Missions in the Dominican

Republic (D.R.) is committed to providing opportunities

for service and learning for North American visitors, vol-

unteers, and teams. These opportunities contribute to

growth and development on all sides, and provide a

vital link of communication and fellowship between the

North American participant, the mission team, and the

national partners.

This experience allows the participant a first-hand view

and understanding of the missionary task and life,

which cannot be communicated in any other manner.

Although visitors may contribute materially to the

people in the Dominican Republic, they also RECEIVE

spiritually from the people they meet, LEARN and

GROW as persons, gain new insights on issues such

as poverty/wealth, international relations, cross-cultural

communication, and even construction methods, and

can build life-long relationships with believers here in

the DR. Also, the Lord uses these experiences and re-

lationships in many lives to spiritually edify and even to

call new missionaries.

Types of Service and Learning

1. Church construction projects: Teams help in the

construction of church buildings or other projects, as

part of the joint construction program of World Mis-

sions and the Iglesia Cristiana Reformada en la

República Dominicana (ICRRD). The need remains

great in this area. The majority of leaders and mem-

bers of the Christian Reformed Church here are

plantation workers with little property or rights, or

financial resources to build their own church build-

ings. The team provides part of the construction

costs and labor, as does the local congregation.

Each construction project is a JOINT PROJECT with

the national church where the team works along side

Dominican or Haitian partners. 65% of donations

provide a grant to the national partner for project

expenses such as purchasing materials and some-

times land, hiring local builders, as well as creating a

reserve fund for emergencies and other projects. We

suggest teams be ten days in length with 8-12 peo-

ple. However, we are flexible and more than willing

to work with you and your group. We consider a vari-

ety of factors including transportation, costs, division

of labor, and national participation when organizing

teams . Oversized groups are discouraged. The

goal for teams is not necessarily to complete any

project, and should not be seen as such.

Church buildings: These consist of block

walls, cement floor, and a tin roof supported by

a wood frame. Wooden doors and windows

may also be included. Size: 20' width is stan-

dard — with lengths ranging from 35'-50'. The

buildings are not completely finished during the

team’s stay, and elements not completed are

considered the responsibility of the church.

Service & Learning Team Program

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Pastors' houses: Many pastors do not have

the economic resources to have their own

home and may rent or live in very substandard

quarters. A small, durable home helps the

pastors carry out their work, which aids church

growth and stability in the community.

Ministry center buildings provide facilities for

a zone (classis) to hold a variety of activities.

Teams should include people capable of physi-

cal and skilled labor, but not exclusively. Will-

ingness to help, spiritual maturity (only commit-

ted Christians who are active in their home

church will be considered), availability, disci-

plined character, organizational skills, and

good overall physical health, are important

requirements. It is recommended to include

several young people in the team, in order to

encourage interest in missions.

2. Community development teams: These teams

work with water projects, latrines, or other

community development projects.

3. Study or vision teams: Usually organized by col-

leges, universities, seminaries, churches, or other

institutions, these groups come down with the ex-

press purpose of learning about culture, language,

or missions. The idea is on-site education, with

some hands-on experience. School teams may

have certain academic standards, set by the send-

ing institution. Youth groups may come to partici-

pate in evangelism, drama, Vacation Bible School,

or youth encounters. Others may simply want to

visit the mission work to get to know the missionar-

ies and their work.

Although these might not be work teams, they may

participate in some construction project as part of

their whole program. Team size is determined by

organizational and logistic considerations and will

vary widely. It is vital to have at least one Spanish

speaker — be it a student, teacher, or translator

who would accompany the team at all times.

4. Christian school construction teams: COCREF,

the Christian Reformed School program partners

with Worldwide Christian Schools to provide con-

struction of school buildings. Please refer to WCS

for any information regarding this ministry.

Worldwide Christian Schools U.S.A.

1009 44th St. SW

Wyoming, MI 49509

(616) 531-9102

(800) 886-9000

http://wwcs.org

EduDeo Ministries

https://edudeo.com

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1. Early planning: The first step is one of vision,

best formed within the context of a local church, al-

though teams also can be organized on a classical

level, or at high schools, colleges, universities, etc.

Form a "Service and Learning Team Task Force," find

interested persons, make connections with other

churches, etc. Form your ideas as to purposes, plans,

timetables, finances, etc. Planning can take anywhere

from six months up to two years. The continued con-

tact and support of the church is vital to the team, and

therefore, the team should keep the church(es) in-

formed as to progress, plans, and prayer requests

throughout the whole process.

Once the team is selected and formed, get to know each

other well and start the process early. Start meeting

together for planning, discussion, encouragement,

prayer and fund-raising well in advance of going to

the field.

The team should name individuals to several roles

including:

team leader (could be a couple)

spiritual/ devotional leader

construction or project coordinator

contact person for communication to the field

(can be the same as the team leader).

fund-raising & finance coordinator

2. Approval & Scheduling: Initial approval of

teams serving with World Missions is done via the

CRWM Volunteer Program Coordinator in the US

(see contacts on page 5 ) and agency staff on the

field. Once approval has been given, the Program

Coordinator will provide team leaders with their Ser-

vice & Learning Team Procedures, which will assist

the team in their many preparations for serving with

World Missions. Please note that winter months are

very popular and cannot always be fulfilled, so start

the communication process early.

Be sure to relate the airline and flight numbers to the

CRWM Volunteer Program Coordinator and your

missionary contact once your flights are confirmed.

If at all possible, avoid travel on Sunday. Sunday is

the time where we encourage communal worship

and special family time.

Maintain good contact with the CRWM Volunteer

Program Coordinator throughout the preparation

and planning stage to relay any and all pertinent

information, as well to be informed about what is

happening on the field.

3. Spiritual preparation: As mentioned before, the

spiritual benefits from the exchange experience are

many. We suggest, therefore, that preparation and

effort go into this aspect as much as any other. Begin

to develop a group devotional time BEFORE coming.

Plan on having daily team devotions, as well as

special times of prayer and worship while on the field.

The team should prepare to participate in a church

service here in the Dominican Republic. This is a lo-

cal expectation and a good opportunity to demon-

strate not just what the hands can do, but also the

heart. This is not a “performance,” since worship par-

ticipation is generally informal here, without the ex-

pectations of “polish” as in many North American

churches. By simply participating, a bond can be es-

tablished. First and foremost, is that the team identify

themselves, their sending church(es), why they are

here, and bring a greeting from home. A song, brief

testimony(ies), or even a sermon can be included.

These can be done with translation.

Guide to Planning, Forming, and Sending a Service & Learning Team

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4. General preparation: Read and learn about the

Dominican Republic ahead of time. Newspapers,

magazines, and broadcast news are helpful to

keep you current. Encyclopedias, almanacs,

as well as information from World Missions are

also good sources. The Internet also has a wealth

of information.

For general information:

www.dr1.com

www.sjbc.org/missions/drinfo1.htm

For Canadian perspective:

www.dfaitmaeci.gc.ca/english/geo/lac/2050.htm

For U.S. perspective;

http://travel.state.gov/travel/dominican_republic.html

For pages with links: http://lanic.utexas.edu/la/ca/dr/

To learn about Haiti/Creole: www.uhhp.com

Note: The above sites are suggestions for possible

information only. The nature of the sites and their

content are not necessarily endorsed by Christian

Reformed World Missions or the Dominican

Country Team.

Spanish is also very helpful to have, even if it is just

a little. Members can study before hand with phrase

books. Try to learn some Spanish words, phrases,

and songs. Bring along a Spanish/English Dictionary

or electronic word translator and dictionary. Those

who have taken the effort to learn some of the lan-

guage will have a more meaningful experience.

Recommended reading:

“When Helping Hurts” by Steve Corbett & Brian Fikkert

“Serving with Eyes Wide Open” by David Livermore

“Foreign to Familiar” by Sarah A Lanier

“The Hole in our Gospel” by Richard Stern

5. Important documents and paperwork:

Passports and visas: Entrance requirements occa-

sionally change, but be prepared for the following: US &

Canadian citizens need a valid passport and can enter

the DR with a tourist visa, available in the airport

when you arrive. Check with your travel agent and

airline if in doubt. The tourist visa costs $10 US.

Applications: All team members must fill out and turn

in a signed application. Applications can be obtained by

the CRWM Volunteer Program Coordinator.

Letters of Agreement: All team members will need to

sign a Letter of Agrement with CRWM. This form will be

created specific to your dates and team name by the

CRWM Volunteer Program Coordinator.

Minors: For minors not accompanied by their parents,

both parents will have to sign a letter of permission from

the parents/guardian, indicating the name of the party

responsible for the minor (should be an adult team

member/leader), and should accompany the team

when traveling. This form may be obtained from the

CRWM Volunteer Program Coordinator.

6. Finances: Service and Learning teams cover all

their own expenses, as well as the project expense.

This is the only financial resource we have on the

mission field to sustain this program.

There are three main financial elements to the team:

A. Team donation sent to CRWM (Grand Rapids or

Burlington), and checks written out to CRWM — to

cover logistics and projects. The simple formula is:

$120.00US per day per person, to/from the Santo

Domingo airport. The exact breakdown varies from

team to team, but about 35% covers team logistics, in-

cluding your in-country lodging, food and transportation

expenses; and 65% provides a grant for project

http://www.dr1.com

http://www.sjbc.org/missions/drinfo1.htm

http://www.dfaitmaeci.gc.ca/english/geo/lac/2050.htm

http://travel.state.gov/travel/dominican_republic.html

http://lanic.utexas.edu/la/ca/dr/

http://www.uhhp.com

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expense such as materials, land purchases, and local

builders.

This money is to be donated by your church directly to

CRWM and designated for the DR Service and Learn-

ing Team Project from “your church/area,” and should

be submitted preferably no less than two months in

advance of the team’s arrival on the field. If that is

problematic for your team, please discuss this with the

CRWM Volunteer Program Coordinator. As soon as the

funds are sent in, please notify your missionary contact

as well as the CRWM Volunteer Program Coordinator.

Please write checks out to CRWM. Then on the

memo line indicate “DR Service and Learning Team

Project – your church name.” CRWM in each country

will make sure your funds are forwarded to the correct

account.

Send funds to the appropriate address below:

Teams from Canada send in CDN $: Christian Reformed World Missions

Attn: Liz Busuttil

3475 Mainway Box 5070 LCD1

Burlington ON L7R 3Y8

Take current exchange rate into account when calculating funds –

please call the World Missions office for that information.

Teams from the U.S.A. send in USD $: Christian Reformed World Missions

Attn: Lisa Sochacki

1700 28th Street SE

Grand Rapids MI 49508-1407

B. Team expenses include airfare, insurance and all

other pre & post-field expenses (travel to/ from airport,

food while in transit, etc.). These may be handled

directly by the team itself. However, if your team needs

assistance with airfare, insurance or other team issues,

please contact the CRWM Volunteer Program

Coordinator.

C. Individual expenses: Expenses for souvenirs,

snacks, restaurants, outings and other special activities,

etc. are the responsibility of the individual.

Note that there will be special group outings planned

which may include some personal expense, depending

on the wishes of the team.

Exchanging Money: Either cash or checks – IN US

DOLLARS ONLY – can be exchanged with the help of

your missionary contact. You can change a small

amount in the airport upon arrival at the currency ex-

change or at the ATM to get some pesos (maybe $10

worth) in order to have some personal funds on hand

right away for an emergency. We do not recommend

traveler checks.

Resources: You may be wondering, "Where are we

going to get all this money?" It is a step of faith to make

the commitment to plan for a Service and Learning

Team, and the Lord will provide. The best sources are

church mission budgets, special offerings, sponsors or

fund raising events. Some lumber yards or construction

companies / vendors may be willing to donate tools; just

ask. Phone, or e-mail the CRWM Volunteer Program

Coordinator for more information as they have ideas on

successful events. There are many ways to raise the

money. Be creative, and have faith.

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7. Insurance:

A. Medical: Out of country/province medical insurance

and medical evacuation insurance is mandatory for all

US and Canadian team participants.

Team members should verify if their medical insurance

covers them while overseas and includes emergency

medical evacuation. If not, we suggest purchasing a

rider on your policy or obtaining additional short-term

international insurance. Contact your CRWM Volunteer

Program Coordinator for prices and details to fit your

team. One policy may be better for a youth team while

another is better for an older or multi generational

team . We even know of a policy that has a “cancel for

any reason” clause.

B. Travel: Travel insurance (cancellation and interrup-

tion) is highly recommended, but not mandatory.

Travelers take full responsibility on how this will impact

them. This insurance needs to be purchased at the

time of booking your flights. You will need to discuss

this with your travel agent but please be very thorough

in determining what your insurance covers and what it

doesn’t. For US teams, this can be purchased along

with your international medical policy. Contact the

CRWM Volunteer Coordinator for more details.

8. Luggage requirements: Note that with

most airlines, checked luggage can only be 50 lbs.

per piece. It is very important that you check with your

airline well in advance and before you start packing,

concerning additional weight and size limits. Some air-

lines have certain times when embargos apply to the

amount you can bring. If you are flying during a peak

season, ask specifically if there is an embargo in effect

on Caribbean flights.

9. What to bring:

A. Tools & Materials: Please check with your mission-

ary to find out what they have and what they may need

on the field. In this way the real needs will be met.

There is already a substantial tool collection on the

field, but some specific items may be needed. Please

also check with your airline specifically about their poli-

cies regarding tools in checked luggage.

B. Kitchen / Food Items: In most cases, three meals

a day are provided as part of the team room and board

expense. However, you may want to bring some snack

items for the project site, airplane, etc.

C. Personal & Miscellaneous

Valid passport — Canadian and US law requires

that your date of departure from the DR is no less

than 6 months from the expiration date on your

passport.

Bible and song books for group devotions

Spanish phrase book or dictionary.

any personal medications

hats for sun protection

sun block (30spf or higher)

hand sanitizer

a picture of your family — to share with local people

Camera

one sheet and one towel — your missionary contact

will advise you if you need to bring more, as some

housing locations may require that.

some spending money for souvenirs — bring US

cash ($100 — $150 should do it)

clothing for HOT weather. Expect to sweat out your

clothes on a daily basis. On the work site or other

public places, please plan on only very modest

clothing. Long pants are recommended, and women

should wear skirts for church and other public

activities. Shorts and tank tops are not acceptable

for women, even at your place of accommodation.

There is a careful balance between casual and

dressed-up: avoid extremes.

Dress code for Sunday worship:

Men: Should wear dress pants and a nice shirt

Women: Should wear a dress or skirt.

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10. Orientation:

Pre trip: The CRWM Volunteer Program Coordinator

or the DR Volunteer Coordinator will provide orientation

for teams prior to their departure. The intent is to pro-

vide answers to the many questions people will have –

especially those who have not participated on such a

team before. This orientation will also provide an over-

view of what World Missions is doing in the DR and

what it means to partner with them.

On the Field: Missionaries will provide orientation on

the country, national partners, mission team, work pro-

ject, cross-cultural issues, and other items. This will

normally be scheduled early in your visit. Orientation is

an important part of an enjoyable, productive and

memorable service and learning experience. Written

and audiovisual materials, as well as interaction with

missionaries and national partners will be used. Visits

to ministries other than the one associated with the

project are also helpful ways to build the team's vision

for the ministry.

11. Health

A. Food & Water: Don’t drink the water! Not from the

tap or anywhere else, except from a safe source,

i.e. purified bottled water. Use only purified water for

brushing teeth, making coffee, cleaning fruits & vegeta-

bles, etc. Make sure ice and drinks offered or pur-

chased by nationals are made from safe water. If it

may contain impure water, DON'T DRINK IT! Drink-

ing unpurified water can cause anything from diarrhea,

dysentery, or even hepatitis. Anything cooked or

peeled is usually fine, but a simple rule for food and

drink is, “when in doubt, throw it out.”

Eating or drinking contaminated food can quickly

change your short-term experience into an unhappy

one. So please remember to wash your hands before

eating, and after using the toilet or being in contact

with possible sources of contamination (soil, trash).

This is common sense in any location but more so

here in the tropics.

B. Heat: Heat exhaustion, heatstroke, dehydration, and

even severe sunburn are all very common and very

dangerous. Main causes are exposure to heat and sun,

and lack of sufficient liquids in the body. To avoid any

of these conditions, first we insist that care is taken to

avoid prolonged exposure to the sun by making use of

shade, hats, and sun screen. Secondly, we insist that

everyone drink lots of liquids all day, especially while

you are working. Taking regular breaks helps as well.

These things are especially important for anyone who

is over 60 yrs old, has had heart problems, or is over-

weight. These precautionary measures will insure you

of a healthy, positive experience in country. Symptoms

of heat illness start with muscle cramps, including ab-

dominal cramps, headaches, and/or lightheadedness.

If these are noticed, the person should cool off and

drink right away. More severe stages are characterized

by nausea, vomiting, enlarged pupils, dry, hot, red skin,

weakness, dizziness, rapid, weak pulse and/or breath-

ing, confusion, or even unconsciousness. A person

with these symptoms needs to get help. Cool the per-

son down with water, fans, or air-conditioning if possi-

ble. If the case is severe, get the person to a hospital.

They may need intravenous fluids.

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C. AIDS: Avoid contact with another person's blood,

and watch out for things that could carry blood, like

used hypodermic needles. AIDS is very common here,

so even in treating someone else's injuries, use latex

gloves.

D. First Aid: The best first aid is often a good wash-

down with water and an anti-bacterial soap (like Dial).

In case of more severe injuries, get a recommendation

for a good clinic for stitches, treatment of fractures, etc.

We recommend that the team keep a first aid kit with

them at all times. If it becomes necessary, there are

good hospitals and clinics located in the capital Santo

Domingo and Santiago. The team would do well to

have a nurse or someone trained in first aid to be on

their team.

E. Immunizations\medical preparations: There

are no immunization requirements to enter the DR.

However, the Center for Disease Control (CDC)

recommends that you be updated on your routine

immunizations (such as Tetanus) and recommends

Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B and Typhoid. For more detailed

information please go to the CDC website at:

wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/Dominican

republic.htm

12. Team Schedule \ Activities:

The missionary assigned as host to the team will ar-

range for the team’s stay here. That includes housing,

transportation, food, tools, orientation, and project su-

pervision. He will consult with the church regarding pri-

orities of construction and local labor, and help the local

church coordinate its participation.

Generally, the missionary will not be the leader of the

team, but rather be the host and coordinate overall. The

team itself will have its own leadership, and determine

its own schedule, work assignments, and other activi-

ties. Of course, these should always be in consultation

with the host missionary.

Team and relational needs are vital to a good experi-

ence. Daily group devotions should be held. An evening

fellowship and/or worship time may be planned with a

missionary family. All activities

should be planned with the

best interest of the team in

mind. Therefore we ask that

individuals not plan separate

outings, personal vacations,

or individual activities while

with the Service and Learning

Team. Rather, schedule

group activities. Singles

should avoid dating or "pairing

off" with other team members or nationals.

Free days with the possibilities of other special activities

should also be planned. Some special activities can

include such things as visits to tourist markets, colonial

sites, the beach, snorkeling, exploring the countryside,

hiking, sports, or even scuba diving or deep sea fishing.

Again, these activities must be planned in coordination

with the team and missionary.

13. Ministry Activities

While the work project is important, it is not the only

goal. North Americans are typically very project-

oriented: "We gotta get the job done," is a typical

attitude. Haitians and Dominicans are very people-

oriented. It is so important that the group take time to

relate to the people. This is a lasting part of your wit-

ness here and is a reflection of your love and concern

for them as people as well as your love of Jesus Christ.

Attendance at a worship service or other church activity

is an important part of the experience. Time spent

interacting with nationals is always a blessing despite

the language barrier.

To enhance the missions experience and exposure,

your team may participate in a ministry or outreach

other than the building project. It may be evangelizing

with local church members in their neighborhoods, a

visit to a Christian school where the team can meet

teachers and children and participate in a chapel or

other activity, or simply spending time in the homes of

local church members or neighbors. This will be

planned ahead of time through your missionary contact.

15


14. Relationship with Nationals:

Remember that you have come to learn as well as to

give. While working with nationals, we should respect

their ways of doing things. There are many rich re-

sources in these communities, families, churches, and

cultural heritages. We must recognize and respect

this, and not cheapen it by trying to be the "savior" of

some "poor folk."

To respect the national Christians, we require that all

group members refrain from smoking or drinking dur-

ing their stay. If you are a smoker and feel that you

would have difficulty with this request, please do not

participate on a Service and Learning Team.

On the work site, you will work along-side church/

community members who are also serving voluntarily

to help build their own church or school building. Your

group is not going to build a church, but rather, your

group will assist the church to build its own building.

This is one way that we reduce the dependency men-

tality, as well as instill local ownership. The project is

not a “give-away.” For example, most projects will

have been started by the local church or school before

the team arrives, and they will finish whatever is not

done by the team.

There are different ways of doing things in the Domini-

can Republic, and some construction methods may

seem antiquated or even ridiculous. We need to ad-

just our thinking, and go along with some of the tried

and true "Dominican" ways, just as the nationals here

will be adjusting to try to understand and learn from

the North American way. We need to be flexible in

cross-cultural relationships.

One of the long-lasting results of this trip will be rela-

tionships with nationals. There are cultural factors that

must be kept in mind, though. One is the strong de-

pendency mentality that exists here. Often North

Americans are seen as wealthy benefactors. You may

be bombarded, from almost the minute you land, with

requests for money or things. The airport porters may

beg for more tips. People on the streets and on the

work site may ask you for your hat, shoes, tools,

clothes, etc. So we ask that you please not plan to

bring or distribute any personal gifts. Remember that

you have come to help, but you can't solve all the prob-

lems. At times, giving money or other goods does not

help, but hinders and can create hard feelings — it may

even jeopardize the work being done by that agency.

The entire Service and Learning program, including

your team, is channeled through the national church

and school leadership, so that all resources are distrib-

uted according to these national partners’ needs. That

includes our time, funds, and any material assistance

and donation that may accompany your team. Many

teams bring used clothing, especially children’s cloth-

ing and shoes, to contribute to the church’s emergency

relief efforts especially following fires, floods, or other

events. Some sports equipment can be brought and

used to create a bridge with local kids; school supplies

can be donated to the COCREF program to help

needy families. This is all encouraged, but always

within limits: 1). What you can bring with regular lug-

gage; 2). Only bring items that have been gently used

and are in good shape; 3). Items to be channeled

through national leadership and programs.

16

One of the big issues we deal with is “how to

help”? We are confronted with so many needs and

many requests for help. This tugs on our heart strings.

Of course we want to help, that’s why we’re here! But

the big question is, “how to help?” How to help in ways

that will really help? How to help in ways that don’t ac-

tually hurt? Some of the issues involved are avoiding

creating dependency and unmet expectations, avoiding

damaging relationships and long-term projects. The

rule of thumb is: don’t do for someone what that person

can do for himself. You can’t imagine the possible im-

plications or consequences of trying to “help” someone

in another culture. But it doesn’t usually help to just

give things or money. You will want to help someone

within your first hour of being in a new situation.

DON’T. 99 times out of 100 there would be negative

consequences you can’t even begin to understand.

Yes, there are rare exceptions to this rule, but your

situation is probably not one of the exceptions. This is

one of the stickiest situations encountered in intercul-

tural situations, and it’s probably one of the stickiest

situations you’ll encounter too, so please be patient

with us if we sound just a bit over-the-top on this one.

We’ll be pretty tough about insisting that your dona-

tions of money go through one of our agencies, rather

than taking it with you directly to the field. Your team

host will guide your thinking about this during your

Service & Learning Team experience. We will arrange

things ahead of time so you fit into the community’s

plans in an appropriate way.

Here’s some really great wisdom from a veteran over-

seas staff person, reporting on the aftermath of some

“help” being given in an inappropriate way:

The individuals who did not get gifts will feel angry and

resentful of the ones who did. Conflict, jealousy, and

suspicion were introduced into the community and

families. What seemed like a small sum of money to a

North American was close to a whole year's income.

People now will feel a strong temptation to become

"best friends" with the rich white visitors just in order

to get money from them. This can cause national

Christians to fall into the sins of lying and greed.

Imagine if Bill Gates joined your church, and said he

really wanted to help, how would it affect the leadership

and the dynamics of your congregation?

Traditional communities have many customs and prac-

tices that ensure that people are treated fairly, and that

benefits in the community are shared with all members.

For example, at a baby naming ceremony in West

Africa, the portions of meat are carefully divided among

the guests with close relatives getting more, but every-

one getting at least some. When a visitor from the

outside gives to an individual, rather than to the whole

group in public, you have disturbed a system of

reciprocity and sharing that has been functioning for

hundreds of years.

The same principle goes for giving large sums to one

village, such as to build a school or clinic, while the

neighboring villages get nothing, or giving money to

one church's building fund while the other churches get

nothing. Local churches are usually organized into

groups of churches in districts, and they prefer to let all

the churches share benefits, and discuss how those

will be spent, rather than have one local congregation,

who was “lucky” enough to host some white visitors,

get it all.

15. Follow-up:

After the trip, teams are asked to share their experi-

ences and those of the Dominican people with their

church and supporters. They are also asked to partici-

pate in debriefing and provide feedback on their experi-

ence through CRWM.

17


This summary has been provided as a reminder and quick reference once you have joined us in the DR, but is not meant, nor should be used as, a short cut to the entire manual.

1. Travel in a spirit of humility with a genuine desire to

learn more about the people in the countries you

will visit.

2. Realize that people in the countries you will visit

have time concepts and thought patterns different

from your own. This does not make them inferior,

only different. They are our sisters and brothers.

3. Be sensitively aware of the feelings of other people,

preventing what might be offensive behavior on

your part. This applies especially to photography.

Try not to take photos of people without their

permission.

4. Discover the enrichment of experiencing a different

way of life, stretch yourself to try new foods and

activities.

5. Cultivate habits of listening and observing, rather

than merely hearing and seeing. Ask questions

respectfully. Instead of the Western practice of

knowing all the answers, talk less and listen more.

6. Acquaint yourself with local customs. People will be

happy to help you and will notice your sensitivity.

7. Remember that you are only one of thousands of

tourists. Do not expect special privileges.

8. Do not make promises to people you meet unless

you are certain you can carry them through.

9. Spend time reflecting on your daily experiences in

an attempt to deepen your understanding. If you

keep a journal, write not only what you saw, but

what it meant to you, how you felt, what you

learned, or what needs further study.

adapted from a "Code of Ethics for Travelers" drawn up

by the Christian Conference of Asia.

Summary

18

During your stay:

Remember the new beatitude: “Blessed are the

flexible, for they will not snap.” Patience helps.

As you have suggestions, pass them on to your

translators so that they may pass them on to us.

Drink only bottled or purified water.

Using hand sanitizer several times per day,

especially before meals, keeps you healthy.

Flashy jewelry, clothing or showing off a lot of

money in public targets us for thieves (just like

home)

Promises to nationals, including “if.. maybe… we’ll

see.. perhaps…” get us in trouble.

Most Dominicans believe that, if you drink alcohol or

smoke, you can not be a Christian. So don’t.

The success of your work depends not on your

skills but on prayer and the Holy Spirit.

In your testimonies, share your salvation experience

and how and why you came to the DR.

Play with children, but do not be alone with a child.

If you have a favorite child who follows you every-

where, others will be left out. Include all of them in

your activities.

Work at maintaining a positive attitude. Have a

sense of humor, even if it kills you!

Encourage and bless those around you at all times.

Code of Ethics:

Travel in a spirit of humility with a genuine desire to

meet and talk with local people although you don’t

know the language.

Be aware of the feelings of the local people to

prevent what might be offensive behavior.

For example do not take a picture without asking

for permission.

Realize that other people may have different

concepts of time and other thought patterns which

are just that — different, not inferior.

Make no promises to your Dominican friends that

you cannot implement.

Spend time reflecting on your daily experiences in

order to deepen your understanding of transforma-

tional development and biblical worldview.

Code of Ethics

19


For the moment, your time in the Dominican Republic

has ended. You are looking at people and the world

through different eyes than you were a short time ago.

Be prepared for sensory bombardment — choices of

foods, goods, etc. Perhaps you feel guilty over a $100

pair of jeans. Perhaps you feel helpless. Perhaps you

are angry. Perhaps you have a deeper walk with God,

or perhaps you feel on rocky ground.

You might dive right back into “life” and chalk it up as a

good experience, you might feel a desire to sell all your

belongings or you might plan your next trip. How does

your time in the DR connect with your life back home?

God is the God of all. He was before you, with you and

will be here after you. With God as Creator, Christ as

Redeemer, and the Holy Spirit as mediator, it doesn’t

matter where you are, you are in His grip. Your time in

the DR might be over, but it is not a closed chapter,

rather it was one more step on your Journey. God had

a reason for sending you to the DR. What did you learn

about or from Him? What is God doing where you are

located now? You may feel very content in the Lord

right now, or you might be completely disturbed.

Focus on one or two things that you will do differently.

You may now return as a teacher with a different sensi-

tivity to your students. Maybe you will learn a new lan-

guage. Maybe you will pay more attention to local and

national and international laws that are unjust. Maybe

you will befriend immigrants in your area. Maybe you

will find new ways to support the work of CRWRC and/

or CRWM in the Dominican Republic. The list is end-

less. Think ahead for the near future, as well as 5 to 10

years down the road — perhaps write a mission state-

ment for your life. Pray.

Whatever it is, remember “...that he who began a good

work in you will carry it on to completion until the day

of Christ Jesus” ( Philippians 1:6)

How Do I Share What I’ve Learned?

When you return, everyone who knew you were gone

will ask about your trip. It might surprise you at their

level of interest. Some of those closest to you might not

want to hear more than 30 seconds and some people

who you might not expect to have interest, might want

to listen for a long time. In all you do, it is good to share

what you saw God doing in the DR. Be prepared to

share a 30 second spot, a 5 minute one and potentially

even a video or other presentation.

Be sure to share with all those who supported you fi-

nancially and prayerfully. Remember that life happened

while you were gone, listen to what happened with

them as well. It is suggested that you share your ex-

periences with your church family, and so inquire with

your Pastor before your departure to the DR, of when

that might best be possible. He/she may be interested

in focusing on missions and service that will link to your

experiences. Maybe someone on your team is familiar

with putting together a power point presentation.

CRWM can also suggest some ways to do this.

A final word: PRIDE — it is a favorite tool of the devil. A

common problem among all persons who have experi-

ence cross culturally is that we can develop an attitude

that we “know it all, be-

cause we’ve seen it all or

done it all.” When you go

home, be very conscious

to this tool of the devil.

Yes, you have learned

some new things, and

hopefully somehow your

life will change. Consider

the humility of the Prayer

of Archbishop Oscar Ro-

mero, martyr in El Salva-

dor:

I’m Heading Home — Now What?

20

It helps, now and then, to step back and take the long view.

The Kingdom is not only beyond our efforts, it is even beyond our vision.

We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction of the magnificent enterprise that is God's work.

Nothing we do is complete, which is another way of saying that the Kingdom always lies beyond us.

No statement says all that should be said.

No prayer fully expresses our faith.

No confession brings perfection.

No pastoral visit brings wholeness.

No program accomplishes the church's mission.

No set of goals and objectives includes everything.

This is what we are about.

We plant the seeds that one day will grow.

We water seeds already planted, knowing that they hold future promise.

We lay foundations that will need further development.

We provide yeast that produces effects far beyond our capabilities.

We cannot do everything, and there is a sense of liberation in realizing that.

This enables us to do something, and to do it very well.

It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning, a step along the way,

an opportunity for the Lord's grace to enter and do the rest.

We may never see the end results, but that is the difference between the

master builder and the worker.

We are workers, not master builders, ministers, not messiahs.

We are prophets of a future that is not our own.

Amen

Prayer of Archbishop Romero

21


And finally….

We go to serve in obedience to a call. What we do is

first of all for the glory of the King whose Kingdom we

will have a small hand in bringing about. The key to a

successful work team is to submit ourselves to God

and one another out of reverence for Christ, being

open to new perspectives, and not thinking more highly

of ourselves than we ought to think, but counting others

better than ourselves. If your group communicates, and

is open to learn, receive, and serve, during its time on

the field, the experience will be one for which we will all

want to remember and praise God. As you have joined

us, based on the information provided in this manual,

we are then assured that you accept your responsibili-

ties in honoring the role you undertake.

Thank you for the gifts of time, money and friendship

you are sharing. You are a blessing to our community

here in the Dominican Republic. We pray the Lord, in

turn, will bless your family, church and community

through this experience. Please remember to pray for

the DR and its people.

22

The Christian Reformed Church in North America

(CRCNA) highly values the many gifts and contribu-

tions volunteers offer its many ministries and programs,

and supports all those serving in various capacities. It

is understood that volunteers who go out as represen-

tatives of the CRCNA, do so with a high degree of

integrity and per the following standards of conduct.

At all times, while acting in an official or unofficial

capacity, the CRC Volunteer is expected to demon-

strate mutual respect and love towards others:

Speak with civility and kindness

Listen carefully

Seek other’s wellbeing

Follow directions

The volunteer may direct concerns, problems and

suggestions to his/her team leader, CRC Ministry Staff

and/or the World Missions staff.

Volunteering within the context of CRC ministries

brings team members into relationships with many

different people, both on a personal as well as profes-

sional level (ie: as a representative of the Christian

Church). As such relationships are fostered, the Volun-

teer is expected to maintain a high level of integrity and

avoid anything that may be construed as inappropriate.

Furthermore, the volunteer will be required to pro-

vide a current police records check to the World

Missions office and should begin the process for

that as soon as a ministry site has been secured.

At no time may a Volunteer engage in:

a. Any illegal activity under local, state or federal law

b. Activities that pose a significant safety risk to others

c. Engage in any of the following:

attempting to influence legislation or an election or

aid a partisan political organization;

helping or hindering union activity;

engaging in any form of religious proselytizing;

impairing existing contracts for services or collective

bargaining agreements;

participating in, or endorsing, events or activities

that are likely to include advocacy for or against

political parties, political candidates, political

platforms, proposed legislation, or elected officials;

providing a direct benefit to a for-profit entity;

a labor union, a partisan political organization,

a religious organization, or a non-profit that

engages in lobbying.

The Volunteer understands that the following acts

also constitute a violation of the program's rules

of conduct:

Repeated use of inappropriate language (i.e. pro-

fanity) at any time during the service assignment.

Failure to wear culturally appropriate clothing while

on the project site.

Consuming alcoholic beverages or smoking during

the performance of service activities, or being under

the influence of alcohol or any illegal drugs during

the performance of service activities.

Unauthorized use of communications and communi-

cation tools (internet, email, cell phone, etc.)

For those who may have body piercings other than in

their ears, we ask that they are removed for the

duration of your Service & Learning Team experience.

CRCNA Standards of Conduct Service & Learning Team Members

23


The Christian Reformed Church in North America

(CRCNA) highly values the many gifts and contributions

that volunteers offer their organization, but also realizes

there are elements of complexity and risk when travel-

ling abroad. The CRCNA takes all reasonable steps to

ensure the safety and wellbeing of staff and volunteers

and have a CRCNA Security policy in place for emer-

gency situations. Aside from such a policy, it is noted

that those who serve with the denomination are primarily

responsible for their own safety. The following rules

and guidelines are what the CRCNA expects of its

volunteers.

Rule #1

Only YOU can ultimately be responsible for your

own safety and security.

Rule #2

Trust your instincts

Rule #3

There will always be risk and danger. They can never

be fully eliminated.

Rule #4

Rely on your missionary host or local host (s) for tips

and clues to safety and general behavior. Also, don’t

be afraid to ask about something that you sense is

unusual, uncomfortable suspicious, or threatening.

Guideline #1

Each country with a CRC office and ministry staff has a

security plan. With serious security issues, they will be

in contact with the CRCNA Crisis Response Team in

Grand Rapids and you will be asked to follow staff

instructions. In the event you choose to make your

own decisions, the CRCNA and the agency you’re

serving with including its partners, are absolved of

all responsibility.

Guideline #2

Make sure you have phone numbers of CRC staff —

both home and office. Have these available with your

group on site and also provide to family members

at home.

Guideline #3

In some countries you may want to register with the US

or Canadian Embassy upon arrival, so if something

should happen they are aware of your presence and

location. Check with CRC ministry staff to determine

the necessity.

Guideline #4

North Americans are naïve and very quick to trust

people. If not already done so, ask CRC ministry staff

to advise you on how best to relate with local people.

Personal Security and Travel Safety Tips Luggage

use common “middle of the road” (nondescript) bags

avoid “frequent flyer” indicators

avoid name tags with titles and keep them covered

(do not use home address)

Dress

dress consistent with cultural norms of your

destination

avoid the “American look”

wear simple jewelry only (or none at all)

avoid culturally offensive items (ie: religious jewelry)

Summary

develop personal relationships in your neighborhood,

work and church

develop and use your language skills

understand the culture you are in

understand the differences between religion and

politics, and religiously avoid politics.

CRCNA Personal Safety Plan — Groups

24

A Brief Spanish Glossary Words and Sayings

Hello ....................................................... Hola (OH-la) Goodbye .................................. Adios (ah-dee-OHS)

Yes ......................................................... Sí (See) No ............................................ No

Please .................................................... Por favor (poor fah-VOHR)

Thank you ............................................. Muchas gracias (MOO-chas GRAH-see-ahs)

You’re welcome ..................................... De Nada (day NAH-dah)

Good morning ........................................ Buenos dias (BWAY-nose DEE-ahs)

Good afternoon ...................................... Buenas tardes (BWAY-nahs TAR-days)

Good night ............................................. Buenas noches (BWAY-nahs NO-chays)

What is your name? ............................... ¿Cómo se llama? (KO-mo say YA-ma?)

How are you? ......................................... ¿Cómo esta usted? (KO-mo aye-STAH oo-STAYED)

Very well thank you ................................ Muy bien, gracias (moo-e bee-AYN GRAH-see-ahs)

I don’t understand .................................. No entiendo. (no en-TEE-EN-do)

How do you say it in Spanish? ............... ¿Cómo se dice en español? (KO-mo say DEE-say en espan-YOL)

I don’t know. ...................... No sé. (no SAY)

Where? ............................. ¿Dónde? (DOHN-day)

When? ............................... ¿Cuándo? (KWAHN-do)

How’s it going? .................. ¿Cómo le va? (KO-mo lay VAH)

How’s it going? (informal) .. ¿Qué tal? (KAY Tal)

I am fine. ........................... Estoy bien. (es-TOY bee-EN)

Speak slowly please. ......... Hable despacio, por favor.

I don’t understand. ............ No comprendo.

I am very hot ..................... Tengo mucho calor

I am cold ........................... Tengo frio

I am thirsty ........................ Tengo sed

I am hungry ....................... Tengo hambre

I am a Christian ................. Soy cristiano

Are you a Christian?.......... ¿Es cristiano usted?

Door .................................. la puerta (la poo-ERR-tah)

Window ............................. la ventana (lah ben-TAH-nah)

Table ................................. la mesa (lah MEH-sah)

Ball .................................... la pelota (lah peh-LO-tah)

Sun .................................... el sol (el soul)

Tree ................................... el árbol (el AR-bowl)

Flower ............................... la flor (lah floor)

Grass ................................ la hierba (lah ee-HER-bah)

Car .................................... el carro (el CAR-oh)

Airplane ............................. el avión (el ah-vee-ON)

Bread ................................ el pan (el pahn)

Meat .................................. la carne (lah CAR-neh)

Fish ................................... el pescado (el pehs-KAH-doh)

Apple ................................. la manzana (lah mahn-SAHN-h)

Water ................................ agua (AH-gua)

Right .................................. derecha (day-RAY-chah)

Left .................................... izquierda (ees-KEYAIR-dah)

Up ..................................... arriba (ah-REE-bah)

Down ................................. abajo (ah-BHAH-ho)

Bible .................................. la Biblia (BIB-lee-a)

Church .............................. la iglesia (ee-GLAY-see-ya)

Jesus ................................ Jesús (hay-SUES)

God ................................... Dios (dee-OS)

Gospel .............................. El Evangelio (el ayvan-HELIO)

Love .................................. el amor (el a-MORE)

Peace ................................ la paz (la PAHS)

Joy .................................... el gozo (el GO-so)

Grace ................................ la gracia (la GRA-see-ya)

Sin ..................................... el pecado (el peck-AHDO)

Forgiveness ...................... el perdón (el pear-DOHN)

Heaven ............................. el cielo (el see-AYE-lo)

One ................................... uno (OO-no)

Two ................................... dos (dose)

Three ................................ tres (trace)

Four .................................. cuatro (KWAH-tro)

Five ................................... cinco (SEEN-ko)

Six ..................................... seis (SAY-s)

Seven ................................ siete (see-EH-tay)

Eight .................................. ocho (OH-cho)

Nine .................................. nueve (NEW-WAY-veh)

Ten .................................... diez (dee-ES)

Sunday .............................. Domingo

Monday ............................. Lunes

Tuesday ............................ Martes

Wednesday ....................... Miercoles

Thursday ........................... Jueves

Friday ................................ Viernes

Saturday ........................... Sabado

25


Christian Reformed World Missions

1700 28th Street SE

Grand Rapids, MI 49508

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