Mustard Seed International is planning a short-term mission trip to our Akot Medical Mission in South Sudan, the world’s newest country! The team will be made-up of medical and non-medical members. If you would like to be a part of the team and experience a life-changing missions experience, please read the information below carefully and pray about what God would have you do. The tentative dates for the trip are March 28 – April 8, 2012.If you are interested, it is important to contact us quickly as travel reservations need to be made by the end of January. A deposit of $200 is due now and is refundable until the tickets are purchased.
Dates:
Wednesday, March 28 through Sunday, April 8, 2012 (Tentative)
Where:
Akot Medical Mission, Akot, South Sudan
South Sudan is the world’s newest country. For details about the history and impact of the Akot Medical Mission, click here. Also take a look at a 12-minute video with testimonies from missionaries and staff at the mission.
Team Skills Needed:
- A loving heart and breathing!
- An openness to assist the staff of the Akot Medical Mission in whatever task is necessary, medical or otherwise.
- A desire to tell Bible stories, through an interpreter, to patients and in local schools, teach basic English and to “love on” every child you see.
- A willingness to pitch-in and help the Akot Medical Mission staff as they conduct mobile clinics in the bush, share in evangelism efforts and hygiene instruction.
- The flexibility which allows God to use you as the voice, hands, and feet of Christ in what you will find to be very unique opportunities.
Travel Schedule:
The tentative plan is for the team to leave from the Atlanta airport on Wednesday, March 28. For those team members flying to Atlanta from other cities, MSI can arrange those flights, for an additional cost, at what is normally a cheaper rate when purchasing the overseas portion.
The team will fly from Atlanta, through Amsterdam and then to Nairobi, Kenya.
From Nairobi, the team will fly on a mission aviation charter to Akot, South Sudan. The Akot Medical Mission has an airstrip.
The tentative plan is for the team to return to Atlanta on a Saturday afternoon, May 7 or Sunday, May 8.
All the flight details are subject to revision until the time of tickets actually being purchased on February 15, depending on flight availability and pricing.
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE BOOK EARLY TO GET THE BEST PRICE.
Cost:
The cost of this trip is $2,950.00. This includes everything on the trip except for the domestic portion of your flight to Atlanta and the South Sudan Visa – currently the South Sudan Embassy is quoting $100.00 for the Visa. The $2,950.00 cost includes all overseas airfare, hotels, transportation, and meals while in Akot.
Visa:
MSI will obtain your visa through the Embassy of South Sudan in Washington, DC. This will require your sending MSI your USA Passport. It is required that your passport expiration date be no less than December 1, 2012.
Medical Considerations:
Please refer to the CDC website for the latest recommendations on immunizations for South Sudan. You should anticipate the need for taking an anti-malarial medication, tetanus and hepatitis A and B immunizations and any others recommended on the CDC website.
Packing:
It is necessary to pack as LIGHT AS POSSIBLE. The missionary charter flight between Nairobi and Akot will have a maximum baggage limit of approximately 30 pounds per person. It is possible to wash clothes in Akot. IT WILL BE HOT!! However, immodest clothing of any kind cannot be worn. If you don’t wear it to your church, don’t pack it for Sudan. Electricity and Internet are available on a limited basis, but not every day.
What to anticipate:
BE PREPARED TO BE FLEXIBLE!!! The Dinka people don’t usually have watches. They do not get in a hurry. If you find yourself waiting on a particular event or activity to start…use the wait as a time to pray. Some reminders are:
- This will be a life-changing trip. Guaranteed!
- You will do things you never thought possible.
- It is SAFE!! MSI would not put anyone in harm’s way intentionally. Nevertheless, it is Africa. The need to be careful, apply common sense and observe the instructions of your team leaders are imperative.
Deadlines:
- A deposit of $200.00 is due now. (Refundable until tickets are purchased on January 15.)
- $2,000.00 due January 15, 2012.
- $750.00 due February 15, 2012.
If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact the MSI office (843-388-9314) or Dr. Bob Claytor at 864-376-0141. You may email Bob at bclaytor@mustardseed.org.
This short-term trip to the Akot Medical Mission will change your life; however, beyond that, words are not adequate to communicate this truth.
“God is looking for men and women through whom to do the impossible.” A. W. Tozer
