Holy Land
Mission Trips

Location Description

Bethlehem is the birthplace of Jesus, a quiet town in the midst of ongoing conflict. Located in the West Bank, it's a short drive from Jerusalem and many important religious sites. The Church of the Nativity was built in 339 A.D. over what is traditionally believed to be the cave or home where Jesus was born. As you walk down Star Street, you'll see old shops and homes where Mary & Joseph would have passed on their journey from Nazareth. Get a view of the Shepherds' Field where the angels appeared to frightened shepherds. Talk with local shop owners who sell wood carvings, fabrics and coffee and if you're lucky enough to visit during Christmas, see the large tree with lights and ornaments in the middle of Manger Square. Palestinian Christians are especially proud to call Bethlehem and the surrounding towns their home, welcoming people from around the world into their community to experience Christ's birth in a new way.

Community Profile

Population: 8 million (Israel) & 4.5 million (Palestine)
Capital: Jerusalem (contested between Palestine and Israel)
Area: 8,019 sq miles. About the size of New Jersey.
Major language: Hebrew & Arabic, although English is widely used
Major religions: Judaism (53%), Islam (45%), & Christianity (2%).

Israel was established in 1948 and its military still occupies the Palestinian Territories, which are comprised of the West Bank & The Gaza Strip. Palestinians live in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and also inside of Israel. Many familiar Biblical cities can be found in Palestine and Israel and the region contains significant religious sites for all 3 majors monotheistic religions: Judaism, Christianity & Islam.

We hear a lot about Israel and Palestine on the news. We read stories about these ancient places in our Bible. But very few American Christians get the opportunity to experience the Holy Land in a real and personal way. As you step into this complex region, we encourage you to come as a listener, eager to learn and serve.

Lodging

Depending upon size teams will stay in a modest hotel or modest guest house in Bethlehem. Smaller teams may have the opportunity for homestays with local families near Bethlehem depending upon availability. We will typically divide rooms by gender with 2-4+ people sharing a room. Accommodations can be made for married couples to be together. Most rooms have A/C and wifi is accessible in the lobby. Showers and toilets are private and connected to individual rooms. Linens & towels are provided at the hotel however it is recommended that team members also bring a lightweight personal towel.

Food

Food will be provided by the hotel or guest house where your team is staying, but there will also be several days when you pack a lunch or eat out while sightseeing. EM staff will make all of the necessary arrangements and reservations, as needed. Water is safe to drink in both Israel & Palestine. Curious about EM's ability to accommodate specific food restrictions? View EM's Food Policy

Air Travel

Destination Airport: Tel Aviv (TLV)
Roundtrip flights to Tel Aviv can vary based on your departure city in the U.S. Please be prepared to book your group's travel, but Experience Mission can make recommendations for airlines or travel agents, if needed. You will need to arrive before 5pm on the first day of your trip (Friday).

Passports & Travel Documents

Each team member must carry a valid passport. If you do not have a valid passport, it is of the utmost importance that you apply as soon as possible. The processing time for a Passport can take several weeks once your application has been submitted. An expired Passport is not considered valid.

Notarized Letter of Parental Consent

All team members under the age of 18 must carry a written, notarized letter from their parents giving them parental permission to leave the country. They must carry the original notarized copy of this letter. It cannot be a photo copy of the letter.

1) If the minor is traveling without parents, both parents must sign the letter.
2) If they are traveling with one parent, the parent that is not traveling with them must sign this letter.
3) If their parents are separated or divorced and both parents do not want to sign the same letter, they must have a notarized letter from each parent giving them permission to go.

Experience Mission can provide a sample copy of a permission letter or you can create your own letter that must include the following:

1) The full name of both parents and their formal signatures
2) The full name of the child
3) The full name of the Adult Chaperone serving as the Team Leader
4) The specific traveling dates for each country
5) The destination country
6) The reason for travel to the destination country (example- "youth group function")
7) The Airline itinerary (if applicable)

If you have further questions regarding required travel documents we advise you to contact the US State Department: www.travel.state.gov

Ground Transportation

Upon arrival to Tel Aviv, all transportation during your mission trip IS included.

EM's Health & Safety Plan:

Emergency Response: Based on the severity of each emergency, EM has a plan for appropriate response.

- If a team member becomes seriously ill, they will be taken to a local doctor to receive appropriate medical attention and medications. If they are a minor, their Team Leader along with our staff will accompany them to the clinic. If needed, their parents will be contacted. Their recovery will be carefully monitored by our staff.

- If there is an accident that requires a doctor, but is not life-threatening and does not have the potential to cause permanent damage, Experience Mission staff will locate the Team Leader, contact parents or guardians (providing the injured is a minor), and provide safe but quick transportation to a local clinic.

- In the event that an accident occurs which is life-threatening or has the potential for permanent damage, emergency medical care will be secured and arraignments will be made if necessary, to transport the injured person to the United States as quickly as possible providing they are serving in one of our International locations. In our domestic locations, local 911 services will be contacted immediately. The family will be contacted immediately to assist in guidance for an appropriate response.

All medical care is the sole responsibility of the team member. Experience Mission requires every team member to be covered by domestic medical insurance and recommends that team members traveling abroad carry additional international travel insurance to cover any medical needs their domestic medical insurance may not cover.

Immunizations: As with all mission trips, it is essential that volunteers are up to date on all childhood immunizations. Each volunteer must also have a tetanus shot.

For more information about health concerns and recommended immunizations, you can visit the CDC travelers guide to Israel and Palestine. You should consult your local doctor prior to receiving any immunizations.

Check out EM's current Covid Guidance

Experience Mission has specific policies regarding team registration and withdrawal. Please refer to the document below for specifics.

View EM’s Mission Trip Registration Policy

INDIVIDUALS

All volunteers on a week-long EM mission trip to the Holy Land must be part of a team of at least two (2) people, with at least one team member age 21 or older to serve as the Team Leader. Not part of a group? All young adults ages 18-30 are eligible to apply for EM's IMMERSION program.

Mission Trips involve many details, and we know you probably have a few questions about EM mission trips.

View the Experience Mission FAQ page