1-Month Indonesia Mission Trip

What will my team do in Indonesia?

Your first week is language and orientation. A local teacher leads Indonesian grammar and vocabulary lessons, and you practice with people at the market and around town. After that, your team joins local ministries on weekdays and helps lead English camps for children and teenagers on weekends, with built-in time for rest. Past teams have served in these ways, depending on what partners need while you are there:

• Orphanage - Helping teach English to children and supporting the dog breeding business that provides the orphanage's main income
• English camps - Planning and running weekend camps for kids from elementary through high school
• Library - Sorting and managing books and resources
• Plant nursery - Working with a nursery focused on caring for local plants, wildlife, and resources
• Agriculture - Helping in greenhouses and with poultry

Some teams also have the chance to fly on a bush plane to help deliver supplies to a remote Papuan village. This may be part of the trip, though it's not guaranteed, and depends on partner needs, flight schedules, and conditions.

Partners adjust plans as needs change, so not every activity happens on every trip. Come ready to be flexible.

What will I learn in Papua?

Beyond service, the month is a chance to learn. Team members explore the cultures of Indigenous Papuan peoples and how they live alongside neighbors who migrated from elsewhere in Indonesia; see how Christian, Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhist neighbors share the region; and hear about Papua's mountain communities, their languages, and their customs. You will also learn how partner organizations work with Papuan communities to preserve local languages and produce Bibles in them.

What does the month include?

Before you leave, your team gathers for a 4-day training retreat in the United States, and the program ends with a group debrief. In between, your team of 7 to 12 young adults lives and serves together in Sentani, splitting time about equally among service, cultural immersion in daily life, and relationship building with partners and neighbors. Teams also spend time together learning and debriefing each week as they grow in faith and explore what God has for them in this season of life.

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What is IMMERSION?

IMMERSION is EM's service-learning missions program for young adults, with teams serving alongside community partners for 1 to 9 months. Team members step outside the normal rhythm of their lives to gain a broader picture of the world around them, the way God works in that world, and the value of relationships and quality service alongside people whose lives are just as valuable as their own.

What does "how we do it" mean?

IMMERSION is built around how we serve, not only what we do. In Sentani, that starts in week one, when you learn Indonesian from a local teacher before you take on any ministry, and it continues at the table, where you eat breakfast and dinner with David and Noni in their home. Time divides evenly among service, cultural immersion, and relationships, because people matter more than any project we hope to finish. Explore EM's approach to missions.

How is one month different from a longer IMMERSION program?

A 1-month program fits between school terms or jobs, while longer IMMERSION programs give you more time in one or more communities. Sentani is the only community in Southeast Asia where EM currently serves. Compare all IMMERSION programs or compare all 1-month mission trips.

Who will I serve alongside in Indonesia?

Noni and David Graves host and coordinate IMMERSION teams in Sentani. They have lived and served in Sentani for more than two decades, and Noni serves as the EM Sentani coordinator. Over the years, she has taught English to Indonesian children from her home, served as hospitality coordinator for an Indonesian Bible translation organization, and founded an Indonesian and English language school that trained many people serving in ministry across Papua to speak Indonesian. David is a missionary pilot, serving missionaries and communities in Papua's interior through the Indonesian non-profit Yajasi Aviation.

Your team joins ministries that Papuan and Indonesian leaders and long-term partners already run, including an orphanage, a library, a plant nursery, and English camps. David and Noni know the community, set the daily plans, and brief your team on how to move about safely.

Where will I live, eat, and stay in touch?

Your team lives together in David and Noni's guest house on their property, with women on the main floor and men upstairs. Please bring a sleeping pad and light bedding. The team typically eats breakfast and dinner with David and Noni in their home, and lunch is packed or served at your ministry location. The trip cost includes all costs related to housing, meals, and transportation. When you are not serving, you can explore the local market, spend time at the beach, and try local foods.

Wifi and phone access are available during parts of the trip, but not all the time. Come prepared to unplug and engage with the people and place around you, and plan on limited contact with friends and family back home.

How do team members get to Indonesia?

Team members fly together from the U.S. to Indonesia, arriving at Sentani International Airport in Sentani. EM books flights on behalf of your team and arranges visas for every team member. All international flights and visas are included in the trip cost.

Who can apply to the Indonesia IMMERSION program?

The Indonesia program fits young adults between the ages of 18 and 30 who are:

• Curious about faith and service - Open to exploring how following Jesus and serving others fit together in daily life
• Adaptable - Comfortable when schedules and projects shift
• Relational - Eager to build friendships with neighbors, ministry partners, and teammates
• Culturally humble - Willing to learn from a different culture and to pick up Indonesian basics
• Unplugged - Comfortable with limited wifi and phone access
• Teachable - Willing to follow safety guidelines and to work through conflict with teammates or community partners

Youth under 18 do not go on IMMERSION trips. Every team member must also complete an IMMERSION application, have a video interview with IMMERSION staff, and pass a criminal background check. Get started by submitting an interest form!

What does the trip cost, and what does it cover?

The 1-month Indonesia IMMERSION program costs $5,750 per person. The cost covers:

• Travel - International flights, baggage fees, and any necessary visas
• In country - Housing, transportation, and food
• Program - Training event and materials, IMMERSION support staff planning and supporting this trip year-round, and the cost of a team leader
• Partners - Donations to the local partners and ministries you serve alongside

The cost does not cover travel to your training location or home from the U.S. ending location, immunizations, meals while you travel, any items you need on the packing list, or the Personal Emergency Fund, a debit or credit card with $1,500 available plus $300 in cash that every team member carries in case of a medical issue or an unexpected trip home.

How do the trip deposit and fundraising work?

Applications for the May 2027 term close December 18, 2026. If you are accepted, your trip deposit is due within 30 days. The initial deposit is $250 unless you join within 120 days of the program date, when the deposit is higher and depends on how close you are to the trip. The deposit is non-refundable, even if EM has to cancel the trip, and you cannot transfer it after 60 days. After you pay your deposit, you receive a personal EM fundraising profile, the IMMERSION Fundraising Guide, and are connected with an EM Fundraising Coach to help you make a fundraising plan. All donations made through EM are tax-deductible in the United States.

What is the refund policy?

The refund timeline works in three steps. If you withdraw more than 90 days before the start date (before February 16 for the 2027 trip), the trip deposit is the only non-refundable part of what you paid yourself. From 90 days out, 50% of your personal contributions are non-refundable, and from 45 days out (April 2, 2027), 100% are. Refunds are available only on this timeline, and donations that others make toward your trip are non-refundable. Withdrawals must be in writing, and the date of your message determines where you fall on the timeline.

If EM cancels the trip, you can switch to a 1-month IMMERSION trip in Uganda or Namibia during the same dates, subject to availability, or take a credit toward a future IMMERSION term used within 24 months of the original start date. EM does not offer refunds if it has to cancel a trip, and the trip deposit stays non-refundable. Read the full 1-Month IMMERSION refund policy to learn more before you pay your deposit.

Is a mission trip to Indonesia safe?

No trip is 100% risk-free. As of November 5, 2026, the U.S. State Department rates Indonesia Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution, citing natural disasters, unrest, and terrorism (advisory issued July 7, 2026). Level 2 is the second-lowest of four levels.

Does the Level 4 warning for Papua apply to Sentani?

No. The State Department's Level 4, Do Not Travel, covers two provinces only: Central Papua (Papua Tengah) and Highland Papua (Papua Pegunungan), which it cites for civil unrest. Sentani is in Jayapura Regency in Papua Province, which the advisory does not include, so it falls under Indonesia's Level 2 rating. EM's team does not travel to Central Papua or Highland Papua.

What risks does the State Department list for Indonesia?

The advisory points to these concerns:

• Unrest - Demonstrations are frequent and can turn violent, and the advisory notes that foreigners may not take part in protests
• Natural disasters - Earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, flooding, and landslides can disrupt transportation, sanitation, and health services
• Crime - Common issues include pickpocketing, snatch-and-grab theft, and scams, with violent crime reported most often in Bali
• Local laws - Many drugs are illegal, and Indonesia's criminal code, in effect since January 2026, criminalizes sex or cohabitation outside marriage

Precautions about where you go, when, and how make a real difference. David and Noni live in Sentani, know the area well, and brief your team on the safest ways to move about, including which places and gatherings to avoid.

What health risks should I plan for?

CDC lists all of Papua as a malaria transmission area and recommends prescription medicine to prevent malaria, which you start before the trip and continue during and after it. CDC also advises travelers to avoid swimming or wading in floodwater because of leptospirosis, and to avoid unfamiliar dogs and cats, because rabid dogs are common in Indonesia. The State Department adds that medical care is limited outside major cities, upfront payment is usually required, and tap water is often unsafe. Large hospitals can be several hours away by vehicle. See your doctor or a travel clinic at least a month before departure to talk through malaria prevention and vaccines.

How does EM respond to medical issues and emergencies?

IMMERSION team leaders are CPR/First Aid certified and carry trauma medical kits for a wide range of injuries and ailments. Local clinics are often a short distance from where teams stay, and for larger emergencies, local EM staff and team leaders help team members reach care and contact home. EM secures travel medical and evacuation insurance for all team members, and an EM emergency phone line is available to every emergency contact. Each team member also carries the Personal Emergency Fund described in the Cost & Refund Policy section. During training, team members are encouraged to enroll in the State Department's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) so they and EM staff receive official alerts from the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta about issues such as protests, unrest, weather, or natural disasters.

How does EM decide whether a trip goes ahead?

EM will not send a team to a location with active, high-level safety concerns. EM monitors the State Department advisory and CDC guidance, stays in contact with local partners, and will update this section if conditions change. EM notifies applicants directly if travel plans change or a trip needs to be canceled.

This section was last checked on November 5, 2026. It reflects each source as of the date shown and may not include newer changes.

Sources: U.S. Department of State Indonesia Travel Advisory (issued July 7, 2026); CDC Indonesia travel health page (last reviewed August 25, 2026).

Do I need a visa or a passport?

You need a passport that stays valid for 6 months beyond your return date, and Indonesia requires a visa for volunteer service. EM obtains the correct visas for all team members, so you do not apply on your own, and the cost is included in the trip fee. If you are not a U.S. citizen, ask EM staff about your entry requirements before you apply.

Which vaccines and medicines will I need?

CDC recommends that you stay current on routine vaccines, including measles (MMR), and recommends hepatitis A for unvaccinated travelers age 1 and older, hepatitis B for unvaccinated travelers of all ages, and typhoid for most travelers. It also recommends prescription malaria prevention for Papua. CDC says Japanese encephalitis vaccine is recommended for people who spend a month or more in areas with the virus, and that rabies pre-exposure vaccination depends on your activities and how quickly you could get care after an exposure. Indonesia does not require a yellow fever vaccine if you fly directly from the United States, but it does if you travel from a country with yellow fever risk, so EM plans routes with this in mind. Your doctor or a travel clinic can tell you which of these fit you, so schedule a visit at least a month before departure, and check the CDC page for Indonesia.

Will I learn Indonesian?

Yes, at least the basics. Your first week includes lessons from a local teacher and practice at the market and around town, and you keep practicing as you serve and live alongside local people.

Will I have wifi and phone access?

Wifi and phone access are available during parts of the trip, but not all the time. Plan on limited contact with friends and family, and come prepared to unplug and engage with the people around you.

How do I raise the money for the trip?

Most team members raise some or all of the trip fee. Once you join, EM connects you with a Fundraising Coach and an online fundraising profile, and the IMMERSION Fundraising Guide and mission trip cost guide offer ideas to get started.

What happens to my payments if the Indonesia trip is canceled?

If EM cancels the Indonesia trip, you can switch to a 1-month trip in Uganda or Namibia during the same dates, subject to availability, or take a credit toward a future IMMERSION term used within 24 months of the original start date. The Cost & Refund Policy section and the IMMERSION refund policy explain deposits and credits, and EM notifies applicants directly. If you withdraw instead, your message must be in writing (via email).