What makes this program unique?
Zera House is the only program of its kind in the state of West Virginia. Safehouses that specifically serve survivors of sex trafficking and commercial sexual abuse are few and far between even in other areas, with many states having no coverage at all. Because of this, they aim to be a pioneering force in this field, paving the way for other organizations through partnership and mentorship&mdashlboth by learning from others and sharing what we ourselves have learned. Significantly, West Virginia is a hotbed of sex trafficking due to the ongoing opioid crisis that has taken root in the state. By being “a city on a hill,” the people of Zera House seek to transform their beautiful home state from the inside out.

Is there a major theme for the type of things to be learned during the program?
Zera House emphasizes understanding as a major pillar of both interactions with the local community as well as how you serve their residents. The majority of survivors of trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation are alienated from society not just because of the trauma they've experienced but because the general public refuses to reckon with the reality of what happened to them, much less empathize with their situation. Anti-trafficking ministry is a raw, difficult experience where team members learn about events that are hard even to hear about (much less experience), but it is so rewarding. The empathy and understanding developed with this demographic can be used in any other situation requiring a similar depth of sensitivity.

In addition to this, the core of the program is holistic and sustainable living. This has a dual meaning for Zera House. On one hand, they are sustainable in that they produce their own food and want to teach residents the same skills and confidence in their independence. This is what Zera House is all about: finding restoration through working with God's creation.

What will it cost me?
The cost of the 1-Month West Virginia IMMERSION program in 2024 is just $2,500!

Is there any training before I go?
Each IMMERSION trip begins with a time of training, team building, and personal reflection. EM's IMMERSION staff will share stories from the field, challenge your faith in new ways, and help you learn how to build healthy cross-cultural relationships.

After several days of training, you'll hop on a plane with your fellow adventurers and engage in a short on-the-field orientation to learn more about culture, safety, and the schedule for the weeks ahead.

How can I communicate back home?
We encourage you to pack your cell phone or other small, wifi-enabled device. Often, just turning off cellular data and connecting to a local hot spot is the best way to stay in touch with friends and family. In some IMMERSION locations, you'll be totally off the grid for weeks at a time. In other locations, you can get online daily. During your interview, please ask our staff about expectations for each community so you can be prepared!

Will EM provide a detailed packing list?
We'll help you fit your entire life inside a backpack! It's one of the most freeing, humbling experiences to realize you can live with so little. Check out a trip-specific packing list in your online MyMission account when you start the application process.

Will I be required to get the Covid-19 vaccine to join IMMERSION?
The Covid-19 vaccine is not currently required by Experience Mission to participate in the IMMERSION program, but it is required for entry into a small number of IMMERSION countries (including entry into the United States for non-U.S. citizens for training and debrief). Fill out an Interest Form to learn more about our Covid guidelines for upcoming trips.

We are passionate about seeing people make missions a lifestyle, not just a one-week or six-month experience. IMMERSION gives young adults the chance to go, but also the challenge to come back and make a difference in their home context. We're proud of the growing group of IMMERSION past team members who are choosing to live boldly. As you consider joining an IMMERSION team, ask yourself, “Who will I become?"

“Experience Mission has become a second family to me; a home away from home. Like so many of us, I was looking for meaning, purpose, and a chance to grow like I couldn't on my own. IMMERSION gives you the opportunity to expand your cultural perspective, expound on your ideologies, and experience the freedom of living outside your comfort zone. But most importantly, it gives you the opportunity to love people across cultural boundaries and in new ways.

I came on IMMERSION hoping to make some big life decisions. But instead, I got confusion. The beautiful thing is, it left me more open to what God wanted for me instead of what I wanted. Starting this fall, I will be attending a Bible college and pursuing a career in ministry! It started with a click of a button. Requesting information about the IMMERSION program.”

“Simply put, my IMMERSION experience changed my life. It may not have changed my career goals or any other big plan for my life, but it did more. It changed how I think about every person that I meet. It changed how I appreciate every culture and every experience that makes up each of our lives. It made me more resourceful, more giving, more selfless, and all around more loving towards God's people and the world He has placed us in.

These days I 'live my mission' teaching high school. Every day I learn a new piece of information about my students. I have students who are homeless, pregnant at 15, have had parents die or abandon them; students who are unloved. This too is a poverty of sorts, in many ways more devastating to me than what we experienced on the trip because the love we received from the communities seemed to outshine anything else. IMMERSION opened my eyes to my students' joys and needs and pains and opened my ears to hear their stories. My daily thoughts and actions have been impacted by the trip, and from this, I know that my heart has been forever changed as well.”

Worried about the raising the money to go? Don't let it stop you from taking a journey that can radically impact your faith and purpose in the world.

Over and over, we've seen team members roll up their sleeves and get creative with fundraising. We've also seen God show up miraculously when team members had no idea how they'd meet their goal. And we know you can do it, too!

EM provide's helpful tools to support you in the process, including:

IMMERSION Fundraising Coaches to talk through your fundraising abilities, ideas, and provide a roadmap to follow.

EM's IMMERSION Fundraising Guide wIth creative ideas and resources to get you started!

IMMERSION Fundraising Profiles which you can customize to share your story and easily collect donations.

As a parent of someone considering the IMMERSION program we know you may have questions, so we've tried to answer a few of them here. Although team members are over 18 and will be treated as adults, your support and input are so valuable as they make plans. So, thank you for cheering them on!

Many of these details (and more) will be discussed with team members during the application process and pre-trip conference calls or are already listed as accessible resources for all applicants. If you feel like you have a lot of unanswered questions, we encourage you to talk with team members and review the available information together to help you feel more in the loop.

About Experience Mission

Is EM part of a specific religion or church denomination?
Experience Mission is a Christian organization, although we aren't connected with any one church or denomination. Our staff members all have a personal faith in Jesus and come from a variety of church traditions and denominations. Our Statement of Faith seeks to unite us, not divide us, in ministry.

But I've never heard of Experience Mission.
Yeah, we know! As a relatively young organization (founded in 2003) our name is still new to many. Although we're continually developing partnerships with Christian conferences, universities, and denominations, much of our marketing efforts are focused on word of mouth and getting opportunities in front of people online. We trust the right volunteers and partners will find us and share our desire to be people of hope in a broken world. You can read Our Story for more details about how and why we got started!

How do I know EM is a credible organization?
Experience Mission will have over 4,000 short-term (1-2 week) volunteers serve with us this year and over 120 IMMERSION team members! We're proud of our growing network of church leaders and young adults all over the world. Throughout the interview process, we are happy to provide applicants with references if they'd like to talk directly with team members who have been a part of IMMERSION in the past. Our alumni network is thriving and many are eager to share their experience!

Finances

Are donations toward this trip tax-deductible?
Since EM is a 501c3 non-profit, any donations made through the EM website or any checks mailed to the EM office are tax deductible. All donors receive receipts for tax purposes outlining their contributions.

What fundraising resources or scholarships are available to applicants?
Once team members commit to the trip, we're there to support them. Over and over again, we've seen people roll up their sleeves and get creative. We've also seen God show up miraculously when team members had no idea how they'd raise enough. We provide a few helpful things to support team members in the process:

1. Fundraising Coach to cheer team members on, give a pep-talk if they feel discouraged, and help them stay on schedule.
2. EM's Fundraising Guide with creative ideas and practical resources to get team members started.
3. Online Fundraising Profile which allows team members to easily collect donations, share their story on social media, and post updates about their progress. There are no fees and all donations are tax-deductible for donors.

What is EM's refund policy?
Once team members commit to a trip, we're counting on them. Due to the long-term logistics that are set in motion when team members join a team, we aren't able to offer refunds, but we do our best to be flexible and work with team members to transfer their funds to a different trip whenever possible. Team members can also read more about our Payment & Refund Policy by signing in to their MyMission account.

What happens if EM cancels a trip?
If a trip is canceled by Experience Mission because of the minimum team size not being met, safety concerns in the community, natural disaster, or another issue, we will provide the team member with other options during the same timeframe and transfer any available funds to the new trip. If a team member cannot find a location that interests them during the same timeframe, they will be offered a credit to be used toward a future IMMERSION trip within 24-months of the original start date.

Safety

How long has EM been working in these communities and do they work with trusted partners?
Depending on the specific location, EM has been working in a community anywhere from 1-15 years. We work with local people who are often pastors, non-profit managers, missionaries, school teachers, or indigenous leaders. These local leaders work closely with our full-time staff and the IMMERSION team leader to identify host families, select ministry sites, place volunteers in classrooms, navigate cross-cultural barriers, and determine safety guidelines. We couldn't and wouldn't do ministry without our local partners!

What happens if there is an emergency—is there a hospital or clinic nearby?
If there is an emergency, EM staff members will support team members by helping them communicate with home and getting them to a safe location. Often, local clinics are a short distance from where team members are staying, however, large hospitals can often be several hours away by vehicle. Experience Mission requires all team members to travel with a Personal Emergency Fund—a debit or credit card with $1,000-$1,500 available and $300 of reserve cash in case they were to have a medical issue or reason to travel home unexpectedly. This amount may seem high, but it's purely a precaution. Most team members never touch their emergency fund while on the trip.

What precautions does EM take for international travelers?
EM registers all teams with STEP (Safe Traveler Enrollment Program) through the U.S. State Department. This allows our staff team to receive official travel alerts if there is an issue in the region including: political protests, civil unrest, increased crime, weather alerts, natural disaster, terrorism, or specific threats for foreign travelers. You can read more about the precautions we take in the following document: EM — Traveling and Serving Internationally

Communication

How reliable is communication and how often should we expect to be able to connect with team members?
As a general rule, we typically tell team members to expect to have access to the internet every other week. However, it could be more or less often depending on the exact location. Team members should ask about this during the application and interview process in order to set good expectations for their specific trip. In some IMMERSION locations, team members will be completely off the grid for weeks at a time. In other locations, they may be able to get online daily.

Will I receive updates from EM throughout the trip?
In regards to travel, we encourage you to go by the mantra that "no news is good news." Our staff will be in communication with the team and inform you if there is an emergency, but otherwise, you will not receive updates about delays, flight changes, arrival times, etc. We ask all team members to keep friends and family in the loop, but please know that in some locations their updates to you may not be immediate or frequent. We encourage all family and friends to "Like" EM on Facebook and keep an eye out for posts on the IMMERSION Blog as a way of receiving periodic updates throughout the trip!

What happens if there is an emergency at home and I can't communicate with a team member directly?
Our office has a 24-hour line that is available to parents if there is an emergency at home and the family can't communicate with a team member directly. In this case, our staff would help relay a message and support the team member in whatever way possible. 30 days before the trip, the official emergency contact will receive more information about how and when to use this line! We hope it gives you some peace of mind to know our staff is available to you as a resource if there is an emergency.

Can I visit my son or daughter while they're on IMMERSION?
Over the years, we've seen how visits from family members in the middle of IMMERSION can create distractions (or extra homesickness) for both team members and teammates. Additionally, it can be a logistical challenge for families to arrange transportation or housing in remote communities, creating a burden for our partners or host families. For this reason, we ask parents and other family members to refrain from planning to visit team members during the trip unless Experience Mission staff has given special permission ahead of time.