Cape Town, South Africa
Mission Trips

Your time in South Africa will be coordinated in cooperation with a local team of leaders. During your trip, you will have the opportunity to help in classrooms, join the after-school program, feeding programs, and be a part of the daily Bible studies. Below is a basic schedule for the week, but we approach this with flexibility because our ultimate focus is on relationships.

Each morning, there is time set aside for devotions and quiet time. Experience Mission has devotionals/journals that are available for purchase or teams can supply their own. This is a valuable time and we strongly encourage everyone to spend it with God journaling their thoughts and experiences as the days unfold.

Our staff will lead a time of debriefing and a short devotional in the evening (what we call "Evening Gathering") and it is always a great addition to have musical worship. Our programming does not include musical worship as we can't guarantee that our staff will have this ability. Please let us know if you have anyone who sings or plays guitar on your trip so that we can help to coordinate the musical aspect of worship when able. If you aren't able to help in the area of music, it may not be a part of the trip.

TENTATIVE ITINERARY

Day 1
Groups Arrive
Leader's Meeting
Dinner
Orientation Meeting
Team Time (a time for your group alone)

Day 2 - Day 5
Ministry in partnership with Shiloh

Day 6
Ministry TBD

Day 7
Church

Day 8-11
Ministry in Brackenfell

Day 12
Depart for the U.S.

*Experience Mission works closely with local leaders to identify work projects and ministry opportunities that address authentic needs within the community. We ask that you come with a servant's heart and willingness to adapt to the unique qualities represented in each location. Opportunities can vary significantly from one week to the next. Your team may work at one location or serve at multiple locations each day.Due to the changing needs of our community partners, we cannot confirm your specific activities until your team arrives.

Lodging

Teams will be staying at Logos Christian Church in retreat rooms that are set up similar to dorm rooms. There are common areas that will be open to the team for devotions and debriefs. There is also a nice outdoor area for sitting.

Sleeping

Beds will be available for your team. The beds will include the bedding. Sleeping arrangements will be dormitory style with male and female designated sections. Winter months are between the months of April to August. If your trip is during this time expect cold nights. Temperatures in the evening can vary between 30-50 degrees. Also, from May-August, rain should be expected.

Showers & Bathrooms

Showers will be available in each room as well as toilets.

Water

There is running water at Logos Christian Church and it is safe to drink. We will also have purified drinking water available at all times for team members.

Security

Your rooms will need to be locked at Logos Christian Church to ensure that possessions are safe throughout the day. The retreat is inside a secure complex with security guards on staff day and night. Though South Africa does experience higher crime than many parts of the U.S., that crime is mostly in cities and in squatter camps after dark. You will be staying in a safe, rural complex.

Local Area

Around the area of Logos Christian Church there are many shops with food and clothing should the team need anything. A hospital is also located nearby in case of an emergency.

Air Travel

Destination Airport: Cape Town International. Team members are responsible to cover the cost of their round-trip airfare to Cape Town International Airport.

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 photocopy 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 (e.g. "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

*Experience Mission works closely with local leaders to identify work projects and ministry opportunities that address authentic needs of the community. We ask that you come with a servant's heart and willingness to adapt to the unique qualities represented in each location. Opportunities can vary significantly from one week to the next. Your team may work at one location or serve at multiple locations each day. Due to the changing needs of our community partners, we cannot confirm your specific activities until your team arrives.

Ground Transportation

Upon arrival to South Africa all transportation IS INCLUDED, including transportation to and from the airport.

EM's Health & Safety Plan:

Emergency Response Plan: 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 a more information about health concerns and recommended immunizations, you can visit the CDC travelers guide to South Africa. You should consult your local doctor prior to receiving any immunizations.

Curious about EM's Covid Guidelines? Check out EM's current guidelines for 2022 Trips

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 South Africa must be part of a team of at least six (6) 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