Jamaica Hurricane Relief & Recovery
Mission Trips

The destination for your mission trip is Catadupa, a small village in the mountains of Jamaica. Catadupa is only about 20 miles south of Montego Bay, but because of poor winding roads and a somewhat indirect route, it is about an hour and twenty minute drive. While it may be near to the beaches and resorts of Montego Bay, it is an entirely different world. In Catadupa, you are far from the bright lights in a very relaxed, friendly, and close-knit community.

The natural landscape is a mountainous jungle, and the lush tropical vegetation increases the intrigue of the environment. All throughout the area are fabulous vistas. The land is rich in resources from the natural springs and the fertile soil to the fruit trees and bamboo. Local fruits and vegetables include mangos, pineapple, banana, coconut, lime, sugar cane, starfruit, jackfruit, guineps, and breadfruit to name a few. It is rainy much of the year and torrential downpours can occur; however, volunteers are rarely rained out for an entire day. The island paradise would be complete if only it was not hot and humid and full of mosquitoes. Nonetheless, this is a beautiful part of Jamaica that most tourists never get to see.

Catadupa developed around the train line that ran through the center of town. Much of the town was employed by the railroad and even more residents depended on tourists to purchase crafts and handmade items. However, in the early 1990s, the railroad system was shut down, leaving the community devastated economically. Today the railroad station is growing dilapidated, and the train tracks have become overgrown with weeds and brush, yet the community lives on. Many local people still make crafts and clothing, which they are quite eager to sell to volunteers! Others commute to Montego Bay by public bus, and many live through farming. It is evident by the worn out buildings that the community is economically oppressed, but Catadupa is full of life. You will see this when you interact with the people, and you will help to bring encouragement and hope.

Your time in Jamaica will be coordinated in cooperation with a local team of leaders. During your trip you will have the opportunity to connect with families in need. This mission trip is sure to grab your heart with a love and respect for the Jamaican people. 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. This is a valuable time and we strongly encourage all team members to spend it with God, journaling their thoughts and experiences as the days unfold. EM will provide a physical or printable devotional journal.

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 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 teams aren't able to help in the area of music, it may not be a part of the trip.

TYPICAL DAILY SCHEDULE

(All times subject to change.)

Day 1

11:00a - 2:00p: Teams arrive at the airport in Montego Bay
12:00p - 3:00p - Teams travel from Montego Bay to Catadupa
5:00p - Leader's meeting
6:00p - Dinner
7:00p - Orientation meeting
8:00p - Team time

Day 2 (Sunday Schedule - May be another day for specific trips)

7:30a - Breakfast
10:00a - Sunday school
11:00a - Church service
12:00p - Lunch
1:00p - 6:00p - Recreational activities/free time
6:00p - Dinner
7:00p - Evening gathering
8:00p - Team time

Day 3 - Day 6

7:15a - Breakfast
7:45a - Devotions and quiet time
8:30a - Leave for work sites
12:00p - Lunch
3:30p - 4:00p - Finish work for the day
5:00p - Leaders meeting
6:00p - Dinner
7:00p - Evening gathering
8:00p - Team time

Day 7

7:00a - Breakfast
7:30a - Cleanup/packing
9:00a - Pictures and good-byes

Lodging

You will be staying dormitory-style at either a local church or school in Catadupa. Both places provide beautiful scenery and a chance to mingle with local people throughout the day. These facilities are rustic, not luxurious but sufficient. Volunteers should come prepared to leave the comforts of home behind. Team members will be sleeping on the floor and should plan to bring a blow-up mattress, light bedding or sleeping bag and a pillow.

Sleeping

Your team will be sleeping on bunk beds. Bring your own bedding. It is generally warm at night; however, it is cool on occasion. A travel sheet and a light-weight sleeping bag rated down to the mid-50's are ideal. Accommodations will be dormitory-style with male and female sections.

Showers

Natural Spring - There is a natural spring within walking distance, and this is by far the most popular choice for showering among the teams. It is about a 10-minute walk from the church and a 15-20 minute walk from the school. Water comes down the side of the mountain, and there is a limitless supply. It is an open public area designated for bathing and washing, so bathing suits are required. Teams should bring t-shirts, shorts, and sandals to walk to and from the spring. It's a beautiful place and the cool water is so refreshing!

Outdoor Facilities - There will also be makeshift showers at the facilities where you are staying. These consist of PVC pipe and private outdoor shower stalls. There is no hot water but given the warm temperatures cool water can be nice. All water at the facilities comes from drums so there is a limited supply.

Bathrooms

There are indoor and outdoor toilet facilities. They contain modern flush toilets, but this water comes from a drum and has poor water pressure. When water is low or pressure is down, teams must flush using buckets. These facilities are simply a row of stalls; Inside bathrooms have a sink and toilet.Volunteers can wash their hands in both indoor and outdoor sinks.

Water

There is no running water in Catadupa. There are many spigots and sinks on the facilities, but all water comes from a drum, and water pressure is gravity-based. Treated drinking water is available for volunteers 24/7.

Electricity

There is electricity at the facilities, and there are a limited number of outlets. The electrical service is not as dependable as the United States and outages are fairly common but usually brief.

Security

Your rooms can be locked and local people monitor the facilities to ensure that your possessions are safe throughout the day. Trustworthy Jamaicans designated by the local pastor stay on site all night. While you may have heard reports about gang wars and violence in Jamaica, it is important to understand that this is because of issues in the larger cities. You will be staying in a safe, rural community.

Food

A wonderful team of local Jamaican women will be preparing and serving meals. You will have an ample selection of tasty food. We will have purified drinking water available at all times for your team members. Team members should plan to bring a plate, bowl, cup, and silverware for meals. Curious about EM's ability to accommodate specific food restrictions? EM's Food Policy

Ground Transportation

Upon arrival to Montego Bay, Jamaica, all transportation IS INCLUDED. Transportation to and from the Montego Bay Airport will be by chartered bus.

Flights

Destination Airport: Montego Bay

Team members are responsible for covering the cost of their round trip airfare to the Montego Bay airport and should make plans to arrive between 11:00 am and 2:00 pm on the first day of your selected trip.

NOTE: The first meal provided for your team will be dinner in Catadupa the evening you arrive. If your team plans to arrive before lunch, you should bring cash for each of your team members to eat at a fast-food restaurant in Montego Bay after you arrive in Jamaica.

Return travel should be arranged with your flight departing after 11:00 am on the last day of the selected trip. If you have trouble finding flights that fit into this time frame please contact us before booking your tickets to make special arrangements.

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 permitting them 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

EM's Health & Safety Plan:

Staff Certification
All Summer Staff are certified in First Aid and CPR.

Nearest Hospital: Cornwall Regional Hospital in Montego Bay.

Medical Kits
Medical kits that include first-aid supplies for general accidents and ailments are provided for each site.

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 more information about health concerns and recommended immunizations, you can visit the CDC travelers guide to Jamaica. 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 must be part of a team of at least 10 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.

Basic Trip Information

What is included in the cost of the trip?
Lodging, food, local transportation in Jamaica, staffing, project materials, and project planning are included in the cost of the trip. Transportation begins when you arrive in Montego Bay. Flights to and from Montego Bay are NOT included. Meals will begin with dinner on Sunday evening and then will end Friday morning at breakfast. See "Upcoming Trip Dates" section below for available dates and per-person cost for each trip.

What age group can you accommodate for Jamaica Relief Trips?
We can accommodate middle school students to adults of all ages. For youth teams, it is important to have adequate adult-to-studfent coverage. We strongly recommend a ratio of 1 adult for every 5 students for senior high teams. This 5:1 ratio is required for middle school teams.

What seasons do you offer Jamaica Hurricane Relief Trips?
Mission trips to Jamaica are available almost every week of 2026! The need is great, and EM's local partners are excited to receive teams to help rebuild homes, roads, schools, and churches, as well as clean up debris. The work is hands-on, meaningful, and urgent!

What is the sign-up deadline for this trip?
Each week is filled on a first-come, first-served basis. You need to register and pay a deposit to lock your space in. See "Upcoming Trip Dates" section below for available dates and per-person cost for each trip.

Will there be other groups serving with our group?
Most likely, yes. Jamaica Hurricane Relief & Rebuilding trips are open to multiple groups until the capacity is met. In general, we will keep your group together during work projects.

What town will we be based in?
Experience Mission's base locations for serving Hurricane victims is our longtime partner community of Catadupa, Jamaica.

I'm planning my trip. Which airport should I fly into?
Teams are responsible for covering the cost of their round trip airfare to the Montego Bay airport and should make plans to arrive between 11:00 am and 2:00 pm on the first day of your selected trip.

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Lodging, Food & Packing

Where will we stay?
You will be staying dormitory-style at either a local church or school in Catadupa. Both places provide beautiful scenery and a chance to mingle with local people throughout the day. These facilities are rustic, not luxurious, but sufficient. Volunteers should come prepared to leave the comforts of home behind. Team members will be sleeping on bunk beds or the floor and should plan to bring light bedding or sleeping bag, and a pillow. Mosquito nets are also recommended.

Will we be able to shower?
There are showers at the church where you are staying. They are rustic, private outdoor shower stalls. Bathing suits are recommended for additional privacy, and sandals are also a good addition. The water is cool and unheated, but refreshing in this tropical climate, and adequate to wash off the dirt from the day. All water at the facilities comes from drums so there is a limited supply. We recommend short, efficient showers to preserve the water.

What will meals look like?
A wonderful team of local Jamaican women will be preparing and serving meals. You will have an ample selection of tasty food. We will have purified drinking water available at all times for your team members.

Can you accommodate food restrictions?
Our mission trip food policy outlines what we can accommodate for dietary restrictions and more. Note: Each team leader should input specific details of your team's food restrictions in their MyMission Portal.

What should I pack for this trip?
A specific packing list will be available once you register for the trip. Generally, be prepared to bring along work clothes! All tools and materials will be provided for you to use on the ground.

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Transportation

What airport should we fly into?
Teams are responsible for covering the cost of their round trip airfare to the Montego Bay airport and should make plans to arrive between 11:00 am and 2:00 pm on the first day of your selected trip.

Is transportation provided?
Upon arrival to Montego Bay, Jamaica, all transportation IS INCLUDED. Transportation to and from the Montego Bay Airport will be by chartered bus.

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Projects & Tools

What will volunteers do on a relief & rebuilding trip to Jamaica?
There will be a variety of skilled and non-skilled projects related to rebuilding. In Catadupa and Cambridge, Jamaica, your group may help fix homes, roads or water pipes to the local spring, rebuild or re-roof homes and structures in the market place, local church, chicken farm, and church daycare facility. The hurricane damage is everywhere and the needs are great!

Is it required to have construction skills to come help serve?
No! With so many different structures and facilities in need of repair and a wide variety of tasks to complete, teams of all skill levels will make a big difference in whatever ways they are capable.

Do we need to bring our own tools?
You do not! Experience Mission and partners in Catadupa provide all the necessary tools and equipment for projects. We do ask each team member to bring a pair of safety glasses, sturdy work gloves and a few general N95 masks that filter out dust and mold spores.

Will we work with children on Jamaica relief & rebuilding mission trips?
Yes! In this community, connecting with the local children through children's ministry is an important part of what volunteer teams to Catadupa have always done and it will continue through the community rebuilding process. Experience Mission will provide Kids Club curriculum for your team's use. This will be sent out to Team Leaders before your trip.

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Spiritual Components

What can I expect for my group as far as spiritual growth?
Morning Quiet Time: Each morning, there is time set aside for devotions and quiet time. While we make the space for this time, it is up to the leaders to implement it with their groups. This is a valuable time and we strongly encourage all team members to spend it with God, journaling their thoughts and experiences as the days unfold. All team members will be provided a physical or printable devotional journal.

Evening Debrief Time: EM provides Team Leaders with materials for facilitating a team-led time of debriefing and a short devotional in the evening (what we call "Team Gathering"). It is a simple time of debriefing, listening, and discussion.

Worship: EM mission trip field staff do not lead musical worship, but we love this element of mission trips and hope that your team will bring this skill and share it with any other groups present!

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Have more questions about Experience Mission trips? Check out our general FAQs, or call our support team at 888-475-6414.