In August 2016, massive rainfall caused the areas in and around Baton Rouge, Louisiana to experience severe flooding. According to the Red Cross, this is the worst natural disaster to strike the United States since Hurricane Sandy.
In the wake of this flooding, over 100,000 homes were damaged. Because of the area where people lived many homeowners did not have flood insurance and are left to gut and rebuild their houses without financial assistance or help with manual labor.
It is in the midst of despair when people rise up and God can shine. Out of this disaster, The Cajun Army has arisen. The Cajun Army a group of neighbors who have become "boots on the ground" ready to do the work and be the hands and feet of Jesus wherever God leads. Experience Mission teams will partner with them to be an extension of their vision in the community. Be prepared to get your hands dirty as you bring Hope to those who have lost so much.
Teams will serve local residents who have been impacted by the flooding in Louisiana. Experience Mission plans to help undergird The Cajun Army and local residents with whatever projects they deem the most important. Initially the need to gut houses is top priority to avoid mold setting in. As houses are gutted we will jump in to help the rebuilding process.
There will be projects for teams with all different skill levels however as the rebuilding process gets underway teams with skilled laborers will be coveted.
*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 nature of helping rebuild after a disaster, we cannot confirm your specific daily activities until your team arrives.
Due to the unique nature of this community, the opportunity for relational ministry may take place directly at project worksites as volunteers come alongside and encourage those come to serve.
There may be additional opportunities to serve in various types of relational ministry if the need arises. Your Servicing representative from Experience Mission will make you aware of this if those needs arise.
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 all team members 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 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.
AVERAGE DAILY SCHEDULE
Day 1
3-6pm Groups Arrive
5pm - Leader's Meeting
6pm - Dinner
7pm - Orientation Meeting
8:30pm - Team Time (a time for your group alone)
11:30pm - Lights Out
Day 2-5
7:15am - Breakfast
7:45am - Devotions and Quiet Time
8:15am - Group Prayer
8:30am - Teams leave for Sites
12pm - Lunch
3:30pm - Finish work for the day
4pm - Break and Clean-up
5pm - Leaders meeting
6pm - Dinner
7pm - Evening Gathering (as a whole group)
8:30pm - Team time
Day 6
7am - Breakfast
7:30am - Cleanup/ Packing
9am - Pictures and Good-Byes
Teams in Louisiana will stay either in a church or community building, sleeping on a floor. The exact location will be determined closer to your trip. Teams will sleep on the floor and should plan to bring a light air mattress or a mat. Team members should plan to bring light bedding or a sleeping bag and a pillow.
There will be showers for your team, and there will be bathrooms at the place you stay. Most work sites will also have bathrooms. On the occasion that there are no facilities where you are working, teams will need to take breaks midday to use a public restroom.
There is running water in Louisiana. Teams will have access to it where they are staying, and at most work sites. Teams should plan to bring refillable water bottles to stay hydrated at work sites.
There is electricity in Baton Rouge that will be available where teams stay as well as at most work sites.
Baton Rouge, Louisiana is a safe area in general. The facilities where teams stay will be locked throughout the night and Experience Mission Staff members will do a sweep to make sure the facilities are secure before retiring for the evening. There is minor petty theft in the area. For this reason, we recommend teams leaving all valuables (iPods, computers, jewelry, etc.) at home. If a team does bring some valuables, the best way to keep them safe is to store them in a locked vehicle during the day.
A wonderful team of local cooks, alongside your Experience Mission Field Staff, will be preparing and serving your meals. Breakfast and dinner will be served buffet style, and your team will pack their own lunches each morning. Team members should plan to bring their own plate, bowl, cup and silverware for meals.
Your teams transportation to, from and while in Louisiana is NOT covered. You will need vehicles throughout the entire week to transport your team to various locations for work and ministry. 15 passenger vans or smaller is strongly recommended as your main mode of transportation. Using a school bus as your main mode of transportation while in this community is not recommended.
Experience Mission has specific policies regarding registration and withdrawal. Please refer to the document below for specifics.
INDIVIDUALS
All volunteers on a week-long EM mission trip 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.
EM's Health & Safety plan provides the following:
Staff certification: All Summer Staff are certified in First Aid and CPR.
Medical kits: Medical kits that include first-aid supplies for general accidents and ailments are provided for each site. In international locations, we will also carry a Trauma Kit or First Responder Kit. In these remote locations we will have medications like Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Benadryl and Imodium on hand. We make these available to adult team leaders for their sole discretionary use with their team members. EM Staff will not dispense any medications. In our domestic and international locations, we ask that teams supply their own medications like Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Benadryl and Imodium as they deem necessary.
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 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.
Mission Trips involve many details, and we know you probably have a few questions about EM mission trips.
Dont hit a snag in your mission trip planning! Fill out an interest form or call (888) 475-6414 (Mon-Thu, 9am-5pm ET) to ask questions and learn more about upcoming EM mission trips.
What’s the best trip for your group? Answer 5 multiple choice questions and get instant mission trip recommendations!
Answer 5 multiple choice questions, and get instant mission trip recommendations!
1
Fill out a Group Interest Form
Only takes a minute! Simply choose the community and trip dates you’re most interested in—no commitment necessary.
2
We’ll personally follow up with you this week
Answering your questions and walking you through the process of finding the best trip, registering your group, and preparing to serve together.
3
You and your team serve on a cross-cultural mission trip!
Organized and led by EM field staff or local partners, your trip will bring encouragement and light to people in difficult circumstances, as you learn what it means to care for all people, whoever and wherever you are.
Read our Mission Trip FAQ and Registration Policy. If you have additional questions or don't see the dates you're looking for, fill out an interest form for the trip closest to what you're hoping for and let us know the needs of your group.
Download the free EM Fundraising Guide for all our best tips and ideas for making fundraising for your next trip fun and easy.
Download our free Fundraising Guide for all our best tips and ideas for making fundraising for your next trip fun and easy.
You must have a group size of at least 6 members to join this trip. Please view the Small Team trips or call our Servicing Department for more options at 888-475-6414.
For most trips, you must have a group size of at least 6 members. Please view the Small Teams tab on each Community page or call our Servicing Department for more options at 888-475-6414.