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AGE GROUP:
TRIP SEASON:
COST:Due to limited capacity because of COVID-19, EM will not be bringing mission trip teams to Houston in 2021.
Click to view all 2021 Mission Trip opportunities!
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Houston, Texas is the fourth-largest city in the U.S. and more people means more need. The people of Houston also experienced one of the largest natural disasters in recent history when Hurricane Harvey smashed into Texas in August 2017. Over a year later, thousands of families are still recovering and attempting to rebuild their lives.
Mission trips to Houston, Texas are a practical way for you and your team to meet real needs on the ground. Jump in on hurricane rebuilding projects ranging from flooring to painting, drywalling, and more. You’ll also have time to slow down, build relationships, and engage with homeowners, local ministries, and church partners to meet the greater needs of Houston beyond the damage Harvey left behind.
We invite you to join us this Spring or Summer as we continue rebuilding lives in Houston through disaster recovery and community development—a holistic opportunity to join God in his ongoing work in this city.
Teams will serve local residents who have been impacted by the flooding from Hurricane Harvey. As the relief gets underway Experience Mission plans to help our local partners with whatever projects they deem the most important. As homes are gutted we will jump into rebuilding which will primarily focus on drywall and flooring.
Leaders will skill are required for all trips if possible. We would prefer to have 1 skilled person for every 7-8 people.
*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.
During part of your trip to Houston, you’ll also have time to slow down, build relationships, and engage with homeowners, local ministries, and church partners to meet the greater needs of Houston beyond the damage Harvey left behind.
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)
10:30pm - 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
7:00pm - Free Time/Team Time
Day 6
7:15am - Breakfast
7:45am - Cleanup/ Packing
8:30am - Send Off
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 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.
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 Texas will stay in a local church. 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, however, be prepared for potential “camping” showers. There will be usable bathrooms at the place you stay.
Water to drink will be provided by Experience Mission. In the event that local water is contaminated, we will provide bottled water.
There should electricity at the church where teams stay however there may be times of outage as they restore power to the city. Power at work sites will vary.
Experience Mission Field Staff will prepare and serve 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 team's transportation to, from, and while in Texas is NOT covered by the trip cost. You will need vehicles throughout the entire week to transport your team to various locations for work and ministry. 15 passenger vans or smaller are 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.
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.
Wondering what all goes on during our Houston mission trips? You’re not alone! Here’s a list of frequently asked questions about this trip.
What age group can you accommodate in Houston, Texas?
This trip is open for high school and older. From time to time, we are able to take younger students, so contact us with specific requests. Here’s a list of all of our trips for jr. high students.
How much do Houston mission trips cost?
The cost for this trip is $345/person for 2019. This includes all lodging, food, staffing, and trip-related expenses. Note that all construction projects are generally provided at no cost to families. Your fees cover this blessing for homeowners.
What seasons do you offer Houston mission trips?
Mission trips to Houston take place in the spring and summer. For more spring options, check out this list of all available spring break trips.
What will volunteers do on a mission trip to Houston?
Teams in Houston split their time between local ministries with a focus on building relationships and hurricane rebuilding. While much of the recovery effort from Hurricane Harvey has been completed, there are families still in desperate need of home repairs out of the spotlight. Time will be split between doing repair work and supporting ongoing ministry efforts around the city.
Will we work with children in Houston?
We do not currently offer kids ministry as part of mission trips to Houston. Teams will participate in hurricane rebuilding projects and other outreach opportunities.
What paperwork is required for this mission trip?
Each team member will need to fill out a team member registration form and liability waiver, and all adults are required to pass a background check. Your mission trip support representative will contact you if any other paperwork is required.
Where will my team stay in Houston?
Teams will stay in vacant classrooms at a local church. Plan on bringing air mattresses for added comfort. Showers and meals will be available at this location.
How does transportation work during Houston mission trips?
Transportation is entirely up to groups to arrange. We recommend 15 passenger vans and smaller. We don’t recommend relying on buses as a mode of transportation for this trip. Keep in mind that groups are often split into teams of 8-12 for construction projects. It works well if you are able to plan transportation accordingly.
When should I arrive?
Check-in is between 3 and 5 PM on the first day of your selected trip. Our staff will be awaiting your arrival. You can expect dinner and an orientation meeting to get you ready for the week that evening as well.
What should I pack for this trip?
A packing list will be available to you once you register for the trip. Generally, be prepared to bring along work clothes. All tools will be provided to you.
Does EM offer any other mission trips in Texas?
Yes! We also currently offer hurricane relief trips to Coastal Texas and border mission trips to the Rio Grande Valley.
Have more questions about Experience Mission trips? Check out our general FAQs, or call our support team at 888-475-6414.
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.
Dont hit a snag in your mission trip planning! Fill out an interest form or call (888) 475-6414 (Tue-Thu, 9am-5pm ET) to ask questions and learn more about upcoming EM mission trips.
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Fill out a Group Interest Form for the trip you're most interested in
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Serve together on a life-changing Mission Trip
Read our Mission Trip FAQ and Registration Policy. If you have additional questions or don't see the dates you're looking for, contact us or inquire about a specific trip.
Fill out a Group Interest Form for the trip you're most interest in
We'll help you find and plan the best trip for your group!
Serve together on a life-changing Mission Trip
Read our Mission Trip FAQ and Registration Policy. If you have additional questions or don't see the dates you're looking for, contact us or inquire about a specific trip.
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.
