Internship Experience! Welcome to The Relief Bus! We believe God has sent you here to serve Him. Get ready to have the experience of a lifetime, living in a missions focused faith community environment! During your time with The Relief Bus you will be immersed in the urban missions world by participating in outreach to the poor and homeless in New York City, engaging in our community life and using your specific skills to help further God’s Kingdom. In the Relief Bus community, there is a certain “Ethos” (the character and disposition of a community) with rules and guidelines. In order to help you integrate more easily into this community the following information is included in this package: • City Overview • Required Reading • History of Organization • Evaluation and Reviews • Travel Info • Dress Code • Financial Info • Church • Schedule • Questions • Biblical Principles • What to Bring/What Not to Bring • Rules • Important Spanish Words and Phrases for the Outreach • Responsibilities and Expectations We require that you read through all the enclosed material. After arriving, you will have a meeting with one of our staff to address questions and concerns and discuss this information further. Moving into a new environment, especially a “front line mission” environment, can be challenging to say the least. Our goal is to help you smoothly integrate and without succumbing to undo pressures, fears, etc. Though God will certainly use this time to challenge and stretch you to grow your faith, you will need to be able to distinguish between the work of God and the lies of the flesh and the devil while “learning the ropes” of being here. Relax and read through the following materials. We pray you will be blessed, encouraged, and well informed. The Cities Elizabeth, NJ has a population of 125,809, making it the fourth largest city in New Jersey. Elizabeth is a very diverse city, with more than 50 countries and 37 language groups represented. Be ready for a truly diverse cultural experience. Elizabeth, which has the largest commercial seaport in North America, was the first state capital of New Jersey. New York City is the largest and most densely populated city in the United States with a population of over 8 million. NYC is comprised of five separate boroughs, each with its own characteristics; Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island. As many as 800 different languages are spoken in NYC, making it the most linguistically diverse city in the world. As of November 2011, more than 41,000 homeless slept in NYC shelters. Nearly 17,000 of those were children. These numbers do not include those sleeping in subways, parks, etc. History The Relief Bus story began back in the 1980’s with a successful entrepreneur living in Dallas, Texas. Richard Galloway did not know how dramatically his life would change when he read Isaiah 58: 6-­‐12 and was challenged by God’s concern for the poor and oppressed. The Relief Bus began its operations in February 1989, using donated office space. The Relief Bus hit the streets on January 17, 1990, and has been faithfully reaching out ever since. After ten years of outreach, in 2002 a second bus was launched, virtually doubling the number of outreaches each week. In 2003 we began a Friday night outreach to Newark, NJ and in 2008 we began a Saturday night outreach to Paterson, NJ with local churches adopting outreach locations that they staff and fund. In 2001, a new facility was purchased for us, adjacent to the original building. In 2007, construction on a beautiful new kitchen and outreach team offices was completed to serve The Relief Bus. September 2011 marked the opening of the newly renovated Relief Base! The base can accommodate teams of up to 24 people who want to come stay and minister on The Relief Bus. Travel The Relief Base is only 15 minutes away from Newark Liberty International Airport. If you plan to fly in, we advise you to fly to Newark, since all the other airports are much further away. If you are coming by train, the NJ Transit/Amtrak Elizabeth Broad Street Station is only a block away from The Relief Base. The NJ Transit train can be taken into New York City as well. The cost is $6.75 for a one way ticket, or $13.50 for round trip. If you are planning to drive and have a car in Elizabeth, please be advised that parking is limited in Elizabeth, and is mostly street parking, which means parallel parking! Parking is relatively secure, but precautions still need to be taken to protect your car and property. Finances The internship program with The Relief Bus is a volunteer position. You will receive no monetary compensation for your work, nor is any healthcare provided. You are responsible for providing or raising your own financial support for housing, food, personal expenses, etc. during your time with us. The cost for housing is $450 per month. Please keep in mind when budgeting for other expenses that we are on the East Coast near New York City, meaning that prices for food, gas, and so on may be higher than what you are accustomed to. We suggest planning for a minimum of $200 monthly for these expenses. Any payments made to The Relief Bus are non-­‐refundable. Any fundraising you do for your internship will not be done through The Relief Bus. While you will be fully immersed in The Relief Bus community, your official capacity is that of an intern, not a missionary or staff. What this means is all donations, whether a one-­‐time special gift or monthly, must be made directly to you. You will pay tuition (housing cost) to The Relief Bus. You will receive a receipt upon request. We suggest inquiring with your home church to see if they are willing to sponsor your internship as a missionary, taking donations and handling tax information for you. Otherwise you are responsible for any and all taxes arising from donations. If you do not have a sponsoring organization, you may wish to consult a financial advisor to ensure you follow proper procedures for paying taxes. To help with fundraising, you may wish to write a letter or newsletter to potential or current donors. We ask that you allow us to review any letters or newsletters for content and effective communication before you distribute them. You MAY NOT distribute these letters en masse to those on The Relief Bus Facebook page, Twitter page, other peoples’ friends/follower lists, or any other established mailing lists. Please keep your distribution list to your personal family and friends. You may talk to volunteers on The Relief Bus about your need for financial support, and you may add them to your mailing list as long as they are a personal contact. Schedule Your weekly schedule with The Relief Bus will vary according to your tasks. You will be serving on The Relief Bus at least 3 days a week. Please keep in mind that your days will often last longer than 8 hours! There may also be occasional events such as The Relief Bus banquet or staff get togethers, that you are required to attend outside of “normal” work hours. Please be punctual. This means arriving before the stated start time of an event, not at the last second. Tuesdays are staff meeting day. This is a time to come together for prayer and worship as a staff, as well as for preparing for the upcoming week of outreaches. We begin promptly at 9 AM and spend time sharing prayer requests, worshipping, and praying for those requests. These morning meetings also include a time for sharing, teaching, discussing, guest speakers, monthly business meetings, etc. After lunch we have an operations meeting to discuss the outreaches and complete chores (various cleaning tasks, shopping, mixing spices, etc.) A typical day on The Relief Bus begins at The Relief Base at 7:20 AM with preparations for the day, including making the soup and drinks, stocking the buses, picking up the bread from the bakery, etc. At 9 AM the buses leave for the outreach locations. On the ride into the location, we engage in a time of worship and prayer. The staff and volunteers serve at the location from 10 AM – 2 PM. During that time you will assist with a variety of tasks, including serving food in the kitchen, distributing clothing, passing out flyers, and engaging with people on the street. At 2 PM the bus leaves to return to Elizabeth for clean-­‐up, which is typically finished between 3:30 and 4 PM. You will have free time in the evenings and on weekends (please note your weekend will likely be Sunday-­‐Monday). This time is yours to use as you wish, but please keep in mind that you are still a living example of Christ and should conduct yourself accordingly. Be considerate of others when making entertainment choices (movies, music, etc.), especially in shared living and working spaces. Do not be a stumbling block to your brothers and sisters. This internship does not provide vacation time. The Relief Bus does shut down operations for the last two weeks of August, and if you are here at that time, this will be your vacation time. If you have a special need (family wedding, funeral, etc.) please bring it to the attention of the leadership team ASAP. Biblical Principles In order to help cultivate an environment of Christian community and growth, we ask that you demonstrate a commitment to the following Biblical Principles: The desire to glorify God in all things (1 Cor. 10:31-­‐32a) A concern for the feelings and sensitivities of others – showing selflessness (1 Cor. 10:32) A commitment to encourage one another and build each other up in the Lord (1 Thes. 5:11) A commitment to put off one’s old way of life and put on the new (Eph. 4:22-­‐24) A refusal to be shaped by the value system of this world (Rom. 12:2) A desire to act in ways that reflect maturity (Heb. 5:14) The understanding and practice of submission to leadership (Heb. 13:17) Rules In order to function as a healthy community, there are a few general rules that we ask you to follow: No drugs, alcohol, or any form of tobacco. Ask permission before leaving town (even if it’s just to go to NYC for the day) – this accountability is for your safety! Don’t walk around alone late at night: safety first! Submit to the leadership of the staff. As you agreed on your application, your time here is not a time to be pursuing a relationship in any way. This includes flirting with members of the opposite sex. Should you develop “feelings” beyond friendship, it should be brought to the attention of the leadership immediately. Failure to do so may bring unwanted exposure one way or the other. (Brining this situation to the attention of leadership does not imply endorsement, or approval of such involvement. We expect that you would want spiritual covering over any such involvement.)“But if you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the Lord; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out.” Numbers 32:23 Avoid spending unnecessary time alone with a member of the opposite sex. Be above suspicion. “reject every kind of evil.” 1 Thessalonians 5:22 Ask before taking pictures of the people we serve on the street. If you have any good photos, please share them with us!! Refrain from using your cell phone during ministry time. You are here to focus on the people here. Please be mindful of the various cultures you will encounter during your time here. Be aware of how you interact with others, especially those of the opposite sex. The way you greet others is important! If in doubt, follow the lead of the staff. No fraternization with team members, volunteers, community service workers, etc. Do not exchange phone numbers, email addresses, Facebook/Twitter information, etc without permission of the outreach or other Relief Bus leader. Responsibilities and Expectations Like your schedule, your responsibilities may vary and will likely grow the longer you are with us. However, the following is a basic outline of what you can except when you join us at The Relief Bus. These are the same things we expect of everyone on the staff as well as short – term missionaries. We are not singling you out! -­‐ We ask that all interns have a valid driver’s license! We may need you to help move cars around or drive one of our vans while you are here, and it is important that you bring your license. -­‐ You are expected to be on time. On Tuesdays this means being in the building and ready to begin the meeting at 9 AM. On outreach days this means arriving no later than 7:20 AM. -­‐ You are expected to participate in our Tuesday meetings. This includes group discussions, worship, and prayer. We ask you to keep things shared at these meetings in confidence. -­‐ You are expected to be an active part of the outreach team, meaning you attend Tuesday afternoon operations meetings, help with chores, engage with volunteers, etc. -­‐ You are expected to participate in worship and prayer during the bus ride to the outreach location. You may be asked by the bus leader to help lead the worship time (either live or recorded songs). -­‐ You are expected to participate in the outreach. This is ultimately why you are here! While you are on the outreach, please respect the authority of the outreach leader. You may be asked to help oversee the clothing, kitchen, etc, in addition to engaging with the people we serve, helping in the kitchen, and so on. -­‐ You are expected to help with clean-­‐up when the bus returns to the Relief Base. This includes helping to direct volunteers, rinsing and scrubbing containers, cleaning the bus, mopping the floor, etc. Do not leave the team unless permission is granted by your leader. -­‐ The Relief Base is an urban missions training center. At the discretion of the staff, you will be asked to sit in on and participate in certain evening training sessions and activities with volunteers. -­‐ If something around the building needs attention, please take the initiative to do it. This includes taking out the trash, changing empty paper towel rolls, cleaning up messes, etc. If there is a larger maintenance issue (i.e. plumbing, electricity), let your supervisor know so that it can be taken care of promptly. -­‐ Please help us conserve water and electricity by making sure faucets are not dripping and turning off lights when you are not in a room! -­‐ We expect you to be flexible! We do a lot with a small staff, and we need everyone to step up and help with a little bit of everything. It is likely you will be asked to do something that is out of your comfort zone. Don’t be afraid to try and take risks. This is a safe environment! Required Reading Your time with The Relief Bus is a time of growth, personally and spiritually. We require that you read certain books during your time with us. The number of books depends on your time commitment. These books may include, but are not limited to the following: The Three Battlegrounds -­‐ Francis Frangipane Holiness, Truth, and The Presence of God – Francis Frangipane Not a Fan – Kyle Idleman Rabbi’s Heartbeat – Brennan Manning God’s Beggar’s – Juan Galloway Generous Justice – Timothy Keller After reading each book, you will be required to complete a two-­‐page book report. Details will be given before you write the report. Evaluations and Reviews Every three months you will complete an evaluation with a staff member. This is for the purpose of self-­‐examination and growth. We are not here to judge you, but to challenge you and help you. Please be honest during this assessment. A copy of the assessment form that will be used is included in the handbook. Dress Code Part of being culturally sensitive and not causing each other to stumble is in the way we dress. There is a packing list on the next page, but please be mindful of the following as you pack: -­‐ You will get dirty when serving on the bus! Please bring work appropriate clothing (jeans, long shorts, T-­‐shirts). You will be issued a Relief Bus T-­‐shirt, sweatshirt, etc. -­‐ You must wear closed toe shoes during the outreach. -­‐ Bring nice clothes for church and other formal events. -­‐ Ladies, please be sure that shorts and skirts are no more than 3 inches above the knee, preferably longer! -­‐ No tank tops or spaghetti straps. Guys, please wear shirts at all times. Church The Relief Bus staff worships at a variety of churches in the area. Please do not be afraid to ask if you can join us, or if you would like a recommendation of some churches in the area. Questions If you have questions, ask! Included in the internship manual is an organizational chart that can help direct you to the person who can best answer whatever questions you may have. Please familiarize yourself with this useful tool. If you are still unsure who to ask, please ask someone and we will help direct you to the correct person. It is impossible to anticipate every situation that may arise. Use your sense of good judgment and consider that everything you do here is a part of your ministry. Most of all, have fun and enjoy this time of spiritual stretching and growth! What to Bring -­‐ Weather appropriate clothing (You WILL get dirty!) -­‐ Closed toe shoes/Boots -­‐ Rain gear -­‐ Coat/jacket -­‐ Hat, scarf, gloves for winter -­‐ Baseball cap/summer hat -­‐ Sunglasses -­‐ Personal hygiene items -­‐ Bible -­‐ Notebook -­‐ Pens/pencils -­‐ Money for expenses -­‐ Camera What NOT to bring -­‐ Valuables (jewelry, electronics, etc.) -­‐ Tank tops, short shorts or skirts -­‐ Weapons, fireworks, etc. -­‐ Drugs, alcohol, cigarettes -­‐ Clothing with alcohol or cigarette ads or suggestive material Important Spanish Words and Phrases for Outreach No hablo Espanol – I don’t speak Spanish. Comida – Food Pan – Bread Sopa – Soup chocolate caliente – Hot chocolate Limonada – Lemonade Quieres sopa…pan…chocolate? – Do you want soup…bread…chocolate? Oracion – Prayer Necesitas oracion…ropa…domicilio…una trabajo…una programa de drogas o alcohol? – Do you need prayer…clothing..shelter… a job…a drug/alcohol program? Quieres oracion? – do you want prayer? Ropa – clothing Zapatillas – sneakers Camisa – shirt Pantalones – pants chaqueta – jacket jabon – soap cepillo de dientes – toothbrush grande – big pequeno -­‐ small Come estas? – How are you? De donde eres? – where are you from? Soy de… – I am from… Donde vives? – Where do you live? Vivo en… -­‐ I live in… Duerme en la calle – Do you sleep in the street? Tienes familia aqui? – Do you have family here? Me gusta… -­‐ I like Dios te bendiga – God bless you Como Sientas? – How are you feeling? Necacita ayada? – Need help? Como puedes ayudar? – How can I help you? Tu sabe cerca de Relief Bus? – Do you know about The Relief Bus?