Panama City, Panama 2014
Project Description
This project will be located in Panama City, Panama. It will include the construction of a church, evening evangelism meetings,
medical/dental/eye clinics, and Vacation Bible School programs for the children. In addition, health and family talks will be
included with the evening evangelism meetings.
Project Dates
March 13-23, 2014
Meetings will begin Friday evening, March 14 through March 22
To Apply
To successfully apply, all mission project participants are required to complete the following documents and provide them to
Quiet Hour Ministries:
1. Mission Project Application with $150 nonrefundable deposit
2. Clean, clear copy of passport picture page
3. Participant Medical History Form
4. Notarized Parental Consent and Medical Release Form. Required for participants under 18 years of age who travel
into a foreign country without a parent. Send copy only. Keep original with passport.
Finances
Participant fee: $1900. This fee includes airfare, food (excluding bottled water), lodging, insurance, local transportation and a
contribution towards the mission project.
Donation schedule:
$150 nonrefundable deposit due upon submitting application.
$475 due Dec. 3, 2013
$425 due Dec. 31, 2013
$425 due Jan. 28, 2014
$425 due Feb. 18, 2014
Please Note: All participant fees must be paid in full prior to departure.
Travel
The travel arrangements will be made through Quiet Hour Ministries, as the airfare is included in your participation fee. Once you
arrive at the airport, the group will be transported by the mission to the project site, either in buses or vans.
Mission Project Components
The mission project will consist of the following components. You will have the opportunity to participate in any one or all of the
following areas:
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Evangelism
Children’s Ministry
Construction Project
Medical, Dental, and Eye Clinics*
Health Expo*
*Note: Clinics and Health Expos can only be held if appropriate medical personnel join the mission team.
Details about our destination
Along the narrow isthmus bridging the Americas, the wildlife and terrain of two continents meld to form the striking contrasts of
Pamana, which is the southernmost country of Central America. Ocean, forest, mountain and jungle set the stage. With
immigrants from Europe, Asia, and the Middle East and all over the Americas, Panama City encapsulates the “melting pot” ideal
better than any other city in Central America.
Insurance and Safety
The Quiet Hour provides Short Term Mission Insurance for each participant through General Conference Risk Management
Services. The period of coverage is for approximately 19 days.
We will do everything possible to ensure the safety of our participants. All our activities are planned in consultation with local
church leaders and area experts. Participants will not be allowed to venture off on their own. While we don’t expect any danger,
we do take precautions that all activities involve a minimum of two adults.
Vaccinations
Consult your family physician or your local health department/international travel clinic regarding the recommended vaccinations
for travel to Panama. All travelers should be up-to-date with routinely recommended vaccinations. Which other vaccinations you
will need depends upon a number of factors including your age, health status, and previous immunizations. Check Travel Health
Online (www.tripprep.com) or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov/travel) websites for more information on
specific vaccinations that may be recommended.
Proof of vaccination is required if you have recently come from a country or where yellow fever occurs. Visit the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov/travel) website for information on countries with a high risk of yellow fever to
determine if a yellow fever vaccination certificate will be required.
Common Ailments
Intestinal problems due to drinking non-purified water, or eating something that has not been “decontaminated” (washed in
Clorox water). All tap water is unsafe for drinking purposes. Diseases from food and water often cause vomiting and
diarrhea. Make sure to bring diarrhea medicine or activated charcoal tablets so you can treat mild cases yourself.
Precautions to prevent mosquito-borne illnesses include using mosquito repellant containing DEET, Picaridin, Oil of lemon
eucalyptus/PMD (in EPA-registered repellent products, not essential oil), or IR3535, wearing clothing that covers the arms and
legs, and avoiding dark-colored clothing, perfumes, colognes, and after-shaves.
Other common health concerns are:
• Dehydration – Be sure to bring at least one water bottle and drink lots of water throughout the day.
• Sunburn – The sun can be much more intense in Costa Rica than back home. Consider putting on sunscreen every day.
• Exhaustion – Jet lag, long days of work and short nights of sleep require participants to pace themselves.
Water
It is important for every participant to assume that tap water is not safe to drink. Only drink purified water. Bottled drinking water
can be purchased. You may also consider bringing a water purifier. Be aware that water filters are primarily for taste and do not
remove contaminants. If you are interested in purchasing a water purifier, make sure it is effective against protozoa/cysts,
bacteria, and viruses.
Food and lodging
Lodging and meal information is pending.
Climate
Panama City has a tropical wet and dry climate. It sees 74.8 inches of precipitation annually. The dry season spans from January
through April. Temperatures remain constant throughout the year, averaging around 86 °F.
Electricity
110V 60 Hz with three-pin power outlets. All U.S. electrical devices should work fine.
Money
The currency for Panama is the U.S. dollar. While traveling, we strongly recommend the use of a money belt to carry your cash.
Do not carry large amounts of money in your purse or wallet. You can also carry a debit card and withdraw money from the bank
for a nominal fee. Most large stores or restaurants will accept major credit cards.
Passport and Visa
Passport: Every passenger must have a valid passport to travel to Panama, and the passport must be valid for at least 3 month
at entry into Panama. If you do not have a passport, you can get one at your local post office. It will take 10 - 16 weeks to
process.
Visas: As of April 2010, U.S. tourists arriving by air or road are permitted to stay in Panama for 180 days without obtaining a
formal visa. U.S. citizens entering Panama by commercial flight as tourists will be charged a $5.00 tourist fee when they
purchase their travel ticket.
If you are not a U.S. citizen, visit www.traveldocs.com to find out if you need a visa and how to obtain one.
Resources
Quiet Hour Ministries will provide each team with the following resource information to help with their meetings:
• Jesus video
• Family talks
• Evangelism manual
• Children's program felt set and suggestions
• Guidelines on Health Expos
• Health presentation on PowerPoint
• One set of Truth for Today sermons (DVD or CD)
• Travel insurance for each team member
Each morning all team members are encouraged to meet together for morning devotions and to review the evening meeting’s
sermons and health activities.
Equipment Needs (for speakers)
Each speaker will need to bring:
• Laptop computer, remote control, and video projector, OR
• DVD player with remote control, and video projector
Equipment costs:
• 3000-3500 lumen projector – approx. $1,500.00
• DVD player (all regions including PAL; 115-220 volts)
(recommended to buy in country of meetings) – less than $100.00
• Computer remote control – $125.00
• Carrying case – less than $100.00
Children's ministry
Programs and activities for the children will occur during each evangelistic meeting. The programs will include songs, stories
from the Bible, nature nuggets, puppets, and other activities, as arranged by the team’s children’s ministry coordinator. Many
times it is through the children that the adults are brought to the meetings. Therefore, it is important that much emphasis and
preparation is given to the children’s programs and activities.
For additional information on this mission trip, please contact:
Laura Kong at [email protected], or 800-900-9021.