What kind of work can we help with in Honduras?

Most teams that come to work alongside United Methodist Mission Church of Honduras (UMMCH) are helping with the construction of church sanctuaries, Sunday school rooms, education buildings, and a few parsonages.  At the church’s current stage of development this is the help most needed from UMVIM teams.  The actual construction work that groups help with is very basic, and the work is accessible to people of all skill levels. 

Some members of UMVIM teams come prepared with activities for kids in the community, in addition to the task of construction.

We also welcome teams of medical professionals to address health issues in the communities of the Methodist congregations.  

U  Remember, no matter what the task of your volunteer mission team (i.e. building something), the priority and the mission of your team is to represent the love of Christ, to attend to the relationships with Honduran brothers and sisters, and to offer a listening ear and a caring spirit.  These are just as important as laying bricks or painting a wall.

Who will be our hosts in Honduras ?

Short-term mission teams are hosted by local Honduran Methodist pastors and congregations.  There is an UMVIM coordinator who helps make preparations for your visit, often accompanies arriving UMVIM teams for a day or two, and gives each team an orientation to Honduras.  The main host of your mission team will be the local pastor, who will arrange accommodations, prepare the worksite, attend to your mission team’s needs, and answer any questions about aspects of life, faith, and community in Honduras.    

What team size is optimal?

In general, the ideal team size is 8-14 people. Bringing a team to Honduras of more  than 14 or fewer than 8 requires specific permission from the UMVIM coordinator in consultation with the local pastors. 

 

How much does it cost to bring a team to Honduras?

·         The United Methodist Mission Church of Honduras charges mission teams of 9 to 14 people $40 per person per day.  Teams of 8 or less are charged $45 per day.  This per diem fee covers some transportation, meals, and housing.  Teams of more than 12 will be charged a  transportation surcharge.

·         Construction teams are asked to provide  $2500 toward the purchase of construction materials. Any money which is not used during the week will be used to hire local workers and purchase supplies in order to continue the work after the team has left. 

·         Teams have the option of hiring local translators who have been screened and trained by UMVIM.  (Required for all medical teams.)  $30-50 per day is the fee for each translator.

·         Airport exit tax is approximately $35 per person. This is paid at the airport after check-in and may be paid in either dollars or lempira.  Credit cards are not accepted.

·         For more cost information, see Money Matters for UMVIM Teams.

When do we pay?

We ask teams to send complete payment (both construction materials and per diem fee) so that we have it in hand in Honduras 30 days before the team's arrival date.  This makes it possible to purchase materials and supplies before the team arrives.  Your method of sending money will determine when we have it in hand.

What are the first steps we need to take if we want to come as a team to work with the Honduras Methodist Mission Church?

Ø     Scheduling: 

Please send your team's tentative dates to the UMVIM coordinator for the United Methodist Mission Church of Honduras.  This is currently Ron Davidson at hondurasvim@aol.com.  The missionary/pastoral staff in Honduras assigns the specific work site.  This assures that teams are distributed fairly among the local congregations and are assigned according to the priorities set by the local leadership.

More information on Site Assignment and Scheduling.

More information on Deciding the Length of Your Trip.

 Ø     Passports and Immunizations:   

These two things take many months to complete, so each team member should start these processes right away.   

·         You need a valid U.S. passport to enter Honduras . You will be issued a 30-day tourist visa upon entry at the Honduras airport at no charge. 

·         Immunizations are not required, but are highly recommended.  Check with an international travel clinic in your area, or your health care provider.  Most people receive the following immunizations:  tetanus, hepatitis A & B, typhoid, and malaria prevention medication.

How can we, as a team and as individuals, train and prepare ahead of time to travel to Honduras ?

Experience has shown that the more well-trained and well-oriented a team is ahead of time, the more positive and profound a volunteer’s experience will be. Team leaders should not only share information on logistics and packing; but also encourage the team to meet, to reflect, to think ahead of time about your team’s purpose and attitude.  It is important to discuss issues of culture, the reasons behind the UMVIM policies in Honduras, and the benefits of being FLEXIBLE in a new, sometimes challenging, setting.

Ø     We expect that each member of your mission team will participate in orientation gatherings before leaving the US .  Education is an important element of mission teams to Honduras ; before, during, and after your trip.

Ø     This website has lots more information on Preparing Your UMVIM Team!  Team leaders are expected to review and share with team members all of the information on this page.

We’re thinking of including youth on our volunteer mission team…

Teenagers on a team can be an asset and are welcome.  It works especially well when a parent is on the team also, though this isn’t necessary.  No age limits have been set, but since it is the team leader who will have to be responsible for the youth members, the team leader should make those decisions based on knowledge of each individual.

Those youth who don’t go with their parents need signed and notarized letters from BOTH parents. Youth that go with one parent need a letter from the other parent.  Any person under 18 years of age at the time they travel to Honduras must have some special documentation.  Please request more information from the UMVIM coordinators. 

We have a person on our team who is not a U.S. citizen.  Is this a problem?

Visa requirements to enter Honduras vary depending on the team member’s country of origin.  Even though the team member may be a legal resident of the United States , there is still legal documentation that must be obtained.  Requirements for returning to the U.S. for non-U.S. citizens are even more adhered to after September 11th.  If you have a non-U.S. citizen on your team, he or she should check with the nearest U.S. consulate for immigration laws before coming to Honduras.

We have a lot more questions!  Who can we contact?

Ron Davidson at hondurasvim@aol.com is the UMVIM team coordinator for the United Methodist Mission Church of Honduras.  If you are interested in sending a team, we have further information to send you.  We are at your service to answer questions, field ideas, and be liaisons with the pastors here in Honduras .  We will be happy to walk with you and your team, as you explore what it is to have been called to Christ’s mission and to work in the world in this particular way!

The contents of this page were most recently updated on Friday May 23, 2008

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