Mission Jamaica Frequently Asked Questions

* October 1 is deadline to sign up for the upcoming season!

What is Mission Jamaica?
Mission Jamaica (MJ) is a short-term "vacation with a purpose" mission experience which began at St. Andrew's Lutheran Church in Mahtomedi, Minnesota. In 1990, Senior Pastor Roger Eigenfeld felt the call to develop an international mission program and through contacts in Jamaica found an opportunity. The first mission group went to Hope Valley Experimental School in Kingston, Jamaica with 19 missionaries. Since that time, over 35 other Evangelical Lutheran Church in America congregations and several colleges from Minnesota as well as North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Georgia, North Carolina and Illinois have partnered with St. Andrew's in this mission field. Participants continue to serve at Hope Valley and new sites have been developed and nurtured on the island. MJ also works with Habitat for Humanity at various sites throughout Jamaica.

Why should I join Mission Jamaica?
Jesus said, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. You shall love your neighbor as yourself."  Mark 12:30-31

Mission Jamaica provides a way for us to love and serve our neighbor as Jesus taught us through his love and service to others. The Mission Jamaica trip combines a service project with time for reflection and spiritual rest. It allows a person to experience an international mission field that is close to home, yet far enough away to immerse into another culture for a week.

Where do we go and what do we do?

Montego Bay Area

Westhaven Children's Home - Volunteers have served at Westhaven each year since 1995. As a home to 81 handicapped children with varying degrees of abilities, Westhaven has need for on-going projects including gardening, construction, sewing, caring for the children, and assisting the Westhaven staff.

Habitat for Humanity – There’s always work to be done for Habitat. Digging footings, pouring concrete, and tying steel reinforcement are some of the tasks Habitat asks MJ to do. Habitat’s focus in Jamaica is to build 16’ x 20’ one room homes. Missionaries work side by side with the future homeowners.

Place of Safety – Next to Westhaven Children’s home, POS houses approximately 75 boys ages 7 to 17. A combination juvenile delinquent facility and orphanage, POS and MJ will be developing a helping ministry for the boys.

Copse Basic School - Preschool up to kindergarten, daycare and child development center. MJ will perform classroom ministry, puppet ministry and Bible school.

Riverside Basic School – Part of the Church of the Open Bible, Riverside has 102 children, ages 3-6 years. MJ will be providing child development curriculum, and make capital improvements to the facility.

St. John’s Medical Clinic – Part of St. John’s Methodist Church. This facility serves the Montego Bay area providing free medical and dental health care.

Garland Hall Orphanage - 24 orphans call Garland Hall home. Garland Hall needs exterior repairs. MJ will be assisting the staff with caring for the children as well.

Kingston Area

Hope Valley Experimental School - This was MJ's first service site in 1990. It is the only school in the Caribbean that incorporates children with special needs into the classroom and serves over 1200 students. Projects here have included painting, building/remodeling, and classroom activities with the children.

Penwood Medical Clinic - The Seventh Day Adventist Church administrates Penwood Clinic. MJ has sent doctors, nurses, therapists, dentists and dental hygienists here since 1993. Hundreds of patients are examined and treated with no cost to them during an MJ week.

Maranatha Christian Church & Basic School - The 1999 season marked the beginning of this great new partnership for Mission Jamaica. The MCC congregation moved its services from a comfortable middle class setting to a warehouse in a ghetto section of Kingston. They are reaching out to residents of the community with the Good News of Jesus Christ and also provide a Christian Basic School for area children. Future programs will include job training for adults.

Sir John Golding Rehabilitation Centre – Next to Hope Valley Experimental school, this facility provides care and support to children with severe disabilities. MJ will be working with the school of physiotherapy in adaptive equipment resource training.

Habitat for Humanity – In Kingston, HFH International works with Mission Jamaica to create affordable housing for the people of Jamaica.

How will faith connections be made with our work?
Large and small group devotions and worship will occur at the beginning and end of each day. They will include opportunities for discussing and reflecting on our experiences in Jamaica. They will also include the faith celebrations and challenges that we discover living as an intentional Christian community there.

Are there any cultural realities we need to be aware of?
Certainly. People are friendly, English is the national language (with dialect adjustment), poverty is real and evident, whites are a minority race, safety concerns are similar to those in a large US metropolitan center.

What are the Money Details?
Sign up by October 1 for the upcoming Mission Jamaica Trips.
A non-refundable deposit of $200.00/person is required by November 1 - OR YOU MAY LOSE YOUR SPOT!

Deposits may be transferable to another person 45 days prior to your scheduled trip.

Full balance of trip fees is due 60 days prior to departure.

All expenses relating to the mission portion of the trips are tax deductible (airfare, lodging, food for mission days).
Mission Trip prices are based on value of the dollar, and the cost of airfare. Prices are subject to change without notice.
Trip extensions might be available, but must be requested at the time of deposit.

Mission trip cancellation insurance is available. Call us for details.

Refund policy: Payments may be refundable if you determine you are unable to attend your scheduled trip up to 45 days prior to your scheduled departure. You may be able to switch to another trip during the season (call us). After tickets are purchased (approximately 45 days prior to your trip schedule) there are no refunds, sorry.

MJ reserves the right to cancel trips due to lack of subscription. In the event of cancellation of a trip in its entirety, a full refund of all deposits will be made.

What are some of the Other Policies?
MJ is not liable for any theft, injury, delay, damage, or inconvenience caused to our missionaries.

The Spiritual Leader is in charge of special needs, concerns, and overall leadership of the Mission Team. The Project Leader coordinates the projects for the week and assigns teams to tasks needed. Team Leaders are chosen from Church groups to represent the needs of individual Churches.

Training prior to your trip will require your attendance. Topics include cultural awareness, international travel tips and information on work projects. Training dates will be scheduled with individual congregations.

• Participants will adhere to United States laws regarding tobacco, alcohol, firearms and non-prescription drugs.
• While in Jamaica, participation in daily devotions is required.
• Participants will adhere to United States' custom of sunbathing.
• Rooming will be by gender unless married or families traveling together.
• You must have current United States citizenship verification to enter Jamaica. If you are a citizen of another country, please contact Mission Jamaica staff for information.
• Documents required to enter Jamaica: Current U.S. passports are required for entry into Jamaica.
• Additional cash will be needed for after-work taxis, souvenirs and possibly departure tax.

Is there any special training I will receive?
Yes. Everyone must attend pre-trip training sessions that will be scheduled at a later date.