MISSION TRIPS

Air Travel

We fly out of O’hare airport in Chicago and land in either Sibiu or Cluj Romania.

Team members are responsible for arriving at O’hare unless they are close to Hebron/Lowell IN and want to travel together (up to 10 people)

Passports & Travel Documents

Passports - Each team member must carry a valid passport. If you have further questions regarding required travel documents we advise you to contact the US State Department - www.travel.state.gov

If you do not have a valid passport, it is of the utmost importance that you apply as soon as possible.

The processing time for a Passport can take several weeks once your application has been submitted. An expired Passport is not considered valid.

Other Required Travel Documents - All team members under the age of 18 must carry a written and notarized letter from their parents giving them parental permission to leave the country. They must carry the original notarized copy of this letter. It cannot be a photocopy of the letter.

1) If the minor is traveling without parents, both parents must sign the letter.

2) If they are traveling with one parent, the parent that is not traveling with them must sign this letter.

3) If their parents are separated or divorced and both parents do not want to sign the same letter, they must have a notarized letter from each parent giving them permission to go.

SELAH Outreach can provide a sample copy of a permission letter or you can create your own letter that must include the following:

1) The full name of both parents and their formal signatures

2) The full name of the child

3) The full name of the Adult Chaperone serving as the Team Leader

4) The specific traveling dates for each country

5) The destination country

6) The reason for travel to the destination country (example - “youth group function”)

7) The Airline itinerary (if applicable)

Ground Transportation

When arriving in Romania we will have sufficient rental cars for transportation within the country

Lodging

Your team will stay in Airbnbs in Medias Romania. Each Airbnb sleeps 2-4 people and is within walking distance to where we spend our time working with children.

Bathrooms & Kitchen

A kitchenette & bathroom are available in each Airbnb.

Water

We suggest not drinking the water from the faucet for your protection. We do stop at a grocery store and purchase sufficient water for the week.

Electricity & Wifi

There is different electricity (220V) in Romania and the plugs are different (European standard). You will need to bring along plug adapters for anything that needs to be charged. Wifi is typically available.

Food

Meals during your trip will be provided. We typically will stop at a grocery store to pick up breakfast and snack items but also will go to restaurants for lunch & dinner.

Typical Schedule

Our schedule varies a lot from day to day, we travel to Romania realizing our days will vary a lot and we need to practice flexibility because our ultimate focus is on relationships. In Romania, we are working alongside both Romanians and Ukrainians, so there are several different dynamics differences in culture. Also, because of the war, things can change very quickly. Our goal is to meet the needs of the children and refugees.

SELAH Outreac Health & Safety Plan:

General Health Recommendations

Take vitamins and vaccines before leaving. Prepare with antidiarrheals, stomach treatments like Peptobismal, and antibiotic wipes. Older couples and teenagers take special precautions against heat exhaustion. Most likely the Airbnb will not have air conditioning

Medical Kits

Medical kits that include first-aid supplies for general accidents and ailments are provided. We ask that you supply your own medications like Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Benadryl, and Imodium as deemed 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, thee Team Leader will accompany them to the clinic. Their parents will be contacted. Their recovery will be carefully monitored by our team leader.

 If there is an accident that requires a doctor, but is not life-threatening and does not have the potential to cause permanent damage, SELAH Outreach will 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 arrangements will be made if necessary, to transport the injured person to hospitals in Romania as quickly as possible. The family will be contacted immediately to assist in guidance for an appropriate response.

 All medical care is the sole responsibility of the team member. SELAH Outreach requires every team member to be covered by domestic medical insurance and provides all team members traveling abroad with additional international travel insurance to cover any medical needs their domestic medical insurance may not cover.

Immunizations: As with all mission trips, it is essential that volunteers are up to date on all childhood immunizations. Each volunteer must also have a tetanus shot.

Registration & Payment

-Team member must be 18 to travel without a guardian.

-It is highly recommended that a team member be at least 16 if traveling with a guardian unless he/she has had previous international mission trip travel experience.

Cost: $1800-$2200

(includes: airfare, international medical insurance, transportation & housing while in Romania and food)

Payment Policy: Click Here

Available Trip Dates:

Feb 27-March 7- Construction, Getting the home ready for camp in the summer & meeting needs of the refugees, doing crafts with kids in school.

July 24-Aug 2nd - Ukrainian Kids camp