FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Overall Process Questions

What is the application and selection process?

Although we do publish application deadlines for all of our trips, the sooner a student gets a completed application in to our office the better. Once we have received all the necessary iterms to make a completed application, we will inform students of their placement within two weeks.

Do students serve alone or part of a team?

All iWitness iGoGlobal Adventures are team projects.

What kind of supervision do the students have?

All of our teams have a designated team leader or leaders. In addition, all of our teams are supervised by missionaries who live and serve on the field.

How do you select team leaders?

We select team leaders we believe are qualified and have earned the right to lead a team overseas.

Can students who are dating be on the same team?

No. We have found that when team members are dating it can easily cause problems with the team dynamics as well as their relationship. Students who are dating can still serve on separate trips. We ask all of our students to fast from dating for the duration of their trip. This includes dating students from the countries in which they are serving.

How safe are these trips?
Safety for your student(s) is a high priority. Our teams work alongside career missionaries who live in the field and are adept at handling situations that might arise in that environment. In addition, we consistently communicate with our missionary contacts in order to evaluate the political and physical environment before our teams travel to a location. We have guidelines the students are required to follow to help insure their safety. Although we cannot guarantee the safety of any participant, we do everything we can to provide a safe mission experience.

On the Field Questions

Who will the teams work with overseas?

Our teams work with established partnerships overseas. Currently, all of our partnerships are with missionaries serving with the International Mission Board (IMB).

What will the teams do overseas?

Our strategy is to find a missionary overseas who is ready and willing to involve students in church planting work in his area. Our teams get to do all sorts of things in this process. Some teach English, distribute materials, prayer walk, build relationships, backpack to villages, as well as other things.

Who do I call in case of an emergency?

You will be given a list of people to contact in case of an emergency. It will include several numbers for iWitness staff members who will be stateside while the team is overseas. Contacting an iWitness staff member is the quickest and easiest way to get in contact with the team and missionaries overseas in the event of an emergency.

Will the students be able to call home and email while on the field?
More than likely, the students will be able to call and email home while on the field, but we can not guarantee it. In some situations, the missionaries ask us to not call or email home. In all cases, our office will keep you updated as much as possible with the team. What we ask is that parents and others back home lower their expectations when it comes to communication from the field. That way, any communication will be received with joy.

What will the students eat?
Sushi, octopus, bratwurst, crab brains, mule meat, or anything else that the people of that culture eat. This is a part of the cross-cultural experience and our students always survive.

Where will the students stay while overseas?

Our teams stay in university dorms, in youth hostels, in hotels, and sometimes in apartments. There are even situations where our team members stay in host homes.

Do the students need to speak a foreign language?

No. Most of the people we work with speak some English. In those cases where they don't translators will be provided as needed.

Will washing machines be available?
Most often there will be washing machines that your child can use. If washing machines are not available sinks and bathtubs serve this purpose.

Can the students receive mail while they are overseas?

No. Most likely, the students will leave before the mail arrives. We encourage you to send them with letters you would like to write with a date to be opened label on each letter.

Financial Questions

How much does an iWitness trip typically cost?

Depending on the length of stay, our trips can run anywhere from $2000 to $4000.

What is included in the trip price?
The trip cost covers everything except souvenirs and travel to Base Camp and back home after the team arrives back in Dallas. The cost covers airfare, lodging, food, medical insurance through Adams and Associaties, International, adminstrative fees, Base Camp costs, in country transportation, etc.

How do students pay for their trips?

We don't expect students or their parents to have to pay for these trips. Almost all of our students raise financial as well as prayer support for their journey. We provide instructions and ideas in our Fundraising Packet..

How hard is it to raise all the money?
In five years, we have only had one student not go b/c of money. Fundraising is part of the process. God uses it to increase and stretch our faith. If the students will do the work necessary (writing letters, phone calls, following up, etc.), we are convinced that God will provide the resources needed.

Should supporters send money directly to iWitness for the students?
No. We want the students to get their churches involved in the sending process. We encourage all of our students to manage and track their finances through their local church.

Travel Questions

Who handles the travel arrangements?

iWitness will handle all travel arrangements. We ask that our students stay in touch with their iWitness mobilization representative and team leader to help us with this process.

When should a student apply for a passport?

Immediately. Passports can take up to 8 wakes to arrive.

Can a student use frequent flier miles for their flight?

No. We have found that this rarely matches up with the scheduled flight for the team. In addition, applying these miles to our group flight bookings is very difficult logistically. Students can use their miles to book their own flight to Dallas for Base Camp and back home from Dallas after they arrive back from the field.

Miscellaneous Questions

Will the students receive any training?

Oh yes. All iWitness teams are required to attend Base Camp (aka iGosia) before they leave for their journey. The dates for Base Camps will be given with the specific trip information.

What happens at Base Camp?

In iGosia, anything can happen. Everything that happens at Base Camp serves a purpose to help prepare our teams and the students for their cross-cultural missions experience. We focus on team-building, spiritual preparation, and training.