I’m a young catholic medical student from Hungary. I’d like to take part in a catholic mission trip as a doctor, particularly to a region of West-Africa (Nigeria, Cameroon). Does anyone know of any international catholic mission groups? Please only serious answers. Thanks.

I agree with the first answerer, your diocese is the best place to ask questions.
Have you tried either Mercy Ships or Doctors without Borders as well? They are two good organizations, but are not directly affiliated with the Catholic church.
http://www.mercyships.org/site/c.agLOI4OFKrF/b.1676795/k.2408/Flash_Main.htm
http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/

God bless!

For a youth mission trip this summer we will be going to New Orleans. We will be walking a LOT and will need to bring our own reusable water bottles (We’ve chosen to get Sigg) because the city does not recycle.

What i need now is a backpack type thing that I can get for all the youth going that will be able to hold their water bottle and maybe some cash and other small trinkets. We will be keeping the "storage units" on the entire day so that we can avoid losing them, so I need something that is easy to work with (we will be rebuilding houses and such) on your back/hip/whatever.

Any ideas?

Belt/waist bags are sold everywhere, but I don’t see any that are designed to hold a water bottle.

An example is:

http://www.target.com/SwissGear-Waist-Pack-Black/dp/B001QT41YU/sr=1-4/qid=1240809950/ref=sr_1_4/190-2786811-1563420?ie=UTF8&frombrowse=0&index=target&rh=k%3Afanny%20pack&page=1

The large stores (Target, Walmart, etc.) in your area should sell several "day-pack" type backpacks in the $20 to $30 range. Try to choose a pack with an exterior pocket that will hold a water bottle. You may also be able to get all of the packs in a distinctive color.

If possible, buy one and carry it around (loaded) for a few days to make sure it won’t disintegrate. Cheap does not always = Good.

Don’t make an effort to get a "hydration" backpack. They use an accessory reservoir (usually a seperate purchase) like Camelback, which requires frequent cleaning to avoid mold/mildew growth. Just stay with clear water bottles..

Sudden (usually brief) rainstorms are frequent in New Orleans during the summer. It’s a good idea to have a travel umbrella and a packable poncho.

People tend to lose belt/waist bags & small backpacks. It is best for the folks in your group to keep cash & ID in a pocket. If you are worried about that, then consider an under-the-trousers security pouch for cash & ID.

An example is:

http://www.travelsmith.com/jump.jsp?itemType=PRODUCT&RS=1&itemID=11019&fromNewSearch=true&mercadoResultId=1

Likewise, small electronics like cellphones & diital cameras are best carried on your person rather than in a bag. I use cargo trousers/shorts.

An example is:

http://www.rangeroutfitters.com/511_tac_trousers.htm

Hope you have a great time!

I’m a med student co-leading a medical mission trip to Mexico from Florida during our Spring Break 2009, and I don’t know what’s the best, most surefire way to get suitcases of meds from here thru customs at Cancun or Merida Airport to Merida, Mexico, as cheap as possible? Should I look into sending the meds in advance by FedEx, UPS, or USPS, or is there a full-proof procedure to get clearance from Customs so we can get the meds thru Customs at Merida or Cancun Airport (we failed to get such clearance last year, when they confiscated all our bags of meds cuz they thought we could sell them to people when in reality we were giving them to the poor Mexican people who needed them). We work with a mexican medical school called UADY (Universidad Autonima de Yucatan) in Merida, so some have told me that we should pay a $200 more/person for a few people to fly them directly to Merida with the meds cuz they might be less strict and there are more connections than at Cancun Airport, but I still don’t think this ensures Mexican Customs agents will let us through with these meds. Anyone have any experience with medical mission trips or know people who do and could help me out cuz this problem is really stressin me out — I can’t buy airline tickets for 20 med and pharm students in my mission trip group til I find out the best way to get the meds into Mexico.

Thanks so much, I really appreciate your time and help!
Raj

I think your best resource for info might be another medical mission group that has experience. See the 2 links below. Just pick a couple of them and call them. Those that have experience with this could share their knowledge. Hope all works out well for you.

Every summer I go on a 10 day mission trip with my church to the Dominican Republic. The past several years we have been building a school and this year we are finishing it and starting a medical clinic.
After we get back, I make a short video using music and pictures but I can’t think of a song for this year… In the past I’ve used "Go Light Your World," "My Own Two Hands," "Standing in the Gap," etc…

ANY IDEAS???

Audio Adrenaline(Hands and Feet)
Newsboys(Go, The Mission)
Mark Schultz(Let’s Go)
Steven Curtis Champman(Live Out Loud)

I feel like I should go on one, but I am not that handy with tools, etc. And I am afraid I would just be in the way. Is that all they do on mission trips, build stuff, or do they do other stuff that I could help with?

Talk to your pastor and ask about what types of short-term missions trips are available from your area. Some do involve building, while others do not.

I recall visiting one church where a missions trip was planned. They were going to help refurbish an orphanage in a 3rd World country. They needed folks with all sorts of skills-sets. One 84-year-old lady told me she was going. I asked her what she was going to be doing and she gave me a surprised look and said "Oh, me? I’m going along to play with all the babies!" and gave me a huge grin.

Check with your pastor or missions-coordinator and see what’s available. You may well be surprised.

I am a youth pastor on the gulf coast. I want to take my youth on a mission trip this fall to some area where Katrina hit. Since school will be in, the only times we can go are Saturday and Sunday. I cant find any mission trips that are that short.
We live in driving distance to the Mississippi and Alabama Gulf Coast, so travel is nothing.
Can some one get me in touch with some one who can help me get this scheduled?

This agency(they have a toll free number when you call be sure to ask for volunteer packet) http://mssite.brickriver.com/page.asp?TableName=oPages_6KF3UU&PrimaryKey=oPages_6KF3UU_ID&PKValue=763 along with http://www.crwrc.org/relief/na/current.html corrdinate volunteer groups here in MS.

Thank you so much for wanting to help. Skilled and non-skilled help is needed. The august heat here is a bit much for those that are not use to it so they may not schedule you to come until September.

hi, I’m a sophomore in high school and I really want to go to Georgetown and study neuroscience. I have a gpa of 3.825 and I’m in the top 5% of my class. I was captain of my softball team and also play basketball and am really involved in the performing arts. I volunteer at my church, spend my spring breaks on mission trips, and tudor after school. I am in honors english, AP European history and all the rest are accel classes. I plan on taking 6-7 more AP classes while I’m in high school. Is there anything else I can do to ensure my acceptance? Do I even have a chance of getting in?

Your stats match perfectly with Georgetown’s averages. There should be no reason you do not get in. As a safety also consider applying to fellow top Jesuit colleges Boston College and Holy Cross.

The 28 Jesuit colleges sorted by popularity:

http://www.sporcle.com/games/jesuit_colleges_results.php

Does anyone know of any Christian missions trips that originate in Canada and go to other parts of the world? I haven’t had any luck with the web and finding organizations that are still up and running.

Try Missions Fest. I think there is one is most citys twice a year. They showcase all available missions. Also , ask your Church which Missions they prefer. They may sponsor you more if you are with one of their missions!!
God Bless ya!!!

Last year (the summer before heading into my sophomore year), I went to a mission trip to MA with my church for 6 days (Mon-Sat) and did volunteer work like helping the kids get to know Jesus Christ spiritually, giving them a fun time playing activities in the gym, cleaning up the gym, etc. (About 9 hours each day … so 54 hours total) Will that be considered volunteer work/community service and can I include that in my application for college?

As a former employer if I saw information like this on an application I always considered it. It also looks good on your college applications. I think that it would be great to use it because it always helps to show you go the extra mile to help your community.

I’d like to go on a fairly cheap youth trip to any Chinatown in the US. do you know how I could do that? What are some things that I would need to do? by the way, this would be a youth trip.

FInd a Bible preaching church in or near the CHinatown area of the city you want to go to and hold a free VAcation Bible School program that the neighborhood is invited to attend.

You will need:
1: cooperation from a local church who can disciple the people who come to faith or are interested in trusting Christ

2. a good VBS curriculum

3. volunteers who are willing to teach, help, make crafts w/kids, play music, do skits, etc…

4. Decorations to make the program look fun for the kids

5. Most important you need to be surrounded by prayer and the nourishment of GOd’s Word!