Work and Witness in Dominica

Looking for an opportunity to really make a difference in Work and Witness?  Here’s an invitation to come to the most beautiful island in the Caribbean: Dominica. 

Contact Dan Hopkins at dhopkins@missiondominica.org or phone 1-916-266-4085.

 

Preparing for Work & Witness in Dominica

BEFORE YOU COME

Setting Dates:

Many of you have a general idea of when you want to come.  That’s a good first step.  But when do you decide on the actual specific dates? 

a.  As soon as possible.  I have heard many people say, “I would have come on certain trip but when I got the dates there was already a conflict.  If I had just known sooner….”

b.  Before the start of a new year or early in January.  Some people are required by their employers to pick their holidays at the beginning of the year on a first come first served basis. 

c.  Before the W&W coordinator gives your dates to someone else.  I cannot reserve “sometime in June.”  I can only reserve specific dates.

Length of stay:

Try to leverage weekends or holidays to get the longest trip with the least workdays missed.  Remember, if you live in Florida you will have 2 travel days (one coming and one going) and if you live most anywhere else you will have to spend a night in either Orlando or Miami or San Juan, Puerto Rico.  That means 4 travel days (2 coming and 2 going). Sometimes you can get through in one day on one direction for a total of three travel days. 

The cabins take 5 days to build.  You will want to have at least one full day and another half day for fun and sightseeing.  Factor all these things in when you plan your length of stay.

Passports: 

Don’t get caught in the passport mess.  Encourage your team members to get their applications in now! 

Register Your Team:

Please register your team as soon as possible with the Work and Witness Office at Nazarene Headquarters in Kansas City.  Please call 1-816-333-7000 x2330 and ask for Hope Tallent.  You must have the dates of your trip, including travel, settled and confirmed with the missionary prior to making this call

BASIC INFORMATION ABOUT DOMINICA                      

Temperature:

70’s and 80’s year round

Currency:

Eastern Caribbean (EC) Dollars, but US dollars are accepted almost anywhere.

1 US Dollar = 2.67 EC Dollars

You can use small denominations of US dollars here 1’s 5’s and 10’s and 20’s or we can change your money, your choice.

Language:

English speaking and Creole (A combination of French & English) 

Water:

The water is pure and drinkable here – remember this is the "Garden of Eden."

Shots:

Just be sure your tetanus is up to date, that’s all.

Wild animals:

There are no scary wild animals here.  The few snakes are not poisonous.  Remember, this is the "Garden of Eden," where the lion lays down with the lamb…well not quite, no lions here.

Maps:

Caribbean – This is an excellent map:

http://go.hrw.com/atlas/norm_htm/caribean.htm
 

Dominica – This is the best map I have seen of Dominica:

http://www.caribbean-on-line.com/dm/dmmap.html

 

TRAVEL TO DOMINICA
 

Airline:

Best airline is American; best fares at www.aa.com

Regional Airline: LIAT  (Not highly recommended)
 

Airport:

You purchase your tickets to Melville Hall airport.  The airport code is DOM.  The best flights are American Airlines.  The best fares I have found are at www.aa.com which is American Airlines website.  Of course you will ultimately end up working with their group department.  The airport is 15 minutes from my house. 

Luggage:

American:  There is a 70 pound weight limit for both bags combined, not each.

Liat:  There is a 50 pound weight limit for both bags combined, not each.  

Departure Tax:

There is a departure tax upon leaving Dominica.  It is US$22.00 per person.  Be sure to put that in your budget.            

Insurance:

You will be required to purchase insurance for each person through the Work & Witness office at headquarters.  At $3.25 per person / day, it is very inexpensive and very valuable!

 

HOUSING, FOOD AND LOCAL TRANSPORTATION

The mission house:

The mission house has one floor which is the missionary house and one floor for teams.  We can house 18 here with four mattresses on the floor.  The middle floor has a balcony with an awesome view of the ocean.  Inside there are nice clean bathrooms with heated showers.  There’s a small kitchen with 2 refrigerators, stove, Dutch oven, microwave, coffee make, toaster, pots, pans, dishes, etc.  It’s all there!  We also have a new apartment a few minutes away where we can sleep four.

Food:

We can buy most of your food here and have it ready for you.  Just send us the menu.  We recommend that you charge $10.00 per day for food for each person.  See luggage requirement below for why we should buy most of your food.
 

Local Transportation:

We have two vans here that we charge $100 per day for both to use.  It is very expensive here to operate vehicles because of the roads.  Vans rent for $85.00 per day locally.  You can purchase a drivers license and driver should be prepared to drive on the left side of the road.  Gas is $4.00 per gallon.  Be sure to have a transportation figure in your budget. 
 

Clothing:

Dominica is close to the equator.  That means it is warm here.  Please bring light cotton clothing.  Remember, cotton breaths better than polyester or rayon.  In order to cut down on the laundry, we recommend that you bring one piece of underwear, socks and a t-shirt for each day you are here.   The people here dress up for church and it is considered offensive when average clothes are worn.  Women:  Bring dress or skirt for church.  No sleeveless shirts in church.  Men: Bring Dockers and a short sleeved button down shirt for church.  Shorts are okay for ladies & men on the job site as long as they are not too short.

CONSTRUCTION INFORMATION

The worksite:

The retreat center is located on a bluff overlooking the ocean.  It’s a 5 star view.  It usually gets a nice gentle breeze.  By the time you come we should have a nice rest room finished.  Two teams have managed to work there with no rest room though and made it just fine.  There is electricity and water at the work site. 

Plans:

I have architectural plans, but they are not computerized.
 

Supplies Needed:

We have all kinds of tools and equipment here.  The tools you might bring would depend on the project.  If you are building a cabin then you could bring hammers, measuring tapes, nail & tool bags, speed squares and chalk lines.  An extra Skill saw would help as would a couple of 18 volt drills for screws (make sure they are the kind with a charger and an extra battery).  We have 220v and make110 electricity with transformers.  If you are working with cement block or concrete then you might bring concrete finishing tools.  Again, it all depends on the project.

 
MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES

In addition to work we have various ministry opportunities available and we can suit them to your team.  We have outreach services during the week where we can have puppets, balloon animals, music, drama, etc. We encourage teams to bring sound tracks to sing.  Opportunities will be given for testimonies.  We can also do special work projects in the community. One team painted the lobby of the hospital.  We need a team to paint and decorate the birthing room at the hospital.  Ladies can do Women’s ministry with Bible study and/or crafts.   One church needs the pews painted.  We will work with you and your team for ministries you can participate in.

FUN ACTIVITIES

We’ll schedule activities suited to your group.  There are easy going things to do here and there are adventurous things to do.  We have beautiful beaches, waterfalls, winding rivers, boiling lakes, sulfur springs, a Carib model village and trails going up 4,000 foot peaks.

 

FINANCES

Be sure to plan your finances carefully.  No one likes financial surprises.   

Project Funds:

Project fees are additional.  Typical project funds are $7,500.00 – 15,000.00.  If you are building a cabin start to finish you will need $7,500.00. 

Team Funds:

You will need money for the following –

Airfare – After you pick your flights, work with the group department at the airline for a discount.

Food – $10.00 per day per person.  Plan your menu and have a cook ready.

Local transportation - approx $100.00 per day per team plus gasoline.

Housing - $5.00 per day per person

Departure Tax - $22.00 per person

Insurance - $3.25  day / person

Special fun trips – Plan on $2.00 per person for entrance fee.

SAMPLE EXPENSES - 18 team members on 8 day trip with 2 days of travel.

Airfare                             $750                                                                           750

Food                               $10.00 day - 6 days                                                      60

Local Transportation       $100 day + 200 (gas) divided among team members       44

Housing                          $5.00 day                                                                      30

Departure Tax                $22.00                                                                           22

Insurance                       $3.25 person / day                                                         26

Special Fun Trips           $2.00 x 4                                                                        8

Total                                                                                       940.00 per person

CONTACTING MISSIONARY DAN HOPKINS

If you want to call me there is an inexpensive way you can do it.  I have a number in Sacramento, CA, that rings in my house in Dominica.  It uses the internet.  You will not have long distance charges to Dominica, just to CA.  The number is 916-226-4085.  Call me anytime.

3 Guidelines for a Successful Work & Witness Experience

 

1. Be Mindful of Others

            Good relationships are paramount

2.  Be Accommodating

            Life is unpredictable

3.  Be Flexible

            The U.S. way of doing things doesn't apply in Dominica.