There are a lot of costs associated with trips like this. The $2200 includes GO Ministry Registration, lodging, local transportation, international travel, work materials, meals, and some special opportunities provided on the island. 

Immanuel’s Finance Team has requested that as much of the estimated airfare as possible be collected in advance before tickets are purchases. This ensures good financial stewardship and protects both the church and the participants from unexpected risks. It also adds weight to the commitment to join the mission team.

No, but we do require that final payments are made before our final bill is due. So final payments will be required by our final team training meeting – April 26th. 

At this time, there are two methods for making payments:

1. Pay by check / cash to the church office. Clearly indicate that the payment is for the Dominican Republic Mission Trip.

2. Pay online through our payment portal by going to immanuel-nky.org/give and selecting “Payment” at the top of the page. 

At this time, there are a few methods for giving directly through the church:

1. Pay by check / cash to the church office. Clearly indicate that the payment is for the Dominican Republic Mission Trip. 

• Note: If someone wants to give directly toward your balance, they must indicate that on the check (or on a note if paying with cash). This is considered payment and is not tax deductible. If the donor desires a to give a tax-deductible gift, the gift must be generally toward the Dominican Republic Mission Trip – not toward a specific person.  

2. Pay online through our payment portal by going to immanuel-nky.org/give and selecting “Payment” at the top of the page OR through our giving portal by going to immanuel-nky.org/give and selecting “Give” at the top of the page. 

• Note: If someone wants to give directly toward your balance, they must indicate that on the check (or on a note if paying with cash). This is considered payment and is not tax deductible. If the donor desires a to give a tax-deductible gift, the gift must be generally toward the Dominican Republic Mission Trip – not toward a specific person.  

Those who wish to donate may also donate directly to you, which would require that you then submit the donations to the church. 

We understand that some may not be able to make it to all training meetings, but it is important to attend as many as possible as these meetings contain important information as well as important team building elements that will make our time in the Dominican Republic the best experience possible. 

We have found through experience that the best way to raise money is often to simply ask for it, that is why we highly recommend starting with a letter writing campaign. Other options include:

• Social media storytelling (share why this trip matters and how it will impact you spiritually)
• Setting aside Christmas and birthday money
• Side jobs — shoveling driveways, hanging Christmas lights, mowing lawns - Use your gifts, talents, and creativity!
• Fundraising Events – Performances, services, bake sales, yard sales, etc…

This is a common anxiety, and we offer this advice. Don’t refuse someone the opportunity to support you in something they believe you are called to do! There are those who can’t go on trips like this, and the way they serve is by supporting others who can. Christ calls us to generosity, so consider giving others the opportunity to be generous. 

There are a few options regarding this:

• If the church receives donations directly that are designated for someone specific on our team who has already met his or her balance, the remaining donations will go toward other expenses for the trip, beginning with the balances of other team members. 
• If the church receives general donations, the donation will go toward other expenses for the trip, beginning with the balance of other team members (evenly distributed). 
• If you receive a donation directly and you know you have already met your goal, you can do any of the following, all of which warrant clear communication with the donor:

1. Submit the donations to the church to be used for other expenses related to the mission trip. 
2. Return the donation to the donor. 
3. Reimburse yourself for any costs associated with the trip that you paid out of pocket. 

Important Notes: We highly suggest that you are clear in your fundraising communication, regardless of what you intend to do with overage AND the church cannot reroute any money that is given directly to the church.

As for any trip that requires transportation, the usual risks apply. Specifically, there is an increased risk of sickness for travel outside of the country. We suggest scheduling an appointment with your primary care provider to discuss these risks. 

We are fulfilling our church's mission to Make Disciples by sharing our faith and serving others. Our mission trip with GO Ministries is designed to support and learn from local leaders who are making disciples in the Dominican Republic. Through serving alongside them, we experience how God is redeeming people, renewing communities, and restoring creation. The purpose of the trip is not only to help meet real needs, but also to grow as disciples ourselves—learning mentorship, mission, and multiplication so we return home equipped to live as local leaders for Christ in our own communities.

One of the greatest parts of our trip is that it is multi-generational, which means there will be trustworthy adults on this trip who will take care of our youth. If you are nervous, we invite you to join us. Participating on trips like this with your youth is an incredible blessing and will bring you closer together! The team at Go Ministries also works hard to provide the safest environment possible. The church that we stay at has a gate attendant on duty at all times, and we never go anywhere without a representative from the organization with us. 

Very likely yes. We suggest scheduling an appointment with your primary care provider to discuss this. 

All of our meals are prepared by local cooks in the kitchen of the church we will be staying in, and most diets and allergies can be accommodated. Team members can expect a variety of traditional Dominican food, including chicken, beans, rice, and fresh fruit. 

Absolutely! We have plenty of missionaries who have gone many times, and they experience something new every time and are blessed by connecting with those who they served in prior years! Those who have been before are often a great blessing to our newer missionaries! We especially recommend you go multiple times if you are feeling called to mission work on a larger scale. 

No, but it does help to have an understanding of some basic vocabulary. We suggest using mobile apps such as Duolingo (free), Babbel (paid), or Mango (free through most libraries) to learn the basics of the language.