We are excited to partner with PRAYING PELICAN MISSIONS for the 2024 Youth Mission Trip! PPM has been serving around the world for over 20 years! WHAT WILL WE DO IN THE BAHAMAS? Participants will be able to: -Play and interact with children of community -Learn how to make native meals from residents and deliver to those in need or homebound -Work on manual labor projects in schools, churches, and homes (framing, home repairs, painting, etc) Participants will be able to pick which projects they would like to serve! They can do all or decide to focus on one project! *The projects and service sites will be determined in February-March. WHO CAN PARTICIPATE: -Any youth who has completed 6th grade (firm) -Parents: this is an opportunity for you to experience a Youth Mission Trip with your child. TRANSPORTATION: PLANE: We are working with a travel agency to book our air travel. This will not be done until a later date and we know exact # of participants. We will fly into Nassau. BUS: Once we are on the island, PPM will provide transportation to and from work sites by bus and vans. BOAT: It is likely that Nassau will not be our spot for the week and we will serve on a nearby island. If so, we will be transported by boat..fun!!!! LODGING: We will likely stay in bunk rooms provided by PPM with showers and bathrooms attached. If not available, we will stay in hotels (however, this is more expensive) MEALS/WATER: PPM provides all of our meals and safe drinking water--to include one special local traditional meal! This is project expense for each participant. I am still in the process of researching travel insurance (purchase as a group or individually). Again, our known travel expense will be determined once we are confirmed on # of participants. PPM requests that each participant contribute $50 to aid in project supplies (paint, lumber, food, crafts). A question asked at the Parent Meeting was if we could bring supplies with us. Answer: Yes/No Part of the reasoning for paying $50 rather than bringing supplies is to contribute to the local economy. Also, we will be flying and will not be able to take most supplies with us. Once our project are planned, we may be able to take a collection of items based on the NEED of the residents of the Bahamas. IDEA: For Christmas or Birthdays: Have youth share with families members to "gift" them $50 (or more!) to contribute towards the project expense! SO, WHAT WILL IT COST? Let's say you had to pay today with ZERO fundraising. The cost would be $2,000.00 Our goal is to make the cost to $1,000.00 per participant or lower! The final cost will not be determined until we know the # of participants and cost of airfare. Trust that we will make this work for you financially! Our goal is to fundraise $18,000.00 This will help the cost per individual to be lowered. Mission Trip participants will be required to participate in fundraising efforts! Mark your calendar for March 3rd as we will host a dinner and silent auction! More information will be forthcoming in the days to come! We need commitment by October 31st with a deposit of $50 per participant. The remaining payments will be made on the following dates: January 1, 2024 March 1, 2024 May 1, 2024 Beginning November 1st, committed participants will complete online forms with Praying Pelican Missions.