Adventist Health & Friends Project

Dates

June 15 - 24, 2018

Location

Dominica

Participation Fee

$1,300

Download Info Pack

Overview

Join Maranatha to help rebuild the Beryl Adventist Church. This one, along with dozens of other churches, was torn apart by Hurricane Maria in September of 2017. Along with construction, volunteers on this project will have the opportunity to participate in medical clinics in the local communities.

Scope

Construction
On this project, volunteers will assist with the reconstruction of the Beryl Adventist Church, home to 120 members. The Beryl congregation has been meeting for more than 40 years and their existing church was built in 1988. Unfortunately, the sanctuary was toppled by Hurricane Maria. The roof flew off during the storm, and the walls collapsed. The entire structure will need to be torn down and rebuilt. The new Maranatha church will use a design able to withstand stronger winds.

Outreach
There are many needs on the island that reach beyond the reconstruction of churches. While many of the Christians we met expressed hope and optimism because of their faith in God, people are still recovering emotionally from the terrifying experience. Many children were traumatized and suffer from anxiety. Volunteers working in Dominica may have the opportunity to spread hope and joy to these individuals through a variety of community outreach activities.

In addition, since most of the plants were wiped out during the hurricane, people have lost their source of food and income. Maranatha volunteers will help by distributing seeds to families to help with the replanting process.

Watch this video to learn more about the mission of this project: https://vimeo.com/265240946/a2e63df563

Friday, June 15

Arrival in Dominica

Saturday, June 16

Worship with local congregation

Sunday, June 17

Work days

Wednesday, June 20

Local excursion

Thursday, June 21

Work days

Saturday, June 23

Worship with local congregation

Sunday, June 24

Departure from Dominica

ARRIVALPlease plan to arrive at the Douglas-Charles Airport, formerly known as Melville Hall Airport, (airport code DOM) on Friday, June 15, 2018.Please wait for confirmation from Maranatha before purchasing your airfare to ensure there is still space on the project.

DEPARTUREPlease plan to depart from Douglas-Charles (DOM) on Sunday, June 24, 2018.

Atlantique View hotel

VIEW ACCOMMODATION DETAILS

Volunteers will stay at the Atlantique View Hotel. This facility fared relatively well in the hurricane, and although many of the rooms are under repair, the hotel will adequately accommodate this group. Overall the accommodations are nice and range between a 2‐ and 3‐ star hotel.

The rooms have a mix of twin and queen beds with private bathrooms and air‐conditioning. Linens are provided, but washcloths are not commonly available, so plan on bringing your own. The hotel has WiFi access in the lobby. The group will meet together at the hotel for meals and worships.

The hurricane wiped out much of the island’s infrastructure. While the government is slowly repairing the power grid, much of the island is still without power. The hotel will have a generator for a few hours each morning and evening, but outages can be common.

Travel Information

Volunteers will purchase their own plane tickets and from the Douglas-Charles Airport in Dominica. The dates posted are the arrival and departure dates from the project. You may have an overnight layover on another Caribbean island due to the connections available. Maranatha representatives will meet volunteers upon arrival in Dominica. Please wait for confirmation before purchasing your airfare to ensure that there is enough space on the project. More information regarding the travel details is available in an information packet available for download above. Booking outside these windows could result in additional fees and missed portions of the project.

Travel Resources

CI Azumano Travel:
800-454-4099 or by email with Erle or Azumano Team at corporatetravel@ciazumano.com

Butler Travel:
503-879-5005 or by email with Nathanael at nathan@butlertravel.com

Kayak:
www.kayak.com

When contacting the Azumano or Butler travel agencies, make sure you mention Maranatha for discounted booking fees.

ROSEAU AND HIKING

During the project, the group will take a day to tour some sites in Dominica. We’ll head to the capital city of Roseau for some souvenir shopping. We’ll also be able to go on hikes to visit the island’s beautiful natural landscape, including waterfalls and mountains. There are also beautiful beaches that the group can enjoy during the trip. Volunteers will also have the option to SCUBA dive or snorkel for an additional cost.

Contact Us Want to speak with someone at Maranatha directly? Please call our office at 916.774.7700 to speak with a volunteer specialist. Alternatively, you can send us an email.

Thank you for your interest in one of our mission projects. You have been added to the interest list, and you will be notified via e-mail as soon as more information is available and registration has been opened. Typically registration is open three to six months in advance of the project dates; although, sometimes it can be delayed as we lock in accommodations and budgets. Thank you for your patience.

Please note that putting your name on the interest list ensures that you will be notified when registration is available, but does not guarantee you a place on the project. You will still need to complete the online registration form to reserve your spot on the trip.

Feel free to contact us at anytime to find out the current status of this project.