What Do Teams do?

“I’ve seen people from all different professions and life backgrounds on these trips and the result is the same for everyone. Everyone is nervous at the beginning, but it’s so impactful; so life-changing. It’s something you would never forget or regret.” - Elisabeth Walker

Going on a Home of Hope team is a great experience!

What Do Teams Do?

Each team is catered specifically for who is on the team and what they want to do. But here is a list of things that team members could do:

• Teach children, youth, adults ESL or any topic that the team members may specialize in (ie business, finance, literacy, hygiene, etc)
• Deliver pigs, goats or rabbits to desperate children
• Help the feeding programs - food preparation, 1-hour teaching, handing out the food, meeting the children, then hanging out after (maybe playing a sport or doing an activity)
• Visiting orphans at their homes ("orphaneering"), visit a specific sponsored child
• First aid/Medical help & triage
• Physical labour - constructing buildings, renovations, repairing, etc
• Visiting the rescued children at the Kenya Dream Centre.

Beyond this list, team members are encouraged to meet the local people and talk to them about Jesus, find out more about their story and how Home of Hope has helped them.

Team member code of conduct

Mission Statement

We are a compassionate project of Home Church - Red Deer, Alberta

Home of Hope is a ministry of Home Church – Red Deer, Alberta, a non-profit, non-biased Christian organization, also a registered Canadian Charity, dedicated to empowering people within developing nations. Our focus is to provide care for orphans and children with desperate needs who cannot take care of themselves.  

Our vision is to give hope to those who are hopeless, to help the helpless, to feed the hungry, to mend the sick, and most of all, to show the love of God.

Pure religion is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction...  James 1:27

As a Home of Hope volunteer team member, you are expected to conduct yourself according to the highest standards of integrity and morality at all times. We believe mission trips are an opportunity for team members to grow in their faith and to view all people with a high degree of love and respect. A mission trip provides fertile ground for a renewed perspective of service to others and a strengthening of your core values. There will be opportunities to pray, sing, speak, listen, comfort, and serve God and the people we encounter. Each host country has its own unique opportunities for the betterment of others and for you to flourish in your faith.

It is a privilege to serve on our mission trips, and there is an expectation that team members will conduct themselves with integrity and portray honesty, love, respect, and cooperation to those we encounter during our travels and upon our arrival to our host destination. We are guests, and we must act accordingly, including being sensitive to our global partners and the people we are there to serve. Our mission is dedicated to enhancing and enriching the lives of others in need around the world; you are part of this mission.

The following are meant to reflect our core values and serve as guidelines during a mission trip. As a Home of Hope team member, you are expected to:

1. Provide a positive attitude, project a willing heart to serve, and maintain positive, respectful relationships with team members. 
2. Demonstrate your faith through loving action, and reinforce all such behaviour in others.
3. Travel to impoverished areas can present unexpected circumstances, despite great efforts to be fully prepared. Be patient and supportive while we work through any presenting issues.
4. Make sure you have a buddy or someone who knows where you are at all times. You should never leave the group or wander off alone at any time while on the mission trip.
5. Please remember that we are guests working at the invitation of our hosts. Refrain from criticizing, complaining, or making any comments related to personal preferences, food, accommodations, etc. Always demonstrate respect for the region’s culture, religious preferences, and political views. Act with sensitivity, tolerance, respect, and impartiality toward others.
6. Demonstrate a flexible attitude and a willingness to work as a team, placing your own personal wants aside to be a valuable team member and a servant to those in need in our host country. Offer to help others and be willing to ask for help whenever needed. Also, the Home of Hope staff is there to help support you and others whenever possible; simply ask for help.
7. As a team, we stay together, including leaving in the mornings at the same time and working and supporting one another throughout the day and the night, if needed. Some unique situations may arise and will be communicated accordingly. Be mindful to ask others who may be in need of help, a break, a meal, a hug, or a prayer.
8. We travel with Home of Hope staff who fulfil an important and vital role to the overall team and the mission experience.
9. Provide care and use reason in caring for all supplies and equipment. If you have any questions or concerns, please discuss them directly with a Home of Hope staff member as soon as possible. He or she will then determine the best way in which to address the issue. Please refrain from discussing with others while the issue is being resolved. We are there to support the team and facilitate a positive experience.
10. Abstain from the use of tobacco, tobacco products, drugs, alcohol, and from using inappropriate, derogatory, foul language and immoral conduct.
11. Take time to appreciate the blessings of being on such an extraordinary trip with exemplary individuals with a heart for mission work. This is such a rare opportunity that is truly transformative in countless, deeply meaningful ways. Seeds are planted, hope grows, and love endures. You will not return the same as when you first started the journey.
12. Once you return from the trip, share your experience with others.

There are 2 kinds of trips with Home of Hope:

#1 DISCOVERY TOUR

#2 MINISTRY TRIP

#1 HOME OF HOPE DISCOVERY TOUR:

There may be some limitations that make it difficult for someone to go on a team. But this DISCOVERY TOUR is available to help people with these limitations to go, give back, and have the time of their life.

What is a DISCOVERY TOUR?
This team will experience the country, the locations, the people and focus more one-on-one. There will be time to spend time with the locals, with nice hotels, and a day off.

This would be a good trip for someone wanting to meet their sponsor child (we can do our best), see what their money has done for specific projects, for someone who may not be physically able for a ministry trip where there is often rough terrain, hiking, bad roads, etc.

The trip would be very impactful for each team member, but also the locals.

EXAMPLE DAY:
Morning: Breakfast as a team, drives to the location. Orientation: Some of the local kids may sing a song or perform a dance or whatever they have prepared. Then some of the children/families will share their story about how Home of Hope or the church has made a difference in their life.
Break to eat snacks brought for lunch.
Afternoon: The team will learn what the present needs are in the area, help with the Feeding Project, deliver animals to desperate children/teens, work on a building (if applicable), meet Microloan teams, teach teens/women/adults/children, etc.
6pm Team will travel to a restaurant with some of the local staff. Then have a slower evening and go to bed at the nice hotel, with a mosquito net.

Watch this video to explain further:

#2 HOME CHURCH MINISTRY TRIP:

APPLY FOR A TRIP HERE -->