Frequently Asked Questions for the Mission Trip to the Dominican Republic
What are you doing to ensure my child is safe in the Dominican Republic?
Students will be staying at the Highlands Center — Tierra Alta in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The Highlands Center has partnered with SCORE INTERNATIONAL (our ministry partners on the ground) for many years. The facility is gated and guarded at all times. Adult leaders will always be present with students.
What if I don’t know how to get a passport?
The Johnson Ferry Global Ministry suggests looking at this website for everything related to passports: First Time Passport Applications
What is the cell phone policy for the Dominican Republic?
Students are rarely given the opportunity to unplug from the constant stream of distractions, drama, and temptation that go hand-in-hand with smart phone use. We believe that God wants to use this week as a unique period of time in each of these student’s lives where they can focus on what God is doing. In order to ensure that every student is in the best possible position to receive that message, we are restricting all cell phone use and possession during this trip. Here are important details:
Students may bring their phones, but they will be taken up, bagged, labeled and stored in a secure office at the facility from Saturday night until Saturday morning.
Family group leaders, staff, and the media photographer can capture all the pictures from the trip.
Family group leaders can relay any important information from students to their parents.
The Student Staff can be contacted if there is an emergency at home.
This policy includes other devices that can access apps and internet (ipads, ipods, smart watches).
While this may seem extreme, we want to assure you that your students will be safe. From our experience, most students will be relieved to have an excuse to take a break from all the “noise”.
What are the travel plans for the Dominican Republic trip?
We will meet at Johnson Ferry on March 30th and depart from the church in charter buses to the International Terminal at Hartsfield-Jackson airport. Due to the flight schedule, we will be leaving for the airport very early. After going through security, we will board charter planes occupied by Johnson Ferry trip members only. While in the DR, we will travel on buses with 2-3 family groups per bus.
What happens if my child gets sick or injured in the Dominican Republic?
Safety is of the utmost importance on this trip. We will have 3 full-time nurses traveling with us that will be available at all times. SCORE INTERNATIONAL also has a clinic that houses X-Ray machines, a full pharmacy, and any other medicines and medical equipment we may need. Our JF nurses will be in contact with the SCORE doctor while on the trip and will be communicating with he/she in case further medical attention is needed.
What can I do if my child needs financial help for this trip?
Johnson Ferry is a very generous church, and the Dominican Republic mission trip is already subsidized 50% by our Global Ministry. If you need additional financial assistance, you can fill out the Scholarship Request Form. Once your application has been reviewed, someone from the Student Staff will reach out to you with next steps.
What does my child do to prepare for the Dominican Republic mission trip?
Trainings are mandatory for this trip. Starting in January, students will begin the discipleship journey that culminates in the mission trip. Here are the training dates:
January 28th from 6:00 - 8:00 pm
February 4th from 6:00 - 8:00 pm
February 11th from 4:30-6:00 pm
February 25th from 6:00 - 8:00 pm
March 3rd from 6:00 - 8:00 pm (Parent Meeting from 4:00 - 5:30 pm)
March 10th from 6:00 - 8:00 pm
March 17th from 6:00 - 8:00 pm
March 24th from 6:00 - 8:00 pm
What if my child has dietary restrictions/allergies?
Our facility is equipped to accommodate special dietary requests. If your student has a special dietary request, please reach out to Heather Wilson at heather.wilson@jfbc.org to see what food accommodations best fit your student.