Frequently Asked Questions
If you have questions about volunteering or missionary work, this page will help you a better understanding of what to expect from each of them.
Is volunteering in extreme poverty for me?
If you are seeking a life changing trip, to make a difference in the world… a trip that can provide your life with a sense of purpose, meaning, and a deeper empathy towards people and animals, and you are willing to be in discomfort and work hard to benefit others, then this trip could be the perfect fit for you.
Where will I be staying?
While caring for the poorest of the poor, you will be living amongst them. For a few days of your life, you will live how they live. You will experience what they experience. It will be in a safe but poor area, where guests and assistance is welcome.
While you will be staying in a poor area, you will not be staying in the poorest area nor living in the poorest conditions. Hopefully in the future this will be possible (for those who are interested), but as of now, you will reside in poor community where most of the residences have electricity. Your room will actually be nicer than what most of the people have in the area. You will live in a concrete block building with a shingle roof. You will have a room with a private bath with running water and concrete floors. There is no air condition or fan and there is a shared outdoor kitchen with a few amenities. Plus, there is only one bed (to be shared with same sex if necessary) or you might be asked to bring an inflatable mattress if many volunteers are present during your visit. But regardless of what you won’t have, the whole environment is great. It is life changing and will help you become a better human being as you learn how to let go of the attachments you once craved to please yourself and settle with gratitude for what you do have focusing on serving God through loving others.
Why do I need to pay to volunteer?
As with anything in life, there are costs associated with everything. While we truly appreciate your time and effort in volunteering, it is invaluable, there are still many expenses involved in preparing and operating the entire mission. Without your financial contribution, we also would not be able to provide you with accommodations, transportation during your stay, food, assistance from the locals, and excursions to explore the land (if time allows), among other expenses that your presence will incur. By sharing your resources and time to help the animals and people in dire need, you will be supporting the program itself leaving a lasting impact in the lives of so many.
What is not included in the cost?
While food is included (breakfast, lunch and dinner), it is not a lot of food nor is it to everyone’s liking. It is plain simple food… a perfect sacrifice, for those who want to make one. However, if we have other needs or wants that we desire to fulfill, there are local little shops that sell food which we can buy from, and we will stop by a local grocery store in the city on the first work day. But if you are a big eater or a picky eater, you should plan on bringing your own non-perishable food to help substitute. There is also snack time around 4:00pm, since dinner is at 7:00pm which you will be providing on your own or you could eat one of our granola bars. Also, you will need to purchase your own airplane ticket, passport, insurance (optional), and vaccinations (rabies if working with animals) and bring a list of supplies. Learn more.
Is this program for anyone?
This program is open to individuals who are 18 years of age or older and are in good mental and physical health, who like challenges and helping others.(A youth program is planned for the future). The work involves both physical and mental challenges that require patience and calmness to handle well. The terrain includes rocky dirt roads, stairs, spiral staircases, and lots of walking, sometimes in the hot sun.
Pet Care: For those who enjoy giving of themselves to benefit others or for those who want to have that experience, who desire to help the impoverished animals, this program is available. We are currently accepting veterinarians, veterinarians in training, vet nurses/technicians, groomers, and assistants to fill various positions for the animal care (no special skills necessary).
People Care: For those seeking to care for the impoverished people, we are looking for volunteers with various skills such as: construction/handyman, interpersonal communication, childcare (play and do crafts with kids), follow directions, teaching, sports, music, art, health/fitness, and any trade skill.
For Missionary Work–to help people with their spiritual life–from giving out materials, to guiding others to an earthly and eternal life of peace–no matter who one is, one must be trained first and placed into an appropriate job. Learn More
Do I need to be Christian?
Although this program is a Catholic Christian program, we welcome volunteers of all faiths who can uphold the Christian values and ethics we follow while serving the poorest of the poor. This means that if you have any behaviors that go against the directions given to us by God through the Bible, we kindly ask that you refrain from those behaviors or conversations about them while on this trip. While, the Bible does ask us to become saints, we don’t expect everyone to be perfect, but we do have a list of behaviors’ that we want to avoid that don’t help us love God or others. Plus, this trip is not a place for debate about them either. It is a place to give and serve others.
Our program is centered around serving God’s children and their pets. While we encourage all participants to engage in prayer and any religious activities, they are completely optional. However, we do ask that everyone present during these events shows basic respect and courtesy towards those who choose to participate.
If you’re interested in learning more about the specific behaviors we expect all participants to avoid and have, please click here. It’s important to note those requirements are only for volunteers who are helping people and the pets with their current earthly needs. To become a missionary and help people with their spiritual needs, you must be a Christian and undergo our training as well.
What will I actually be doing?
Everyone will use the skills one has (as mentioned in your application) to benefit the people and their pets. While there is no guarantee that anyone will do any particular task, we do our best to see you get to participate in any area of care that you are interested in.
For those helping with the pets: Veterinarians will be helping with treatment and surgeries of animals. Nurses, will be helping and performing treatments and assisting the doctor. Groomers will be helping with washing and grooming pets. Assistants will be helping everyone with various organization tasks, giving out food and anywhere help is needed.
For those helping with the people: You will be going to the people offering them your help and learning their needs. You will give out food, toys, and supplies to the needy. You will be helping with home repairs and playing with the children. Perhaps you will be with a construction, education, health, sports, art or music project.
For missionaries, you will be praying with the people, helping to guild them, giving out Bibles, rosaries, and other information to help give them knowledge of how to obtain salvation (if they want it).
Do I need to speak Spanish?
While speaking Spanish is great, it is not needed. We have translators and google translate, which does wonders. But practicing to learn some basic communication skills in Spanish is very helpful. Learn More. Plus, in the areas of great poverty may people speak Creole and other languages, so sometimes the only language you will have to share is the language of a smile and some animated hand gestures. But God uses it all.
Is there daily Mass?
Daily Mass is available as an option for all volunteers. It is at 6:30 am at the local Church most days of the week. We will be leaving at 6:00 am. When a member of the clergy is volunteering with us, Mass will be offered at 7:30 am on the premises of where we are staying.
Everyone will be screened
All participants need to be finger printed and pass a drug test before being accepted as a volunteer. It is easy to do, we will help show you where and how.
Vaccinations
Rabies vaccines are mandatory for all who desire to help with the pets. We recommended those who help with the people also get a rabies vaccine prior to attending as well. The medical and hospital facilities in extreme poverty are not great. While there is not a great risk of contracting the virus since it is not widespread in the area, it is wise to do. Also, if the vaccine is omitted that limits you from being able to help with the pets if you change your mind while you are there and the opportunity presents itself.
Visitor/Missionary Insurance
Everyone attending must purchase or have health insurance that is effective in foreign countries. This insurance can be purchased just for the days of travel and for many people (depending upon age) costs less than $10.
Is there free time?
After dinner there is free time. Depending on how tired you are and your desires, since everyone is at a different place in their life (do different things for happiness), we have different games and there are different things you can do with the group in the local area. No person is allowed to leave our location by themselves for safety reasons. One can stay and pray by themselves in our housing area, if that is their desire… but to go out all must be in a group.
Is the mission trip like a vacation?
Our mission trips are not vacations, but they are very fun. You will not be visiting tourist sites, but you may get a chance to see some of the land, especially the areas of poverty. Please know, our goal for the entire trip is to strive hard to not serve ourselves in any way, just like Christ did, so we can allow God to do as much good through us as possible. We will only do what is needed for ourselves so we can better love God through loving others. With that said, since our bodies do need to rest after much work, there is time at the end of the day for leisure.
