|
NORWAY & LATVIA Q&A 2012
What will the accommodation be like? The accommodation will vary from place to place but mostly rustic camping at Youth Hostels. At times there will be few creature comforts especially at the camp in Latvia and in the week in Norway which will be based in Log cabins / campsites in the Norwegian mountains.
Who am I going with? The trip will be organised under the auspices of the UK Navigators. If you decide to come there is a requirement to attend an Orientation day (date to be confirmed but will be in May) which will help us prepare and spend time together as a team. We are hoping to take a team of around 6-8 to join up with the Norwegian team of similar size. During the trip we will hopefully be spending time with Navigator students from a number of different countries and in particular from Latvia.
What will it cost? We would recommend that you try not to think too much about the cost. The key question is whether God wants you to go. Our experience last year was that God is faithful to His promises and will provide the money you need to respond to His call. Seek after God and ask Him whether this trip is part of His plan for you this summer. We have estimated the cost at around £1,000-£1,100 based on our experience from previous years though it is heavily affected by the cost of the flights. There will be a pooled ‘fund’ for expenses during the trip. You can bring some spending money or use your Debit/Credit cards to withdraw money from cash machines.
How will I afford it? Our God is big enough to provide but do we really believe it!! Just as we did last year, we are planning to write to various Trust Funds to ask them to support the team and we also thinking through ideas such as a Presentation evening for interested friends and family or some kind of practical service to earn money. We are also planning a fund raising event to take part in the Three Peaks Challenge as a means to raise money for the trip...more details on this to follow shortly.
What are the risks? We will do our best to orientate / prepare you before the trip but in actual fact the risks involved in this trip are very minimal. You do not need any injections! You will however need a willingness to be involved in physical activity and in particular sports, climbing mountains and helping with work projects.
Remember that it is not a ‘holiday’ but a mission trip, and you will come home exhausted! You will be stretched and challenged in new ways time and again. There is a significant risk that God might change your life forever!!
|
Country |
Dates |
Place |
No. Days |
Details |
|
Norway
|
Mon 18 June |
Travelling |
1 |
Travel to Heathrow and fly to Sogndal via Oslo |
|
Mon 18 - Sun 24 June |
Skjolden, Norway |
7 |
UK Orientation and acclimatisation - team building (e.g. Glacier Hiking, Extended time with God and/or hiking) and preparation for Discipleship week / Zosna Camp |
|
Mon 25 to Sun 1 July |
Skjolden, Norway |
7 |
International Discipleship Camp - Elvheim Youth Hostel (including worship, Bible teaching, study groups, hikes and service projects together). |
|
Mon 2 July |
Travelling |
1 |
Fly to Riga via Sogdnal, Norway |
|
Latvia
|
Mon 2 - Tues 3 July |
Riga, Latvia |
2 |
Cultural Orientation in Latvia - Seeing the sights and spending time with students from previous years |
|
Wed 4 July |
Travelling |
1 |
Travel by train/minivan to Zosna camp near Rezekne |
|
Wed 4 to Thurs 12 July |
Zosna, Latvia |
9 |
Youth Camp – Preparation and helping setup (4-6 July) for Zosna Camp (6-12 July); we will be running the spiritual programme for the camp (e.g. leading Bible groups, leading Seminars, organising campfire and helping run games / seminars) |
|
Thurs 12 July |
Travelling |
1 |
End of camp and then return from camp to Rezekne late evening |
|
Fri 12 July |
Rezekne, Latvia |
1 |
Staying with Latvian friends in Rezekne |
|
Fri 13 July |
Travelling |
1 |
Travel from Rezekne to Riga by train / minivan |
|
Fri 13 to Tues 17 July |
Lilaste, Latvia |
4 |
Debrief / evaluation Week; Thinking through lessons learned before returning to the UK |
|
Tues 17 July |
Riga, Latvia |
1 |
Staying with Latvian friends in Riga |
|
Wed 18 July |
Travelling |
1 |
Travel from Riga to London Gatwick |
|
ALUMNI TESTIMONIES
“It was a very challenging but also rewarding time. I have never felt so broken before (which was not much fun at all) but I am so glad that God did break my heart for them. I learned more about God’s heart. I got a glimpse of how much it hurts Him to see His children sad. I also learned to take comfort in the fact that these kids are in the Lords hands.”
“I’ve been really seeing that God can use me for His work. I also found that I do have it within me to trust and depend on God. Being an older role model for others has been a big issue for me having not had any myself and so I’ve worried that I would have no clue or be inferior in some way. I believe God has shown me that I can be, through relationships with one of the kids at camp. The bond we developed together was very special.”
“I learned that God is a patient God who is willing to wait until I’m ready to open my heart to Him but also a God who is firm in reminding me that I have to! I learned that His plans for me are perfect but sometimes confusing and scary; He’s answered a lot of prayers these past few weeks with an answer that was not at all what I was thinking but it always worked out for the best.”
“I learned a lifestyle of living with the people you minister to. I saw how important it was to just hang out with the guys and have fun. It shows them that you’re interested in them and their hearts…and I’m more inspired to redouble my efforts to have quality time with my non-Christian friends back home.”
|
