What is a trip like?
What have previous team members said about their experience?
What is SOE?
What are the SOE seven standards of excellence?
Who can go on a Window of Hope trip?
What is the cost?
What is included in the costs?
How can I apply?

WHAT IS A TRIP LIKE?

A Window of Hope short-term trip can be described as a million dollar vacation. Nowhere else can you combine travel, adventure and an experience of the ministry of compassion all at the same time.

While visiting some of the most breathtaking sites in the world, we encounter a sea of humanity crying out for help. Our trips allow us not only the excitement of world travel, but also to genuinely make a difference and save lives.

Our teams are like a family that bonds closely during the mission. We join together to provide much needed care to very needy people. Through this experience our eyes are opened to the desperation of others. It is truly a life changing experience. It makes us appreciate how good we have it in our own lives. It also provides a great sense of purpose - to be involved in something greater, and more noble than ourselves.

Window of Hope works closely with the local people on our outreaches and doing so affords team members to learn far more about the people, their families and to experience a more realistic flavor of local culture than could be experienced through traditional tourism.

All Window of Hope trips come complete with detailed travel arrangements made to insure team safety and comfort within the limitations of overseas travel. We make our trips affordable compared to other organizations by not passing on undue administrative costs. We orient everyone regarding expectations on all phases of the trip and on cultural issues and customs. We provide in-country training throughout the trip. Our staff prides itself in organization and communication. We want everyone participating with us to know what to expect and what the schedule and itinerary are at all times.

In addition to the great ministry experience, we schedule time to see a few sites, take photos and to shop for local crafts, coffee, souvenirs and the like. We invite you to join us on a trip that we are confident will be the thrill of a lifetime and will change your life forever.

WHAT HAVE PREVIOUS TEAM MEMBERS SAID ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE?

• "The most rewarding experience of my life."
  
• "I feel it opened my eyes about a lot of things about life. It helped me feel compassion for others."
  
• "Very positive (experience) - learning about new people, their beliefs, their way of living."
  
• "Excellent"
  
• "Well arranged"
• "Well organized"
  
• "Things were explained in great detail and when changes were made, we were well informed."
  
• "At all levels I felt people were there to help me."
  
  * Life to date, we have never had anyone go with us on a Window of Hope trip, who isn't eager to return with us, as soon as time and resources allow.

WHAT IS SOE?
SOE stands for the Standards of Excellence in Short-Term Mission. It is like a good housekeeping seal of approval for an organization like ours that take team members on mission trips. SOE is a network of churches, agencies and schools who come together to codify nationally derived ethical norms and practices. This provides donors, volunteers and parents ways to distinguish and assess various sending agencies. By joining SOE, we have adopted the Seven Standards of Excellence in Short-Term Mission. By displaying the SOE seal, we demonstrate that our short-term missions operate for the highest Christian and moral purposes.

WHAT ARE THE SOE SEVEN STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE?
1. God-Centeredness
2. Empowering Partnerships
3. Mutual Design
4. Comprehensive Administration
5. Qualified Leadership
6. Appropriate Training
7. Thorough Follow-up

WHO CAN GO ON A WINDOW OF HOPE TRIP?

Medical Personnel:
We are in need of Physicians, Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, Physician's Assistants, Dentists, Pharmacists, Physical and Occupational Therapists to join us as members on our medical teams.

Translators:
We are in need of bilingual individuals to assist our examiners to communicate with their patients. We especially need Spanish translators.

Support Staff:
We have great need for support personnel (lay persons) who can assist us to set up clinic, to count and package medications, to help with children's ministry and to fulfill other vital roles. Window of Hope provides on the job training orientation to all such personnel.

WHAT IS THE COST?
All Window of Hope team members are responsible to support themselves for the outreach trip. The trip costs vary but generally range from $1,250.00 to $2,500.00 depending on the length of the trip and destination.

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE COSTS?
Our trip packages include all flights, hotel accommodations, food (except airport meals), transportation, taxes, emergency medical insurance, and all in country hires. All incidentals such as long distance telephone calls, dry cleaning, etc. will be the team member's responsibility. All Window of Hope trips are tax deductible as allowed by law.

HOW CAN I APPLY?
If there is a specific trip you are interested in on our upcoming trips page, simply click the team member application link to open a pdf file. Print out the form, fill it out and send it in along with the requested materials and trip deposit. We will then contact you about your application.

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