The Packing List

The goal is to pack as much stuff to give away as possible and pack as little as possible stuff that you want to bring home.

Each team member will take one carry-on (usually a back pack) and two check-in suitcases. IMPORTANT Please only bring suitcases that you can leave in Jamaica. If at all possible bring soft sided suitcases. Don’t pack in large duffle or military bags. Large oversized bags only draw unwanted attention to yourself and the team when going through Jamaican customs. This extra attention causes customs agents to thoroughly search everyone bags. Soft sided suitcases can be found at thrift stores, garage sales or in grandma’s attic. Be sure the suitcases are large enough to pack 50 lbs in them. We encourage that everything, except for work clothes and work shoes, that each team member will be taking to Jamaica and bringing home with them be packed only in one’s carry-on. It is also a good idea to line your suitcase in Wal-Mart or Grocery store size plastic bags that we can use in the Store. The two check-in suitcases need to weigh as close to 50 lbs (without going over) as possible and will be full of items to be given away. Be sure to only bring suitcases that are large enough to actually hold 50 lbs.

Pack the following personal items in your carry-on (back pack):
one normal outfit for the North Coast
swim suit (modest one-piece or tankini)
sleep wear
socks and u-nderclothes for 7 days
Bible & pen (journal if you keep one)
flashlight
work gloves
sunscreen (only every 3rd or 4th person needs to bring this)
snacks for yourself (granola bars, fruit snacks)
shower sandals or flip flops
any personal medicine you might need (Dramamine, etc)

Pack the following personal items in one check-in suitcase:
Important: These items should be rolled and the bundled together very tightly in one or two Wal-Mart size bags and labeled with duct tape such as “Sally K’s work clothes”. This is so anyone can unpack any checked suitcase and one’s work clothes are easily marked.
- 5 days worth of work clothes (t-shirts and shorts to be worn at the work-site)
- work shoes
- one towel for showering

These items should also be packed in the one check-in suitcase:
- ½ gallon water bottle with your name on it (or, attach it to the outside of your back pack)
- your assigned food items
- box of your favorite cereal or other personal breakfast food (ie. pop tarts, granola bars)
- 1 can of green beans & 1 can of corn
- 1 roll of toilet paper

Teams of 4 can share personal items such as shampoo, toothpaste, shower soap, snacks, etc that will be used in Jamaica. Remember not to pack liquids in your carry-on. Also the food items that team members are assigned/picked are VITAL. These food items are used to help feed the team while you are in Harmons so it is important that each member bring and pack their assigned items.

What NOT to Bring:

Please do not pack short shorts or tank tops. After a long, sweaty day of work, even the sturdiest tank tops end up pretty risqué. Please do not cut sleeves off your T-shirts, this will ruin a shirt that can be given away at the end of the week. T-shirt sleeves can be rolled up to help with that oh so important tan. Also there is no need to waste valuable space with hairdryers. Your hair will be dry within minutes anyway. Also, do NOT bring any cell phones, iPods, or colds.

Last few important packing tips:
Put anything with a lid in a Zip-Lock bags or Duct tape the top. The last thing you want is to open a nicely packed suitcase in Jamaica only to find that your large plastic jar of mayonnaise exploded inside. To prevent this catastrophe from happening, duct tape the lid and put any item that could get squeezed and explode in a gallon size zip-lock bag. Do not pack items that could puncture or explode near the edge of the suitcase. Protect these types of items with clothes. Be carefully packing sharp items or tools near breakables. Do not duct tape cans of vegetable. As well as food items, toiletries items like shampoo should be protected with duct tape and zip-lock bags.

It is a good idea to weigh your suitcases with an accurate scale. There are expensive airport penalties if a suitcase weighs more that 50 lbs. Try to put heavier items (i.e. cans of spaghetti sauce) in smaller suitcases to help them reach 50 lbs. Make sure all suitcases have name and addresses on them. Don’t put the same color yarn or some other “group marker” on the suitcases. This will only draw attention to the large number of bags your group is bringing into the country.

Other items to fill your check-in suitcases:
The #1 requested and needed item are children’s clothes.
Underlined items are also greatly needed.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES
Backpacks, composition books, pencils, notebooks, pens, markers, construction paper, school glue, rulers, scissors, tape.

MEDICINES
Anti-fungus cream, adult and children's cold medicine, Tylenol or any brand, pin worm medicine, vitamins, antibiotics, gauze, Band-Aids, antibiotic creams, bandages, ointments, cough syrup, first aid kits.

SHOES
Any shoes, work boots, adult soccer shoes, black/brown heavy school shoes, children’s shoes.

TOILETRIES
Baby powder, shampoo, lotions, toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap.

TOOLS
Any masonry tools, paint brushes, paint rollers, hammers, handsaws, tape measures, heavy electrical cords, power tools, drill bits, screw bits.

HOUSEWARES
Any size sheets, pillowcases, towels and small washcloths, sewing machines in good working order, material, hard plastic plates & bowls, silverware, pots & pans, sharp knives, dish towels.

CLOTHES
Any clean mended clothes, children clothes, new underwear & socks, infant clothes, adult clothes (Jamaica is a tropical climate, so do not pack winter clothes).

MISCELLANEOUS
AA, C & D size batteries, watches, radios of any kind, toys, padlocks, hats, jewelry (necklaces, earrings, etc.), soccer balls, ball pumps & needles, extra flashlights & batteries.

Note: All this information can be found in more detail on Won by One's website.

What we need from YOU!!

Greetings my fellow travelers! It is super important that we make sure all our paperwork is in order before we embark on our journey!

The first thing that you MUST have is a PASSPORT!! We need a photocopy of the page with your picture to be able to order your tickets for the trip. If you already have a passport, please check to make sure that it is still active and didn't secretly expire without you realizing it. If you discover that your passport has expired, or you do not have a passport, please complete this form and take it to your nearest passport agency. All the form fields can be completed online, and then you will just need to print it off and find a location to submit your application. Click here to find the closest office to you and if they can do passport photos on site. At this point, it is probably going to be necessary to expedite your passport to make sure it gets here on time, because you can't get on the plane if you don't have a passport!

The second form that you must complete before the trip is the Student Participation Form. You received a copy of this in your Minimester packet, but if you have misplaced it, click here to download a copy or stop by the office to pick up another copy. The form must be notarized, which we can do for you at school. Check in with Mrs. Pritchett and she can hook you up!

Please come by to see either one of us if you have any questions or concerns about either of these forms. We are getting even more excited about the upcoming trip!!

First Round of Questions

Important:
If you have not provided us with your student's name as it appears on their passport, please do this as soon as possible! We cannot make flight arrangements until we have this information. This trip will require students to engage physically, spiritually, and emotionally into the process. Students are encouraged to do cardiovascular activity prior to the trip to prepare for the physical demands of the projects assigned to our team. Students are also encouraged to begin to pray for the people that that will come in contact with, and for opportunities to minister to those in need. Most Jamaicans know of God, but very few understand Him or His heart for them.

Kind of clothing to wear and packing:

• Work clothes should be ones that you do not mind giving away at the end of the week. Shorts are permissible, but short shorts and tank tops need to be left at home. T-shirts need to have appropriate designs without profanity or questionable writing on them, and need to have the sleeves in tact (no cutoff t-shirts). You will need to pack enough work clothes for 5 days.
• one towel and washcloth
• work shoes and gloves
• underclothing and socks for seven days
• swim suit (modest one-piece or tankini, no speedos)
• one normal outfit for the North Coast
• modest sleep wear
• Bible & pen and a separate journal or spiral notebook.
• flashlight
• sunscreen (only every 3rd or 4th person needs to bring this)
• snacks for yourself (granola bars, fruit snacks)
• shower sandals or flip flops
• any personal medicine you might need (Dramamine, etc)
• please leave your cell phones and ipods at home!

Additional Packing:
One of the ways that we are able to be a blessing to Won by One Ministries is to bring much needed supplies when we come. Each student will be assigned items to pack specifically for this purpose. Each of us will bring 2 suitcases that we will donate at the end of the trip. These suitcases need to be soft-sided, but not military/duffel bags. These suitcases can be found at thrift stores and Goodwill for next to nothing. Our work clothes and the additional supplies will be left in Jamaica, so when we return each of us will only have our carry on. As we get closer to the trip, each student will be provided with an itemized list of what to pack according to the items that our team is assigned.

Medical facilities or care:
Quality medical facilities are with in reach for basic needs. We will also be able to work with the U.S. embassy in the case of an emergency to medi-vac someone out. This has never been in an issue in all of their years of ministry. But should an emergency arise, Coby or Jessica will contact you immediately by phone to give you details and make decisions. Your child will never be left alone if they are sick or need of any kind of medical care.

Additional Insurance:
Additional insurance options are not offered through Won by One ministries. If you are interested in purchasing additional insurance for your student, you are free to do so on your own. Please let us know if you are interested in this or if you would like information on how to obtain this.

# of service hours the kids will receive:
The students will receive service hours equivalent to the hours spent working on the trip. We are estimating that each student will receive 50 hours to count towards the required service hours.

What shots do they need?
Each student must be up to date on their Tetanus shots before March 1st. We recommend that students be vaccinated for Hepatitis A, but this is not a requirement to be allowed to participate.

What about water is it safe?
Yes the water comes from a private well that the mission team dug and they have never had problems.

Money… do I need it?
The exchange rate is around 70 Jamaican dollars (known simply as Js) to the US dollar; however the exchange rate can change every day. We recommend team members bring $100-$200 spending money, depending on how much money they plan to spend on souvenirs and snacks. Money should be brought in small denominations. In most places dollars are accepted.

Is the trip a tax deduction?
No the trip is not tax deductable, since it is paying for personal air, travel, food, lodging etc. It is not a direct donation to the mission group. If you want to make a direct donation let Coby know and he can get you the paperwork for tax purposes.

Do we need visas?
No, each student will just need to have their passport

Sample Itinerary:
Day One:
Team departs home airport and arrives in Montego Bay, Jamaica.
Transport team and luggage to Harmons
Dinner upon arrival Welcome, Unpack, Leaders meeting
Day Two:
Breakfast, Orientation, Harmons walking tour
Lunch, Work assignments, Work sites
Dinner, Courtyard event, Team meeting
DayThree (Option 1):
Breakfast, Morning meeting, Work assignments, Work sites
Lunch, Work sites
Dinner, Team meeting, Mens Night in the Courtyard,
DayThree (Option 2):
Breakfast, Morning meeting, Work assignments, Store, Work sites
Lunch, Transport team to May Pen Clarendon Infirmary
Dinner, Team meeting, Movie in the Courtyard
Day Four:
Breakfast, Morning meeting, Work assignments, Store, Work sites
Lunch, Work sites
Dinner in local homes, Team meeting, Ladies Night in the Courtyard
Day Five:
Breakfast, Morning meeting, Work assignments, Complete Work sites
Lunch, Free time activity with the community, Dedicate houses
Dinner, Harmons Craft Market, Farewell in courtyard, Team Experience
Day Six:
Breakfast, Transport team to Ocho Rios, Check-in to the Silvers Seas hotel, Climb
Dunns River Falls
Lunch, Free time
Team Dinner, Final Team meeting on Pier
Day Seven:
Transport team to Montego Bay
Team departs Montego Bay (MBJ) and arrives home

Background story

At the end of March, our entire school is going to approach the educational experience from a different perspective. All of our students had an opportunity to choose from a variety of classes on campus or from several international trips for the week following Spring Break, otherwise known as our Minimester. Our group chose to participate in a missions trip to Harmons, Jamaica, to work with Won By One Ministries. Their focus is demonstrating God's unconditional love and grace in tangible ways to the people of Harmons. While there, our team will help in any capacity that is needed, and hopefully be able to be a blessing to all that we come in contact with throughout the week. Below is some information about Harmons taken directly from the ministry's website:

Harmons, Jamaica is a small, remote village situated in a mountain valley in the south central interior of the island. With approximately 2,500 people, Harmons can be described as a mostly forgotten village. Except for the teams that travel with Won By One To Jamaica, Harmons is rarely visited by outsiders. Harmons has a very high unemployment, and the valley lacks running water. Many families lack the money to constantly send their children to school past the 7th grade. Many home owners struggle to keep their homes dry and safe.
Harmons also has some of the most content, thankful and giving people in the world. Most non-Christians there are more thankful to God for their limited possessions than most Christians are in America. Rain is not seen as a nuisance like it is in the U.S., but rather "blessings from heaven." Rain is what makes the fruit trees grow and fills water tanks so they can drink, cook and wash. Ministry in Harmons is two-fold. First, the teams show the love of Christ by meeting the physical needs of the community. This is done by building 12' x 15' concrete houses, digging pits for water collection, repairing homes, and delivering medicine and clothes that the team brings down. Second, the team practices friendship evangelism throughout the week. This evangelism approach can be effective because of the amount of close contact team members have with Jamaicans. The conversations are natural and authentic because they evolve out of the friendships that quickly develop. Only by living, working, eating and worshipping with Jamaicans is this type of ministry possible.
While staying in Harmons, we will actually be living at Harmony House, the central ministry base in the community. It is a home that has been equipped to house and care for the hundreds of volunteers that come through Harmons throughout the year. The ministry is able to have an impact on the community largely due to the missions teams that visit all throughout the year. If you would like to see pictures of other missions trips to Harmons, click here.