For those thinking about applying for our Short-Term Missions trip as a family....
Families are ALWAYS welcomed and encouraged to apply for this trip. There are few opportunities where an entire family can go on a short-term missions trip into a different culture while remaining within the United States. This is one of those times. Historically, many families with young children have already gone on this trip and have found the experience to be both enjoyable and rewarding.That being said, I also need to tell you not all families enjoyed their experience. As a result, the PaLM STM Committee established the following guidelines to help families better determine the appropriateness of their applying for this trip as a family.
The first thing you need to remember is that this trip is a missions trip. We are going to the Navajo Reservation to work. Our expectation is that everyone who joins our team, except those under the age of 5, will pull their weight and do their fair share of work (children are given age-appropriate work).
In general, the trip's work and travel schedules are geared for those age 16 and above. For example:
Does your child/children tolerate this type of schedule? Many children have done so in the past, but yours may not yet be ready. The schedule is long and on occasion grueling. Nevertheless everyone on the team is required to participate in everything together. For example, we cannot allow you (and your child) to opt out of our Grand Canyon trip because you've already been there. (I've there at least 25 times). Why? Because if something were to happen to you while we are gone, no one is around to help you. The hospital is an hour away, which is bad enough but how will you get there? There are no taxis on the reservation....only long, empty, dusty roads.
I realize that what I've been saying up to now may lead you to conclude that this trip is too tough for you/your family. I wanted to paint for you a realistic picture of our trip. Despite the bleak picture I've painted the trip is fun, enjoyable, rewarding and beneficial....even for your children.
When my family first went on this trip, my children were ages 7, 6 and 4. They napped on the plane, napped in the van and napped as needed. But, they also enjoyed themselves immensely and they have returned to the Rez every year since then until college. Today, they consider the Navajo Reservation to be their second home.
In general, we recommend that the youngest child in your family be age 5 before applying. However, if your child/children are very well-behaved, we may consider him/her/them as young as age 3 (by the date of our departure). But, regardless of how well-behaved your child/children are, if he/she/they are under the age of 3, he/she/they will be ineligible to come. We do not permit children under the age of 3 to come because of two reasons: 1) They are too young to understand or appreciate the trip, and 2) Their age requires too much attention, hindering our work and mission, even when the child is an angel.
If, upon reading this, you are still not sure....email me, or call me 718.352.1356. I will be happy to answer any question you may have.
Howard
To return to the short-term missions page, [click here].
The first thing you need to remember is that this trip is a missions trip. We are going to the Navajo Reservation to work. Our expectation is that everyone who joins our team, except those under the age of 5, will pull their weight and do their fair share of work (children are given age-appropriate work).
In general, the trip's work and travel schedules are geared for those age 16 and above. For example:
- When we fly out on Wed, we need to be at the airport by 4:30 AM (NY time)...fly out to Phoenix...and then spend the rest of the day shopping and traveling until 7:00 pm (AZ time).
- Our work days generally run from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
- On the weekend, we take a trip to Grand Canyon - three hours one way (8:00 AM to 11:00 PM)
Does your child/children tolerate this type of schedule? Many children have done so in the past, but yours may not yet be ready. The schedule is long and on occasion grueling. Nevertheless everyone on the team is required to participate in everything together. For example, we cannot allow you (and your child) to opt out of our Grand Canyon trip because you've already been there. (I've there at least 25 times). Why? Because if something were to happen to you while we are gone, no one is around to help you. The hospital is an hour away, which is bad enough but how will you get there? There are no taxis on the reservation....only long, empty, dusty roads.
I realize that what I've been saying up to now may lead you to conclude that this trip is too tough for you/your family. I wanted to paint for you a realistic picture of our trip. Despite the bleak picture I've painted the trip is fun, enjoyable, rewarding and beneficial....even for your children.
When my family first went on this trip, my children were ages 7, 6 and 4. They napped on the plane, napped in the van and napped as needed. But, they also enjoyed themselves immensely and they have returned to the Rez every year since then until college. Today, they consider the Navajo Reservation to be their second home.
In general, we recommend that the youngest child in your family be age 5 before applying. However, if your child/children are very well-behaved, we may consider him/her/them as young as age 3 (by the date of our departure). But, regardless of how well-behaved your child/children are, if he/she/they are under the age of 3, he/she/they will be ineligible to come. We do not permit children under the age of 3 to come because of two reasons: 1) They are too young to understand or appreciate the trip, and 2) Their age requires too much attention, hindering our work and mission, even when the child is an angel.
If, upon reading this, you are still not sure....email me, or call me 718.352.1356. I will be happy to answer any question you may have.
Howard
To return to the short-term missions page, [click here].