Be a StarTeam Member (Teammie)

FROM TREKKIE TO TEAMMIE

Yes, you have heard of StarTrek^® and there are millions of Trekkies. Now we have StarTeams and we need Teammies. This means YOU! But what exactly is a Teammie? Or better stated, Who is a Teammie?

Teammies takes many forms. They are a group of Jr. High, Sr. High and/or college kids who use their spring break go on a mission trip to Trinidad and build a school. He is a pastor that leaves his flock and travels to tend another flock She is ?? years old on a psychological recovery mission trip.( Grandmother instincts have no cultural barriers.) They are a married couple who have raised their family and still working but desire to travel where needed and help as they can. They are men in their 50's and 60's who own their own business respectively which they leave behind several times a year in order to use their talents on mission trips.

What do Teammies do? Individually they have certain areas of interest and/or talent. But they usually travel and work together in groups of 5 to 25 depending on the task. Once they arrive at their destination they work in many different venues. Construction; working side by side with their Haitian brothers to complete a project; helping repair, wire for electricity, whatever needs to be done. Children; they might do a VBS, tell Bible stories, do crafts, jump rope, throw Frisbees, maybe they just sit and hold a young child to show they really do care. They Struggle with a language barrier, working conditions, different food, climate, mosquitoes, sleeping under nets, cultural differences and a myriad of emotions they try to interpret. Apart from the fun with the kids, Teammies also get to Enjoy having their hair braided, seeing nature in a different light away from the   noise of telephones, computers, traffic etc. They occasionally get to get to enjoy a nice beach. They Learn that "to the world they might be one person but to one person they might be the world" and that is a very humbling realization. 

What is required of the Teammies? Licenses? Diplomas? Certificates? No. But they must TRAVEL, leave their comfort zone. Then, one by one other abstract "things" appear such as; Team work, Respect for a foreign culture and its people, an Attitude of try, forgive, "it's ok", Value new experiences, Embrace new ideas and different ways of doing things, Let go of ? (whatever is getting in your way) Listen. Learn. Language trials. If you are willing to work, follow directions and/or lead in some areas, you meet the requirements to be a StarTeam Member (Teammie).

There is no monetary compensation for the work you will do. BUT who can place a dollar value on hugs, warm fuzzies and the deep appreciation you receive from the help you give to people in need? However, you usually do not come home without something; new friends, mosquito bites and maybe even a little GI disturbance.

What do you need to become an official Teammie? As you might expect, MONEY seems to be always at the top of a list. The average cost of a mission trip right now is $1,000. This generally will include airfare from the US to the destination country, in-country travel expenses, food and lodging. Trekkies had to have Interstellar Documentation. Teammies  only have to have a PASSPORT. If you do not have a passport and even think you want to travel you need to at least start budgeting for it right now.  If you feel that travel is in your future check out this website; http://travel.state.gov You need to also consider IMMUNIZATIONS. They are not required for all countries but here is a good website to give you some basic information, www.cdc.gov/. Health and Travel INSURANCE must be considered and there is more information available upon request. Of course no trip will be complete without a camara, luggage, repellent and comfort food.

What Must a Teammie Do to Get Started?

DECIDE whether or not this is God's plan for their life then start making preparations.

CONTACT Star of Hope (by phone or email) to gather information about the upcoming opportunities. They can also obtain more detailed information for trip preparation

BEGIN talking to friends and family to help raise support. Do not be afraid to ask for money to travel to a foreign land to do God's Work.

ORGANIZE a fundraiser(s) to help with expenses and get more people involved with the work.

INVITE a Star of Hope employee or volunteer to give a presentation at their church or fundraiser. They have been on mission trips and can help give information and answer questions. The Star of Hope office has tools and photos to help with presentations.

SHARE their enthusiasm as well as their concerns or fears.

Finally, when you make that long-awaited trip to a 3rd world country 

What Should YOU Expect? You will have a myriad of emotions. You will see and experience things you have never imagined. Some will make you extremely sad and others will awaken a joy from deep within. YOU will experience an exhaustion like no other and then you will discover that "...the joy of the LORD," truly is your strength.              

YOU will find your heart in your throat on many occasions. Never will you have been so thankful to be an American nor, at the same time, feel so guilty. SOME will want to return ASAP. Others can't get home soon enough and never want to go back. Both responses are normal and OK!

If this has piqued your interest in Short Term Missions then please read more. 

To read the Application and Release form to become a TEAMMIE click here.