Mission Trip Details

 

We want to invite you to be a part of our annual 2024 Game On! Mission Trip. Summer of 2024 is going to be an epic one as we plan to take tons of middle and high school students to Cape Town, South Africa. We know you would absolutely love it!

 

You’ll have an absolute blast as you join a team who have a passion for adventure, travel, and fun and who are full of expectation that God will use them to make an impact in Cape Town, South Africa! 

 

We believe God will speak to you during this mission adventure, open your eyes to something greater than you could have ever thought or imagined, and help you make some lifelong friends along the way!

​

WAM has been taking teams overseas on mission trips for over 30 years, traveling to over 100 countries, and we look  forward to helping you experience a powerful, exciting, and fun trip. 

 

This mission trip to Cape Town is literally going to be life-changing! Each day, you and your team of about 25 students will depart and make a huge impact in the beautiful Cape Town communities. As you visit schools, parks, orphanages and townships, you’ll be playing some sports and games, participating in some fun skits, distributing food to those in need, doing a few work projects, visiting homes to share the gospel and praying for the needs of others, and SO much more! 

​

 

Powerful outreaches and ministry with a local church, school, and orphanage in Cape Town 

Home to Home ministry, Community soup outreaches, and WAM Kids outreaches in the poorer impoverished communities

Overnight Safari, Taking the school kids to Boulder Beach to see the penguins, Table Rock, and a Great White Shark Excursion (Optional) Cage Dive!

​

* Team Devotionals & Amazing Worship throughout the trip!

 

 

The local church and ministry we work with continues to advance the kingdom through the doors and partnerships that God opens. The harvest in Cape Town is very real and the people of Cape Town are very open to the Gospel. Our team(s) will have the opportunity to share the hope of Jesus Christ throughout some of the most hopeless parts of South Africa.

​

Our days are packed with a wide range of ministry; you will have the opportunity to share your personal testimony, share the hope of Jesus, and pray with people through house to house evangelism. You will also have the opportunity to love on all of the kiddos as we help lead the "WAM Kids in VBS-style programs in the impoverished and struggling communities.

 

In Cape Town everyone will have the option to participate in the once-in--lifetime (totally safe) great white shark cage dive. Whether you want to go in the cage yourself or just simply watch from the bow of the boat, it will definitely be an adventure to talk about for years! We'll take a unique twist on another free day and head to Boulders Beach; its soft sand and slightly warmer sea and are home to a large colony of endangered African penguins. Lastly, we'll have a chance to do an overnight Safari and see the Big 5!

​

​

2024 Details and Itinerary

( Subject to change...A comprehensive itinerary will be sent 30 days prior to the trip.)

​

 

July16: Miami

Once you arrive, our airport greeting team will meet you at the airport, enjoy dinner together, and begin our team training. During this time we will have some team bonding time, and go over trip logistics, rules, safety, cultural items, team communication, schedule...and then have a worship service and meeting. *You will be sharing a room with others (same gender) as it helps create team bonding...and is just more fun!

BREAKFAST/LUNCH/DINNER.  ACCOMMODATIONS: Embassy Suites Miami Airport (or similar).

 

July 17-18: Miami to Cape Town, South Africa

Depart for South Africa (International ticket confirmation will be sent to you 30 days prior to departure.)

 

July 18: Arrive Cape Town

Beginning Reception, Team Dinner and Meeting.

BREAKFAST/LUNCH/DINNER.  ACCOMMODATIONS: TBD

 

July 19: Cape Town

Ministry training, WAM kids training, African Church, Team Dinner and Meeting.

BREAKFAST/LUNCH/DINNER.  ACCOMMODATIONS: TBD

 

July 20: Cape Town

Ministry Outreaches, Home to Home Evangelism and WAM Kids program in the poorer communities of Cape Town. Small group devotionals (Praise and Worship).

BREAKFAST/LUNCH/DINNER.  ACCOMMODATIONS: TBD

​

July 21: Cape Town

Ministry Outreaches, Home to Home Evangelism and WAM Kids program

in the poorer communities of Cape Town. Small group devotionals (Praise and Worship).

BREAKFAST/LUNCH/DINNER.  ACCOMMODATIONS: TBD

 

July 22: Cape Town

Ministry Outreaches, Home to Home Evangelism and WAM Kids program

in the poorer communities of Cape Town. Small group devotionals (Praise and Worship).

BREAKFAST/LUNCH/DINNER.  ACCOMMODATIONS: TBD

​

July 23: Boulder Beach Day

Morning Devotions and taking the orphanage kids to Boulder Beach and fish and chips!

BREAKFAST/LUNCH/DINNER.  ACCOMMODATIONS: TBD

​

July 24: Cape Town

A variety of Outreaches in local communities, home to home and school ministry, community "Soup" outreach.

BREAKFAST/LUNCH/DINNER.  ACCOMMODATIONS: TBD

​

July 25: Shark Excursion and Table Mountain

Great White Shark Excursion, Table Mountain and Cape of Good Hope! Special Team Dinner and Worship.

BREAKFAST/LUNCH/DINNER.  ACCOMMODATIONS: TBD

​

July 26: Cape Town

A variety of Outreaches in local communities and the outer poor areas.

BREAKFAST/LUNCH/DINNER.  ACCOMMODATIONS: TBD

​

July 27-28: Overnight Safari and Braai

We'll have an overnight Safari excursion and spy out the BIG 5 and eat an African Braai. 

BREAKFAST/LUNCH/DINNER.  ACCOMMODATIONS: Safari Lodge

​

July 29: Cape Town

We'll host a special church service, share with the youth in the community and have a Soup outreach

BREAKFAST/LUNCH/DINNER.  ACCOMMODATIONS: TBD

​

July 30: Cape Town

Waterfront lunch, & Souvenir Shopping/Browsing and Team Debriefing

BREAKFAST/LUNCH/DINNER.  ACCOMMODATIONS: TBD

 

July 30-31: Depart for Miami 

BREAKFAST/LUNCH/DINNER.  ACCOMMODATIONS: Embassy Suites Miami Airport

 

July 1:  All team members travel home 

 

 

Talk to your doctor about any prescriptions you are currently taking or should take in case you get sick, and also about the following vaccinations: Hepatitis A, Typhoid & Malaria. Yellow Fever is not required or suggested for this trip as there is very low risk.

 

See Center for Disease Control and Prevention requirements for South Africa; (click on CDC button).

 

Training

Training for this trip will take place at the Embassy Suites in Miami. (Lodging can be subject to change.)

 

Training consists of specific ministry and outreach information, going over rules and safety regulations, team bonding time, and an evening meeting with worship and small group prayer.

 

After registering and securing your spot on a team with a $100 deposit (the deposit will go toward the total cost of your trip), you will be sent a Student Outreach Guide where you will find all the next steps, passport and CDC information, packing list, and financial deadlines needed to successfully plan and be 100% ready to experience an amazing mission trip!

 

This is an all-inclusive trip from Denver, Colorado, and almost everything is covered in the cost.

​

Are you a college student, over 18, and would like to come and assist the team leaders during the mission trip...please fill out an application to be part of the leadership team!  

 

If you are a teacher, coach, nurse or parent and would like to come volunteer and be part of the overall mission trip, please fill out a registration form and note that you would like to come as a "teacher, coach, nurse or parent. 

​

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What’s Included:

• Round-trip international flight from Miami to Cape Town, South Africa

• Embassy Suites accommodations in Miami during training/team reception

• Hotel accommodations in Cape Town

• Overnight Private Safari excursion and Braai (barbecue)

• All in-country transportation to/from airports and to/from ministry sites throughout the trip

• Daily meals (3 per day) in Miami during training and all in-country meals (3 per day), plenty of bottled water

• Ministry Materials, Translators, local guides, drivers, chefs, and all pre-trip set-up

• Trip t-shirt

• Medical Emergency Insurance

• All Free Day Excursions in Cape Town

 

What’s Not Included:

• Domestic flight from your hometown to Miami

• Passport - apply for your passport no later than April 15, 2024

• Immunizations (see CDC button)

• Snacks throughout the trip and Souvenirs

 

 

 

Health & Safety FAQs

 

What vaccinations do I need? We would strongly suggest following the CDC requirements/suggestions. You should consult with your own family physician, but what we always suggest is to make sure that all your Hepatitis A, Tetanus/Diphtheria, and Typhoid/Polio shots are all up to date. It is a personal choice and decision as everyone has their own risk tolerance, vaccination beliefs, and health and safety thresholds.

 

Is the trip insured? Yes! We carry short-term travel insurance for each member of the team that includes medical           evacuation, AD&D coverage, and other great travel insurance benefits. However, you will still need to be covered on a health insurance plan or have one purchased for the trip. We use Good Neighbor Insurance (GNI) for our mission trip coverage. For more information, call 480-813-9100 or visit info@gninsurance.com

 

What if an emergency happens and I can’t go? There are some trip cancellation/interruption insurance riders you           can purchase if in case you are unable to go on a trip for medical, emergency, etc., reasons. We’d suggest                       contacting GNI or a travel insurance company about your options. If you have to pull out of a mission trip for                 whatever reason, we will apply all payments/donations to a future trip, minus costs we may not be able to recover. (This is an annual mission trip, and we will be going to a different country each year.) 

 

Health history questionnaire. A few weeks prior to the mission trip, we’ll email you a Health History Questionnaire     and a Consent/Release form for you to fill out and email back to us before the mission trip. Most of it is pretty standard and it just gives us an idea of medications being taken, past health issues, allergies, immunizations received, and other items for us to be aware of if there were to be a need for you to go to a doctor or clinic/hospital. Please fill out what you are comfortable with; everything is 100% confidential. 

 

Safety track record. Going overseas is a big deal, and it's totally understandable for individuals, parents, and                  families to be concerned and want to know what safety precautions are being taken for each trip, especially if they are new to a Game On! Mission Trip and Wide Awake Missions. We've been at this for over 30 years; we have taken thousands of teens and young adults overseas, and over the years of doing mission trips, we have been fortunate to have never had a major safety or medical issue.

 

International safety and travel warnings. We keep in constant contact with all travel warnings concerning each country we go to. Before we leave, we register our group with the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) through the U.S. Department of State, and we log our itinerary with the State Departments of each country we  travel to.

 

On being alone. No one is ever allowed to go off by themselves outside of our outreach sites, ministry sites, and               hotels. We travel as a team unit, eat as a team, and minister as a team—so no one is ever alone. We rely on our             trusted and experienced contacts/translators to guide us each day. Also, each team member pairs up daily with an       accountability partner. We always have a first aid kit that travels with us, and our contacts keep us informed on the     best doctors, clinics, and hospitals to visit if there are ever any issues or emergencies.

 

Contact information and itinerary. You, your parents, and/or family will have a list of all our emergency numbers and   will receive a more updated itinerary 30 days before each trip.

 

Leaders. We have a seasoned country director run the mission trip, and our leader/student ratio is usually one             college-aged leader (and some parent volunteers) per five (under age 18) students. We allow the team to bring their smartphones, and usually, it's their camera as well. We use the hotel’s wifi; this way students can be in contact with their parents for updates. We also provide you and your parents the phone numbers of the international hotels where we will be staying during the trip.

 

What about theft? Theft is always a possibility when you travel abroad, so please don’t bring anything you cannot         afford to lose. Most crime is petty like pick-pocketing—but since we travel as a group and use private, chartered           buses and vans with a hired driver who guards our belongings, we’ve rarely had a team member lose anything.

 

 

General Mission Trip FAQs

 

As we get within a few months of our mission trip, we will be in more communication to make sure everything goes smoothly, and we are always available to answer any questions you may have. We can’t even begin to express how unbelievable, fun, and adventurous this mission trip is going to be!

 

What about drinking water? Throughout the trip, we will drink plenty of bottled water and/or purified filtered water. 

 

Can I bring items for the outreaches? Yes! Feel free to bring balloons, face paint, stickers, coloring book, crayons, pencils, and Bibles to give away. If your school or church wants to be a part in a financial way, we will be buying food to distribute in villages, supplying some Bibles, and handing out other little things, so you/they can give towards these options if you’d like; just let us know.

 

Are there any additional costs? Pretty much everything is covered! We work with a variety of helpers and translators, and we do take a group "love offering" at the end of the trip for our main contacts as well—it’s the gesture that counts here and not the amount though.

 

Do I need a sleeping bag or towel? No, you will not need a sleeping bag or towel for this trip.

 

Can I use my phone? Definitely! Although wifi can be spotty, it’s nice to keep in touch and share photos with friends and family who are praying for you and have supported you. 

 

How many bags can I bring? You are allowed to bring one personal item like a back pack or day pack (usually a smaller type of school day backpack and not an actual carry on suitcase) and one checked piece of luggage (a suitcase or backpack/duffle bag weighing 48 pounds or less).

 

What’s a typical day like? Each morning, we enjoy breakfast and team devotions, and then we head off to our outreaches for the day. We typically bring lunch with us, and at the end of the day we’ll go out with our contacts/translators and enjoy team meals together at a local restaurant or at the hotel. Later in the evening, we bring everyone together and have a big fun gathering with music, skits, worship, fun, and an inspiring message by one of the leaders or special speakers.

 

Do I have to share my testimony in front of people? Well, as a team, we’d love everyone to get to know each                   other’s "story.”  As far as sharing in front of a group of people or church, we understand that speaking in front of larger groups can be frightening, so we’ll leave that up to you. You will see though that throughout the trip, you will begin to feel more and more comfortable with it. You will have numerous opportunities to pray for the needs of many people in the outreaches we will do.

 

Sports/skits? We will have some fun opportunities to play some pick-up games of soccer and basketball; and do some fun drama skits (and other games). It’s such a great way to connect and offers lots of opportunities to minister and get to know the people of Cape Town better. Please let us know if you have any special talents you’d love to use during the trip or teach others, such as face-painting, making balloon animals, playing musical instruments, dancing, singing, etc.

 

*This list isn’t exhaustive, so if you have any additional questions please just let us know!