GLOBAL TRIPGUIDEBOOK

99 BALLOONS

We are excited to have you join us on this global trip to North India. Our partners are doing incredible work loving and serving persons with disability in rural India, and are humbled and honored to have a small part in the incredible things the Lord is do-ing.

This guidebook will provide you with lots of helpful information to prepare for our journey. Please look over each section and let us know if you have any questions.

ABOUT THIS GUIDE

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Pray for favor over all trip logistics. ( visas, flights, customs, travel, health, funding, etc…)

Ask God to soften your heart to break with His. Disability in India is hard. The easiest way to cope is to harden one’s heart. Our prayer is that instead we will look, see, and feel it—ultimately changing who we are, and the way we see the world.

Pray God would prepare our way. As you can imagine communication and planning across continents is slow and tedious. We will do our best to plan though ultimately we ask and trust God to prepare good work for us to do. James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who give to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

Pray against conflict, egos, pride, and misunderstandings between all involved in this project.John 17:23…that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.

Pray that people with disabilities in Uttarakhand would come to know Jesus, and be free from the belief they are cursed and unwanted

PRAYER POINTS

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Register/DepositUse this link to register for the trip. Once your registration is complete, you will be taken to a page where your trip requirements and personal fundraiser are lo-cated. Make sure to launch your fundraiser--this is where you can make a payment to-wards your trip fees, or friends and family can donate towards your trip. And also be sure and complete the trip requirements as soon as possible.

VisaIndia requires all foreign travelers to possess an Indian visa. As Indian security has in-creased we will not be applying for visas through our respective consulates. We will ap-ply for 30 day tourist visas online. We will all apply within a 30 day window of our trip, per Indian law. Use this link when the time comes.

FundraisingEach participant is responsible for 100% of their fundraising needs. Below are some fundraising ideas to get you started:

Fundraising Page:: Set up your fundraising page on Pure Charity and share your personal story on why you chose to be a part of this team to Haiti. Use the social media and widget tools on your fundraising page to share it on various platforms. All donations to your fundrais-ing page are tax-deductible. We work with Pure Charity to administrate funds and pro-duce tax receipts. Click here for Fundraising Page FAQ’s.

Speaking:: We’ve seen people receive the most support when they share about their trip at their church or in front of a group of people (community group, rotary club, etc). Share about the work you will be doing, about your heart for kids with disabilities, the goals

GETTING STARTED

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of the trip, etc. Have a laptop or iPad available so folks can make online donations right there, and collect check donations as well. Check donations can still be entered through your online fundraising page, and have the donor select “Paying via check” for mailing instructions.

Mail Letters:: Not everyone is tech-savvy. Mail letters to friends and family and make it easy for them by including the check donation form and an addressed envelope with the letter (checks should be mailed to: 99 Balloons' Fund at Pure Charity, PO Box 1234, Searcy, AR 72145). All checks must be made payable to “99 Balloons’ Fund at Pure Charity” with your specific Fundraising ID written on the check memo. In the letter, share about why you are joining this trip, and the work you will be doing to bless kids with special needs. Let us know if you’d like us to send you any pictures to include on the letter!

Give Away Your Birthday:: Have a birthday, anniversary, or special event coming up? In lieu of gifts, ask folks to support your Global Trip by making a donation to your trip fundraising page (see #1). One idea would be to use your age as a suggested gift amount. Turning 38? Ask folks to give $38!

Businesses:: Ask local businesses to support your trip. Set up a time to meet with the owner or man-ager and explain the goals of the trip and the work you will be doing with kids experi-encing disability. Be sure and leave a letter or flyer with more information and your contact information. We can send you a Word document with 99 Balloons letterhead if you’d like. Remind businesses that their donations are tax-deductible.

Let us know if we can help with any of these fundraising ideas, of if you’ve come up with another idea that we can help with!

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99 NetworkWe desire to have a way for Global Trip participants to continue encouraging and sup-porting our global partners long after we leave. The 99 Network allows you the oppor-tunity to stay involved by helping fund global projects benefitting persons with disabil-ity. Membership is $9.99/month and 100% of proceeds goes to global projects.

All trip participants must become a member of the 99 Network. View a list of com-pleted projects and set up your 99 Network membership by August 1 at: www.purecharity.com/99network/

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VaccinationsThe following are recommended vaccinations according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Be sure your routine vaccines are also up-to-date - such as Measles/Mumps/Rubella (MMR), Diphtheria/Pertussis/Tetanus (DPT), Polio.Once you schedule an appointment with your health-care provider or travel clinic, they will help determine what you will need depending on factors such as your health and immunization history. Each team member is responsible for their own vaccines.

Please see a health-care provider at least 4 weeks prior to the trip.

Recommended Vaccines:: • Hepatitis A - CDC recommends this vaccine because you can get hepatitis A through

contaminated food or water in India, regardless of where you are eating or staying.

• Typhoid - You can get typhoid through contaminated food or water in India. CDC recommends this vaccine for most travelers, especially if you are staying with friends or relatives, visiting smaller cities or rural areas, or if you are an adventurous eater. This can be administered in one of two ways::

1.One option is to have a shot that is a dead virus. This lasts 34 months. 2.Another option is to take oral pills which are a live virus. This lasts 5 years.

Malaria Prophylaxis::The state of Uttarakhand is a very low risk area for malaria, though you may still de-sire to take precautions. Be aware that certain medications, like Doxy, may decrease the effectiveness of other medications you may be on. Mefloquine is easy (weekly), Doxycycline is cheapest, Malarone is best (but most expensive). These are prescription pills that you start taking before the trip and continue throughout the trip for the pre-

BEFORE YOU LEAVE

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vention of Malaria, and sometimes need to continue taking for a certain amount of time after you return. Please follow your doctor’s advice and adhere to this. Chloroquine is NOT an effective antimalarial drug in India. If your doc-tor suggests Chloroquine, please ask for a different drug, such as doxycy-cline or mefloquine.

Schedule an appointment with your health-care provider or travel clinic to discuss these options further. It is always good to at least have a consultation as soon as possi-ble, so that you can determine the total costs for vaccines and have time to decide which vaccines you need/want, etc. Many insurance companies do not cover travel vaccinations, so be sure and check with your insurance provider prior to getting vac-cines to determine whether or not they are covered.

Travel ProbioticsWhile not required, travel probiotics can provide your body a layer of protection against new bacterias your body is not used to. They can be purchased as most health food stores. Begin taking them a couple weeks before travel to increase the strength of your digestive system.

Travel Medical InsuranceYour trip cost includes Travel Medical Insurance and Emergency Evacuation coverage. We will set that up for you and send you a confirmation of purchase as well as details on insurance coverage. You can purchase additional insurance if so desired.

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This list will give you a good idea of the things you ought to have with you. There may be some additional items you’d like to bring along, just keep in mind to leave as many valuables at home understand space will be limited. If you have any questions about the items here or want thoughts as to where you can pick these things up, please let us know.

India is unique in baggage allowance. Due to in-country travel, we are limited on our weight allowance for baggage. We will pay for excess baggage to accommodate any equipment we may bring, and will coordinate this together in weeks to come.

Checked Baggage::Maximum Weight - 30lbs per bagMaximum Size - 62 linear inches per bag

Carry-on Baggage:: Maximum Weight - 15lbs per bagMaximum Size - 45 linear inches

In addition to one carry-on item, you may also bring one personal item, such as a shoulder bag, backpack, laptop bag or other small item (no larger than 9 inches x 10 inches x 17 inches, or 36 linear inches).

If you are carrying on any liquid, gel or aerosol items, here are a few things you should remember:• Use trial-size toiletries (3.4 ounces or less).• Toiletries must fit comfortably in one, quart-size (7.5-in x 8-in), clear plastic zip-top

bag.• The zip-top bag will need to be presented separately at airport security, so make sure

it is easily accessible when you approach the screening area.

PACKING LIST

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Things to Carry On:

Cash for Souvenirs Medications** Passport (ATM’s available) (travel probiotics) Sunglasses

Camera A few snacks Magazines/Books Journal & Pen

Bible Money Belt Clean Change of Clothes Travel Pillow

**Bring all your regular medications with you (and a travel letter for these medica-tions from your doctor), Motrin, Loperamide (Imodium) for diarrhea, Antibiotics for travelers diarrhea (ask your doctor), rehydration salts (such as hydralyte) for diar-rhea, antimalarials (start before you leave - talk to your doctor for details). Know your blood type.

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Things to Check:

Universal Power Sunscreen & Aloe Durable Water Bottle Light Rain Jacket Adaptor

Sturdy Shoes Antibacterial Wipes Insect Repellent (for rough terrain) or Hand Sanitizer 30%-50% DEET Full Set of Toiletries

Flushable Wipes Ear Plugs and/or Headlamp or Hat Eye Mask for Sleeping Small Flashlight

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Weather/ClothingThe weather will range depending on geography. In mountains lows of 60’s to highs of 70’s will normal, while the jungles will be in the low 90’ and humid. Pack lightweight clothing in light colors. Please follow the below guidelines for clothing. You’ll be quick to notice a change in the way you are able to engage with people if your dress code is up to par.

Clothing for Men::- Long pants and shirts. Short sleeve shirts are standard casual dress in India. For pres-

entations you will need more formal trousers than jeans. Longer shorts for travel, hik-ing pants and t-shirts. Men cannot go shirtless. Shorts are rarely seen, though, so if you can go without, please do.

Clothing for Women:: - To be culturally sensitive women should wear loose clothes, keep legs covered

(jeans/long trousers), and wear longish tops that cover your bottom. They should also have short or long sleeves and avoid sleeveless tops in rural areas. No shorts, tank tops, skirts above the ankle or anything clingy. We will go shopping day 1 where you will be able to purchase a few Indian kurtas, for rural areas. Click Here for a video on modesty in India

Washing ClothesWe will be hand-washing our clothes during the trip if required. You might like to bring some travel hand washing liquid or soap (such as Tide travel sink packets) and a travel clothesline.

MoneyIndian currency may not be imported or exported, so you cannot bring Rupees (INR) into India when you arrive. You can take US Dollars, and you should have no problem having them changed in India.

We advise you to cash some at the airport when you arrive, as the rates are good there. However now ATMs are very common so you might prefer to just get your cash through them. CREDIT CARDS – try to only carry one with you for security reasons –

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credit cards are accepted in a lot of shops, hotels etc. and in the cities there are many ATM machines.SleepingSleeping will generally be in twin shared rooms throughout the trip. You might like to bring a sleeping sheet (otherwise known as sleeping bag insert) which you can get from camping stores and a pillow case in case the sheets aren’t very nice.

DocumentsMake a copy of your Passport, Visa, Emergency Contact Information, Medical Insur-ance Card, and any credit cards you are taking, and leave the copies with someone at home. If its not necessary, don’t take it (i.e. Sam’s Club Credit Card, Fitness Club ID, driver’s license, etc).

Make additional copies of the above documents and put them in your carry-on or per-sonal bag, including a colored copy of your Passport and Visa. DO NOT put these in your checked luggage.Please ensure that your Passport has at least 6-month validity from the date of depar-ture.

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Mobile PhonesWe will supply the team with some mobile phones to use during the trip. However, you may want to arrange for global roaming services for your personal mobile phone; please check with your service provider for global plan options. The majority of our stay we will be outside of coverage so mobile phone use is not of significant considera-tion.

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ImmigrationYou will be entering under tourist status. Answer questions you may be asked but don’t volunteer extra information. (DO NOT say mission trip)You will be given a form on the airplane to fill in and present with your passport on ar-rival. You will be asked to give your address in Delhi – make sure you have that to hand. The address will be provided to you in your departure packet to come.

LuggageIf your luggage/bag does not arrive, then you must get a landing certificate or Form A from the customs officer before leaving the Airport.

CustomsAs you won’t have anything to declare you can walk through the green channel into the waiting hall where your team will meet there drivers to the hotel. Then relax and enjoy the great experience!

Time DifferenceIndian Standard Time is 1o ½ hours ahead of US Central Time.

UPON ARRIVAL TO INDIA

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SecurityUnfortunately thefts are not uncommon so watch your valuables at all times. Carry your passport and money in a secure place where you can see it. Some people use a money belt that goes around the waist and others wear a wallet on a string around the neck. It’s a good idea not to keep all valuables in the same place.

In general, don’t go out after dark, stay in hotels with good security, and follow the ad-vice of locals, particularly hotel staff and security officials. Again, it is much better to travel with someone else than alone.

Keep emergency phone numbers on you in case there are any issues and details of team leaders. Carry them on paper as well as stored on your phone.

As part of the experience you are encouraged to explore the town and the surrounding villages. However, in past groups, people have been pick pocketed and lost valuable items. We request the following be adopted:•Always follow the advice of leaders, and if you’re unsure, ask them.•When you for a walk, go with another person and let one of the leaders know where you have gone.•No one is to go out alone after dark

ShoppingIndia is packed with beautiful things to buy. In most shops bargaining is the name of the game! State run emporiums are usually fixed (reasonable) price and good quality.

TippingTipping in India is a common practice. There are basically two types of tips. In the first case, the tip is paid after the work is completed. In the second case, the tip is

WHILE YOU’RE THERE

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given beforehand to ensure a good service. In hotels, porters and room service atten-dants are generally tipped at the end of the stay. However, the amount of tip varies de-pending on the type of services rendered and the type of establishment. If you’re not sure, ask you Team Leader.

In restaurants, the tip to waiters is around 10% of the bill. In restaurants of famous and prestigious hotels, generally a 10% service surcharge is added to the bill. Tipping at such a place is discretionary. In smaller places, the tip is not a percentage of the bill. Rather, a few rupees are given as a tip, depending on the quality of service.

Tipping taxis and three-wheelers is not common. It is up to your discretion – but we suggest you don’t tip taxis or three-wheelers. Taxi drivers are notorious scoundrels! At railway stations, pay the porters around Rs. 40 per bag. But, make sure to set the rate beforehand. If you stay at somebody’s house, ask your host before giving tips to his/her domestic help.

CommunicationYou may want to use e-mail to contact family while you are in India. In the cities you will find internet cafes & wi-fi zones but in rural areas it will be much harder to log on. Typically trip leaders are able to post a daily update to friends and family.

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Always wash your hands before eating and drinking. Make sure glasses, tableware and utensils are clean, and if not then do not use them. Maintaining a high level of hygiene is essential. The following page offers information on the types of food and beverages to avoid.

FOOD & WATER SAFETY

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BeveragesDrink • Water, sodas, or sports drinks that are bottled and sealed • Water that has been disinfected (boiled, filtered, treated) • Ice made with bottled or disinfected water • Hot coffee or tea • Pasteurized milk

Don’t Drink (or brush teeth)• Tap or well water • Fountain drinks • Ice made with tap or well water • Drinks made with tap or well water (such as reconstituted juice) • Unpasteurized milk

**Note:: You will have access to filtered water every day to fill refillable water bot-tles. Further, we will purchase bottled water throughout the week for our team.

FoodEat • Food (including all vegetables) that is fully cooked and served hot. • Fruits you have peeled yourself. • Hot food from roadside vendors (if you are a little daring), but no 100% guarantee• Pasteurized dairy products.

Don’t Eat • Food that is cold (i.e. been sitting there for some time) • Salads • Unwashed or unpeeled raw fruits and vegetables• Raw or soft-cooked (runny) eggs • Raw or undercooked (rare) meat • Shellfish, especially uncooked and if it’s very hot weather• Condiments (such as salsa) made with fresh ingredients • Buffets (except at nice hotels), as food that’s been sitting around attracts flies• Unpasteurized dairy products• Ice cream (although there is a well-known brand Kwality that is fine)

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Indian FoodRice is the staple, coupled with tasty Indian breads such as Roti and Paratha. Contrary to common belief, Indian food is not so hot as to be unbearable; rather, it’s aromatic and delicate in flavor. There are many varieties of ‘curry’ dishes as well as snacks such as bhajis and samosas. Most meals will consist of rice and lentils.

Either at the beginning or end of the trip the team will try to go to a nice restaurant where participants can sample Indian food styles from North to South.

Stomach UpsetsMost stomach upsets will disappear within 3 days. However, let your team leader know if you have been feeling sick for more than 24 hours. If you have an upset stom-ach, then ensure that you:

• Rehydrate by drinking lots of clear fluids, preferably water

• Take rehydration salts; these replace crucial trace elements your body loses via diarrhea & vomiting. (i.e. Gastrolyte, Gatorade)

• There are anti-diarrhea agents such as Imodium & Lomotil, but be sure to read the instructions and don’t exceed the recommended doses.

• When it comes to eating again start off with something basic such as rice or toast. Avoid highly spiced foods which might make you feel worse.

• If you see a doctor while in India, remember to get receipts for a doctor’s time and medications prescribed. Your insurance company will need these to reimburse you.

• You might want to bring some crackers or granola bars along with you, just in case you get sick.

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Quick Facts• Population - 1.252 billion• Capital - Delhi• City & State of Visit - Mussoorie, India• Major Languages - English (official language), Hindi (official language), Sandskrit

(state language) Garhwali (tribal language)

COUNTRY PROFILE

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Religious Views Regarding DisabilityHinduism is the predominant religion of India, and culturally it influences other relig-ions as well. Hindus pursue nirvana (more commonly called moksha), which is the re-uniting with Brahman, the universal God or universal soul. In traditional Hinduism, a soul reaches this state after living many lives(reincarnation) in which it climbs up through the varna, or caste system.

Humans accumulate good karma by performing the duties of the caste they were born in. If a person is born in a lower caste, his only hope is to behave properly in that caste so he will move up to a higher caste in the next life.

Disability is almost always thought to be a curse. Punishment for the bad karma accu-mulated by the individual with disabilities or their parents. In some parts of North In-dia people with disabilities are told they must be reincarnated nine times before they are even considered human.

Government Position Regarding DisabilityIndia has some of the most progressive laws regarding disability. However, the imple-mentation of these laws is not strong, which is worsened by corruption in the govern-ment. Further due to cultural views of disability many people with disability are not aware of there rights or the proper channels to pursue to access various government supports and pensions.

Cultural Beliefs Regarding DisabilityCultural beliefs regarding disability depend on the person’s education. If they have re-ceived a formal education, then they are more likely to understand disability as a medi-cal condition. Those who haven’t gone to school often take the view of disability as a curse. The caste system, though outlawed, heavily influences this cultural view across most religious and tribal lines.

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Cultural Etiquette :: 10 Ways to Accidentally Offend in India

1. Adopt a cheery, back slapping familiarity with all Indian colleagues regardless of po-sition, or call all by their first names.

2. Men show friendship with Indian women by placing your arm around their shoul-ders. Men do not typically engage women physically.

3. Don’t bother to dress up when you visit someone’s home.4. Talk and laugh loudly about the quaint customs and habits you have observed on

the street or on the television5. Do not try and learn any words of Hindi6. Don’t bother to pay your way when being escorted anywhere by an Indian friend7. Point out the things which America does better than India, begin many of your sen-

tences with: ‘In America we….’8. Do not try any Indian food which has been prepared for you and point out it’s much

too spicy and you have brought your own9. Walk into an Indian home wearing your street shoes and without checking the cus-

tom in that home.10. Wearing tight, revealing or short clothing – showing off legs (both men and

women).

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Useful Phrases in Hindi

Hello namaste, Namaskar Mr. shrimaan Mrs. shrimatiMiss kumaari Master Kumaar Bye alvida Thank you dhanyavaadGood morning shubh prabhat, Su prabhat Good evening shubh sandhya Good night shubh ratri Take care apna khayal rakhnaSee you later phir milen-geyHow are you? Aap kaise hain? I am fine Mai achchha hoonYou are welcome Aapka swagat hai Let us meet again Fir milenge My name is ------ Mera naam ----- hai What is your name? Aapka kya naam hai?Where are you? aap kahan ho? I'm from (the United States) Mein (the United States) se hoon. How is your family? Aapka parivar kaise ho?How much is it? Yeh kitne ka hai?I don't understand Mujhey samajh mein nahi aataaCan you say it again? Kyaa aap issey dohraa saktey hain?I am hungry and thirsty mai bhukhaa aur pyaasaa hoon.Where is the bathroom? Aucaghara kahaan hai?

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9 Ways to Avoid Being THAT Person

1)Don’t be that over-packer. Pack light and tight. You don’t want to be known as the person with the hugest bag, or the one that gets a special security screening at every checkpoint. Pack everything you think you’ll need, then mull it over, ditch half of it, and start over.

2)Don’t be that poverty tourist. Search your heart. If you’re going on this trip to have a “great experience” or to help yourself feel grateful for all that you have back home or to take photos of hurting peo-ple, please don’t go. You are part of a much larger story, and it’s not about satisfying your own curiosity.

3)Don’t be that bad listener. Look people in the eye. Learn their names. Stop and listen to their stories. And when you come back home and share their stories, do it with respect and gentleness.

4)Don’t be that paparazzi. Ask before you click. Don’t be quick to strip people of their dignity. If children are smil-ing and dancing and asking you to take their photo, then bless them with that. Other-wise, ask first and trust your gut if it’s telling you to stop. There will be a designated story-teller on each trip that will share photos with the entire team upon your return. If you decide not to pack a camera, we promise you won’t regret having spent time genuinely interacting with people rather than being on the other side of a lens.

5)Don’t be that person checking off your bucket list. Going on a 99 Balloons trip isn’t just a one-and-done deal. Our trips represent an on-going relationship with people we know and love who are doing the daily work of car-ing for persons with disability in their community. We expect you to be a part of this ongoing relationship. When the team leaves, the relationship doesn’t end. We are in

DON’T BE THAT PERSON

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this for the long haul and we want you to come back and help us continue seeking ways to support, encourage and equip our global partners.

6)Don’t be that Western know-it-all. We want you to use your gifts and skills and take the opportunity to train local long-term workers whenever possible. In fact, many folks on our trips have a specific role to train and equip local workers. But don’t expect to go in on Day One and change every-thing. Often times what would work back at home just won’t work in places like Africa or India or Haiti. Honor and respect our partners. Ask them about what they do first before offering your advice on the situation. Then, work together with them to develop ways to continue serving persons with disability in their community.

7)Don’t be that schedule Nazi. We will have a day-to-day structure for our trip, but we guarantee things will change once we get there. It’s incredibly important for everyone to stay flexible. An activity may be scheduled for 10am and won’t start until 1pm. We’ll plan an awesome dinner to honor families, and find that the venue we reserved has been hijacked by what looks to be a never-ending prom. You were scheduled to meet with a local professional, but it turns out they had to take someone to the hospital that’s 3 hours away. The more flexible you are, the more enjoyable the trip will be for you.

8)Don’t be that Santa Clause. Bring less, and listen more. Before you begin packing lots of great things to donate, check with us to see if it’s something our partners could really use. We’ve learned that focusing on what our partners really need is a huge blessing rather than dumping a lot of stuff they may not ever use and don’t really have the space for. What you CAN be ready to give is your ears, your smiles, your encouragement, your dancing...yes, we said dancing.

9)Don’t be that savior. As Westerners, it’s common to get swept up into the mentality that we need to save people. None of us are the savior of the world. There’s only one savior of the world and his name is Jesus. Our global work is simply to support the awesome work that our partners are already doing on the ground. Instead of having a savior mentality, be ready to learn from the folks you will meet - lessons on faith, on serving, on commu-nity, and on the worth and value of each and every life

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This reading is not mandatory, but an opportunity for you to do further reading if you’re interested.

• Guide books such as Lonely Planet & Rough Guide

• Websites – www.indiatourism.com, www.hcilondon.org, www.indiatouristoffice.org, www.india-travel.com, www.hindustantimes.com amongst others

• Information from a local non-Christian anthropologist: www.kanhaiyahouse.ca/index.php?location=hosts

Interesting Books• ‘Cross-cultural Servanthood’ – Duane Elmer• ‘Holy Cow’ – Sarah McDonald (very funny, a bit ‘rough’)• ‘Nine Lives’ – William Dalrymple’s latest (VERY interesting & great insight)• ‘India Unbound’ – Gurcharan Das• ‘Being Indian’ – Pavan K. Varma• ‘India File’ - Trevor Fishlock • ‘No Full Stops in India’ - Mark Tully• ‘The Heart of India’ - Mark Tully• ‘City of Djinns’ - William Dalrymple (about Delhi)• ‘A Suitable Boy’ - Vikram Seth (really long, but good!)• ‘The God of Small Things’ - Arundhati Roy• ‘Freedom at Midnight’ – Dominique Lapierre & Larry Collins• ‘Area of Darkness’ - V.S. Naipal• ‘India: Wounded Civilisation’ - V.S. Naipal

For further detailed information purchase the following book: ‘The Travellers’ Good Health Guide’ by Ted Lankester.

READING & PREPARATION

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Thank you for joining us in serving our global partners and helping to change the story of disability around the world.

As you return back home, debriefing is an important process to help you think through what you’ve learned and experienced, deal with any challenges or tensions, and ultimately allow the opportunity for God to be glorified for what He has done.

DEBRIEFING

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Below are a list of questions that serve as a tool for you to consider as you process your trip. These will also hopefully help you answer questions that others may ask you. Take your time in thinking through these questions. In the weeks, months and even years to come, you will continually discover things that the Lord is teaching you be-cause of the time you spent serving around the world.

1. What did I learn about myself on this global trip? 2. What did I learn about God? 3. How did God work above or beyond my expectations? 4. What did I learn about how culture impacts individuals affected by dis-

ability in the community where I served? 5. What was the best thing about this trip? 6. What was the hardest part for me? 7. What did I learn or experience that will change the way I live and repre-

sent Jesus in my home community or church? 8. What have I learned about my own calling? 9. How can I continue to support the ongoing work in the area where I

served?

You will likely share about your trip with numerous folks, but we also encourage you to find someone you know and trust deeply with which you can share more in depth the thoughts, lessons and experiences you’ve had. We at 99 Balloons would also love to connect with you after you’ve had some time to process some of these questions. We’ll be in touch soon, but please don’t hesitate to contact us if there’s ever anything we can do for you.

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TRIP LEADERBEN RICHARDS

Ben Richards has been working in the disability field for over ten years, and currently serves as the Equipping Director for 99 Balloons. He has spent a significant amount of time working with disability NGO’s all over India. Ben has a long history of relation-ship with the individuals the team will be working with. The people of India are close to his heart, in particular people with disabilities. He is eager to walk with you as you come to understand the experience of people with disabilities in North India. If you have any questions as you prepare don’t hesitate to contact Ben.

Email: ben@99balloons.orgMobile: 916.753.4632

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