Mission Trips | Resources

BEFORE YOU REGISTER

DO YOU HAVE AN AGE REQUIREMENT FOR TEAM MEMBERS?

We have had mission trip participants ranging in age from 15 to 70. However, we do require participants to be at least 16 years old in order to travel without a parent. Anyone younger than that must travel with a parent or a legal adult.

DO I NEED A PASSPORT PRIOR TO REGISTERING?

It is highly recommended that prior to registering, you either already have or are in the process of getting your passport. It usually takes between 4-6 weeks to receive your passport, but for an additional cost it can be expedited. Visit passports.state.gov for more information. We cannot book your flight until we have a copy of your passport.

CAN I FUNDRAISE FOR MY TRIP?

Yes! We highly encourage you to fundraise for your trip with Zoe. Once you have registered we will offer your team leader the same resources that our Zoe team uses to fundraise, and feel free to check out our Zoe fundraising guide.

WHEN ARE TRIP PAYMENTS DUE?

There are two payment deadlines for your trip. Your first payment due is around $500 and will be due three months before your arrival in Kenya. The remaining trip balance is due one month prior to your arrival in Kenya.

WHAT DOES YOUR TRIP COST INCLUDE?

Everything apart from international flights, souvenirs, snack food, and your experience Kenya option! Your trip cost includes in-country airfare, lodging, food, and all transportation.

WHEN ARE TRIP PAYMENTS DUE?

WHAT IS ZOE MINISTRIES REFUND POLICY?

All donations Zoe Ministries receives toward the cost of your trip are non-refundable. We are aware of circumstances that may inhibit your ability to serve with Zoe; therefore, we have three options if you are unable to serve with Zoe. The options include applying your donations toward another team members trip cost, rolling your funds over to another trip, or donating towards Zoe Children's Tribe's greatest need. If you over-fundraise for your trip, the same policy applies.

DO I NEED A YELLOW FEVER VACCINE?

It's not required but we highly suggest it! Yellow fever vaccinations can often be in short supply so please be sure to get this vaccination as soon as possible.

DO I NEED TO TAKE MALARIA MEDICATION?

Yes! All team members are required to take malaria medication. We recommend Malarone or Doxycycline, however, please consult with your physician for his or her recommendation.

WHAT OTHER VACCINES/IMMUNIZATIONS SHOULD I RECEIVE?

Please refer to The CDC for the most current and up-to-date information regarding recommended and required vaccinations for travel to Kenya. Additionally, consult with your primary physician. We recommend being up to date on all routine vaccinations prior to travel.

BEFORE YOU ARRIVE

HOW LONG IS A STANDARD MISSION TRIP WITH ZOE?

All mission trips through are typically 8-10 days long.

ARE THERE MEETINGS BEFORE THE TRIP?

Yes! Our Zoe team will facilitate a meeting with your team prior to your departure to discuss your upcoming trip.

WILL ALL TEAM MEMBERS TRAVEL TOGETHER TO KENYA?

As a team, you will likely be flying from the same area of the United States and will all fly through either Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London, or Paris onward to Nairobi. We try our best to book all teams together on the same itinerary if possible, however, this is subject to availability.

CAN I BOOK MY OWN FLIGHT?

Typically, teams are in charge of booking their own airfare. Only in special circumstances are exceptions made. In those cases, our Zoe team will work with you prior to booking in order to ensure you are on the correct flights. Due to logistics in Kenya, Zoe has the right to revoke certain airfare routes but will work with each team to book routes that work best for both the team and Zoe.

WHAT IS THE TOTAL TRAVEL TIME?

This will depend on which airport you begin your travel and layovers along the way, typically you should expect between 24-30 hours of total time of travel. Usually teams will have two eight-hour international flights to and from one of the major hub airports. If you fly from a non-hub airport you will have an additional domestic flight.

WHAT IS THE WEATHER LIKE IN KENYA?

In general, the temperatures during the day range from the mid to upper 70’s to the mid to upper 80’s. The temperature in the evening can drop into the mid 60’s during certain times throughout the year. The weather does vary a bit based on the season, but is hard to predict due to the seasons changing from the norm.

HOW DO WE TRAVEL ONCE WE LAND IN KENYA?

In order to ensure the safety of our teams, we use our own personal vehicles that are driven by Zoe staff. If our Zoe transportation is unavailable, we hire private transportation with drivers we know and trust having worked with them over many years.

WHAT IS A TYPICAL DAY LIKE FOR TEAM MEMBERS?

Team members begin their day with breakfast and morning quiet time. This time is followed by being transported out to Zoe and joining in on morning errands with our Kenyan team. Your days are spent on site at Zoe and within the village helping with specific projects while submerging into Kenyan culture. During the evening, you'll be transported back to Kitale Town where you will enjoy dinner and a debriefings from our Zoe team leaders. You will also have the option to partake in either of our 3 Experience Kenya options.

WHAT DO WE EAT?

Team members will eat traditional Kenyan food cooked by our staff every day at lunch, while having American style dishes for both breakfast and dinner.

WHERE WILL WE STAY?

Karibuni Lodge in Kitale Town. Your security is our first priority. You will stay in a fenced and gated compound with at least one of our full time Kenyan staff members. The guest house is split into separate rooms for men and women. There will be a kitchen, indoor plumbing, and a shower (usually with hot water). Here, you will have breakfast and dinner every night.

GROUP TRIPS

WHAT ARE MY RESPONSIBILITIES AS A GROUP LEADER?

As a group leader, you will only be responsible for coordinating with your team prior to departure. You will work alongside our Zoe team to ensure team members are meeting deadlines and the team is trained. Once in Kenya, our Zoe team will handle all of the on-ground logistics. Once you land in Kenya, you are can sit back and relax!

WHAT IS THE COST FOR A GROUP LEADER?

Group leaders are only required to pay for their international flight, visa, and any safari! All the on-ground cost of the trip including food, lodging, etc. will be covered. This is a huge perk of gathering a group to serve in Kenya. We know gathering and coordinating a group of 5-20 people can be quite challenging so as an incentive we offer a significantly reduced trip cost.

HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO GET ENOUGH TEAM MEMBERS SIGNED UP?

Ideally, your group will be formed before you reserve your dates. However, we do realize that often some groups need to have the date reserved first in order to have team members commit. In this case, by the first payment deadline at least 5 team members will need to be signed up. Please note that regardless of when a team member signs up they are expected to meet all deadlines on time, past or present.

WILL WE BE IN KENYA WITH ANOTHER TEAM?

On rare occasions, it is possible you will be on the ground the same time as another team. We try to keep teams as separate as possible to ensure each team has their own unique experience. However, there are likely times there will be overlap between teams.

WILL I LEAD NIGHTLY TEAM DEBRIEF?

We would love for you to fully contribute in the team debrief and help our team leader understand the dynamics of your group. However, our Zoe team leader will be responsible for guiding the debrief and helping the team engage in what God is doing in Kenya through Zoe.

WILL OUR TEAM TRAVEL TOGETHER?

If the teams are all flying from the same airport, we request everyone fly on the same itinerary. If any team member is flying from another airport, they will likely meet up with the rest of the team in Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London, or Paris.

DOES A GROUP HAVE TO BE A PREVIOUSLY ORGANIZED GROUP?

No. As long as you have at least 5-20 committed individuals (not including yourself), you can apply for a group trip.

WHAT IS THE REFUND POLICY IF A TEAM MEMBER BACKS OUT AFTER PAYMENT DATES?

Unfortunately, due to our 501c3 tax exempt status, any donations Zoe Ministries receives toward the cost of the trip are non-refundable. We are aware of circumstances that may inhibit your ability to serve on a team; therefore, we have two options if you are unable to go on the trip. Each team member has the option to apply their donations toward another team member’s trip cost, or donate towards Zoe Ministries' greatest need. If you over-fundraise for your trip, the same policy applies.

RESOURCES FOR TEAM MEMBERS

We’re so excited to have you serve alongside us in Kenya! Below are some resources you may find helpful to utilize prior to getting on the plane.

Whether you have been across the world before or you have never been on a plane, Zoe Ministries will walk you through every step of a global mission trip.

BEFORE YOU REGISTER

BEFORE YOU ARRIVE

GROUP TRIPS