Please review these policies if you are considering being a team member.  Our goal is to make your missions trip an exciting, life changing event.  We do need to communicate some of the business parameters behind this trip so that things will run more efficiently.      Thank you!

REFUNDS

LightShine International Ministries (LSIM) is a tax-exempt nonprofit organization. To receive a tax deduction, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) stipulates that the donor must release control of all funds donated to a non-profit organization. For this reason, contributions from sponsors cannot be refunded. Contributions are pooled into a team budget and are not available for future teams. All funds remain under the full control and authority of LSIM.

CANCELLATIONS

People give financial support for you as unto the Lord. In other words, all money given on your behalf is not your own. Please note that once airline tickets are purchased, they are non-transferable. Therefore, if you choose to cancel your trip, you must purchase your airline ticket from LSIM or use it on a future trip with LSIM within one year. If you use it on a future trip, you will receive credit for the amount LSIM paid for your ticket, minus the cancellation fee determined by the airline. Remaining mission trip contributions, less team expenses, are also transferable for one year from the date of the trip unless cancellation occurs less than 30 days before departure, except for extreme emergencies. Fear of flying and/or leaving home is not a valid reason for cancellation.

WHAT DOES THE TEAM FEE COVER?

Pre-trip mailings, team t-shirt, transportation, trip accommodations, on-field meals, construction materials, and administrative costs.

INSURANCE

Each LSIM team member is personally responsible to provide their own respective insurance coverage of any and all types, including but not limited to, medical, hospitalization, life, disability, death, lost baggage, lost or stolen personal property, and any and all other insurance which a team member may need or desire. We require that you state on your application the name of your medical insurance provider. Further, LSIM requires an affirmation on the application that your medical insurance provider will extend coverage in Alaska and that they will cover emergency transportation such as air rescue. If you find that you do not have adequate coverage, we require that you personally purchase medical insurance at a cost of a few dollars a day through an agency such as www.insurancefortrips.com (phone 1-800-647-4589).

DRESS CODE

Most of the villages where LSIM teams serve have a more conservative approach to clothing than we are used to. As guests, we choose to respect our hosts by honoring their request that our teams wear modest and culturally appropriate clothing. Women are expected to wear tops that fully-cover the chest and stomach. Modest and conservative shorts are O.K. for both men and women.

RIGHTS/LIABILITY RELEASE & RISK ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

All LSIM team members, leaders, and staff serve at their own risk, and LSIM is not liable in the event of sickness, accident, animal attack, terrorist act, natural disaster, or anything resulting in personal injury or death. Each team member will be asked to:  waive his/her right to file a lawsuit in exchange for Biblically-based mediation; release all leaders and organizations from liability; acknowledge and accept hazards, risks, and other dangers associated with this mission trip; acknowledge and accept responsibility for all insurance needs; authorize LSIM leaders to make essential medical / emergency / hospitalization decisions if necessary and accept full responsibility for all such expenses; agree to abide by all policies, guidelines, and rules; and agree to submit to all leaders and those in authority. (The complete text for this entire release is contained in the “LSIM Team Registration Packet.”)

DRUG & DRINKING POLICY

LSIM does not allow drinking alcoholic beverages or the use of illegal drugs at any time. Team members who violate this policy are subject to being sent home immediately at their own expense.