2013 Tours

Religion and Biblical Languages Department
Cuba Evangelistic Health Tour, May 6 – 29, 2013
Holguin and Habana Campo Churches

Tour Directors: Paul Petersen, PhD, Rubén Muñoz-Larrondo, PhD
ppetersen@andrews.edu, rmunoz@andrews.edu, 269-471-3178; 3185
Gisela Schmidt, MS, PhD Student; gisela@andrews.edu - 269-471-3614

Be an active participant serving in an Evangelistic Health Tour of Andrews University in the island of Cuba. This program is authorized and sponsored by Andrews University, Religion and Biblical Languages Department in a joint-ministry with the Delegación del Este, Cuba and the Seminario Teológico Adventista de Habana Cuba, SETAC. In addition, the Michigan Conference of SDA Church is sending some pastors—former students of the department—to be part of the ministerial group. Students will complete at least 120 hours of direct service/ministry plus 5 pre-tour meetings at Andrews and class requirements, including post tour homework as reflection papers, etc. Phase 1- Holguin, 9 days, 6-7 hours direct contact, plus Phase 2- Habana Campo 4 days, 6-7 hours of direct contact. In addition, during the 24 days the students will be immersed in this particular Caribbean culture of 54 years of Communism, however with a vibrant Seventh-day Adventist Church. Furthermore, the students will visit several churches and communities as they travel almost 2000 kms—30 hours from Habana to Holguin back and forth.

Holguin Area: The students divided in groups of two ministerial and two from health related majors plus the local pastor will work together in 9-10 area churches. These churches are located 10-30 minutes around the city of Holguin. All the students and professors will lodge in the Pernik Hotel in Holguin and travel after lunch to their respective churches.

The Tentative Program is as follows:
 Days: 8:30 – 18:00

•  Breakfast and devotional.
•  Daily reports, evangelism, culture and strategies classes, team preparations
•  Lunch at the SDA conference building.
•  Travel to churches
•  House visitations, Bible studies and Health Clinics.
•  Medical & Health Program (Health major students)
  • Ministering in daily clinics at the churches.
  • Health screening – A great and important help for the local community will be screening and providing health advice. Blood sugar levels, blood pressure monitoring, cholesterol level and so on.
  •  General wellness and health talks for the community should be run in conjunction with the health screening.
•  Ministerial Students
  • Personal evangelism, visitation, Bible studies and preaching in different groups.

 Evenings: 9—10 sites simultaneous Evangelistic meetings – 19:30 to 21:30

•  Medical fair/clinics at the evangelistic meeting site (1 hour before the meetings – Health majors students).
•  Presenting daily health & wellness talks (15 minutes) for the evangelistic meetings – Health majors students
•  10 meetings series with two presentations per meeting of Christ-centered doctrinal/evangelistic preaching (Theology students)
  • Subjects: Salvation, Revival and Reformation, How to live with Hope, Repentance and Conversion, Second Coming, Prophecy, Sabbath, Daniel & Revelation, True Church, State of the Death, etc.
  • Preaching/Teaching during Sabbath morning services.
  • Joining the local leadership for Bible studies, visitation and making decisions & baptisms.
• 10 Meetings of children program (Wellness and VBS presentation, Theology & Health majors and Gen-Ed students).

Havana Campo Churches: The second phase is in 4-8 churches around the outskirts of La Havana (Habana Campo). The students will continue working in groups, presenting 4 evening meetings plus the Sabbath program. During the day, they will be completing two service projects at the Havana Seminary: Painting the kitchen including the new Fridge Room financed by Andrew University Religion Department and constructing covered bleachers for the multi-use sport court. All the students and professors will lodge at the Seminary.

The Tour includes:

• Round-trip Air-tickets from Chicago to Cuba, via Mexico.
• Airport transfers, transportation in Cuba in air-conditioned buses if available, except day trips in Havana.
• Accommodations: in Havana at the Seminary, Holguin in a 3* Pernik Hotel and other Hotels while traveling.
• All accommodations are in double bed room. If a student desires a single room, please notify when signing the Study Tour Contract per extra charge.
• All Meals (3 daily). In Holguin: Breakfast at the Pernik Hotel, Lunch at the Conference and Dinner in the local church or Pastoral house. In Havana at the Seminary. Various restaurants while traveling.
• Sightseeing 3 days in Cuba in All-inclusive Resorts/Hotels, and a tentative ‘one day’ in Mexico-Archeological and Ecological Park Xcaret (if budget/time allows it).
• All entrances fees to Museums and cultural folkloric activities.
• Notification to the US Secretary of State/Treasury Departments for permission to visit Cuba and enrollment in the SMART TRAVELER ENROLLMENT PROGRAM (STEP).
• Religious Cuban Visa $150, in order to perform Religious and Social-Humanitarian work. The Cuban SDA Union will process theses visas in advance.
• AIG-GC Risk Management Insurance or Enforced Cuban Government Insurance for 24 days.

The Tour does not include:

• Visas for
  • Mexico if needed for non-US citizens.
• Departure Cuba Airport tax $30
• Personal Expenses, daily water and tips.

Cost: Six-Undergraduate Credits plus a $300 registration travel fee.

• Choose 6 credits only from the following courses:
  • RELP240 Public Evangelism/Christian Witnessing (1-3 credits) – Dr. Petersen
  • RELG360-040 Topics: Evangelism and Homiletics (1-3 credit) – Dr. Muñoz.
  • RELG360-042 Topics: Religion, Service and Health (1-3 credits) – Prof. Schmidt

 Additional fee: $ 300 of registration before Nov 25, 2012. A portion of $250 is not refundable after Dec 1, 2012. There is no reimbursement for the Air-tickets, after the University pays for the tickets Jan 30, 2013.
 

Requirements:

• Limited space of 21-24 students plus teachers and some community participants, including young Pastors from Michigan Conference, mostly former students from the Religion Department.
• All students and community participants must register and sign Tour contract with Dr. Rubén Muñoz-Larrondo, BUL 122.
• Theology/Religion students must have completed RELP330 Homiletics Class or have a recommendation from Prof. Glenn Russell.  Any class conflict must have the authorization of Chair, Dr. Paul Petersen.

Disclaimer:

• This is an Evangelistic-Medical project to interact with our church in Communist Cuba, where there is a lack of resources. Minimal Internet and Telephone services.
• This is not a Study Tour traveling in Deluxe Hotels with Buffett Meals.
• Participants must recognize natural and local conditions (Extremely safe but in some instances they may be precarious).
• All travel will be done using Cuban Official Tourism Buses, the Seminary Bus, Conference Mini-Bus/Vans and other means of transportation provided by the Eastern SDA Conference, all of them driven by Cubans. All of the travel will be during daylight for road conditions and safety. This is one of the reasons of stopping during the trip Havana-Holguin.
• Participants must comply with required immunizations, including Malaria tablets.
• Student must acknowledge that they have read the following link http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/cuba.htm

Vaccine-Preventable Diseases
Vaccine recommendations are based on the best available risk information. Please note that the level of risk for vaccine-preventable diseases can change at any time.
Vaccination or Disease Recommendations or Requirements for Vaccine-Preventable Diseases
Routine
 

• Recommended if you are not up-to-date with routine shots, such as measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus (DPT) vaccine, poliovirus vaccine, etc.
• Hepatitis A or immune globulin (IG) Recommended for all unvaccinated people traveling to or working in countries with an intermediate or high level of hepatitis A virus infection (see map) where exposure might occur through food or water. Cases of travel-related hepatitis A can also occur in travelers to developing countries with "standard" tourist itineraries, accommodations, and food consumption behaviors.
• Hepatitis B
• Recommended for all unvaccinated persons traveling to or working in countries with intermediate to high levels of endemic HBV transmission (see map), especially those who might be exposed to blood or body fluids, have sexual contact with the local population, or be exposed through medical treatment (e.g., for an accident).
• Typhoid
• Recommended for all unvaccinated people traveling to or working in the Caribbean, especially if staying with friends or relatives or visiting smaller cities, villages, or rural areas where exposure might occur through food or water.
• Rabies
• Recommended for travelers spending a lot of time outdoors, especially in rural areas, involved in activities such as bicycling, camping, or hiking. Also recommended for travelers with significant occupational risks (such as veterinarians), for long-term travelers and expatriates living in areas with a significant risk of exposure, and for travelers involved in any activities that might bring them into direct contact with bats, carnivores, and other mammals. Children are considered at higher risk because they tend to play with animals, may receive more severe bites, or may not report bites.

 

• Concerning Religious and Social Humanitarian duties, the participants must check the following link, http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1097.html

“Religious organizations, including members and staff, traveling for the purpose of participating and engaging in religious activities. Organizations may open accounts at Cuban financial institutions for the purpose of accessing funds in Cuba for transactions related to such activities.
Students and all members of faculty and staff of accredited U.S. graduate and undergraduate degree granting institutions can participate in academic activities in Cuba through any sponsoring U.S. academic institution, not only through the accredited U.S. academic institution at which the student is pursuing a degree, if the traveler’s study in Cuba will be accepted for credit toward the student’s degree.”
“No medical facility in Cuba will accept U.S. issued insurance cards, credit cards, or checks and medical services must be paid for in cash. The Department of State strongly urges U.S. citizens to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and whether it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation. Please see our information on medical insurance overseas.”

 

• This is a trip to the tropics; as such you must take care of health by drinking plenty of fluids and protecting yourself from mosquitoes at all time.
• The group will travel and remain together all of the time under the direction of personnel of the Seminary, the Union and/or the Eastern Conference..
• A good spiritual life and positive attitude.
•  A good dose of patience. 

 
 

  Tentative Itinerary   

Day Description  
       
1 Monday, May 06, 2013 Travel  
    Andrews University Bus to O'hare Airport  
    ORD - CUN - HAV, Lodging Hotel Havana  
       
2 Tuesday, May 07, 2013 Tour Habana  
    Seminary - Dinner Restaurant-Cañonazo National Park  
    Museum Capitanes Generales - Lodging: Hotel Habana,   
       
3 Wednesday, May 08, 2013 Travel Trinidad  
    Habana-Trinidad-Holguin  
    Museum Trinidad  - Hotel Brisas Trinidad del Mar or similar  
       
4 Thursday, May 09, 2013 Travel - Churches  
    Trinidad - Holguin, visiting Sancti Spiritus and Camaguey.  
    Hotel Pernik, Room Standard  
       
    Phase 1: Holguin Evangelistic Health Effort   
5 Friday, May 10, 2013 Hotel Pernik, Room Standard  

6 Saturday, May 11, 2013 Hotel Pernik Room Standard  

7 Sunday, May 12, 2013 Hotel Pernik Room Standard  
    Transportation Beach day  

8 Monday, May 13, 2013 Hotel Pernik Room Standard  

9 Tuesday, May 14, 2013 Hotel Pernik  Room Standard  

10 Wednesday, May 15, 2013 Hotel Pernik  Room Standard  

11 Thursday, May 16, 2013 Hotel Pernik  Room Standard  
    Transportation to Bayamo   

12 Friday, May 17, 2013 Hotel Pernik  Room Standard  

13 Saturday, May 18, 2013 Hotel Pernik  Room Standard  
       
14 Sunday, May 19, 2013 Beach - Guardalavaca  
    Hotel Brisas Guardalavaca Standard or similar  
    AI - arr 10 am - dep 9 am  
       
15 Monday, May 20, 2013 Travel Holguin-Cayo Coco  
    Hotel Iberostar Cayo Coco Standard or similar  
    AI - Arr 2 pm   
       
16 Tuesday, May 21, 2013 Travel Cayo Coco - Habana  
    Continuation Travel - B - dep 12 noon  
    Seminary: Lodging and Food  
       
    Habana Campo Evangelistic-Medical Effort & Service Seminary  
17 Wednesday, May 22, 2013 Habana Campo Churches (4-8)  
    Preaching-Clinics and Service: Seminary and/or Churches  
    Seminary: Lodging and Food  
       
18 Thursday, May 23, 2013 Habana - Seminary  
    Mor: Habana - Aft: Beach  
    Preaching-Clinics and Service: Seminary and/or Churches Cultural Activity & Dinner with Seminary Faculty  
    Seminary: Lodging and Food, B  
       
19 Friday, May 24, 2013 Habana Campo Churches (4-8)  
    Preaching-Clinics and Service: Seminary and/or Churches  
    Seminary: Lodging and Food  
       
20 Saturday, May 25, 2013 Habana Campo Churches (4-8)  
    Preaching-Clinics and Service: Seminary and/or Churches  
    Pizza - Centro  - Palenque  
    Seminary: Lodging and Food  
       
21 Sunday, May 26, 2013 Varadero  
    Hotel Iberostar Playa Alameda or similar  
    arr: 12 - dep 12   
       
22 Monday, May 27, 2013 Varadero - Seminary  
    Seminary: Lodging and Food  
    dep: 6 pm -   
       
23 Tuesday, May 28, 2013 Airport - Cancun  
    Travel to Mexico - transfer hotel-Xcaret  
       
24 Wednesday, May 29, 2013 Cancun - Chicago - AU  
    Return