1. Love Jesus Christ and be spiritually mature with good interpersonal communication skills.

2. Eighteen (18) years of age or older, who speak English as their first language or those who started using English before the age of twelve (12).

3. Only U.S. and Canadian citizens are eligible for our travel insurance.

4. Have a loving heart, and be patient with others. An open attitude toward foreign cultures is important.

5. Agree with the OSM’s Statement of Faith.

. Can a small group of friends apply together?

Yes. For the purposes of accommodation and assigning process, we encourage same sex groups to apply together as part of a team. You will be assigned to the same country and work in the same church for the summer mission. All individuals with good spiritual maturity and Christian character are essential. You may send in your application form in the same package, or you can put your friends’ names on the application form under General Information.

. How are the airline tickets to be purchased?

OSM will purchase the tickets through our travel agent in late spring. We will arrange for team members to be on the same flight.

. What should I bring with me for the trip?

"Travel light" are the key words. The summers in Taiwan, China and Japan are very warm (85 degrees or so) and humid, similar to Texas. Bring summer clothes with you (please check our dress code). Personal medicines, vitamins and over the counter cold relievers may be needed, since many commonly used medicines from the States are not available in Asia. Other details will be described in our Mission Team Training Handbook.

. Once I arrive, how do I contact my family and friends back home?

Technology has brought people closer to one another, more now than ever before. Regardless, of where you are in the world, you are only one phone call away from home. The cost of telephone calls could be prohibitive if you are not careful; our training handbook will show you some cost saving tips for your communication needs. Please remember not to make a long distance call from the phone in your hotel room. Using a local phone card is always recommended, whether you are staying in a hotel or with a host family, so that the host family or church won’t have to foot the bill after you leave.

. Can you address the safety issues in Taiwan, China and Japan?

Taiwan, China and Japan are very safe places to travel. People walking alone at night do not have many safety concerns. In general, the population respects foreigners. Guns and firearms are not available on the market and ownership by private citizens is prohibited. Despite these factors, our policy is "team actions", which shall be strictly followed. You shall always be with, at least, one or more team members or with national Christians wherever you go. You will never be left alone. No individual movement shall be considered. There are no English signs on the streets and not much English is spoken. The host family and the churches will help you with the transportation issues. Other questions will be addressed in the team meetings.

. I really want to go on the trip, but I may not have time to raise the support; can I still sign up?

Please go ahead and send in your application. Do not let the financial worries stop you from serving the Lord. Have faith in Him, pray for your needs and He will surely provide. You will be amazed!

. What will happen if the funds for the trip have been raised and the member drops out?

If the fund is self-supported, we will refund to you the portion that has not been used (i.e. airfare deposit etc.). If the fund was raised with outside support, you may transfer it to others (subject to qualifying) or donate it to our general fund to help those in need of financial help.

. What should we do in case of an emergency?

Your safety and health are our primary concern. There are several hospitals in the cities where the projects are located and they should be able to handle any emergency needs. The American staff, or western missionaries, will be working as our consultants and will be available to help in any emergency. If any serious treatment is necessary you could be flown to the hospitals in Hawaii, in a matter of hours, from the Pacific Rim countries. Every team member will be covered by Overseas Traveler’s Protection Plan (OTPP), which is provided by Overseas Insurance Consultants, Inc, an Atlanta-based insurance company. The insurance fee of US$30 should be paid to your team leader at the mission training. The sponsoring churches and OSM will always be with you for any special needs.

. Is this trip for me?

The cross-cultural adventure and the challenges are always full of excitement. While we offer care and love towards others, we, in return, receive not only sweet friendship and memories that last for decades; but the all mighty God, that we are serving, is glorified by our humble acts. You may ask whether Jesus will remember all these acts when we are, someday, face to face with Him? You bet!

. What are the home stays or living arrangements?

Housing arrangements will vary. Some team members will stay in the churches and some will stay with host families. Others will stay in the rented high-rise apartments, specially arranged by sponsoring churches for the team. Other factors of the placement will be gender and the size of the team assigned to a church. If you prefer to have some one of the same gender team member(s) as your roommate(s), you are welcome to do so. All the host family selection and living arrangements will be made prior to your arrival. The details will be discussed in the first team meeting.

. How are the meals prepared?

Meals depend upon the housing arrangements. The church may provide the meals or the team members should do some grocery shopping so they are able to prepare their own breakfasts and lunches. The dinners will be provided by the host family or by the church (sometimes you may want to cook yourself) or you will eat out in a restaurant. Some churches will arrange for church members to take turns treating you to dinner. The food budget will be provided by OSM and the sponsoring churches.

. What are the additional costs besides the required program amount ?

Additional costs might include the following:

• The non-refundable application fee US$20.
• Domestic airfare or bus fare to the mission training location near your State/Province prior to heading overseas.
• The international medical and accident insurance US$30.
• The visa application fee to Tawian, China or Russia. No visa required for traveling to European countries, Hong Kong or Japan.
• The personal sightseeing and travel costs after the project, if any.

. Will there be language training?

There will be a few hours of basic language training prior to the trip. We will teach you some words of greeting and compliments, as well as concept and structure of the languages. The training will also provide you with some knowledge of culture and traditions. This will make it easier for you to adjust to the new environment and make new local friends.

. How effective is the short-tem mission?

Only fully coordinated with the national churches, the short-term missions will have an impact on the targeted area. Through years of continuous operations, it will enable the national churches to pre-schedule, participate and do the follow-ups. OSM has conducted our efforts based on these principals and help the national churches to reach out.

. How are we going to reach out to the students?

Our strategy is to build friendships and to bond through the care and love we give our students in the classes, while, at the same time, meeting their language needs through intensive teaching. During the process, our national Christians will have a chance to share Christ with them. At the end of the project, there will be a summer camp and the Gospel will be presented to all the students, using their national language. A very high percentage of students will accept Jesus.

. How can I help the summer missions?

• You can help us by praying for fruitful missions for this summer and for the team members’ health, physical safety, energy, and cultural adoption, as well as students’ openness to God.
• Share the vision and opportunities by simply forwarding this website to your friends.
• Any amount of donation will go a long way to help out this mission. You may send a check to:

OSM, 2222 Michelson Drive, Suite 5220, California 92612