Our Team
Our Team
Dear Volunteer Team Leader

There is no way we can realistically package what it would take to prepare you and your team for the experience of living and working with the Songhai people, but we are giving it our best shot! All pre-field orientation materials from our team are found on this site. Others resources are listed and linked to their sources. Know that we will be praying for you as you prepare to come.

The Songhai Team
October 2008

Pre-field orientation materials include

These instructional documents
  • "Team Leaders with Attitude"
    expectations and advice
  • "Team Leader Check List"
    a list of tasks essential to complete before coming
  • "Giving Your All", "Your '4-1-1'", and "Free Unsolicited Advice to Volunteers"
    the core of our pre-field orientation…the who, what, where, why, and how of preparing to come minister to the Songhai people

    the volunteer team leader is to print and study these documents

    these 3 documents can be copied and given to members of the volunteer team as well
  • "The Bare Bones" (pdf document)
    an outline of the “4-1-1” document, a must for everyone on the team
  • "Vaccination Clinics"
    a how-to document
  • "Telling the Story"
    a how-to document
  • "The Adventures of Eating"
    advice on eating in the third world
  • "How to Work with a Translator"
    a how-to document
  • "Here, There and Yonder"
    more specific information about the places you will be traveling though and to
These videos and recordings
  • "Untold Millions Seeking Truth"
    “It has been over 2000 years since Jesus walked the earth, and over 150 years since missionaries started working in the great continent of Africa. Still today there are ethnic groups in West Africa who have little or no access to the Gospel.” This video introduces eight West African people groups, including the Songhai. Included are tools to help you pray for their spiritual needs.
  • "Hope for the Hopeless"
    … made by a previous volunteer, in the expectation that it will help you better understand the Songhai people and their specific needs… a must to share with your families, your Sunday school classes, your missions groups, and with your church as you prepare to come
  • "Songhai Language Study Recording with Text"
    with practice, you will learn greetings and phrases basic to Songhai ministry

    volunteer teams have found it very helpful, but not obligatory, to have someone on the team who can speak French, look to your community for learning resources
And these helpful resources
  • Current Forecast
  • Registration Forms
    US Embassy Registration Online
    US Embassy Registration Form (Hard Copy) (pdf document)
    IMB Emergency Contact Registration Online
  • IMB Church Support Team
  • Previous Volunteer Testimonies
  • Other opportunities of service
    personnel “want ads” and information about our prayer children project, village adoption project, and partnerships
  • Photo Galleries
    several photo collections, with accompanying texts, are available for church mission moments and pre-worship information, small group devotionals, or individual spiritual preparation
Each volunteer will also receive
  • a pack of picture prayer cards
  • 2 Songhai brochures
  • an on-field orientation book
Cost

We do ask that you help us cover the costs of these materials by paying $10 per person when you reach the field.

Return to Pre-field Orientaion