What To Do When Things Go Haywire Internationally

I have been very blessed to have been able to take three international mission trips so far in my life.  One to the Philippines and two to Romania.

My trips to each place were beyond amazing and I highly recommend mission trips.  But happens when things don't go as planned?

For example, on my last Romania trip, while putting together a new bed for the new facility for Forget-Me-Not Ministries, a team leader stepped wrong and broke her leg.  It was horrifying.  

We all went into high alert and at-the-ready to do whatever we needed to do to get her well enough to travel home.  Thank God for our local guide, Attila.  He knew people.  He knew the system (Romania was still very much a communist/bribing environment in some areas). And there was no modern hospital within 100 miles.  Nerves were frayed, and we didn't know what to do - except call the travel agent.

While Attila was taking care of our team lead getting medical care, the travel agent made sure of all insurance that was available for her, and worked out all the details to get her fiance to her in Budapest, to then bring her home once she was released.  She needed special assistance to accommodate for the pins in her leg and medical equipment to go with it while flying back to the U.S.  

So what do you do when things go haywire?  Rely on your local guide, (tour guide, boat captain, personal guide, family member, etc.) for all the local ettiquette and processes, and call your travel agent. 

And in case you didn't know by now, I am one :-).  Still a newbie on the officialness, but offical nonetheless.  So if you need help with your next mission trip, just let me know.

=C=