Dear Mission Team Member,

Thank you for sharing your time and talents with our mission in Vladivostok. Before you depart on your trip, let me offer some advice and information:

	Do not give gifts, money, tips, or other goods to any one person at the parish. Even if the person is helpful to you, there are many others behind the scenes who are helping out but are not as visible. If you feel generous, give a donation of cash to the priests. The money will be used for everyone.
	We will pay the parishioners who have you for a meal. This is a way for families to earn additional revenue. They have been instructed in cleanliness and safety, so sit back and enjoy the food.
	You can purchase food items such as chips, soda, yogurt, and snacks at small corner stores. The stores are stocked with almost everything imaginable, not just convenience food. The food is fine to eat, but avoid all water unless it is bottled water. (The church has a large water cooler where you can refill your bottles.)
	Money is changed on the street by our host person.
	IMPORTANT! Bring small packages of tissues to take with you to use as toilet paper. Public restrooms are not always available, and those that are available do not provide toilet paper.
	Do not take photographs of the elderly, especially in the nursing homes. They will smile and appear to like it, but they are offended.
	If you have questions, please ask your host person. The priests are usually very busy and depend upon the host person to help out.
	No washer or dryer will be available. It is recommended that you wear only one or two outfits while you are in Russia and just bring changes of underwear. There will be time to hand-wash smaller items like underwear, but since there will not necessarily be much time for items to dry, it may be difficult to wash larger items.
	You can use one of our computers in Russia to send an email message message to your family that you arrived safely, but keep the messages very short. Each computer is used by several employees, and it is difficult for them to let you use the computer in the office. Please tell the email recipients not to respond.
	I will have ready access to you while you are in Vladivostok, so feel free to give my phone number to your families. If they have questions, I can answer them.
	There will be lots of walking up and down hills, so be prepared for a workout!

God love you and your family,

Sandra Sonnen

National Coordinator