Arabia Middle east North Africa FAQ's

Uturn Arabia

Training conference happening in Dubai-UAE. We expect to send people to many other Arabian countries. For security reasons we will give you information only upon request.

Uturn Middle east

The Middle East is comprised of a rich mosaic of peoples. The vast majority are Muslims and have had very limited chance to hear about Jesus. We invite you to join us and be a part of what God is doing in this area! The people of the Middle East are amazingly friendly and have a spiritual hunger. Each country is quite different, and there are plenty of opportunities to share your faith in each of them. You may be involved in some of the following activities:

- Kids Clubs
- Visiting
- Sports ministry
- Prayer trips
- English teaching
- Visiting Bedouin in the desert

We want you to experience different aspects of the culture and also gain an understanding of the people you’ll meet. Whatever ministry you will be involved in, our prayer is that God would reveal * his heart for these people and that you will leave with a greater love and passion for them.

Church Teams
Church (or pre-organized ) teams are very welcome. The usual practice is for members of such teams to be spread across a number of outreach teams following the conference, thus experiencing the multicultural flavor of U Turn. Exceptions to this, in which a church team remains together for the outreach, can be made in certain circumstances. This, however, must be discussed with the conference team at the application stage.

Dress code
In Arab culture, dress code for both men and women should be conservative. Women should bring at least one long skirt (i.e. ankle-length, without slit) and a long-sleeved, loose top for the more conservative areas. If the skirt is see-through a slip would be necessary. In other areas it is okay for women to wear trousers, but if they are tight a long top should be worn that covers the bottom. Tops should be loose, not see-through, nor low-cut and should not reveal any skin around the waist even when bending down. The sleeves should at least cover the elbow. Do also bring a conservative swimsuit and you might feel most comfortable also wearing a pair of shorts with the swimsuit.

For men, again long trousers and a shirt with long sleeves should be brought for ministry times. Jeans and dress shorts can sometimes be worn at other times in less conservative areas. No earrings or nasal rings should be worn by men.

Weather
Summers in the Middle East are very hot. Temperatures can be anywhere from 15-20 C at night to 35-40 during the day. Bring cool, light clothing that conforms to the dress code above.

Visa
Many nationalities can obtain visas upon arrival at the airport in Lebanon. Some need to obtain one in advance, and each participant should check with the Lebanese embassy in their own country. For some nationalities a letter of invitation, which we can provide, will be required.

Accommodation
For the outreaches you should expect the accommodation to be basic, either in cheap hotels or in people’s houses. Some (traveling) teams may camp outside. You should bring a sleeping bag. Food will be simple and often you will eat in cheap, local restaurants or have sandwiches

Luggage
In general when packing, remember that you will be traveling quite a bit so weight is a factor. You will be responsible for carrying your own luggage. We highly recommend that you bring a backpack rather than a suitcase. Be prepared to be up and about!

A note on security
Your passport must not have any Israeli stamp in it, or other evidence that you have visited there. You will otherwise be refused entry. Also, we ask you not to bring anything with Hebrew script (clothing, books etc.).

At the conference you will receive instructions on security awareness as you go out in teams. However, even back in your own country you should think about how to communicate with people about what you will be doing. Feel free to share in your church, but don’t let them put anything specific on the web about you or about what you will be doing (this is also obviously true for your own website if you have one). This is for your own sake and for the sake of the people you will be ministering with and to.

Uturn North Africa

TEAMS

Your team will be multi-national, so come with a flexible attitude, showing respect for others and their ways of doing things. During your time in North Africa, it is essential that you realize your commitment to your team members and also the leader. There is great spiritual strength and authority in unity!

MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES
North Africa is a place of many contrasts, and so you may be involved in a variety of different activities. Meeting and making friends with people on beaches, praying in ancient towns and small villages, low-key literature distribution are just some of the options. Your team will be involved in one or more of these activities. In addition, the following is what you can all expect in general of your time in North Africa:

- Learning how to adapt to and function in a less developed country
- Gaining valuable insight into the Arab/Berber culture and Muslim religion
- Developing relationships with some of the local people and fellow team members
- Leaving books, tapes and videos in the hands of those whom you meet
- Gaining exposure to the Arabic language
- Engaging in prayer walks around ancient cities

Aside from more specific prayer walking, you will also spend time daily with the team for devotions around God’s Word, praying for one another and worshipping God in an area of the world where so few know Jesus.

Special Opportunities: (Please notify us beforehand, if interested)

Trekking Team: For the truly adventurous spirit
The trekking team is a special group which travels to secluded parts of North Africa to plant seeds for the gospel. This team will hike from mountain to mountain to reach different villages and will carry literature with them to give as gifts. Team members must pack light because you will be carrying everything with you. All the necessary camping equipment will be provided. Hiking boots are required. Please consider the physical activity involved in this trip before applying.

Teaching English
This team will include one week of teaching and the rest of the time doing the normal travel. They will be teaching in a small-town school run by locals. It is not necessary to be a trained teacher, but fluency in English is required.

CLOTHING
In Arabic cultures, where modesty is stressed, the message of the Gospel may be hindered if the messenger dresses in a manner offensive to the listener. Therefore, * we require modest dress for both men and women. This means no scruffy clothes, sleeveless T-shirts or tops. See-through or tight fitting clothing is also unacceptable. The following suggested clothing list is a guide for appropriate dress for those seeking to minister in a Muslim culture.

WOMEN
- Clean jeans/trousers (not tight) can be worn in larger cities and tourist areas
- Long, loose fitting T-shirts or blouses with sleeves (the top half of the arm must be covered)
- Long (below knee length) washable skirts (with a slip if see-through)
- Long dresses
- Headscarf might prove helpful in mountain areas and small villages
- Modest nightwear
- Swimsuit: in North Africa – modest one-piece swimsuit, sometimes worn with cotton shorts.

MEN
- Long, washable trousers are best/ clean jeans are OK
- Shirts with sleeves (long or short)
- Singlet tops and sleeveless shirts should be used only as underwear
- Swimming shorts
- No earrings for men

MEN AND WOMEN
- Towel
- Sunglasses (if you wear prescription glasses, take a spare pair and/or a copy of the prescription)
- Comfortable shoes and/or sandals for walking
- Plastic thongs/flip-flops/sandals for showering
- Warm, lightweight jacket for cold evenings and higher altitudes
- Sweater/Jumper
- Socks
- Personal toiletries, including sun tan cream, insect repellent
- Sleeping bag
- Photos showing your family, home, life style, animals unique to your country, etc. (to show the people that you will meet, also great conversation starters)
- Small flashlight (torch)

FAQ's

APPLICATION FORM - When is it due?
Can a Church/College group come?
Can a Couple come?
Can a family come?
COMMUNICATION - How will I keep in contact?
COST - How much is it?
Dates - When do the teams leave?
Food & Accommodation - What it will be like?
How do I get from the Conference to the field?
LANGUAGE – What is the language of the team?
TEAM SIZE - How many people per team?
TRAINING - Is it provided?
What will I be doing?

APPLICATION FORM - When is it due?
You need to mail an application form to your local Operation Mobilization office by the deadline they require.
Click here to find your local OM office, so that you may request an application form and find out the dead-line.

Can a Church/College group come?
Yes, please come and join us! Make sure that you tell us you are a group during the application process.

Can a Couple come?
Yes, Couples are more then welcome to come and join us. While we try to ensure that couples will have their own room, this is not always possible, so it is important that couples come prepared for the possibility of being split during their time with us.

Can a family come?
Sorry, no! We wouldn’t recommend Uturn for families with small children.

COMMUNICATION - How will I keep in contact?
There are internet cafes everywhere, even at the edge of the desert. But we encourage you to take these weeks to really focus on the people and to invest your time, mind and heart in them.

COST - How much is it?
Operation Mobilization (OM) is a faith mission, which means that we must see support raised for you to go on the mission. Don't worry--if God wants you to go, He will provide!
Please contact your local OM office to find out the amount that is needed for you to go from your particular country.

Dates - When do the teams leave?
The first 5 days of the short term trip will be spent in the training conference. After that, the teams will leave for 2 or 3 weeks in an Arab country, followed by 1 and half days debrief back at the conference site.

Check our Next Uturn.

Food & Accommodation - What it will be like?
You will stay in budget hotels, sharing your room with others in the team. You will probably meet local families (which are very hospitable) and/or missionary families that will be happy to host you and your team.
Food! You will have the chance to experience typical daily life in one of the Arab countries, so food will be part of this experience. You will get to taste the Arab cuisine in people’s homes and also in simple local restaurants.

How do I get from the Conference to the field?
The teams will travel together, and the trip will be arranged by the Uturn staff. Depending on the distance between the Conference site and the field you will visit, teams may go by ferry, a plane, car/bus, or all the above. These travel expenses are already included in the Uturn cost.

LANGUAGE – What is the language of the team?
The language of the team is English, so members of the team will be communicating in English among themselves. The team leader will be an Arabic speaker and will help the team when translation is needed.

Every Arab country speaks slightly different dialects, which are simplified forms of the Classical Arabic language. Arabs love to teach visitors their language, so you will have millions of willing tutors! Take the chance to learn a bit. These days, many young Arab people are learning English and will want to converse with you.

TEAM SIZE - How many people per team?
The teams will probably be an international team with 4 to 9 people from different backgrounds and denominations. Be ready to be flexible and understanding of other cultures.

TRAINING - Is it provided?
Yes, the first 5 days of your short term trip is a training conference where you will learn the basics of Arabic or the specific dialect spoken in your country. You will also learn about the Muslim faith, how to effectively share your faith to a Muslim, and about life in Arab countries. You will also take part in team building activities and will have the opportunity to grow through different seminar and workshops.

What will I be doing?
You will be involved in friendship evangelism, as well as literature distribution, and prayer walks. If you wish to be involved in sports ministry, beach ministry, children’s ministry, aid ministry,trekking team, or traveling team, you will need to express a desire to join one of these specific teams, and we will check availability.