BHC09 - Amsterdam, Netherlands
Team Member Orientation

Congratulations! You are an official member of the BHC09 Team.

This Orientation Material will give you some helpful information as you prepare to join us on our short-term ministry trip to Bosnia. Please take some time to read through the material now and jot down any thoughts and/or questions that arise. We pray that your cross-cultural experience with Lifework Forum will be a blessed and growing time for you. However, we want you to realize that your trip really starts TODAY. From long experience we know that the preparations you make from this point forward, before you even get on the plane, are part of the overall experience God has for you. The more focus and effort you put into preparing, the more meaningful the whole experience will be. This might be a good time to stop and ask Him to lead and guide you as you take each step. You had enough information to ask to join the BHC09 Team, but what do you really know about the Netherlands or Amsterdam?

The Netherlands, as the name indicates, is low-lying territory, with one-quarter of the country at or below sea level. Many areas are protected from flooding by dykes and sea walls. Much land has been reclaimed from the sea, the Flevoland polder being the most recent example.

The Dutch Parliament (or Staten Generaal) consists of two chambers. The first, with 75 members, is indirectly elected and has limited powers. The second chamber, or lower house, is directly elected. Members of both houses serve a four-year term. Given the country’s multi-party system, all governments are coalitions.

Industrial activity in the Netherlands predominantly consists of food processing, chemicals, petroleum refining as well as electrical and electronic machinery. It has a dynamic agricultural sector and is well known for its plants and cut flowers. The port of Rotterdam is the busiest in Europe, serving a vast hinterland which stretches into Germany and central Europe.

These 18th century windmills were built to drain the surrounding land. The Netherlands has a history of great painters. The 17th century was the age of the Dutch Masters, such as Rembrandt van Rijn, Johannes Vermeer and Jan Steen. The 19th and 20th centuries were no less remarkable for their high-caliber artists like Vincent van Gogh and Piet Mondriaan.
Well-known Dutch specialities include raw herring, smoked eel and pea soup, as well as a wide variety of cheeses such as Edam and Gouda.

 Amsterdam is the capital and largest city of the Netherlands, located in the province of North Holland in the west of the country. It is an easy ride (even by bicycle) from Badhoevedorp. The city, which had a population of around 1 million (with suburbs) on 1 January 2008, comprises the northern part of the Randstad, the 6th-largest metropolitan area in Europe, with a population of around 6.7 million.

Its name is derived from Amstel dam, indicative of the city's origin: a dam in the river Amstel where the Dam Square is today. Settled as a small fishing village in the late 12th century, Amsterdam became one of the most important ports in the world during the Dutch Golden Age, a result of its innovative developments in trade. During that time, the city was the leading center for finance and diamonds. In the 19th and 20th centuries, the city expanded and many new neighborhoods and suburbs were formed.

The city is the financial and cultural capital of the Netherlands. Many large Dutch institutions have their headquarters there, and 7 of the world's top 500 companies, including Philips and ING, are based in the city. The Amsterdam Stock Exchange, part of Euronext, is located in the city centre. Amsterdam's main attractions, including its historic canals, the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, and Anne Frank House draw 4.2 million tourists annually.

Badhoevedorp is a town in the Dutch province of North Holland. This is the town in which we will be meeting. It is only 5km from the airport at Schiphol and easily accessible by bus. It is a part of the municipality of Haarlemmermeer, and lies about 9 km southwest of Amsterdam. Badhoevedorp has a population of around 11,370.

Weather
Amsterdam has a mild, damp climate but the weather can be variable with temperature extremes even in summer. Temperatures in May can be expected to range from the 40s (F) to the 60s. Spring and autumn especially bring changeable, unsettled weather. In the winter months clear, frosty days are the norm, the coldest months being December to March. Rain is likely all year round.

Airfares
Plane tickets are the financial responsibility of each Team member. Besides minimizing the financial burden that Lifework Forum must bear, we feel that raising funds is an important part of the short-term ministry experience.

Each team member is free to book their own ticket to Amsterdam. You may want to check with us before doing so in order to coordinate with the on-site contact people. Lifework Forum is open to making travel arrangements with the understanding that airfare costs will be reimbursed in full at least 30 days prior to the trip. Some who have accompanied us have preferred that we make flight arrangements in order to travel along with Curt and/or Sandra.

If you would like Lifework Forum to book your ticket to ensure that you will travel with one of us, please let us know as soon as possible. We will do our best to make arrangements at the lowest possible rate that suits your availability. At the moment round trip airfare to Sarajevo is approximately $1200.

Insurance
Lifework Forum recommends purchasing travel insurance. The cost is minimal. You may choose from the following sources or another reputable provider: www.missionarvinsurance.org, www.gninsurance.com, www.missionaryhealth.net, www.otpplan.com.

Spending Money
Each team member must determine the amount of personal spending money he/she will need. This amount will include, but not be limited to, souvenirs, snacks, alternate meals, and sightseeing. Lifework Forum does not recommend travelers checks. Our experience has been that converting approximately $50 USD with access to further funds through a secure ATM card is sufficient. Please contact us for further information, if you are unfamiliar with international travel.

Documents
A valid passport must accompany each Team member at all times. It is important to apply for a passport well in advance as it is difficult to get one at the last minute. Each team member should also have a second photo ID. Passports serve as a primary ID, but a secondary photo ID can be helpful. Each Team Member must send a photocopy of the information page of their passport and photo ID to Lifework Forum a minimum of 30 days prior to the trip.

All Team Members will be accountable to the BHC09 Team leadership for the entire trip. A signed “Release of Liability and Release to Obtain Medical Care” form must be submitted a minimum of 30 days prior to departure.

Immunizations
Lifework Forum does not insist upon any immunizations. However, we recommend that each Team Member check with their department of Health to see if any immunizations are currently required for people traveling from the US to the Netherlands. It is highly recommended that Team Members have updated tetanus protection. It may be helpful to check with your physician for recommendations concerning hepatitis A and B, as well as typhoid and cholera. Malaria protection is not necessary. We encourage you to bring whatever over-the- counter health supplies you may need.

Medication
If you take prescription medication(s), if would be a good idea to have a supply to last at least an extra week. Unforeseen circumstances can and do arise that could prevent a timely return to the USA. If you would not have enough supply on hand, please talk to your doctor well ahead of time and ask how you should respond in this situation. You do not want to be caught abroad without the prescription medications you routinely need.