NK Trip Guide

CC ConsultingTravel to DPRK

Is this trip legal?

Yes (and safe). We wouldn't approach this if it were otherwise. Only those with visas may enter and are thus, guests of the country.
For American and SK passport holders, no stamps or marks are made in your passport to indicate that you've stepped onto DPRK soil. We will receive a paper-visa and you will not be able to keep it when you leave the country.

Can South Koreans go?

Yes and no. SK citizens who have a Green Card, Permanent Residence, or a work visa of any country outside SK are eligible to come.

Do I need to register with my home country that I will be visiting the DPRK?

Americans and Canadians are encouraged to register, but is not mandatory. It is up to you if you want to register or not.
For Americans, see: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_988.html For Canadians see: http://www.voyage.gc.ca/countries_pays/report_rapport-eng.asp?id=152000

How much is it?

1350 euros. Fee covers your expenses in Beijing and DPRK from 7/29 until 8/8. It does not include your travel expenses to and from China.
You must let me know in advance if you are not able to pay in euros.
Payment is cash only - no travelers checks, personal checks or credit cards accepted. All bills for either currency should be new and crisp, without markings of any kind (especially on U.S. bills). A slight tear in the bill will be rejected.

Visas

You will need a double-entry visa for China. For those who can only get a single-entry visa (for whatever reason) can apply for another single entry visa from DPRK but this will be expensive (US$100). For your DPRK visa, we will be applying for it in China. You do not need to be present at time of application.

Dress Code

NO Jeans. Dress code is Business Casual. Skirt length must be below-knee. No sleeveless anything for men or women. No shorts, no jeans. T-shirt is acceptable, but cannot have any words of any language on it. It must be plain and clean looking. Golf/polo shirts are the best. Short-sleeve button shirts are fine as well, as long as the print or design is conservative. Open toe sandals are ok, but no flip-flops. Conservative earrings for women.

What to bring

For your personal possession, you can bring your Bible. We will have daily devotion and worship.
Personal digital and video cameras are encouraged but there will be some restrictions. Professional digital camera is acceptable; pro-video is not (unless it's small and unimposing).

News and other threats

Not many are interested in any good news coming out of the DPRK. They all seem to be bad news and casts much fear into that country.
If travel becomes unsafe for foreigners, the trip will be postponed or canceled.
We should not let ungodly fear control our decisions and life choices. We need His love to overcome fear and then discern the leading of His heart.

Submitting the application

Send by email 3 attachments:
1. Application form
2. Scan of passport
3. Passport photo as a file (jpg; size should be at least 100kbytes)
Follow this example in the Subject heading: "August 2012 Application for your-name"

iPads and other electronic devices

For those bringing iPads or other similar electronic devices...these are great to bring. Have some good pictures to share, particularly about your family. Maybe include other places you've been around the world. The guides will be fascinated. Games are fun, but we can use these devices to spur *conversations*. Be selective on the videos/movies you have on your device. Remember your purpose for going in.

Small gifts for our hosts

Snacks: bring snacks to share with all of us on the bus or wherever. But bring snacks to share with our guides and bus driver. Snacks and candy from U.S. is great, as is snacks from S.Korea. One word of caution. You will not be able to hand out candies to random children on the street. We'll talk more about what you can and cannot do during orientation.
Other items great for gifts are sample cosmetics, toiletry goods such as toothbrushes/toothpaste, soap, pantyhose/tights, socks, aspirin/vitamins, and any other small item you can think of. Each gift packet should be about $5. We will prepare these gifts as a team in Beijing. Let me know what you can bring so I know what we have to buy to fill in the remaining items.

Spending money

While your fees are payable in Euros, you can have any kind of spending money: RMB, USD, or euro. RMB does not have to be new. USD and euro must be new-ish, and without any tears or marks. Some US bills have a black mark along the edge to test the authenticity. Those will be rejected. Hundred-dollar bills are hard for them to change. They will want you to spend more money so they don't have to give you change. Bring a range of currencies.
What can you buy? Like any other country, there's a whole bunch of stuff you can buy. But things are getting more and more expensive. Since euro is the official currency, cheap stuff starts at 1 euro. You can buy watercolor paintings. They are authentic but prices range from 30 euros and up. Almost every tourist site will have a giftshop.

Electricity

There is no standard in NK yet. Most plugs will be 220-240v, but you will find some 120v plugs, even in public places such as restaurants. But that's not the problem. Even if the plug is 240v, because the electric grid is so outdated, the power will fluctuate between 170-200v. People with cameras, iPods, etc. have dual-voltage rechargers so this is no problem. Some hotels have 220v plugs in the room but 120v plugs in the bathroom. It is very rare to have a power outage in the capital.

Age limitations

No age limitations. We have traveled with infants and the elderly alike. The youngest traveler we’ve taken to NK is a few-month-old infant. The oldest is 72, but that record will be broken by a grandmother who is 81, traveling this summer.

North Korea Outreach 2012 - Team Prayer Letter

North Korea Outreach 201221 – 28 July

Goal:

1. To pray for North Korea and show God’s love through our interaction with the people .
2. To act as ambassadors of God and to bring His Light and Hope in the nation of North Korea.
3. To raise prayer for North Korea and establish contacts for future outreaches to North Korea.

Vision:

To preach the Gospel in unity as the body of Jesus Christ in North Korea and to do the good works that He called us to do.

Prayer requests:

That God’s will be done.
Favor with the Korean people and open hearts for the Gospel.
That souls will be won for God’s Kingdom.
Passion and vigilance for the team that are going to  North Korea.
Unity – Ambassadors from the body of Christ.
Health – protection against any health risks and sickness.
Spiritual wisdom and discernment to know every day what is the perfect will of God.
Every team member - that the Lord will work in us and through us.

Team Bank Account:

Noord Korea
ABSA account nr: 9246198462
Branch: 632005

Africa West to East - Mia Press Release

Press release: JERICHO WALLS / MIA2012 PRAYER TEAM FEEDBACK

PRESS RELEASE

JERICHO WALLS / MIA2012 PRAYER TEAM FEEDBACK

Written by Crystal Strydom (Jericho Walls)

Three ladies went on a prayer journey from West to East over Africa on the equator in preparation of the MIA2012 outreaches that will be visiting various EoC's in nations South of the Equator. The teams will depart after the Missions Empowerment Conference happening at Fountains Valley from 25 - 27 June. Here is a short feedback article of their testimony. 

“We flew to Gabon and traveled from nation to nation.  We arrived amid a ladies conference - a joyful, vibrant, worshipping event!  We met local intercessors, hundreds of them, prayer-drove the capital city of Libreville and stood on the grounds of the first missionary station set up by Americans in the 1800's and still going!  The church is well established in this nation, free serving and God-fearing.

We flew to Congo, and in Brazzaville we were housed by a church situated in the slum-area of the city.  There church is a lifestyle- not a separate part of daily life. Intercessors were keen to hear more of impacting a nation from it's roots by prayer - by confession of sin, repentance thereof, turning away from it and seeking God. 

Beautiful Burundi is full of people!  We were housed by a family in there home - when we went to sleep at night I counted 19 people inside two small 3-bedroomed homes!  Only the pastor, his wife and three of their children were from the same household. The others were orphans, widows and survivors of murdered families, strangers, but welcomed and taken care of by the Christian household.

Rwanda is clean, neat, well organised and the presence of God is felt everywhere.  On the intercity bus we had a choice between the local radio station, a selection of golden oldies or soothing Christian Gospel music! We spent a morning of prayer with a group after their all night prayer meeting.  The Holy Spirit lead us to pray for our various nations - as sincerely as we could, we prayed for them and their nation while they did the same for us South Africans - what an eye-opener to pray for one another, according to the Word of God!

In the Democratic Republic of Congo we visited the city of Goma - the remains of an erupted volcano is ever present - black volcanic rock and dust, poverty, thousands of people on the streets. We attended a church service in a big wooden church, in the middle of the black remains - sat through a three-hour solid Christian message and was then taken to a house where a group of intercessors has been praying on a daily basis since 2003.  They told us that not one day went by without prayer from that specific location.  The atmosphere in that room is magnificent - you sense the presence of the Holy Spirit!

In Congos and Burundi I was touched by the praise and worship - a different sound... it has a brokenness to it that touches the core of your being.

In Uganda we stayed with a family on the outskirts of Kampala.  The church building serves as a crèche and primary school by day and church by night and over weekends.  The head mistress told me that she started caring for the little ones who were roaming the streets without supervision during the day.  That lead to the crèche and later the school.  She waits at the church till all the little ones had been collected by their parents - some evenings till nine pm.

Kenya was in mourning, they had just lost their upcoming new president - radio and television stations broadcasted his funeral for days.  His son's message at the funeral - an invitation to salvation and reprimand to the nation to turn to God was repeated several times!  We spent time with a pastor who had spent 13 years in prison.  Her ministry is focused on the prisoners, ex-convicts, newly released people and the families of prisoners. What an experience!  If ever in my life I saw the reality of Jesus' death that has bought us life - it was there!  There is a quality to their devotion, a value to newfound freedom and an appreciation for what Jesus had done, something I have never seen before!

We had thought that we would go ahead of the outreach teams into Africa to prepare a way for the Lord, but we can honestly say that He had made a way for us!

Ends

About MIA2012: MIA2012 is a three-day gathering (25 - 27 June 2012) of students, organisations, Bible Schools, churches, and individuals focusing on cross-cultural ministry to celebrate what God is doing on African soil, at the Fountains Valley Resort, Pretoria. 

Ends

For media inquiries and interviews contact Cilnette Pienaar (082 410 2382 / communication@mia2012.co.za).