Colombia, El Salvador, Romania, Botswana, Brazil, Guatemala, Bolivia are not places on my next itinerary. Nor is Zambia, for that matter.But all of these countries feature this week in my Rock Fever column.Have I lost the plot? Nope. What am I talking about? I am talking about one of Bermuda’s most amazing travel opportunities: Bermuda Overseas Missions (BOM)BOM started in 2003 when David Thompson, the now BOM President was asked by his Minister at Christ Church, Warwick, to create more opportunities for outreach.Mr. Thompson did some research and found Habitat for Humanity, a charitable organisation that builds houses around the world.He said: “We can walk off the plane, drop our bags and start building. Everything is organised. We can build a house from beginning to end in two weeks.”The first year Mr. Thompson took about 25 volunteers from the Church to Montana, USA, for two weeks.The second year was Bolivia and the charity, which is no longer attached to the church, has managed 11 Habitat for Humanity site visits (including this year) since its inception.This year a group of 44 will travel to Zambia for a two-week build.But why can’t I just sign-up with Habitat for Humanity independently was my first question for Mr Thompson and his creative director Adrienne Smatt.Mr. Thompson said: “Yes, you could do it yourself, but you wouldn’t know the team you are going with.“Knowing the team helps because when you have to build a house that is only 300 to 400 ft then only a few people will be able to work on it at a time.“The team in Bermuda will work more efficiently because they will have had time to plan out a small group of five or six people with the right strengths to build a house.“Habitat will still supply the materials they need as well as helping with any customs they might need to understand.”Why should I volunteer rather than go on my Caribbean cruise? I work hard, I want to enjoy my holiday.Ms Smatt said: “Now when I travel I feel like I am almost missing something if I am just there to see the sites. I don’t feel like I have done what I should have done.“I know I came to respect things a lot more; the things I have. When we went to Guatemala the people live literally in the garbage dump.“We were told ‘Go talk to them. Go talk to them,’ but I had nothing to say to those people. I have no idea what it is to live in a garbage dump. They have no idea what it means to have five electrical devices on your person. We are so lucky and things we take for granted (iPods, shoes) these people had none of it.“When we are on a Habitat site we actually meet the people. Other tourists just meet the people who are trying to sell you things.“Mr Thompson added: “It’s what I call the ‘ah ha’ moment. Sometimes they (volunteers) get it on the trip, sometimes when we finish the trip and sometimes they get it after. It’s that awareness of how lucky they are.”A third question? Have the locals been inviting?Mr Thompson said: “Generally, at first they view you with suspicion. They wonder who those rich foreigners are that they can show up in their community, pay their way there and do that work.“After the first day they see you have come back to continue working to the point where you hand over the keys and we become part of the community. We are not just a spectator anymore; we are part of the process. We make fantastic friends.”So question four, who volunteers for these types of trips?“There’s no demographic. We have people who work in the bank, construction, we have students from public and private schools. We have 14-year-olds up to 83-year-olds.“Women make up 75 percent of the teams, which is also not unusual,” Mr Thompson said.Why do you think, question five, so many women volunteer for these types of trips?Mr Thompson said: “I think with volunteering, in general, I think there are more women because they are more sympathetic and I am a firm believer they work the hardest.“It’s also a sort of in between trip; they want to take the chance (of visiting off-the-beaten track countries) and (they think) ‘I have a group with me so I know I will be protected’.”Question Six: Do you ever worry about security when visiting these building sites that can be far from other amenities?Safety is key on these trips. Even though the organisation has taken volunteers to countries that might be high on a cautionary note, Mr. Thompson said they have never had any problems.“Many times we are the first team there so for habitat so it is also important that we are safe and that we have fun (so that others will return).”Ms Smatt added that the travellers are safe because: “The people are grateful for the help and so they are generally relieved to have us there.”OK, so question seven: What does a day look like on one of these volunteer trips?According to Mr Thompson, he will have everyone up at 6am for breakfast at 6.30am and at 8am (at the latest) they are at the site which can be an hour away.The end of the day will be around 3pm or 4pm depending on where they are in the build (i.e. there is cement mixed-up so they have to finish it).In the evenings there will be a variety of entertainment with everything from Salsa classes to their hotel pool with a bar service and playing games.Question eight: How much will volunteering on one of these trips cost?Mr Thompson said: “We have some people who pay their full way and others who ask for financial assistance and we can offer as much as 50 percent of the trip if the application is approved. It’s based on the application.”The price? Colombia was $3,000. Botswana was $3,500 and Zambia will cost volunteers $5,000.Mr. Thompson, however, explained that the cost covers everything from airfare to housing, ground transportation a $600 donation to Habitat for Humanity for building supplies and even a bit of R&R after the build (i.e. a two-day safari in Botswana).Planning these trips can’t be easy, can it? (Question nine in case you’re counting).According to Mr Thompson, planning for the summer trip begins at Christmas, the destination is decided in March and departs in July.Ms Smatt said as soon as they finish one trip they are onto thinking about the next trip. They have to plan and ensure all of the 44 planning to take the trip, visit the travel clinic on Victoria Street, have visas, etc ...Question ten: What are the health requirements? Do I have to be physically fit?Mr Thompson said: “We don’t ask that people be physically fit, but we do like to know if people have a physical ailment.“And I ask if they have specific allergies and I carry a black book and I have everything on you. We also take a basic medical kit and Habitat offers added insurance for medical evacuation should it be necessary. We have never had a serious problem, though.”Any final words? Ms Smatt said: “I have done the Caribbean cruise of I could go away and be rewarded in another way.“I can work for money or work for myself. If you have the option I would say go and work for the rewarding experience.”Mr Thompson added: “It’s definitely a life-changing experience; I am positive about that. Once people do it they return.”For more information go to Bermuda Overseas Missions: www.bom.bm and Habitat for Humanity: www.habitat.orgAnd there is your good deed for next year: visit www.bom.bm or www.robynswanderings.com for more information. Au Revoir!