Australian-based Mission Travel Services November Newsletter

Mission Travel Services (Australia)
November Newsletter
Misisonary Travel Website: www.missiontravel.com.au
Pilgrimage Travel Website: www.pilgrimage.com.au

Breathe life into our office.
If you haven’t been to our office in Camberwell we have a lovely office on a street corner with lots of natural light. We renovated the space before we moved in last February and it looks fabulous. However a few clients have commented that a few photos on the wall would be nice. So we are calling on you, our world travellers to submit a photo that you would be happy for us to blow up and frame for our wall. Something with a mission feel would be great, but we will consider almost anything! Email your photo to us. A thank you gift will follow if your photo is used.

Airlines at capacity – so plan and book early.
Many airlines are currently enjoying excellent loadings on flights. The latest reports indicate Singapore Airlines is operating at 92% of capacity, Emirates at 73% and even domestic carrier Virgin Blue operating at 85%. It is important where possible to plan and book seats early, particularly for busy times such as December and school holidays.
Many airlines have released Earlybird airfares for travel in 2008 that need to be booked and paid for in 2007. You can save many hundreds of dollars by taking up these offers, so please feel free to contact us for a quote. Over the next year or two many airlines will take delivery of A380 aircraft which will saturate the market with loads of additional seats. Hopefully this will keep airline prices low. We can’t say the same for taxes as they seem to continue to increase. Taxes are subject to fluctuation until the airline ticket is issued, requiring payment in full.

What’s in a name!
The hairdressing industry is alive and well thanks to the business the team at Mission Travel Group is giving them. We are going grey prematurely! Why you ask?? When making an airline reservation, the name in the booking must match the name in the passport EXACTLY! Many airlines charge hefty fees or make you purchase a whole new ticket if the name is not correct. Please help us out by letting us know at the time of booking what your correct legal name is.

Come along with us on a trip to Africa…..
We often have clients asking us of there is a trip that they can join. Well here is one for you to consider: Kidslink are inviting people to travel with them to Mozambique in 2008
They are planning for TWO TEAMS to go into Mozambique in 2008.
Each team will have a maximum of ten people and will be away for just over two weeks.
Team 1 departs on 27 July 2008 until 12 August 2008 and will be involved in the annual Kidslink leaders training seminar along with some aid work and labouring and maintenance work. Team 2 departs 10 August 2008 until 26 August 2008. This will be aid & development construction work i.e. water wells and building construction/maintenance. Space on this team is already limited.
http://sendstudio.giga-sj-001.net/users/link.php?UserID=618273&Newsletter=4300&List=242&LinkType=Send&LinkID=11906

We are also seeking expressions of interest to anyone who would like to visit Africa as a family on a short term mission. We are looking at a trip to South Africa and/or Uganda in the September school holidays 2008. If you have a young family and would like to expose them to African life please contact us.

Congratulations to our 3,000th booking
Wow can you believe it since February 2006 (just 20months) we have made over 3000 bookings! The lucky 3000th booking is Mr. Nathan Visor who is travelling to Uganda in December with the International Support Aid. Nathan a special delivery will be coming your way soon from our friends at http://sendstudio.giga-sj-001.net/users/link.php?UserID=618273&Newsletter=4300&List=242&LinkType=Send&LinkID=11907. Thank you all so much for your business. We truly love serving you all and are amazed at Gods provision for us through this business

Buy a CD and help a worthy cause
Hip hop band Bliss n Eso recently travelled to South Africa and recorded a song and film clip with the Connections Zulu Choir. The song, Bullet and a Target was released this week.
All proceeds from the single will go to The Oaktree Foundation’s Schools for Schools Project and to the Choir. Hip hop might not be your style but is a good gift for young people (Christmas is only 8 weeks away!).

Mission of the Month – Northside Community Church
Thirty-eight members of Northside Church travelled to Uganda last month to Watoto Childcare Ministries to assist with construction of a village kitchen. The church raised $100,000 for the project. WOW! The trip was a great success and more information and a blog can be found on their website www.northsidechurch.org.au then click on Mission Trip Updates.
A big thank you to Carmen in our office who managed this trip for the team.

Congratulations to the lucky Light FM prizewinners….
Deborah Jenkins and her husband Don are heading off to Greece on the Footsteps of Paul cruise in 2008 with Pilgrimage Travel and Tours. Congratulations! We hope you have a wonderful time.

Rgister your interest to Lead a Pilgrimage in 2009- 2010
Interested in leading a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, Greece and Turkey, Camino de Santiago, Oberammergau Passion Play or maybe any other special interest group tour?
We are looking for expressions of interest from Leaders, Clergy or Lay people for our 2009 and 2010 programmes. Leaders travel free of charge, when minimun numbers on the tour are met. If you are interested please email Frank to express your interest.