Costs and Finances
FinACE: South Africa
Southern Africa - Your Adventure Begins
Congratulations on taking your first steps towards a possible new adventure with God in Mercy Ships. The Mercy Ships Southern Africa staff are ready to help you with the details of your adventure that are uniquely South African.
While the HR department in Texas handles all applications and has the final say about acceptance and timing, one of our roles as a national Mercy Ships office is to facilitate Southern African applicants, like you, who dare to step out of the ordinary. Once you receive notice of acceptance, please call us so we can help with the following:
- Crew fees & fundraising information (Tier 2 Status)
- Travel and flight information
- Assistance with preparing presentations for speaking in churches, to friends, etc.
- Materials and resources to help promote your work with Mercy Ships
If you have any questions while you wait to hear from our HR department, please call or send an email to:
Henry Gwani
Mercy Ships Southern Africa
Tel: +27-21-715-4944
henry.gwani@mercyships.org
Other Useful Information for Southern Africans
Financial/Receipting
If you are planning to serve with Mercy Ships for two weeks or longer, you will likely be raising funds towards crew fees and other expenses while you are onboard. A designation code associated with these funds will be set up at the International Operations Centre in the US, which you may give to non Southern Africa donors as they support you.
Southern African Donations
Please note that Mercy Ships Southern Africa is able and will gladly process donations for crew support by cheque, money order, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Diners Club or monthly Direct Debit.
Cheques must be made payable to Mercy Ships, with a separate note stating who funds are meant for. No personal name should appear anywhere on the cheque.
Unfortunately at present there are no tax benefits for donors or recipients in South Africa for service with Mercy Ships.
Our Mailing Address:
Mercy Ships Southern Africa
PO Box 290 Plumstead 7801,
South Africa.
Telephone: +27-21-715-4944
Donations may also be made online at: http://www.mercyships.org.za
Mercy Ships Southern Africa can only issue tax receipts to South African donors giving towards our cataract project in the Eastern Cape. Unfortunately donations towards crew members’ support are not tax deductable. We are unable to issue a tax receipt for a gift from international donors. (International donors should send their gifts through the Mercy Ships IOC in Texas, or the nearest national office).
International Donations
The Mercy Ships National Offices can accept donations according to the laws of each country. Please check online (https://connect.mercyships.org/page/contribute/one-time) for country-specific information on donating through international Mercy Ships offices, including the International Operations Center in Garden Valley, Texas.
Flights/Travel
You have reached an exciting stage in your journey to board the Africa Mercy!
To help you get the best rates, terms and overall benefits for your flights, we have made an agreement with Griffin Travel as our official travel agent for South Africans. They offer:
- Relatively competitive airfares with refundable tickets
- Reduced charges on changed tickets
- Greater baggage allowance
- Familiarity with the best routings to “strange” places.
Griffin Travel
Office 4, Ground Floor, 23 Arthurs Building,
CNR Arthurs & Main Road, Sea Point, Cape Town 8005
Tel: +27 (0)21 433 2985 Fax: +27 (0)86 672 5912
Griffin Travel Consultant for Mercy Ships:
Ms. Beata Gelderbloem
bgelderbloem@griffintravel.com
+27 (0)21 433 2985
- Contact Griffin Travel to make your travel arrangements.
- Quote the Mercy Ships account number: 01400 when making your booking (to clarify you’re with Mercy Ships)
- Contact Marieta Engels/Henry Gwani at 021-715-4944 or via email at: mssa@mercyships.org or henry.gwani@mercyships.org to give details, so we can prepare the appropriate documentation for you to present at the airport to authenticate the fact that you qualify for seaman’s luggage allowance, etc.
Hidden Travel Costs:
Remember to consider the following “hidden costs” when budgeting for your mission trip.
- Flight delay or layover expenses
- Service tips (baggage handlers, cabs, etc.)
- Immunizations; Medical/Travel insurance
- Passport/passport photos/visas
- Prayer Cards
- Spending money
Please feel free to contact us if you have any further questions:
Marieta Engels or Henry Gwani
Mercy Ships Southern Africa
Tel: +27-21-715-4944
henry.gwani@mercyships.org
Resources That Can Help You
Following is a list of materials you can request from Mercy Ships Southern Africa. These can assist you in your fund-raising and awareness boosting efforts for Mercy Ships.
Free Materials:
- Brochures
- Facts Sheets
- DVD
If you require more than 50 brochures, we ask that you please assist covering the extra costs for Mercy Ships.
You may also wish to order Don Stephens' (Mercy Ships President and Founder) book, Ships of Mercy, or the award-winning documentary, Dawn of a New Day (www.thedawnofanewday.co.za) by alumnus, Ryley Grunenwald (available September 2011). You may use these as thank-you gifts for donors and/or prayer partners.
