1. What is a “Heart’s Home”?
A Heart’s Home is a missionary house. It is a regular home located in the middle of a slum and where the children as well as any person in need know that they can always come to be listened to, loved and understood.
2. What will I be doing?
Every Heart’s Home is first of all a contemplative community. Prayer will make each one more generous and efficient. The Holy Spirit, granting His light during prayer, will enable you to truly discover the real needs of those who surround you.
You will offer a compassionate Presence to the neighbors, the families, the lonely and the sick and spend afternoons visiting them, sharing their joys and sorrows.
With the other missionaries, you will organize outings, games, gatherings, or any activity that could broaden the children’s horizons. To achieve this you will need to be flexible, constantly available, and to have a real sense of creativity. In each country, there are specific places with a more urgent need for a presence. With the other missionaries, you will visit these places: jails, nursing homes, shelters, hospitals…
3. Will I live in a community?
You will be living in a community with five or six other missionaries from different backgrounds and nationalities. Your common language will be the one of the country of mission.
At your arrival, you will have a time of transition during which you will be welcomed by the community. The other missionaries will show you around and introduce you to the culture, and to all the friends in the neighborhood. This time of transition is crucial. It is what enables the friendships with Heart’s Home to continue even though the team of missionaries is renewed and changed. Your adjustment time usually lasts two or three months.
4. Will I be able to choose the country of mission?
You will be asked to give your preferences but not to choose your mission country. We ask you to receive your destination with faith and to trust that this is the place where God wants you to live and serve. Your destination is decided by the Heart’s Home staff according to your character, skills, as well as to the needs of each Heart’s Home.
Note that you are not alone, the Program will provide the services of a “Visitor” to serve as director for the Program. The Visitor and those chosen to assist him/her (the temporary house leader of the Heart’s Home community) will offer guidance and orientation during your mission and serve as a liaison between you and the Program. You will take all important decisions in accordance with the community and the Visitor.
5. Do I have to be fluent in the language?
We do not ask you to be fluent but we do request you to do your best to learn the language of your mission country as soon as your destination is disclosed. The more you know the language, the easier it will be for you to adapt to your new environment.
Note that in some countries where the language is very difficult to learn (especially in Asia), some special classes are already planned with a tutor.
6. How long do I have to commit for?
You will be asked to choose between a 14-month, 18-month or 2-year mission. If you commit for 14 months or for 18 months you can ask to extend your mission up to 2 years. This needs to be discussed with the person in charge in your Heart’s Home. After a 2-year experience we ask you to come back to your country. If you desire to stay longer, the next step will be to consider a life as a lay consecrated within Heart’s Home.
7. Is there a dress code and code of conduct?
You must always be aware of your identification as a lay missionary in association with Heart’s Home and the Catholic Church in your country of mission. Mission and relationships with others should be conducted accordingly. Hence, your are asked to be properly dressed and to show your respect and love to your neighbors.
In certain countries, where the dress code is an important part of the culture (such as India), you will be asked to wear certain types of clothes during the day to show your respect . This is also a proof of love for your neighbors.
8. How will I be financially supported?
Heart’s Home USA is first and foremost sponsored by private donations and missionaries are asked to seek sponsorships to support their mission. In doing so, you give the opportunity to your sponsors to become part of the mission of Compassion.
You can invite your sponsors to support you by making a monthly gift ($20-$50-$100…) or a one time gift. In turn, you will send your sponsors a letter every other month, and will pray for them and their intentions.
The money raised to fully support a Heart’s Home missionary covers the following costs: medical Insurance ($ 190), travel expenses and training fees ($ 260), mission general expenses (room and board…) ($ 200).
The total cost, per month of mission is $650.
9. How can I find Sponsors?
Heart’s Home is all about faith and looking for sponsors certainly requires faith in the fact that God the Father is providing us with what we need. So the first step is to entrust this matter to God and to pray for it. Then you will be asked to write a personal letter where you will explain the reasons why you want to go on mission with Heart’s Home and invite people to sponsor you. You will be provided with Sponsor Letter models. This letter can be sent to your family members, your friends and colleagues, your college friends…etc.
Special events can also be organized to raise money like artistic events, car washing, bake sale, second collection in your parish… Throughout the process you will get assistance from us.
10. Can I get a loan deferment or forbearance?
You can make a request for a loan Deferment or Forbearance at your lending institution. We will provide you with the materials showing that Heart’s Home meets the requirements to qualify for a tax exempt organization volunteer Deferment.
11. What about medical insurance?
The medical insurance of the Heart’s Home Missionaries is provided through HIC (Hauteville Insurance Company, a subsidiary of the French company AGF), that has a worldwide contract with Heart’s Home USA. Therefore, you do not have to look for any medical insurance. The cost of the insurance is covered by the sponsorships you will receive. If needed, you will be placed in one of the best hospitals of the city where your Heart’s Home is located so as to receive the best treatment possible.
In addition, Heart’s Home has a contract with Mondial Assistance to ensure your Medical Evacuation back to the US in case of emergency. This covers 100% of the charges; wherever in the world you might be. Medical Evacuation is decided by mutual agreement of the local doctor and the Mondial Assistance representative.
12. Will I have holidays?
One day a week, you will have the possibility to take a day of rest. It is important to understand that a day of rest is not a day out of your Commitment, a day where you are putting the charism aside. It is fully part of your mission and is there to enable you to be able to enter more and more into your mission and to serve better.
If your family is visiting, you may take a week of holidays with them and get a chance to visit the country. This has to be discussed with your community and the Visitor first.
13. Will my family be able to come and visit me?
You are encouraged to host your closest family members (parents - brothers and sisters) for a visit. However, to avoid having some visitors too often, family visits should be limited to once (maximum length: 2 weeks) during the time of your mission.
14. Will I have access to Internet?
In most cases you will be able to access the Internet via cyber cafes. You need to be aware that the commitment with Heart’s Home requests less use of computer as well as TV or video games. You are invited to give regular news to your family and friends but you also need to adjust to your new lifestyle.
15. What happens at the end of the Mission?
When the mission is over, Heart’s Home does not consider that the relationship with the former missionary has ended. On the contrary, there is a real follow-up, even though it may be different for each missionary. Before going back home, they can spend some time in the house in Brooklyn if they want to share and to be advised by Heart’s Home on their future. In addition, there is an Alumni weekend proposed during which the former missionaries gather and share on the Heart’s Home experience and consider its fruits. They are also encouraged to seek and discover how to make them reality in their new everyday lives.
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