June 30 - July 7, 2013
In this booklet: Trip Info
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Stuff to Bring... and Not
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Sample Itinerary
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More Info
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Rules and Guidelines Fundraisers
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Trip Info Dates: June 30 - July 7, 2013 Place: Vicente Guerrero, Mexico Cost: $600 (There will be fundraising opportunities.) A non-refundable $100 deposit locks in the spot and the full amount is due by June 12th. March 13: $300 due April 10: $500 due June 12: $600 due Purpose: To build a house for a family in need and learn about Mexican culture while bringing the great news of Jesus Christ! Number of spots: 24 (19 for students) These spots will fill up quickly! Travel: Fly out of Bellingham to San Diego. Drive from San Diego to Vicente Guerrero. Where we stay: Welcome Home Outreach Ministries. Check it out at welcomehomeoutreach.org.
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Bring:
Stuff to Bring ....and Not Don’t Bring:
• Bible • Passport • Some spending money
• Anything Valuable • iPods/Pads, Phones…. • Cell Phones • Fireworks (Seriously, don’t.) • Meth (or any other illegal drugs)
(about $20-30 in 1’s and 5’s)
• Camera • Water Bottle • Snacks • Hat • Backpack • Work Clothes
(See W.H.O. guidelines - stuff you’ll get dirty and might never wear again)
• Casual Clothes
(See W.H.O. guidelines - modest clothes to wear to church and town.)
• Work Shoes (No sandals) • Casual Shoes (No sandals) • Sweatshirt • MODEST One-Piece Swimsuit • Flip Flops • Toiletries • Bath Towel • Soap • Hand Sanitizer • Vitamins/Medications • Sheets and Pillowcase • Sunscreen • Sunglasses • Chapstick for chapped lips • Snacks (optional) • A real good attitude • Flexiblilty
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Sample Itinerary
(From 2012 Mission Trip) sunday, july 1 thursday, july 5 12:45pm meet @ bellingham airport 6am team 4 picks up kids 2:55pm fly to San Diego 7:30am breakfast with kiddos 5:45 pm get vans & drive to Vicente Guerrero 8am team 5 = kitchen clean up 6:00-6:30 IN and OUT Burger do yo devos!* 11:30pm arrive and settle into W.H.O. 8:30am head to work site orientation with the Steve & Jackie 9-noon do work, son! ASAP lights out + sleep 12:30pm back at W.H.O. for lunch with kiddos 1pm team 1 = kitchen clean up monday, july 2 1:30pm back to building a house 7:30am breakfast with kiddos 4pm play futbol 8am team 2 = kitchen clean up 6pm dinner do yo devos!* 8:30pm team meeting 8:30am head to work site 10pm quiet time 9-noon build a house 10:30pm lights out 12:30pm back at W.H.O. for lunch with kiddos 1pm team 3 = kitchen clean up friday, july 6 1:30pm back to building a house 6am teams 1 & 5 pick up kids 4pm back to W.H.O., clean up 7:30am breakfast with kiddos 5:45pm Las Aves, outreach (worship) 8am team 2 = kitchen clean up 7:30pm dinner at Rueben’s Crazy Chicken do yo devos!* 8:30pm team meeting 8:30am head to work sites 10pm quiet time 12:30pm back at W.H.O. for lunch with kiddos 10:30pm lights out 1pm team 4 = kitchen clean up 2pm finish up projects tuesday, july 3 4pm retirement center 6am team 3 picks up kids 6pm dinner 7:30am breakfast with kiddos 8:30pm team meeting 8am team 4 = kitchen clean up 10pm quiet time do yo devos!* 10:30pm lights out 8:30 head out to work site 9-noon build a house!! saturday, july 7 12:30pm back at W.H.O. for lunch with kiddos 8:30am breakfast 1pm team 5 = kitchen clean up 9am team 3 = kitchen clean up 1:30pm back to building a house 10am leave for San Diego 3:30pm visit rehab center do yo devos!* 6pm dinner ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 8:30pm team meeting San Diego - TBD 10pm quiet time 10:30pm lights out sunday, july 8 9:00am church wednesday, july 4 San Diego - TBD 6am team 2 picks up kids ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 7:30am breakfast with kiddos 4:30pm San Diego airport 8am team 3 = kitchen clean up 6:30am get on the plane do yo devos!* 9:20pm arrive back in Bellingham!! 8:30am head to home build 9-noon build a house 12:30pm back at W.H.O. for lunch with kiddos 1pm team 1 = kitchen clean up 1:30pm back to building a house *If you have breakfast kitchen clean up, do your 4pm get ready for church/enjoy life/wash your devos during lunch kitchen clean up. hair 6pm church 7pm dinner 8:30pm relax/recharge/recreate 10pm quiet time 5 10:30pm lights out
More Info a couple of other things... crossing the border
We prefer students to have passports, but because we are traveling across the border, enhanced driver’s licenses will work.
you’ve gotta eat Please let us know about any dietary restrictions. We will be eating local food that has
been chosen and is trusted by our hosts at Welcome Home. You may bring snacks along with you as well. Please make room in your suitcase and bring snacks if you have special dietary needs/ preferences.
we’ve all got baggage
You will be allowed one carry-on bag and one personal item (backpack). The exterior dimensions for a carry-on bag must not exceed 9”D x 14”W x 22”H. The exterior dimensions for a personal item must not exceed 9”D X 16”W X 19”H. These measurements include wheels, pockets, handles and decorations. Make sure to measure your items AFTER they’re packed!
car sickness
If you are prone to car sickness, please be prepared with meds or let us know if you need to sit in the front. The roads are less than ideal.
let’s stay in touch
We will not have phone communications, but we will have internet access. Nightly we will update what is going on. We will be checking in at least every night. Get updates or reach us at: • twitter: twitter.com/encounter • email: danm@cornwallchurch.com • facebook: like encounter on facebook (facebook.com/go.encounter.go) • cell phone: we will have a international number before we leave.
don’t drink the water (ever!)
As you know well, don’t drink the water. It should not be used for brushing your teeth or ingesting of any kind. It will make you sick. Clean water will be provided.
it’s potty time
Mexican septic systems cannot handle toilet paper. It is to be placed in the trash can next to the toilet.
vitameatavegamin
Bringing/taking echinacea and/or vitamin C is a pretty good idea.
shots
No shots are necessary, but due to the nature of our work, tetanus shots should be up to date. Flu or H1N1 shots are good, but not necessary and take up to 2 weeks to fully take effect.
medicate
If you are on prescription meds, please bring them and we will have one of our staff make sure that you are taking them as needed. We will have pain relievers and Pepto as well. Rolaids/Tums are good due to the food, but not necessary. Please let us know if there are any meds you cannot take.
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Rules & Guidelines (From Welcome Home Outreach)
CASA HOGAR BIENVENIDOS WELCOME HOME OUTREACH MINISTRIES VICENTE GUERRERO, B.C., MEXICO MX PHONE: 011-52-616-166-2083 OR U.S. PHONE: 503-616-3751 GUIDELINES FOR MISSIONS TEAMS
We look forward to welcoming your missions team to Casa Hogar Bienvenidos, Welcome Home Outreach (WHO), and want to make you aware of the following guidelines and tips that will make your visit to WHO productive, meaningful and enjoyable. We ask that all members of your team be aware of these guidelines prior to your trip, and that they commit to following them.
BACKGROUND and MISSION
Welcome Home is a non-profit agency that is sponsored by a U.S. Board of Directors comprised of Christians from several faith backgrounds. The facility has been serving children of migrant farm worker families in the Vicente Guerrero region of Mexico since the mid-1980s. WHO operates a year-round daycare (guarderia) for pre-school age children of farm workers. Care for these children is provided at no cost to the families. WHO is dependent on donations from churches and individuals to underwrite the ongoing operational costs of the facility. In addition to the daycare operation, the WHO staff assists migrant camp families with basic needs such as clothing and food, and directs house building projects when possible. Biblical teaching and evangelism are part of the ministry as well.
LEADERSHIP
Steve and Jackie Scott are U.S. missionaries living at Welcome Home. Their primary role is scheduling and coordinating group visits, overseeing day-to-day facility maintenance, and growing a stable funding base. The daycare is staffed by Mexican nationals who are committed to teaching and guiding the children in Biblical principles. The daycare staff serve under the leadership of director, Brigida Merino Flores. Post Office Box 1471, San Clemente, CA 92674 MX Phone: 011-52-616-166-2083 / US Phone: 503-616-3751 Website: www.welcomehomeoutreach.org
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Steve & Jackie Scott, Co-Directors Abel & Rosa Hurtado, Co-Directors E-Mail: info@welcomehomeoutreach.org
Rules & Guidelines, Continued
EXPECTATIONS
While we are delighted to host missions teams at Welcome Home, group members must keep in mind that WHO is a fully operating facility with a normal daily routine – and a residence for two families. With that in mind, we ask that visiting groups adhere to some basic guidelines: WATER:
Water is a valuable resource in Mexico and should not be wasted. SHOWERS are available at WHO, but we ask that they be taken on an as-needed basis, and be kept to 5 minutes or less. TOILETS should be flushed only when there is solid waste.
DRINKING WATER: Do not use tap water to drink or brush your teeth. Purified water is available in the
WHO cafeteria. Please bring your own drinking container for water, marked with your name, so that you can take water with you to job sites or to other destinations.
PLUMBING:
No toilet paper or other paper products should be put into the toilets. There are receptacles next to each toilet for TP. We know habits are hard to break and that accidents will happen. If TP is accidentally dropped into the toilet, it must be removed.
ELECTRICITY:
Electrical service in Mexico is very expensive so conservation of electricity is a must. Please help by using lights, fans and other appliances only when necessary and remember to turn them off when you exit a room.
MEALS:
Your daily room & board fee includes two meals per day. Breakfast is served at 7:30 a.m.; lunch at 12:30 p.m. The kitchen staff expects that visiting groups will eat with the children at those times. If off-site projects keep group members away from WHO at meal time, or you make other plans, your group leader needs to notify Steve or Jackie Scott so the correct amount of food may be prepared. Group DINNERS are on your own; you are welcome to use the WHO kitchen for your meal preparation, or visit one of several recommended restaurants in the area.
KITCHEN DUTY:
Groups are asked to assign at least three individuals to assist with kitchen clean-up for each meal. Other than those on duty in the kitchen, group members should, for the most part, not wander into or loiter in the kitchen.
SLEEPING:
Sleeping areas are furnished with single beds (some are bunkbeds), with blankets and pillows provided. Group members are asked to either bring their own sheets or a sleeping bag for their use. DO NOT move furniture, mattresses, or other equipment without authorization!
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Rules & Guidelines, Continued
QUIET HOURS:
Every morning, Monday through Friday, staff leave Welcome Home at 6:00 a.m. to pick up the daycare children and return with them at about 7:00 a.m. Therefore, we ask that groups respect the quiet hours from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
LAUNDRY:
WHO has only one washing machine and it is reserved for daycare use only. We are happy to direct you to a nearby laundromat if needed.
DRESS CODE:
American Christians visiting in Mexico should dress modestly in keeping with the standards of the Mexican Christian community. Pants for both women and men of all ages should be knee-length or below (no shorts, no mini-skirts). Please, no tank tops, halter tops or bare midriffs; no excessive cleavage; no exposed underwear. Bathing suits should be worn only when at the beach (one-piece suits only). On construction sites, Welcome Home requires that all persons wear long pants and close-toed shoes (work boots or tennis shoes). Absolutely no sandals or shorts on construction sites. This is for your own safety. Workers may want to bring a sun hat, sunscreen and gloves for construction
ALCOHOL/DRUGS/SMOKING: No alcohol, drugs, or smoking are allowed on the Welcome Home premises at any time. Please do not bring these items with you or purchase them while here.
CLEAN-UP:
Please help us keep the WHO compound neat and tidy. Be respectful and responsible in using the facility. The bathrooms, sleeping areas, and common areas should be policed regularly for trash and personal belongings.
DEPARTURE:
When your group prepares to depart the WHO compound, we ask that you do the following…
Bedding: Rooms:
If you used our pillow/pillowcase, please take them to the laundry room area. Sweep out or vacuum your sleeping areas. You should find brooms and dust pans in each area; if not, please ask. Bathrooms: Assign group members to do basic cleaning of the bathrooms. Take out trash and replace liners; sweep floors. Please leave the quarters in as good – or better – condition than you found it! Be sure to check your area to make sure you have everything!
REMEMBER that you are a guest in this country and in this community – and that you are representing Jesus Christ and His love!
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Fundraisers CROSSROADS: Bring donations of used clothing and
household items to Crossroads Thriftstore. Tell them the credit goes to Cornwall/Encounter. They donate a percentage to our mission trips. Crossroads is located at 4145 Meridian Street in Bellingham.
DONUT STAND: Volunteer to run the donuts stand at church
during April and/or June. Signs ups will be available starting March 6th. Individuals who help will earn credit toward their trips. You can sign up at Encounter, or by contacting Dan or Kristi at 733.2150.
BABYSITTING on MARCH 15th: Cornwall Church is hosting a Couples Comedy Night on March 15th and we will provide the childcare. Donations will be divided between the individuals who help.
ONE MORE OPPORTUNITY TBD:
Possible yard work fundraising opportunity. More information to come.
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