Mission in Mexico Information Packet
(The printer-friendly version of this Information Packet can be found in the drop-down box above.)
Some things you might want to know:
Crossing the Border: Passports
The Department of Homeland Security regulations state that U.S. citizens will need to present a WHTI-compliant document such as a valid passport (click here for link) when crossing the border. Youth eighteen and under traveling with churches and schools need only to have a certified birth certificate with them (click here for link). However, it is the Planning Team's opinion that it is in your participants' best interest for them all to have passports. Remember to make a copy of all passports for your records. It would probably be wise for you to hold all of your group's passports for the entire trip.
Mexican Insurance
It is a requirement that all US vehicles have Mexican insurance on them, whether they have US insurance or not. This insurance can be purchased ahead of time through Nancy Bond of the ELCA Insurance Program (626-599-8559).
Immigration Procedures and Customs
The Mexican Government enforces laws regarding churches ministering in Mexico. Have all your forms filled out and ready to present if asked. We suggest that you not offer the forms and documentation unless you are asked to. You may be asked to claim supplies and equipment that you bring across the border (medical supplies, construction supplies, bulk food, etc.). You may have to pay duty tax for bringing them into the country. Once again, we suggest that you not offer this information unless asked.
Attendees
The trip is perfect for any group that can handle work, camping, and a few days in northern Baja. Even though it was originally designed for high school youth, you are encouraged to bring any person of any age that you feel comfortable bringing who has a desire to participate (college, families, middle school, men's groups, women's groups, etc.). When bringing youth, the ratio should be no more than seven (7) youth for every one (1) adult.
Permission Slips
Proper consent forms, permission slips, and medical releases for your group's participants are your responsibility to have and to hold for your group. A basic model permission slip and an example of a "Consent to Travel to Mexico" form are available for download in the drop-down menu at the top of the page. One mandatory form that each participant needs to fill out and return to Azusa Pacific University (APU) is the "Mexico APU - Participant Agreement", also available in the download box at the top of this web page.
About Rancho El Refugio
Rancho El Refugio is owned by Azusa Pacific University (www.apu.edu), a private Christian college located in Southern California, for their Mexico Outreach program. It is a 40-acre fenced compound surrounded by farmland and vineyards. It is 12 Km outside Ensenada and is a very safe place to stay. The ground is mostly dirt with some scrub grass. They have a private distilled water supply for drinking water, flush toilets, along with a full outdoor kitchen.
EMERGENCY Contacts (to be used only for emergencies, not to check up on people!)
Rev. Erik Young - 310-686-6257 - Mission In Mexico Event Leader
Dan and Ivey Simpson - 626-353-8484 - missionaries living at Rancho El Refugio
Naomi Gonzalez - 626-815-6000 x3702 - Ranch Bookings Coordinator, APU Mexico Outreach
The Maps Packet
The Maps Packet is available online for download above in the drop-down box.
GPS Waypoints
If you have a Global-Positioning Satellite (GPS) receiver, you can enter the following waypoints for additional guidance while in Mexico. Many of these locations can be found on the packet's Ensenada map.
LOCATION LAT. LONG. ELEV.
the 1/1D split at Ensenada's entrance N 31d 52.009' W 116d 39.789' 60
Calle 10 at town entrance N 31d 52.472' W 116d 37.689' 88
flagpole at the tourist area / port N 31d 51.606' W 116d 37.445' 2
Burger King at Reforma y Calle 9a N 31d 51.983' W 116d 36.484' 65
Benito Juarez monument N 31d 51.613' W 116d 36.398' 71
McDonald's on Ave Reforma N 31d 51.365' W 116d 36.299' 63
"the third Pemex" N 31d 51.818' W 116d 34.963 201
Rancho el Refugio driveway N 31d 53.425' W 116d 30.156' 1287
Rancho el Refugio N 31d 54.376' W 116d 29.306' 1475
It's Thursday night and you're lost in Ensenada…
Call Pastor Erik Young's mobile phone (310-686-6257). He will meet you wherever you are and will guide you right into camp. Yes, mobile phones work in Mexico - just be prepared to pay the bill when you get home.
Each group is responsible for:Your own transportation and the costs there in
Tents, sleeping bags, etc.
Leading your own service project on-site (some groups may be put with others)
A large ice chest for lunches
A water cooler for your team while working and while in the tent area
Showers (totally optional) - they are approximately $2 per person and they are available in town.
Clothing
In camp, generally anything normally worn by students and adults (in good taste) is allowed. When we go down into the city to serve however, we are asked to wear modest clothing, showing as little skin as possible. It is encouraged that shorts not be worn outside of camp. This "skin rule" applies also to spaghetti straps, midriffs, and tank tops as well. Solid white t-shirts are also not permitted off the camp premises, as they have a cultural significance we do not want to exude. Remember, we are guests in a foreign culture. As for the weather, it is cold at night, while during the day it can be any number of conditions -- cool, warm, hot, or even rainy. Pack accordingly.
Ministry in Mexico
It is our hope and intention that every group knows what specific ministry they will be involved in long before they leave the USA for this event. We will know more about our actual service projects as the time draws closer, but we have been assured that we will be doing hands-on ministry with those in and around the city. The types of work that have been in the past are everything from clean-up to building to painting to children's Bible school. Pray, be patient, and be flexible enough to be willing to do anything and everything you are asked, as we trust that the Holy Spirit is the one leading our event and our work.
Work Projects
If you are assigned a work project, please remember that you are responsible for your own work tools. Some suggestions to bring include: hammers, nails, screwdrivers, pliers, paintbrushes, rollers and trays, drop cloths, buckets, hand saws, spackle spatulas, work gloves, close-toed shoes or work boots, etc. You are responsible for your own money for work supplies as well. Paint is approximately $10 per gallon. If you think money for a service project is going to be an issue, be creative in your fundraising: add $10 to each student's fee, ask for your congregation to sponsor your supplies, use some of your pittance of a youth budget, etc.
Children's Bible School
There is a very real chance you could be assigned to work with children while you are there. Even if you are not, there are always children present around the worksite. If you can, learn some children's games, Spanish children's songs, and please bring any VBS-type supplies that you can, such as: scrap paper, crayons, glue, coloring books, glitter, etc.
Vocation, Occupation, and Skills
There are those who will be attending this trip from our congregations who have specific training in various fields which would benefit the volunteers on the trip. If you have a participant who has a particular skill (fluent Spanish, medical staff, drywall contractor, electrician, etc.), please let our registrar know by marking so that we don't waste their God-given gift / talent.
Some things to bring (this is not an end-all list!)
- Your directions, your group's passports, and all your paperwork (leave a copy at your church as well!)
- Bottled water. You'll need to bring enough water for your group while at their work sites. You can refill them at the campsite.
- Beach chairs - optional, but worth the effort. Bring the junky ones that dad has stored in the attic.
- Toll road cash (approximately $15USD)
- Bible, pen and highlighter
- Toiletries
- Tent
- Sleeping bag and pillow
- Clothes (including rain gear)
- Work gloves
- Towels
- Ice chests
- Service project supplies and money
- Some spending money
- Snacks for in-camp small group time
- An attendee who can speak some Spanish is a bonus for your group
Some things for which you might need money
Besides the tollbooths, fuel, Saturday night dinner, etc., a few other things for which you might need money include:
- You will be taking lunches with you for your group in the ice chests you provide. There is really only enough food for your group. What do you do for the children you see and play with at your worksite? One answer is that, on the way to your worksite, stop by a fruit stand and purchase 10kg (4.5 lbs.) of oranges. It will only cost about 100 pesos ($10USD). Something to think about with your group: how much is that per person in your group if you were to buy fruit on Friday and Saturday (the work days) for someone else?
- Construction supplies cost money. Common sense, right? Your group should plan on bringing money for such supplies in addition to the fee you are paying for the program, food, lodging, etc. The missionaries on site explained that it is generally expected that we will have to buy about $200 worth of supplies per construction site. PLEASE remember to bring money to donate for the construction supplies!
- Showers are available in Ensenada for about $2 per person. Many groups make it just fine the whole time down there without the showers, while other groups feel the need to shower every day. You must decide what is best for your group's spirit.
Shopping, of course. Make sure your group gets out to see Ensenada and has a chance to get a little something-something to take back home as a reminder of their service (Saturday night has been set aside for that specific purpose). Little tokens of thanks might be obtained for those in your congregation who supported this trip but did not attend with you.
Daily Schedule: Mission in Mexico
Thursday
3:00 pm - on Arrive at Rancho El Refugio
6:30 pm KP reports to kitchen
7:30 pm Dinner in camp
8:30 pm All camp - evening gathering
9:30 pm Team time (your time with your group)
11:00 pm (- 7:00 am) Lights out and no sound!
Friday / Saturday
6:45 am KP reports to kitchen
7:00 am Wake up
7:30 am All camp - morning gathering
8:30 am Breakfast; Leaders/Interpreters meeting
10:00 am - 3:00 pm Site ministry (lunch at work site)
3:00 pm - on Stay at ministry sites longer, shower, beach, shopping, team business, etc.
6:30 pm* KP reports to kitchen*
7:30 pm* Dinner*; Leaders/Interpreters meeting*
8:30 pm* All camp - evening gathering*
9:30 pm* Team time*
11:00 pm (- 7:00 am) Lights out and no sound!
* Friday night only - Saturday evening enjoy Ensenada with your group!
Sunday
6:45 am KP reports to kitchen
7:00 am Wake up
7:30 am All camp - Sunday morning worship (with communion)
8:30 am Breakfast; Leaders/Interpreters meeting
9:30 am Pack up and head for the USA
Registration, Costs, and Deadlines:
We are going paperless again this year. Register your group online at the top of this page. Once the online form is filled out and submitted, you will need to submit the appropriate non-refundable payment amount. The date when the full payment for the registration is received will determine whether your group is paying the Early Fee ($68 per participant) or the Regular Fee ($89 per participant). To receive the Early Fee, full payment needs to be received on or before April 1st; all registrations after that are charged the Regular Fee. You can pay online via Paypal or credit card, or you can mail a check or money order made payable to "Grace Lutheran Church" with "Mexico" written in the memo line (mailing address: 17880 E Covina Blvd., Covina CA 91722). All participants registered and paid for by April 1st will receive the annual "Mission in Mexico" trophy t-shirt!
"But I Still Have Questions…"
Contact Rev. Erik Young via email at pastor@erikyoung.com or on his mobile phone at 310-686-6257 and he'll do his best to get you your answers.
NOTICE: The website is the official "most-up-to-date" document available on this event. If there are discrepancies between this and another document, trust that this one is correct. BUT the planners of this event have the right to change or clarify any and all information (written, spoken, implied, smoke-signaled, etc.) regarding this trip at any time without any advance notice.