Be Flexible. Almost nothing that we have planned will work according to our plan.
Dress Modestly. We are dressing to the Mexican Christians standard of modesty. After you shower at night, please put on modest clothing to wear around the school building until we go to bed. (Ultimately, Lynn will be the decider of modesty standards.)
Take very SHORT showers (3 to 4 minutes)! Americans waste water and Mexico does not have much water.
Don't be alone with someone of the opposite sex during this trip. (Mexican or American)
Don't leave the group! Safety is in numbers. It is your individual responsibility to stay with a group. Don't leave the school building or worksite without Lynn's
or Jason's permission.
Always have your ID with you if you are awake. Don't leave it at the school during the day because it can be stolen. You may want to purchase a travel ID pouch to wear around your neck. You can keep it in your backpack, but keep your backpack near you at all times.
Don't take anything with you of value since it could be stolen. You can bring CD's and CD players, but you are responsible for them. They will very likely be damaged or stolen. Please only bring suitable music for a trip such as this.
Drink at least five bottles of water each day. Please limit the amount of soft drinks that you drink during the trip.
The Mexican Christians will be cooking breakfast and supper for us. It is very important that receive their food with graciousness and thankfulness. Please make your best effort to eat the food that you are served. NEVER make faces of noises that would be rude to the cooks. Please take time to thank the cooks after each meal.
On Saturday night, you will spend the night in the homes of Mexican Christians. You will be in groups of at least two. Please be very sensitive to not ask for extra things. Take short showers and be very thankful for their graciousness. Sleep wherever they take you (floor or bed). Bring your Bibles to church the next day. IF there is a problem, we can handle it the next day. IF there is an emergency, please ask them to bring you to the school.
Phoning Home: Once we get into Mexico, you can exchange money and purchase a phone card. Please do not call home collect since it is prohibitively expensive. Lynn or Barry will help you with the phone.
Water: Don't drink any water that is from a faucet - only drink bottled water. Remember, when brushing your teeth to rinse with bottled water. We will replenish your water each day, but we will probably reuse your plastic water bottles so keep them each day. There will be stores near by where you can purchase drinks or water if you need extra. When you are in the homes, drink only the bottled water that you take with you or water that you see coming from a plastic bottle.
We will have short devotionals at night after supper. We will not have a church meeting like last time. You might enjoy taking a journal to write about your experience each night before bed.
Since we will be sleeping in two large rooms, when lights out is called. Everyone should get in bed and be quiet. We will have one room set aside for any talking that must happen after bed time. You will want to bring a flashlight to get to and from the bathroom. We will get up early and go to bed early. It will be hot where we are sleeping so don't bring a sleeping bag - a thin sheet will do.
Make sure that you have sent Thank You notes to everyone that sent you money for the trip. If you need stationary, please see Lynn for church stationary. You could take the stuff with you to write while you are waiting in the airport.
The food and water for your trip have been or will be provided. You don't need to bring very much extra money. You can bring $20-$40. Keep it on your body at all times. Don't leave it at the school building.
