Get_Involved_files/Short term groups

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Short-term Trips
So, you are interested in taking a short-term trip to Morning Glory Christian School? That's
great! We welcome all short-term groups at any time of the year. Fun fact: When kids in the U.S.
are on spring break or summer vacation, our kids are still in school! Here you are going to find
information you need to plan your trip.
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» Where to begin?
The first thing you will need to do is pick a date. To the right you will see a calendar of upcoming
trips. This calendar will let you know if a date is unavailable due to another group or activity
going on. So, pick your date, and then email Rob Courtney at
rob@morningglorychristianacademy.org; let us know, so that we can reserve that date for you.
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» What will we do?
There are plenty of different options for your trip to Morning Glory. Typically, most groups like
to participate in a VBS/Bible class with the students. This involves a time of singing praise songs
and a Bible story. We have translators available if your group wants to present the story. We
encourage you to be creative and don’t be afraid to incorporate different elements such as
drama, puppets, illusions, new songs, or whatever else you can come up with. Our kids will love
it! Bible class goes 3 times a day with the 3 different age groups. (Pre-K & Kindergarten, 1st
grade - 4th grade, and 4th grade - 6th grade).
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We also encourage you to spend time with the kids in the other times they are at the school. he
kids arrive at 7:30 and leave at 12:30.
As for the afternoon, we really strive to use the gifts and abilities of your group. There are many
options, such as building or repair work, different workshops or special events with the kids, and
even opportunities to serve and minister to the families in the church. So we ask you to tell us
what kinds of things your group would like to do, and we will help plan your afternoons from
there. Keep in mind that you will want to plan afternoons to just rest as the new environment
will tire your body quicker than you may expect. Also, your group will need to bring funds to
provide for the afternoon activities you plan.
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» Budgeting for your trip.
There will be several items to factor into your trip.
1. Airfare.
Airfare is variable depending on your starting destination, when you book your trip,
which airline, and how many stops are made during the flight. The earlier you book
your flight, the lower the fare will be. Once you've secured your date, it's a good idea
to secure your tickets as soon as possible. Once you've booked your flight, please let us
know the details so we can be sure to arrange transportation.
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2. Room & Board & Travel Costs in Guatemala.
A good estimated cost is $250 per person for one week which covers food, board, and
transportation to and from the airport, Antigua, and The Ruins.
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To break down the cost:
Lodging is $20 per person for one week.
Boarding costs are $21 per day, per person. This covers 3 meals every full day of your
trip, as well as simple meals on your travel days.
Travel costs for pick-up and drop-off at the airport are $4/person.
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So, the cost formula for a single person is:
($21 x TotalDays) + ($20 x TotalWeeks) + $4 = Single Person Cost
To figure the cost for your total group, use this formula:
(($21 x TotalDays) + ($20 x TotalWeeks) + $4) x TotalPeople = Total Group Cost
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3. Trip Supplies.
Are you doing a VBS with crafts? A building project? Remember to think about the
supplies you will need to accomplish the goal of your trip. If you are bringing the
supplies with you (like, say, foam craft materials), you can scope out the cost and
purchase those items on your own. If you are going to need your supplies bought in
Guatemala (like, say, cement), contact us with a supplies list and we will send you a
cost estimate for those supplies.
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If you need your supplies bought in Guatemala, try to be as precise as possible toward
the amounts needed. It's also a good idea to budget a little extra, in case you need to
buy more while you are here.
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» When & where to send the money.
Money needs to be sent to the NIMA offices one month before your trip. This ensures that all
supplies will be purchased (including food for meals!) before you get there. This can be the
difference between getting started right away and wasting a day. Their address is:
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New Iberian Mission Association
PO Box 15133
Las Cruces, NM 88004-5133
NIMA will send this money via wire transfer.
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Extra money, or last minute budget money, should be brought to Guatemala in the form of U.S.
dollars. Do not bring checks! Due to difficulty processing foreign checks, your money could be
held for quite a while before it is released.
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» Food and Special dietary concerns.
Morning Glory Staff will offer a mix of Guatemalan and American foods. There will always be the
classic PB &J if a particular meal is not appetizing to some individuals.
Morning Glory Christian School can accommodate any special dietary needs. If a member of your
group will be needing a special diet let us know immediately. Groups commonly make the
mistake of not telling us about special dietary needs until they are already here. Buying more
vegetables for a vegetarian is easy. Making sure all of the food we've already purchased is free
of peanut oil is a lot more difficult. But let us know ahead of time and we'll read all the labels
while we're at the store.
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» Is the drinking water safe?
The water at Morning Glory comes from a well and is run through a chlorinator. It has been
tested and found fit for drinking. However, we also supply bottled drinking water as part of the
budget.
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» Transportation to & from the airport.
See “Budgeting” for the cost, but Morning Glory personnel will arrive to meet your group at the
airport and escort you to Morning Glory campus.
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» Sleeping arrangements.
For groups of 40 or less, Morning Glory provides a large house in San Raymundo. This includes
a dining room, 4 showers, 6 bathrooms, a dining room and a living room.
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For groups of 41 or more, there are dorms located on the school campus. These dorms contain
bunk beds with foam mattresses and coil springs. There are also 5 individual rooms made
available for married couples. Each dorm, as well as the individual rooms, are equipped with
indoor bathrooms that include sinks, toilets, and heated showers.
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» Will I need a passport?
Yes. All foreign travel in and out of the U.S. requires a valid passport. Apply for your passport
early (at least 3 months in advance). During off-peak times it can take as little as two weeks to
get your passport. However, during peak times (like summer vacation) the wait can grow much,
much longer.
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» Can children (under 18) travel without their parents?
Yes, but you must supply notarized documentation giving permission to the guardians who will
be sponsoring your trip, as well as birth certificates and passports.
» Will kids enjoy the trip?
Absolutely. We have many who come year after year. It is truly a life-changing event. In
addition, adults have the same experience as the youth, so we encourage bringing adults as well
(besides your youth sponsors).
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» Exchanging money.
The currency of Guatemala is the quetzal. One U.S. dollar is currently worth roughly 7.5
quetzales.
We strongly recommend that your group exchange their money in San Raymundo. The
exchange rates are much better there than either in the US or the airport. Remember that this
requires a trip into town while the bank is open, so exchanging money might not happen on the
very first day, but will be done as soon as possible.
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» Vaccinations.
There are no required vaccinations for visiting Guatemala. All the places you will visit in
Guatemala will be above 4,920 ft, and therefore there is no presence of malaria, and no vaccine
needed.
If you would like to know what vaccinations the CDC recommends, you can view them at their
website, CDC.gov.
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» Other medications
You can bring whatever medications you need to Guatemala. We do have pharmacies in San
Raymundo to get common medicines, (Tylenol equivalents, cold medicine, etc.)
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» Speaking Spanish.
If you are not able to speak, do not fret. We have translators and others who will be glad to
help. Also, it is good for our students and teachers to practice their English.
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» Buying souvenirs.
There are many nice things that you can buy as souvenirs in Guatemala, especially in Antigua.
These include: blankets, scarfs, clothes, jewelry, toys, knives, and machetes.
You can bring back knives and machetes! Don't worry, if you pack your newly purchased knife or
machete in your checked bag, you will have no problem going through security at the airport.
» What is the weather like?
It is between 65-80 degrees year round; very tropical and comfortable. April is typically our
hottest month, and the rainy season usually begins around May 15th and goes through
September. Be sure to check online weather services to get an idea of what the weather is
doing. Of course, you can always contact us, and we will be glad to help.
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» Is there internet?
We recommend that you make arrangements to be without internet, as the this frees your time
up to spend more time with your team and in ministry. We don’t want you to lose a second of
your experience in another culture through the internet in anything other than an emergency.
There is internet available for group leaders.
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» Cell phone service.
You may or may not have cell phone signal while you are in Guatemala. However, unless you
subscribe to an international calling plan, it is not recommended you make calls home with your
U.S. cell phone. The call will likely be very expensive. However, just like the internet, we
encourage you to make arrangements to be without your cell phone so you can better focus your
attention on the ministry you will be doing.
For security and transportation reasons, we do provide each group with a pre-paid cell phone.
This phone will be programmed with our numbers; allowing us to contact each other while you
are here. You may also make phone calls to the U.S. with these phones at a very reasonable
rate. And, since they are pre-paid, it is not costly to recharge the phone, if your minutes run out.
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» Free day options.
Typically a group will dedicate at least one day as a "free day," and spend that day seeing a part
of Guatemala. Some options are:
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Mixco Viejo - Mayan ruins located roughly an hour away from San Raymundo. Budget
$10 extra per person.
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The Water Park - Very similar to an American water park, except that it is surrounded
by mountains, as well as tropical flora and fauna. Budget $10 extra per person.
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Antigua - The oldest city in Central America located roughly two hours away from San
Raymundo. Here you can buy souvenirs, see ancient churches, and eat great food.
Budget $15 extra per person.
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Lunch is included, and already budgeted, in all these options.
» Is it safe?
Yes. We have never had an incident with any group. However, this is because we remember one
fact: You are visiting a foreign country. That fact dictates many of our rules, like, "No one goes
anywhere alone," and "When we say it, do it." We will have your safety as our number one
priority during your stay. It's important for you to remember that fact and obey all the rules we
set for you while you are here.
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Also, while you are staying on the Morning Glory campus, you will be behind locked gates at
night and protected by a security guard. The reason for the guard is the contents of the hospital
that is on our campus. The medicine and equipment it contains is very valuable, so the hospital
committee employs a security guard. You receive the benefit of his presence.
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» FYI
For your personal security we ask that you do not give your phone number or home address to
any Guatemalan national. We won't give it either. Facebook and emails are your decision but
again we will not provide that information without your approval.
Packing List
Feel free to use this list as the starter for your own packing list. It is by no means
comprehensive for all trips.
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passport
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Bible
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walking shoes for work and play
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toiletries: soap, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, towel, etc
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insect repellent
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sun block
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hat or baseball cap
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swim suit
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work clothes / clothes that can get dirty
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church outfit
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light jacket or sweater
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water bottle
Expectations
» Dress code.
We ask that you adhere to normal “camp” guidelines. This shorts of reasonable length and
shirts for the ladies and fully-clothed men at all time. Remember we are ministering to a
community and we do have 6th graders at the school and it is very difficult to see Jesus when
they are seeing so much of “you.”
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» Gifts.
Please remember that Morning Glory has about 590 students. We welcome and appreciate small
gifts, but we do not want to leave anyone out. Silly bands, whistles, trinkets, and small toys are
great gifts that can be given to all. If you are meeting your sponsored child, you are welcome to
leave a gift for that child. Please let us know, and we can arrange for you to give your gift in
private. But if you are bringing gifts for the students who are not your sponsored child, we ask
you try to bring enough for all the students
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You are welcome to also bring gifts for the faculty and staff of Morning Glory. Again, please
bring enough for all the staff members. Any gift to any individual teacher or staff member
MUST be approved by Lori Nij prior to the presentation of the gift.
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As a policy, we do NOT permit anyone to give out money to anyone in Guatemala without the
approval of Lori Nij. If you meet someone you would like to bless with a gift, we can take you to
the market to buy something to give to them. Also, please do not make promises or even vague
suggestions that could be interpreted as a promise for any money. This is for your protection and
the well-being of the school, church, and mission.
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» Devotions.
We ask that your group prepare and lead devotions each day or night. They can be as deep or
as light as your group desires. We think that is important to reflect on the experiences you will
have and how that affects your team and also the affect your team will have on Morning Glory.
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» A Learner’s Heart
Every cross-cultural experience affects both the visitors and the home country. We want every
member of your team to be impacted just as much as they impact. Therefore, we simply ask
that you come ready to listen, watch, and learn from every experience you encounter in
Guatemala. We promise that if you do, your time at Morning Glory will be an experience you
never forget.
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For any questions not answered on this guide, please contact Rob Courtney at
rob@morningglorychristianacademy.org.
We look forward to your visit and pray that God will bless your planning process.