participant packet

PARTICIPANT PACKET 20118 N 67th Ave Suite 300-264 Glendale AZ 85308
Tel 602.501.6672
Email info@1Mission.org
WWW.1MISSION.ORG
ABOUT THE TRIP TO MEXICO
THANK YOU!
Thank you for considering partnering with 1Mission for this short-term mission trip to Mexico!
The purpose of this packet it to provide all of the information that you’ll need to make this a safe, fun and
rewarding trip. After reviewing this packet, if you have any additional questions your group leader should be able
to answer them.
From the time you arrive at our base camp of team will take care of all of your needs and will be happy to assist
you in any way we can. We are confident that this will be an awesome experience for you and you’ll be helping to
make a difference for a family in need.
WHAT WILL WE BE DOING ON THE TRIP?
You will spend 3 days building a home for a family that has already served 200 hours on community service
projects. A few weeks before the trip your group leader will receive a biography of the family that you’ll be
working with while together you build them a new home.
WHAT IF I DON’T HAVE ANY EXPERIENCE?
Most people who serve on our projects don’t have any construction experience and many have never been on a
trip before. The house is a very simple design and is intended to be constructed by a volunteer work force. There
will be plenty of work that you will be able to do. There are plenty of other activities to do, such as doing crafts
with kids, helping local women with cleaning and laundry, playing with the local kids, etc.
WHERE IN MEXICO WILL WE BE GOING?
Puerto Peñasco, also known as Rocky Point is a fishing and tourist town of 60,000 people located on the Sea of
Cortez. Puerto Peñasco is 60 miles (100 km) inside Mexico and is about 240 miles (400 km) from Phoenix, or a 4.5
hour drive on good highways.
WHERE IS THE 1MISSION BASE CAMP LOCATED?
The base camp is 6 miles (10 km) north of Puerto Peñasco, right along the main highway.
WHAT TYPES OF FACILITIES ARE AT THE BASE CAMP?
The base camp is an RV park that has a kitchen/dining room building, swimming pool, showers, a bunk house and
tent and RV camping.
WHAT WILL WE EAT?
All meals are provided by 1Mission and there will be a variety of food you are familiar with as well as local,
Mexican food prepared by local volunteers.
WHERE WILL WE SLEEP?
1Mission provides the option to RV, tent or sleep in a bunkhouse depending on what your group leader has
arranged. Reservations are required for RVs or bunkhouse since space is limited.
IS THERE AN AGE LIMIT FOR THE TRIP?
Unless your group leader sets an age limit, there is no age limit, but generally we recommend children be at least 7
years old. Younger children are welcome but may distract from their parent’s experience due to the long hours and
challenging conditions.
SHOULD I BE CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY?
Mexico has been subject to a lot of bad publicity in the past few years but 1Mission volunteers have not had any
negative experiences.
DO I NEED A PASSPORT?
Anyone over the age of 18 travelling by car in to Mexico requires a passport. Travelers under 19 may use a copy of
their birth certificate but you will need to let your group leader know. No additional travel documents are
required.
WHAT IS THE COST FOR THE TRIP?
Check with your group leader to determine the fee for your trip.
WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING ON THE TRIP?
Please see the attached list for items to bring.
WHAT TO BRING
General
 Something to sleep in (RV, Tent) reservations are needed for RVs.
 Sleeping bag or blanket and pillow if you are staying in the bunkhouse (reservation in the bunkhouse must
be confirmed with your leader)
 Personal toiletries: soap, shampoo, towel, etc.
 Flashlight
 Personal water bottle
 Sunscreen
 Camera
 Folding chair for the jobsite is a plus
Clothing
 Base camp casual clothes (Shorts OK)
 Appropriate swim suit for swimming pool and showers (private showers are limited)
 Appropriate work clothes (NO shorts, capris or tank tops)
 Work shoes/boots – no open toe shoes on worksites
 Work gloves
 Warm clothes – evenings & mornings are cool
Identification
 Passport
 Travelers under 19 may use a birth certificate
 Prescription medication for duration of the trip including a copy of prescription
Insurance
 1Mission provides medical insurance
 You MUST purchase Mexico Car insurance for your vehicle before you cross the border. This is the law in
Mexico and your US insurance is not valid in Mexico. You can purchase online or at several locations
along the road before entering Mexico.
 One option:
Kirk Borg – Allstate Insurance Company
623-680-8909
kirkborg@allstate.com
1Mission Store
1Mission has a store at base camp where you can purchase items such as t-shirts, hats and hoodies. All
proceeds benefit people in the community in need.
As well we often have products made by local community artisans. All proceeds go directly to the artist.
ABOUT… 1MISSION
1Mission is an international non-profit organization
partnering with communities to overcome poverty
through a combination of immediate relief and
sustainable development. We serve all people regardless
of religion, race, ethnicity or gender.
1Mission believes it is vital that community members
become active participants, not passive recipients, in the
development of their communities.
We provide the opportunity for local people to get
involved and actually be the change that they want to
see in their community.
100% of your trip fee goes toward the house
construction and our ongoing operations in Mexico. Our administrative expenses in the US are funded by
private donors… you are welcome to become one of them.
ABOUT… OUR PROCESS
1Mission is strategic in our home qualification process. Each family is
required to volunteer their time in community service to earn their
house.
We empower people through training in environmental, economic,
social and spiritual (holistic) transformation. In this way a 1Mission
house serves as a catalyst for community transformation, mobilizing
individuals, families and whole communities into action.
ABOUT… YOUR FAMILY
Your family has already volunteered over 200 hours to their community. These
hours have included building houses for their neighbors, volunteering with local
organizations and participating in community development programs. Some
applicants have been trained to serve as Community Health Educators (CHEs),
helping teach their neighbors about physical and spiritual health.
Your family owns, or is in the process of purchasing, the land that you will build
the house on.
A few weeks before your trip you will receive a family biography which will
include some additional information about your family so can get to know
them before your arrival. Your family is eagerly awaiting your arrival to partner
with them in improving their living conditions.
ABOUT… THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS
Currently your family likely lives in
a temporary structure constructed
from whatever materials they are
able to salvage from the area or
the local land fill. These structures
are typically made of cardboard,
wooden pallets, car hoods, old
boat hulls and discarded
construction material. The house
you build will have a life changing impact.
Over the course of 2 ½ days you will
construct an 11’X22’ house that will
provide basic shelter for your family.
The house construction process
consists of a hand-mixed concrete
slab, wood framed walls and roof,
and stucco on the exterior walls.
You will be working alongside local
volunteers and community members
who have come together in
cooperation to improve their
community.
We don’t use any power tools!
Why? The house construction is a
community project involving
inexperienced people of all ages.
Our goal is to involve everyone in a
fun and safe manner. Please leave your power tools at home. 1Mission will provide all tools and
materials required for the house construction but you are welcome to bring your own hand tools as well.
ABOUT… BASE CAMP
The 1Mission base camp is an RV Park located approximately 8 miles
north of Puerto Peñasco, complete with RV sites with full hookups,
tent camping and two bunkhouses. There are showers, bathrooms
and a laundry room. We have a kitchen and dining room along with
a swimming pool and beach volleyball court. Our local directors,
Pedro and Susana Tapia and their three children live at the base
camp.
Bring your camping equipment, a sleeping bag or blankets and pillow along with your personal toiletries
and work clothes. Check the list of things to bring for more information. Everything else will be provided.
ABOUT… YOUR WEEKEND
The typical weekend will be scheduled as follows:
First Evening
Welcome meeting at base camp
Day One
Eat breakfast, pack a sack lunch and drive to the job site (you will drive your own vehicle
to the site).
You will meet your family for the first time. You will mix concrete in wheelbarrows,
pour the concrete slab floor and frame the walls.
After returning to base camp you’ll have dinner prepared by local volunteers and then
your evening is free. You are welcome to go into Puerto Peñasco and explore the city
provided that your group leader approves and you notify 1Mission staff of your
intentions.
Day Two
You will get up (a little slower than Day One) take some Advil or Tylenol and then eat
breakfast, pack your lunch and head to the job site.
Today you will erect the walls and roof, wrap the house with tar paper and chicken wire
and then complete the first coat of stucco on the exterior walls.
After returning to base camp you will prepare for Fiesta Night! This evening your family
will join us to share our evening meal. This will be a time where you can get to know the
family better and work on your Spanish language learning.
Fiesta Night will end around 8:00 and the rest of the evening you are free to do
whatever you choose, which, after two days of hard labor, usually means going to bed.
Day Three
You will get up even slower than Day
Two, more Advil, eat breakfast, give
thanks that you don’t have to work
like this everyday, and then leave for
the jobsite.
Today is an easier day since you
should only have to do the second
coat of stucco and clean up the job
site. You will do a house dedication
ceremony with the family where you’ll
turn over the keys for the house.
And then comes the hard part…saying
goodbye to the new friends that you’ve
made.
After returning to base camp there will be
lunch provided and then your weekend
concludes.
ABOUT… CONTINUING THE RELATIONSHIP
We welcome you to follow up with us to see how your family is doing. If you are a regular visitor to the
community we encourage you to check in with your family for a visit.
We also encourage you to support our ministry with your prayers and financial support. Donations are
tax deductible and can be made by mail or on our website.
We’ve placed you on our email list to keep you informed about 1Mission. We hope you find these emails
informative. If you wish to be removed from the list you can unsubscribe using the link in the email.
Thanks for partnering with us to transform the community of Puerto Peñasco one family at a time.
Check us out online at 1mission.org or Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/1Mission.
DRIVING DIRECTIONS TO PUERTO PEÑASCO BASE CAMP
FIRST THINGS FIRST – SAFETY!!
The Mexico Tourism department provides an emergency road side service known as the Angeles Verdes (Green
Angels). If you have car trouble, call 078 from your cell phone. If you can’t make a call just open your car hood
and wait as they make regular tours of the highway.
ENTERING BASE CAMP The 1Mission base camp is located on the East side of a very busy highway. Therefore,
to enter the base camp you will need to make a left turn into the base camp. It is extremely IMPORTANT that you
use extra precautions when making the turn in to base camp.
Other drivers travelling the highway may not be expecting a group of vehicles to be making a left hand turn on this
stretch of highway so be sure to CHECK YOUR REAR VIEW MIRROR to ensure that no one is overtaking you before
you make the left turn.
ALSO, once off the highway DO NOT STOP and prevent other vehicles behind you from being able to leave the
highway. Pass quickly through the gate, make a left hand turn and continue into the base camp and allow enough
room for all other vehicles to exit the highway.
GETTING TO BASE CAMP
You will need to find your way to the border crossing at Lukeville, AZ.
As you approach the border crossing you will be stopped my US Border officials who may ask you a few easy to
answer questions.
When you cross the border the Mexican officials typically won’t stop you but you may be stopped. There is a
traffic control arm across the road and a small traffic light on the left hand side. If you see the light turn green you
just continue on unless an agent motions you to stop. If the light turns red an alarm will sound and you must stop
for the agents. Usually they just do a quick check to see where you are going and they may want to inspect the
contents of your vehicle. This is rarely more than a minor inconvenience. You may be asked to show ID and your
vehicle registration.
After leaving the border crossing you will immediately enter into the town of Sonoyta. Continue for about 3 miles
until you come to a major intersection. You will take the highway (Hwy 2) to the left.
Within ¼ of a mile you will cross a bridge over the river and you will see the sign in the picture below. Follow the
road to the right (Pte. Penasco.)
You will travel down the main street of Sonoyta for about 1 mile.
Continue on this highway all the way to the 1Mission base camp. The base camp is approximately at kilometer
marker 83 (about 50 miles). The kilometer markers are small signs on the right hand side of the road. The base
camp is on the left hand side of a very long, straight stretch of highway.
The base camp is just past a used auto parts shop on the left hand side of the road.
There is a fuel storage site on the right hand side of the highway.
The base camp is not in the city so if you reach the city you need to turn back about 5 miles.
Buen Viaje!
COMMON SPANISH PHRASES Greetings Buenos días Buenas tardes Buenas noches Perdón / Disculpe No hablo español. ¿Cómo te llamas? Mucho gusto. ¿Cómo está? Food Tengo sed. agua tenador cuchillo el pan los huevos el pollo té Good morning Good afternoon ` Good evening Excuse me I don’t speak Spanish. What is your name? Nice to meet you. How are you? I am thirsty water fork knife bread eggs chicken tea Hola Adiós por favor / gracias sí / no ¿Habla inglés? Me llamo ____. Tengo ____ años. Estoy bien. Hello Goodbye please / thank you yes / no Do you speak English? My name is _____. I am ___ years old. I am fine. I am hungry. coffee spoon plate beans milk meat Apples Tengo hambre. café cuchara plato los frijoles la leche la carne Manzanas airport the street Where is ___? el autobús de pie Alto brother / sister son / daughter uncle / aunt children madre / padre mother / father esposo / esposa husband / wife primo / prima cousin sobrino /sobrina nephew / niece pretty, beautiful kitchen bath, bathroom perfecto cama perfect bed Jesucristo El Espíritu Santo La Biblia Orar Adoración Siesta Jesus Holy Spirit Bible to pray Worship nap Transportation el aeropuerto la calle ¿Dónde está ___ ? bus on foot Stop Family hermano / hermana hijo / hija tío / tía los niños At Home bonito cocina baño Mind and Body Estoy cansado / cansada. enfermo / enferma Tengo calor / frío. Dolar de cabeza el estomago Estoy dolorido I am tired (M/F) sick (M/F) I am warm / cold. headache stomach I’m sore Counting uno 1 cero 0 nueve 9 diez 10 dieciocho 18 dos 2 tres 3 once 11 doce 12 diecinueve 19 cuatro 4 trece 13 veinte 20 cinco 5 seis 6 siete 7 ocho 8 catorce 14 quince 15 dieciséis 16 diecisiete 17 ciento 100 Shopping el cambio Yo quiero ___ Monday Wednesday Friday Sunday students here Home What time is it? Group Music Games Joy Peace Window Roof Tape measure Saw Hammer Wheelbarrow Wire Table Cement Stucco Hinges change I want ___ ¿Cuánto cuesta? esto How much does it cost? this one martes jueves sábado Tuesday Thursday Saturday school Work At what time? Daily Living lunes miércoles viernes domingo los estudiantes aquí Casa ¿Qué hora es? la escuela Trabajo ¿A qué hora? Ministry El Grupo Musica Juegos Alegria Paz Muñca Pintura de Cara Bailar/Bailando Amor Christiano La Puerta Rollo para techos Alquitrán Las Paredes La Pala Los Clavos Las Corinas Petatillo Baño El Porche/Pótico Doll Face painting Dance/Dancing Love Christian Construction La Ventana El Techo Cinta de medir La sierra El Martillo La Carretilla El Alambre La Tabla Cemento Estuco Bisagras Door Roll roofing Tar Walls Shovel nails Curtains OSB Bathroom Porch