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1250 E Walnut Ave Pasadena, CA 91106

626 893 3025

E-Mail:  [email protected]

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TRAVELING IN MEXICO

SERVING IN MEXICO

CROSS CULTURAL CONSIDERATIONS

SPANISH MATERIAL

PREPARATIONS

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All FLY-IN team members

Approximate cost for a passport if you haven’t applied before is $100.

Non US and Non Canadian Citizens

Travel in Mexico carries no more inherent risk than traveling in the United States.

Driving is different than what you are probably used to. For example, left hand turning signals can have three different meanings depending on when and where they are used.

There are armed checkpoints to look for guns and drugs. These checkpoints do not pose a threat and should not be viewed as harassment. Petty thievery is fairly common in

Mexico so please leave valuables at home. Cameras and money should be kept securedand out of site at all times.

For aircraft, it is important that the Pilot-in-Command have all the necessary paperworkfor the aircraft, pilot credentials, and knowledge of flight plans and border crossing procedures for legal aircraft travel in a foreign country. This information is readily available from your flight coordinator or the Mexican Medical office.

Websites to look at are

Should you rent a vehicle or drive your own car (or any form of motorized vehicle- i.e. boat, plane, motorcycle, jet ski etc.) it is your responsibility to have liability or fullcoverage vehicle insurance for Mexico and the US. This insurance is required for travel in Mexico. US insurance is not valid in Mexico. Insurance is available at border areas or via FAX. Pilots should check with their insurance agent to secure Mexican insurance before departure.

Medical Insurance- Check with your insurance company to see if you are covered out of the country. If you are not covered short term travel medical insurance should be purchased.

Please do not bring bills larger than 20's because it is very difficult to get change. Do not bring travelers checks to be used in Mexico as there are very few places that will change them for you. Small bills should be brought for personal use. Most merchants in Mexico will accept US bills, but if you prefer US dollars can be exchanged for Mexican pesos.

No immunizations are required to travel in Mexico, but members may want to get a tetanus booster. You can call Mexican Medical one month prior to you scheduled arrival to see if we have any knowledge of any epidemics in the area in which you will beserving. You may want to contact the U.S. State Department for current information concerning your ministry area at http://travel.state.gov and do a search for Mexico. You may also want to check out http://www.cdc.gov/travel .

If an emergency arises back home, in which you must get in touch with an individual in Mexico, you may contact our office in Pasadena 626 577 8096. Our office hours are 9:00 - 5:00,Monday through Friday. We do have an emergency number for our sister organization that runs many mission sites, Mexican Medical 619 463 4777. However it isusually a message number.

This is reserved for EMERGENCIES ONLY. Please be sure to leave the Mexican Medical phone number at home along with the name of the site you are going to. This will expedite finding you in case of an emergency. EMERGENCIES ONLY. Please be sure to leave the Mexican Medical phone number at home along with the name of the site you are going to. This will expedite finding you in case of an emergency.

There may not be access to phones while you are in Mexico depending on the mission where you are serving. It is suggested that you tell your friends and family that no news is good news. You can contact them as soon as you return to the U.S.A. Cell phone service, even though you may have international capability with your service provider, inthe Baja area of Mexico, is very "spotty" and expensive (about $2.00 per minute). So, it is recommended that you not plan on using your cell phone for communication.

There may not be access to phones while you are in Mexico depending on the mission where you are serving. It is suggested that you tell your friends and family that no news is good news. You can contact them as soon as you return to the U.S.A. Cell phone service, even though you may have international capability with your service provider, inthe Baja area of Mexico, is very "spotty" and expensive (about $2.00 per minute). So, it is recommended that you not plan on using your cell phone for communication.

If you are flying in a 4-6 seater airplane, as with any form of transportation, you are assuming certain risks, however your safety is of utmost concern to us. Please be advised that it is the sole responsibility of the pilot-in-command to determine if the weather conditions present or forecast are safe enough to warrant the flight. Mission aircraft are generally not equipped with deicing and thunderstorm avoidance radar and most are single engine aircraft. There is a possibility that the departure and /or the return flight(s) may be delayed, postponed or completely canceled to assure safe operations. Each passenger should recognize that such delays may occur and should prepare for such a possibility with home or work.

These planes are limited in the amount of weight they can take. PLEASE pack as lightly as possible using a soft duffle type of bag. Your full personal bag (including sleeping bag) should weigh no more than 20 pounds in order to have sufficient room/weight for equipment and supplies.  If you can bring 10 lbs. even better for safety. PLEASE pack as lightly as possible using a soft duffle type of bag. Your full personal bag (including sleeping bag) should weigh no more than 20 pounds in order to have sufficient room/weight for equipment and supplies.  If you can bring 10 lbs. even better for safety.

La Esperanza flights:

Realizing that everyone goes to Mexico with different goals, motivations, and spiritual backgrounds, we submit the following in an effort to make the most of your time in Mexico. We trust that you will take these guidelines seriously and come with a proper, team-player attitude. The Mexican churches we work with dictate many of our guidelines to us. It is our desire to encourage them within their cultural setting and not to enforce or push our culture on them, after all we are guests in their country. With this in mind the following is submitted to you.

" ... your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus." Philippians 2:5

The people of Mexico form an opinion of Christianity on what they see in you; therefore, as individuals and as a group it is important to conduct yourselves in a godly manner.

Male/Female Relationships