Mexico

DATE:

4/14/24-4/20/24

6/9/24-6/15/24

6/23/24-6/29/24

8/4/24-8/10/24

ESTIMATED COST: 

$475 per person per trip from San Diego

FUNDRAISING GOAL:

$97,000 (these funds are used to pay for the houses we build) 

OVERVIEW OF ACTIVITIES

We plan to build up to 16 homes for Mexican families in need.  

• Build A Home – We will primarily be focused on blessing needy families by building single family homes, complete with a cement floor (the slab will be ready by the time your team gets there), real windows (in lieu of pieces of cloths placed over a hole in the wall), a door that locks (instead of a piece of cloth or cardboard for a door) and a composition roof that will not leak when it rains!  We will also provide the families with a bathroom and shower area.
• Play with Children — Activities with local children typically include playing games, giving away candy and balloons, doing puppet shows, crafts and showing the love Jesus through our actions at the job site.
• Attend Local Church — We typical attend a lively Mexican church service Wednesday night and/or an English church service Thursday.
• Outreach – Depending on the Team Leader, teams may also assist with several other outreach ministries such as the Dorothy’s house woman’s shelter, local orphanage, and “The Dump ministry” aimed at drug rehabilitation etc.
• Fellowship – While the activities involved in building a home allow for times of fellowship, we also take an afternoon to visit the beach, enjoy local food/culture and shop prior to departing.
• Purpose – When we build a house for a family we are demonstrating the love of Jesus – who saw our need and provided for us!  This act also helps to break the poverty cycle, improve health and education opportunities for children, give families more hope for the future and builds relationships.  Our aim is not only to build a house for families in need but also to provide a home where families can have more stability, where day to day challenges can be minimize and where the love Jesus is celebrated for future generations.  Thank you, Volunteers, for partnering with us to provide help and hope to hurting people!

TYPICAL SCHEDULE

Below is a basic schedule for the week, which we approach with flexibility because our ultimate focus is on relationships!  Your Team Leader will lead a time of debriefing and a short devotional in the evening and it is always a great addition to have musical worship.  Please let us know if you have anyone who sings or plays guitar on your trip so that we can help to coordinate the musical aspect of worship when able!  If teams aren’t able to help in the area of music, it may not be a part of the trip.  Thanks for understanding.

Sunday

  10 A.M.  –   Meet at San Diego airport and get vans

  12 P.M.   –   Stop for lunch then head to the border

  2 P.M.     –   Stop in Ensenada for a restroom and snack break

  5 P.M.      –  Dinner at Papa Ruben’s

  7 P.M.      –  Pull into mission base, get room assignments and settle in

Monday

  7:30 A.M. –  Breakfast

  8:15 A.M.  –  Breakfast duties, devotions and group meeting

  9:45 A.M.  –  Leave for job site

  5 P.M.       –  Return from job site

  5:30 P.M.  –  Dinner, evening duties, debrief and optional outreach opportunities

Tuesday

  7:30 A.M. –  Breakfast

  8:15 A.M.  –  Breakfast duties, devotions and group meeting

  9:45 A.M.  –  Leave for job site

   5 P.M.      –  Return from job site

  5:30 P.M.  –  Dinner, evening duties, debrief and optional outreach opportunities

Wednesday

  7:30 A.M. –  Breakfast

  8:15 A.M.  –  Breakfast duties, devotions and group meeting

  9:45 A.M.  –  Leave for job site

  3:45 P.M..   –  Return from job site and get ready for church

  4:15 P.M.    –  Dinner

  5:30 P.M.   –  Leave for Open Door Church

Thursday

  7:30 A.M. –  Breakfast

  8:15 A.M.  –  Breakfast duties, devotions and group meeting

  9:45 A.M.  –  Leave for job site

  12-4 P.M.  – Complete house and have dedication Ceremony

  5 P.M.       –  Return from job site

  5:30 P.M.  –  Dinner, evening duties, debrief and optional outreach opportunities

Friday

  7:30 A.M –  Breakfast

  8:15 A.M.  –  Breakfast duties, devotions and group meeting

  9:45 A.M.  –  Leave for beach

  4 P.M.       –  Visit orphanage

  5:30 P.M.  –  Special dinner feast, debrief, free time and pack up

Saturday

  7:30 A.M.  –  Head home

LODGING & FOOD

Where We Stay & What We Eat

Lodging consists of dormitory style buildings. Each dorm sleeps 12 with 6 sets of bunk beds. They come with a pretty comfy mattress but don't forget your pillow and sleeping bag.  The food is prepared by the mission base staff.  It’s a variety of traditional Mexican food as well as some American dishes. The food is delicious and safe to eat. There is clean purified drinking water in a couple different locations on the base. 

SUPPLY LIST

Temperatures at this time of year can range from 60 F at night to over 80 F during the day.   Plus, it rarely rains – they only get 45 inches of rain per year.   As a result, without much rain, the area is very dusty  and can get quite windy.   If you wear contacts, you might want to consider bringing your glasses.  We also recommend bringing bandannas to cover your face if there is a sand storm.  Please note, the area we are staying has no heating (e.g. it is chilly at night and in the morning) so be sure to bring a jacket or sweatshirt! 

• Bible
• Bedding: sleeping bag, pillow, fitted sheet, alarm clock and ear plugs (if a light sleeper) etc.
• Bath: bath towel, soap, shampoo, toothbrush and toothpaste, personal items, flip flops for shower etc.
• Clothes: work clothes, one nice (not dressy) outfit for church, jacket and/or sweater (cold at night), work gloves, bandanna or hat, swimsuit (modest please; no bikinis) etc.
• Shoes: tennis or work shoes are preferred (e.g. no bare feet at any time) etc.
• Other: baby wipes, beach towel, camera, flashlight, hand sanitizer, sunscreen and water bottle etc.

DRESS CODE

• No undergarments showing at any time
• Dresses/skirts for outreach should be mid-calf to ankle
• No tank tops, low-cut, scoop neck or tight fitting shirts (e.g. no showing bellies) for the girls; sleeveless is ok
• Men cannot take off their shirts, except on the beach day
• Swimsuits can include tankinis but no bikinis

HEALTH & SAFETY

Helping Hands International recommends you follow the health and safety recommendations readily published by the CDC and Travel Alert program offered by the US State Department, as well as those recommended by your personal physician. Please click here for vaccination requirements and/or recommendations made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  Please note, if you do take prescription medicines, please check with your local pharmacist to ensure the medicines are not considered a controlled substance in the location you are traveling.  

PASSPORT REQUIREMENTS

Please be sure to read specific passport and visa requirements listed here, per the U.S. State Department.