Informational e-mails sent to Commission Unto Mexico participants
2008-2009 e-mails
Email #7 Sent 11/30/08
Registrations as of November 30: 123
MONEY NEEDED We're needing to send funds to Mexico to get things set up for our coming (hotel rooms guaranteed, construction materials purchased, transportation reserved). To this point, many of you have only paid the $25 registration fee. Please help us by making a hefty payment!
SWEATER REPAIR? Here's a repeat of a note in the last update:
"SWEATERS FOR MEXICO -- Here's a note from SNU professor Chris Querry: 'I have a charitable non-profit organization called WorthyWings. . . We bought somewhere in the neighborhood of a gazillion women's sweaters. . . Many of the sweaters have a stitching problem -- pocket coming unstitched, a small hole in the yarn, a seam coming unraveled -- nothing major and all the sweaters are usable. . . . I wanted to see if 1) you have room on the bus to tote the sweaters to Mexico to give to needy folk, 2) if you have a women's church group who might want to do a stitch or two to make the sweaters brand new. Even if they are not stitched, they are plenty good and warm.' Chris is offering us about 200 of these sweaters for our Chihuahua trip. Anybody want to get involved in the task of repairing them so we can take them?"
PHOTOS AND VBS INFO COMING Eric and Tami Buell emailed this weekend to say that they're sending us photos of the various sites as well as VBS material. We'll make those things available to you on the website just as soon they get here.
TEAM LISTS AND HOUSING We should have the first draft of team lists and room assignments done this week. Watch for an email about them
E-mail #6 Sent 11/22/08
Participants as of November 22: 119
NEED A RIDE TO EL PASO? We're taking some SNU vans from Bethany. Round-trip seats on those vans are $99. We've got a dozen or so seats still left. To reserve your place on one of those vans, contact Stacey Porterfield: sporterf@snu.edu Those vans also need drivers, so if you'd be willing to drive at least part of the way, get in touch with Stacey.
*We do have a couple of people looking for a ride from north central Texas. Let us know if you have space ( mexico@snu.edu )
SWEATERS FOR MEXICO Here's a note from SNU professor Chris Querry: "I have a charitable non-profit organization called WorthyWings. . . We bought somewhere in the neighborhood of a gazillion women's sweaters. . . Many of the sweaters have a stitching problem -- pocket coming unstitched, a small hole in the yarn, a seam coming unraveled -- nothing major and all the sweaters are usable. . . . I wanted to see if 1) you have room on the bus to tote the sweaters to Mexico to give to needy folk, 2) if you have a women's church group who might want to do a stitch or two to make the sweaters brand new. Even if they are not stitched, they are plenty good and warm." Chris is offering us about 200 of these sweaters for our Chihuahua trip. Anybody want to get involved in the task of repairing them so we can take them?
WE'VE STILL GOT ROOM We got a call two days ago from someone thinking that we were not accepting any more registrations. We are. We've still got lots of room. So, spend your Thanksgiving holiday recruiting people for the trip!
IS THERE A DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE? We need at least one more medical doctor for our medical team. Can you help us recruit someone?
MONEY NEEDED In the midst of the gloomy economic news, we need to ask people to give generously to our construction materials and medical supplies fund. This is about eternal investments, not about the kind that moth and rust and bear stock markets corrupt and destroy. We need at least $10,000. Help us pray that in. Gift to this fund are tax deductible.
YOUR OWN FUNDING If you are a high school or college age person and are not sure how to pay for your trip, recruit at least 75 people to be prayer partners for you to pray in that money. There's more information and a helpful sample of a letter on the trip website: www.snu.edu/mexico
ONE SUITCASE . . . JUST ONE Keep your clothing and personal effects to just one suitcase so we'll have room for all the ministry supplies you'll bring (for suggestions on those, see the website: www.snu.edu/mexico)!
THE TOP DOGS (Chihuahuas?) Heading up the trip from the SNU side will be Jason Hubbert and Andrea Green. Jennifer Lester will be the representative from the SNU admissions office. Gabby Rodriquez will be the regional NYI representative. Eric and Tami Buell are the Work & Witness missionaries in Mexico helping organize things on that end. The district superintendent over all of the Nazarene churches in Chihuahua is Eliseo Sedano.
E-mail #5 Sent 11/13/08
Participants registered as of November 13: 102 We've passed the 100 mark in registrations. Yeah!
RELATIONSHIPS Commission Unto Mexico is all about relationships. Yes, we will pour some concrete and paint some walls. Yes, we will do some kids' outreach events. What we want to do most of all is build relationships . . . even in spite of language and cultural differences. That will mean humility on our part and a willingness to let our Mexican brothers and sisters lead while we follow.
WHAT TO BRING? Have you checked out the "What to bring?" page on www.snu.edu/mexico ?
FACEBOOK GROUP We've set up a Facebook "Commission Unto Mexico" group that you can "join" if you happen to be on Facebook. Just search for Commission Unto Mexico.
PARENTAL PERMISSION NOTES If you are under 18 on the day the trip begins and one of both of your parents are not coming on the trip, the parent or parents not coming must sign a permission document in front of a notary public. That document is available on the web site ( www.snu.edu/mexico ) under the "Registration" tab.
PRAYING IN FINANCIAL NEEDS Pray that the Lord will provide the $10,000-$15,000 needed for construction materials and medical supplies. Some of that has already come in. We'll get a report to you next week on where we stand.
NEWS FROM CHIHUAHUA Here's an email I just received today from Eric and Tami Buell, Nazarene missionaries who are the Work & Witness coordinators in Mexico:
"I returned from Chihuahua and wanted to fill you in on some of the plans that the pastors have for us. Construction
District office - we need to put on the corrugated metal sheeting for the roof to winterize it. We will need workers who are not afraid of heights as it is a 2-story building. The workers will need variable speed drills, Phillips bits, extension cords, knee protectors, warm work clothes, and hammers.
2 Church - This project will be pouring the bond beam on the 2nd floor SS rooms and putting up the roof. Trusses will be made from wood and then the roof will be metal sheeting. Same tools as the district office but add trowels, masonry string, masonry hammer.
Verbo de Dios - Roof project as well - same tools as district center
1st Church - If we have a paint crew, paint the sanctuary That is the extent of the construction projects.
Here's what the Chihuahua pastors and DS are planning for the other teams We have 6 churches in Chihuahua. Each church is planning a VBS (using the Remy curriculum), and community service projects.
Community service - the state government of Chi. is donating 10,000 fruit and ornamental trees to the Church of the Nazarene to plant in the communities where we have work. This is part of a state reforestation project in which the state gov. has asked us to partner with them. The plan is to visit homes in the area surrounding the church to see who would want a fruit (peach, plum) and/or ornamental trees. The churches in Juarez have ordered 300 per church - the response in the communities has been amazing. The group (Mexican Nazarenes + Commission) will plant the trees where the home owners wish. We'll use the contact to invite children to VBS and advise them about the medical clinic at the churches that will host the clinic.
The VBS curriculum calls for puppets - can we put out the call with the groups?
Another aspect of the community service is that the state health department is donating vitamins, Vermox, and folic acid for the churches to distribute in their communities as well. The combined groups will also visit homes to give the meds and use the visit as a contact for follow up by the local church.
Some of the churches (we don't know yet - Tami and I return to Chihuahua on Dec 6 to follow up) are planning park clean ups. I know of at least two churches that have turned in definite plans for that. We asked all the pastors to have their plans finalized by Dec. 6.
Here's a tentative itinerary.
12/27 - orientation meeting at El Paso 1st in AM; arrival in Chihuahua with short meeting in PM with pastors
12/28 - services in local churches - afternoon free
12/29 - ministry/work day at local sites
12/30 - ministry/work day
12/31 - ministry/work until about
2:00 PM - New Year's service in local church
1/1 - Fun day - soccer, b-ball, volleyball, cookout at local high school (11:00-3:00) then gather at hotel at 7:00 for Noche Mexicana/ Farewell - the rationale for that is that many will have to return to work on the 2nd.
1/2 - Final work day until around 2:00 - afternoon for shopping, packing, etc. may be time in the evening for Bible/sword drill time
1/3 - Early departure for El Paso
The hotel name is Tierra Blanca. It is located 2 blocks from the downtown plaza and Catholic church. There is a large Sorianna grocery store not more than 50 yds. from the hotel. The market is 4 blocks away. Dominoes, subway, BK are all within 4 blocks. It has wireless internet, hot water, a/c, pool, and ample room. This is the hotel's website http://www.posadatierrablanca.com.mx/english.htm Registered as of November 6: 80 Pray that God will continue to speak to people about joining us and that doors will open financially for those for whom finances seem like a big obstacle.
E-mail #4 Sent 11/06/08
STRUGGLING WITH FUNDING?
Are you having trouble coming up with the money? Check out the pages about finding support on the website. Go to: http://snu.edu/fund-raising Young people in particular usually find that adult believers in their family and church are willing to help them have a global mission trip experience.
CHEAP OVERNIGHT LODGING IN EL PASO
El Paso First Church has renovated part of their building to provide housing for people going into Mexico on mission trips. If you're going to arrive on the 26th (and many people will have to in order to be there by 9 a.m. on December 27th), that church has bunk-bed, dormitory-style housing for $7 per person! To reserve space, contact Joel Tooley ( borderinitiative@nazarene.org ). See details on other possibilities at: http://snu.edu/motels
PLANS MOVING AHEAD ON SITE
Missionary Eric Buell is in Chihuahua these days working on details with the local committee that's putting together things on that end. We should have details soon about the various ministry sites and other things. Begin praying now that the Holy Spirit can weld Commission Unto Mexico participants and Chihuahua believers into one solid, unified team!
ADVICE NEEDED
If you're a mission trip veteran, give us a paragraph of advice to pass along to those first timers. We'll use it here in our weekly e-mail updates. Send that paragraph to me as a reply to this message.
A LITTLE BIT OF SPANISH?
I hope you'll pick up a little bit of Spanish before arriving in Chihuahua. Learn to say "Buenos Dias" (Good Morning), "Buenas Tardes" (Good Afternoon or Good Evening) and "Dios le bendiga" (God bless you).
NEEDED: Another doctor and $10,000. We need another doctor for our medical team. Help us recruit one. We also need $10,000 for construction materials and medical supplies.
WAY TO GO SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMASoutheast Oklahoma NMI is giving trip scholarhips to two young people (Amilia Davis and Matthew McClintock)
E-mail #3 Sent 10/30/08
It's difficult to know what our final number of participants will be . . . although the hotel and restaurant in Mexico would like to know! Right now we have 70 signed up. If you have friends who are planning on going but haven't yet sent in their registrations, ask them to get moving on it! Remind them that passports will not be needed this year.
GETTING TO EL PASO
We will help put car pools together as well as taking a van or two from SNU. Let us know if you are driving and will have space for one or more extras. Or, let us know if you are looking for a ride to El Paso.
WORDS OF ADVICE
Here's some words of advice from veteran trip participant Maureen McClain:
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"As you prepare to go, think through what you're taking and try to cover all possibilities. One of the best things you can bring is a small Spanish-English dictionary. Hastings has a small pocket-sized one - it isn't the best dictionary, but it's sure convenient! Being able to have it right at hand makes up for its other deficiencies.
"Remember that Dr. Culbertson tells us the three most important things on this trip are 'relationships, relationships, relationships.' And it's true. We are, above all, bridge-builders. The most valuable thing I've learned on these trips is that there is a special bond between all believers around the world, and that bond is Jesus Christ. I knew that before, but somehow I never fully realized it. You may not have ever met the people before, but there is an immediate tie to them - your relationship as Christians. Cultivate friendships with our Mexican brothers and sisters."
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WEB SITE INFO
Have you read everything on the trip web site yet? We're still working on updates to a few pages, but you can see lots of important information at: www.snu.edu/mexico
FAMILY DISCOUNTS
Some have asked about the family discount. It applies when parents and their children go. It does not apply to siblings (brother and sisters) if they go without parents.
CONSTRUCTION / MEDICAL SUPPLIES FUND
We are in need of about $10,000-$15,000 for construction materials / medical supplies fund. We need you to help us pray in this money!
BALLOON ANIMALS
Have anyone started to learn to make balloon animals yet? It's a great way to bridge that language barrier. Or, why not learn to juggle? There's information about both of these on the "Evangelism" page of www.snu.edu/mexico
INFORMATION FROM CHIHUAHUA
We don't have a lot of information from Chihuahua yet in terms of the hotel where we'll be staying or the actual ministry sites. We'll feed that info to you just as soon as we get it.
However, Dick Wynn, who has gone on several Commission Unto Mexico trips just emailed to say that the latest issue of National Geographic has some articles on Chihuahua. Here's what he says: "One article describes a mine/cave which is full of 20 and 30 foot long quartz crystals, which is almost unheard of. We found small, pocket sized crystals which were shaped just like them in Guatemala.
"The second article was about the indigenous Tarahumara people who live near the Copper Canyon area south of the city and who are migrating into Chihuahua for "better" living conditions. Many of them do not speak Spanish and are jobless, as well as homeless. It would seem to me that there would be a fantastic opportunity for outreach to that group of people??
"Many of their worship rituals are a combination of early Jesuit teaching and ancient Tarahumara worship."
So, go by your local library and find that issue of National Geographic!
GOOF!
In the last update I wrote Monterrey instead of Chihuahua. Forgive me! We've gone to Monterrey six or seven times and this is our first time to Chihuahua.
KEEP US ALL "ON THE SAME PAGE"
If you have friends who are going on the trip who do not have e-mail, please print out this message and give it to them.
Number of officially registered participants as of October 31: 70
E-mail #2 Sent 10/25/08
DOCUMENTS NEEDED:
Several people have asked about Homeland Security document requirements for re-entry by land to the U.S. from Mexico. They are what they have reverted to what they have been for years: a photo ID plus a birth certificate or voter registration card. A passport will also work but IS NOT REQUIRED this year. For official documentation on the border-crossing regulations: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.htm
ADVICE FROM PREVIOUS PARTICIPANTS:
Here's some advice from someone who's already gone on Commission Unto Mexico: "Hi to everyone that is going to Mexico for the first time this year. The most important thing to remember when you are in Mexico is to have a good time and know what you are there for. Make sure you are prayed up. Be willing and able to share God with anyone He asks you to share with. Don't be afraid to speak Spanish with the people. Even if you only know a few words, they really appreciate it when you try to communicate and have a relationship with them. You will also get an awesome blessing out of it as well :-D." -- Casey Broadway.
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO GET READY?
Have you thought about learning to do balloon animals? Go to www.snu.edu/mexico and click on the "Evangelism" tab. There you will find instructions on how to make balloon animals as well as sources (including Wal-Mart!) for purchasing balloons and pumps. I hope lots of you will come to Mexico prepared to be balloon animal wizards in Chihuahua's neighborhoods.
WHAT'S ONE THING YOU SHOULDN'T FORGET?
Get a small bottle of alcohol-based waterless hand cleaner. Purell is one brand, but there are others on the market as well. Disinfecting your hands before eating will be a primary way to keep from getting sick in Mexico (just keeping your hands away from your mouth and nose will also help!) For more info on this, click on the "What to Bring" tab at www.snu.edu/mexico
WHAT SHOULD YOU BE PRAYING FOR?
Help us pray in some money. We need to raise $10,000 to $15,000 for construction materials in addition to what everyone is paying. We've already had some gifts come in toward that construction fund. But we need a lot more. Help us pray it in! Gifts to this fund are tax-deductible.Speaking of prayer requests, as you encourage your church to pray for you and for the trip, use some of the specific requests on the "prayer needs" page of: www.snu.edu/mexico
TRANSPORTATION ISSUES
Meet us in the parking lot of El Paso First Church of the Nazarene at 9 a.m. on December 27. We'll have an orientation time and then begin loading buses for Mexico about 10 a.m. We'll pull out of the parking lot headed for the border at 11 a.m. If you drive to the border, you can park your vehicle in the church parking lot. We will have our evening meal on December 27 in Chihuahua. Then we'll get together with the local churches with whom we'll be working for a get-acquainted time.
SNU VAN RIDERS FROM LAST YEAR?
Did you ride one of the SNU vans last year? We'll likely take some again this year and we'd like to stay overnight in the same motel in New Mexico, but we cannot remember the name of it? Does anyone remember the name of that little motel? If so, email us: mexico@snu.edu
E-mail #1 Sent 10/13/08
We're into October and that means we're really starting to gear up for this year's edition of Commission Unto Mexico.
At this point, we have 43 people who've completed the registration process. So, we still have lots of room. Start recruiting your friends to come with you.
Here's some questions often asked this time of year:
IS THERE AN AGE LIMIT FOR PARTICIPANTS?
No, there is not. We're a very family-friendly Work & Witness trip. We ask that all under-age participants be either accompanied by their parents or by a sponsor who will take full responsibility.
DO WE NEED A PASSPORT?
No. You need some kind of government isssued identity paper, however. A passport will work. Or, you can use an official copy of your birth certificate AND a photo ID.
WHAT TIME DO WE HAVE TO BE IN EL PASO ON THE 27th?
Please arrange your travel plans so that you can be at El Paso First Church by 9 a.m. on the morning of the 27th. We will have an orientation time beginning about 9. We hope to start loading the Mexican buses that will take us to Chihuahua by 10 a.m. and be gone from the church parking lot by 11 a.m. That evening we'll have dinner and then a get-acquainted session with our hosts in Chihuahua.
HOW MUCH LUGGAGE CAN I TAKE? MY CHURCH WANTS TO COLLECT AND SEND A BUNCH OF VBS STUFF WITH ME?
We'd like you to limit your personal items (clothing and toiletries) to one suitcase. That will allow us to take other suitcases of ministry stuff.
I HAVE A FRIEND WHO IS GOING. WILL WE BE ABLE TO BE TOGETHER?
Yes. We put people from the same church and even same district on the same team and try to arrange housing together. We'll start producing housing and team lists in late November/early December and will ask you to let us know of needed changes before the trip.
Last year's e-mails
To see e-mails sent to last year's participants, click here.
E-mails from two years ago
To see e-mails sent to those who went on the trip two years ago, click here.
To return to the other Commission Unto Mexico pages, click here