2008-2009 e-mails
Email update #20, Sent 12/25/08
Everybody is still asleep here at my house this morning so I thought I'd answer four last-minute questions that came in yesterday.
PASSPORT AND BIRTH CERTIFICATE?
Question: If you have a passport, do you still need to bring your birth certificate? No. A passport proves your citizenship. If you're bringing a passport, leave the birth certificate at home.
PUPPETS
Question: Do we need puppets? Yes. The VBS material has some puppets skits in it involving at least two puppets (one of which is a male).
BACKPACKS ALLOWED?
Question: I know we're only supposed to bring one suitcase of personal stuff. Can we also bring a carry-on like a packpack? Yes. You can bring as big a carry-on as you're comfortable having on your lap or under your feet in a bus! The one-suitcase rule, of course, is to help us be sure that we have plenty of room in the buses for suitcases of ministry supplies or tools and medical supplies.
One thing to remember is that our Mexican brothers and sisters will not have nearly as much stuff in their closets as we do. They will wear the same thing more than once during the week. They won't be dismayed if you show up on the job site on consecutive days wearing the same thing. We're not going down for a fashion show, so no need to take your whole closet.
TOOLS
Question: Should we take hand tools like hammers? Yes. If you want to get involved in the construction end of things, take some of the handtools listed at: http://www.snu.edu/construction
WEATHER IN CHIHUAHUA
Here's a 5-day weather forecast for Chihuahua:
Thursday 71° F | 48° F
Friday 69° F | 39° F
Saturday 57° F | 28° F
Sunday 57° F | 32° F
Monday 68° F | 39° F
It looks like it will be 10-15 degrees cooler on Sunday than it has been but then will warm back up on Monday.
Email update #19, Sent 12/24/08
"FELIZ NAVIDAD"
That's the Spanish equivalent of "Merry Christmas." They'll still be using it some in Mexico as the Christmas season for many Roman Catholics extends all the way to January 6, the day for celebrating the coming of the Wise Men to see the baby Jesus.
BAKERS NOT COMING
Missionaries Steve and Debbie Baker are not going to be able to join us on our trip. :-(
SUNDAY DRESS
Bethany Warnock raised a question about appropriate attire for ladies during church services on Sunday and New Year's eve. Here's a response from the Buells: "We suggest skirts for the Sunday service -- nice jeans for the New Year's Eve service is fine."
PARENTAL RELEASE FORMS AND OTHER PAPERS
Don't forget your documents! Don't put them in your suitcase. Keep them in your purse or other carry-on! You'll need them at the border crossing in El Paso.
VISA FORM TRANSLATION
In El Paso, you'll be asked to fill out a visa request form for Mexican authorities. For a translation of the information you'll be asked for on that form, go to: http://home.snu.edu/dept/missions/visa.htm
Don't forget to bring a pen!
TRAVEL ALERT
Over the past few weeks a couple of people have asked about a Travel Alert on the U.S. State Department site. Here's a link to that alert: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_3028.html
Our World Mission staff at the Global Ministry Center as well as our regional offices around the world continuously monitor situations like this to give guidance to missionaries and to Work & Witness team leaders. We checked today with Marty Hoskins, a top administrator in the Nazarene World Mission office, regarding some newspaper reports about the crime situation in the city of Juarez, the border city through which we'll pass on our way to Chihuahua.
Here's what Marty had to say: "Please know that we are not just looking at what the media has to say. We listen to many different voices and try to make the best decisions with all information available to us. If we just listened to the media we would never leave our homes let alone travel to other countries. That said, it is a very serious situation in Juarez. Please stress to each of the participants the need to be careful, not separate from the group, etc. Thank you for all you do. We will continue to pray for your safety and success in ministry in Mexico."
CHRIST IS BORN! HOPE HAS COME
I hope everybody is having a Merry Christmas.
I hear some stirring in the house. Maybe we'll have hot chocolate and hot apple cider soon!
Email update #18, Sent 12/23/08
ANSWER TO PRAYER: VISAS GRANTED
At 3:30 this afternoon (Tuesday), I got this email from missionaries Eric and Tami Buell: "I just talked with the pastor who handles all the immigration process for us and he has our visas and is sending them to Joel Tooley in El Paso."
Praise the Lord! Thanks to all of you for lifting up this need in prayer. They've been waiting on this response since September!
WHY FAMILY MEMBERS ON MEDICAL TEAM?
Some family members of medical personnel have asked why they are listed on the medical team too. Here's the reason: This is a family-friendly trip. We want to keep families together. We don't expect spouses to be involved in the medical work. Generally, they get involved in whatever is going on at the particular site where they are that day (construction, VBS, etc.). So, medical family members, please make yourselves available to the team leader of the site where you are each day!
ONE SEAT LEFT
We do have one seat left on the vans going from SNU. If your ride falls through at the last minute, call me (405-740-4149).
Those going on the SNU vans need to be in the parking lot on 42nd Street immediately north of the Commons building at 8:30 on Friday. That's a well-lighted parking lot with security cameras aimed at it. It's a relatively safe place to leave vehicles.
THANKS TO SWEATER REPAIRERS
Thanks to the Piedmont church folks and to Beverly Ruppert and some of her family members and friends, we have about 150 repaired sweaters to take to Mexico. In El Paso we need everybody to grab one or two of those to keep in your seat with you. We'll collect them at the hotel in Chihuahua. Here's what Tami Buell says will be done with them: "Most of the sweaters will be go to the Tarahumara Indians -- there is a man that has been working with them and has asked us for warm coats, etc. We will ask District Superintendent Eliseo Sedano if he would like to use some of them to be distributed at the Chihuahua churches."
ROOM KEYS
Managing a room key with four or six people in a room can be challenging. Here's what the Buells are suggesting: "We ask the team members to drop off the key of their room when they leave the hotel. We will see if we can get 2 keys for the
triple rooms."
SAFETY
The rule about only leaving a jobsite or the hotel in groups of four with one of them being a male is for your safety. Thieves in every country see tourists as easy prey (and they are). So, please don't go wandering off by yourself or with just one other person. Group of four with one a male -- it's the 11th Commandment!
PRAYER NEEDS
Mary Johnson called me this afternoon saying that she really feels burdened for this trip and has been praying intensely that God's Holy Spirit will guide and direct and protect and empower us. I hope you'll all join Mary in some special times of prayer between now and departure time. Why don't you even consider fasting a meal between now and Saturday morning?
EMERGENCY NUMBERS?
Did you print off the "emergency numbers" page of the "Important Information" section of www.snu.edu/mexico ?
Give a copy to your family and keep a copy with you at least until you get to El Paso.
Also, if you're taking medication for a physical condition of some kind, please have that information written down and in your wallet or pocket. Should something unforeseen happen, medical people will know better how to treat you.
Email update #17, Send 12/22/08
BOOKLET COMING
In El Paso we'll have a little booklet for you with a schedule (subject to change), team and room listings and other important info. You can preview that booklet at: http://home.snu.edu/dept/missions/booklet.pdf
WEATHER IN CHIHUAHUA
Here's the weather forecast for the next few days in Chihuahua: Mon 75°/46° Tue
69°/42° Wed 69°/44° Thu 71°/41°
FACEBOOK GROUP
Are you on Facebook? Then, join the "Commission Unto Mexico" group. Some of you are already on there.
Let's start some conversations. This would be a great time to share how God has already answered prayer for you in regard to this trip. Tell something about yourself or ask a question. Upload a video!
CELL PHONES IN MEXICO
Phillip Phelps has asked if cell phones will work in Mexico.
It depends on your cell phone network provider. Check with your wireless provider and see if you will get service in Chihuahua, Mexico. If you will be able to get service there you will need to add an international call feature to your contract. International cell phone service is often considerably more expensive than domestic service, so check with your provider regarding the details (often in fine print!).
9 AM IN EL PASO
Arrange your travel so that you are at El Paso First Church no later than 9 a.m. on Saturday. We'll check in, have an orientation session, load the buses and hopefully be leaving the parking lot by 11 a.m.
Email update #16, Send 12/20/08
BE A CLOWN!
Linda Duncan is bringing several clown suits with her so that every site can have at least one clown.
So, if you've always wanted to be a clown, but never had the chance and/or never had the suit, here's your opportunity! Linda will gladly loan out her clown suits in Chihuahua to those willing to take some basic instruction from her on how to be a clown. Listen for the announcement about "clown training" to be done at the hotel Saturday evening or Sunday afternoon/evening.
EMERGENCY NUMBERS
The "emergency numbers" page of the "Important Information" section has been updated. Print out a copy to leave with family at home. Print a copy to take with you.
AIRPORT / HOTEL PICKUPS
Gavin Fothergill, Nazarene missionary with the Border Initiative, will be coordinating ground transportation in El Paso. He notes that many hotels offer airport shuttle service. If you happen to be flying in and staying at a hotel that does not offer airport shuttle service, let Gavin know and he'll see that you get picked up. He's also coordinating picking up people from the hotels on Saturday morning. His phone number is on the "emergency numbers" page of the "Important Information" section.
PUPPETS NEEDED
The Buells have reminded us that the Remy VBS curriculum we'll be using needs at least two puppets (with at least one of them being a boy). If you have puppets or can borrow some, bring them!
PEOPLE YOU'LL MEET
Among those joining our group in Mexico will be Mark and Chris Miller, volunteers who help out with Work & Witness teams in Mexico.
Also helping out will be Steve and Debbie Baker, Nazarene missionaries with the Border Intiative. Here's what the Olivet Nazarene University site has to say about the Bakers:
"Steve Baker '74 -- It was his missionary call that took Steve to Olivet, and after his junior year, he was selected to be part of a summer ministry in Argentina. His training for the trip took place at the border between Mexico and the U.S. It was at this missionary boot camp that he met a young lady from Pasadena College who was heading to Peru. They were on the same flight out of Mexico to South America. Their flight stopped in Colombia, and then went on to Peru where his new friend, Debbie Nelson, got off to begin her summer ministry. Steve continued on to Argentina.
"Two years later they were married, and have enjoyed 33 years together. They have been missionaries in Peru, Colombia, and Argentina. In Peru, one task was starting a mission service in the Amazon jungle for the Aguaruna Indians. In Colombia, they planted a church with 80 members that has since grown to include over 8,000 members!
"Debbie became ill, and the couple was forced to return to the States. But this didn't stop them from being missionaries. They started an African American church in southern Georgia as a result of a flood. They later moved to Alabama and started three Hispanic churches and opened another African American church. Following this, another invitation came to serve in California. In the next ten years they went on to start 25 Hispanic churches. Four years ago, the Bakers formed a new nonprofit ministry called Latino Missions Evangelism.
"After 15 years in the States, World Mission asked the Bakers to become global missionaries once again. So three months ago, they once again hefted their belongings and moved elsewhere, this time to Mexico, where they coordinate the Nazarene Border Initiative. With this, their goal is to plant 500 churches on both sides of the border.
"Steve met Debbie met on the border of Mexico in 1973, and now, 33 years later, he says she's still flirting with him there. He finds planting churches fun and thinks only Heaven can be better than this."
Don't you look forward to meeting the Bakers?
Email update #15, Sent 12/19/08
Officially registered as of December 19: 129 (Renee Hale from Harrah (OK) fell and foot injuries are going to keep her home)
To reply to this email, send your message to: mexico@snu.edu
DRESS IN LAYERS
Weather forecast for Chihuahua for the next few days: Fri 69°/48°; Sat 73°/ 44°; Sun 68°/41°; Mon 71°/42°
So, be prepared for cool evenings and chilly early mornings but a warming up during the day.
Our nursing staff has reminded us that on a previous trip they had treat some frost-bitten toes because group members insisted on wearing flip-flops. Flip-flops are a bad idea on construction sites and in the weather we'll experience in Chihuahua. Don't run the risk of losing your toes in Chihuahua (wouldn't that make a great song title?).
PRAYER PARTNERS
Does anyone have people who've told you that they'll be earnestly praying for you every single day you're on the trip?
CHECK THE LISTS
Please check the housing and room lists to make sure we have your name spelled correctly. We'll be printing copies of these for use in Mexico and we want them to be correct.
You'll also note that we've confirmed leaders for each of the teams. These people will need lots of assistants to head up construction, to run VBS ministries, to do daily prayer/devotional times, to make sure everyone gets to and from the job site, to help with preparing noon meals . . . So, be prepared to volunteer!
PRINT THE VBS STUFF / LISTEN TO THE SONGS AND PUPPET SKITS
Are you hoping to get involved with children's ministry in Chihuahua? If so, have you printed off the VBS booklet that's on the "evangelism" page of the "Ministry in Mexico" section? Have you listened to the music and skits?
ON MEDICATION?
Do you have a medical condition for which you are taking medication?
If so, our medical team leader, Tina Carney, has asked that you keep a piece of paper in your pocket all during the trip with that information written on it (medications you are taking and for what conditions).
THANKS, PIEDMONT CHURCH
We've gotten back a bunch of repaired sweaters from the Piedmont (OK) church group. Some more sweaters are being repaired by Beverly Rupert and those should be here Monday. We'll be taking these to Chihuahua for the churches there to give away as part of their outreach to Indian villages in the mountains near Chihuahua.
DR. GRESHAM TO JOIN US
SNU President Loren Gresham has confirmed that he'll be able to join us for a few days in Chihuahua. Yeah!
Email update #14, Sent 12/18/08
Officially registered as of December 17: 130
To reply to this email, send your message to mexico@snu.edu
PRAISE THE LORD!
We receive a $500 check today for our construction materials / medical supplies fund. It came from someone who went on Commission Unto Mexico a few years ago!
BRING A PEN
Before we board the Mexican buses in the parking lot of El Paso First Church we will need to fill out visa request forms for the Mexican border officials. Bring a pen!
Speaking of documents, LaRita Henderson has asked for a confirmation of what is needed to enter Mexico and then re-enter the USA. Here's the latest from Eric and Tami Buell: "Just a reminder -- everyone needs a passport or a certified birth certificate AND a government issued picture ID. Obviously passports are better."
PRAYER REQUEST
Eric and Tami Buell have asked us to pray about their own visa situation. Here's what I received today from them: "There is a real possibility now that we will not receive our visa
renewal by the time the Commission Unto Mexico group comes. If that happens we will not be able to enter the interior of Mexico past the 21 KM checkpoint. We turned our visas in on Sept 3 of this year because they expired on November 11.
"There has been a lot of confusion in the immigration
office in Mexico City due to the death of the Minister of the Interior 6 weeks ago in a plane crash in Mexico City. The Interior Ministry handles all foreign visas. . . "
"We've been in McAllen for 5 weeks now awaiting our documents. The pastor that handles all of this for the church in Mexico has been
going down several times a week. He tells us that other missionaries from different denominations are experiencing the same problems.
"Since we are on a religious visa (with stamps in our passports) we cannot go in on a tourist visa like the group members.
"(Please) pray that we will receive our documents this week before the offices close for the holidays."
Can you immediately pass this prayer request along to friends and to your home church?
There is a back-up plan in place for missionary leadership for us. So, we'll be okay even if the Buells cannot join us (it will be the medical team that will miss them the most since Tami is an M.D. and is planning on working with them).
VBS SUPPLIES?
Someone (I cannot remember who) asked me about bringing VBS supplies. Yes, we need crayons and those kinds of things. See the list on the "What to Bring" page of the "Travel Info" section of www.snu.edu/mexico
HISTORY OF CHURCH IN MEXICO
Two students -- Sarah Bean and Cailyn Stevens -- in Nazarene missions class this semester wrote papers on the work of the Church of the Nazarene in Mexico. Learn about how the Lord has been at work there:
http://home.snu.edu/~hculbert/mexico1.doc
http://home.snu.edu/~hculbert/mexico2.doc
BUILDING BRIDGES OR BURNING 'EM
Will we burn bridges during our trip or will we build them? Find out how to do both: http://home.snu.edu/~hculbert/bridges.htm
Email update #13, Sent 12/16/08
Officially registered as of December 16: 132
To reply to this email, send your message to: mexico@snu.edu
TEAM CHANGES
We just got word from Chihuahua that we will be not be working at the Rey de Reyes (King of Kings) site. So, we've redistributed the people originally on that team to the Segunda and Verbo de Dios sites. Check the team listings again, please! Go to the "sites" page of the "Ministry in Mexico" section and click on the sombrero/serape graphic.
THEME SCRIPTURES FOR THE TRIP:
From Matt McClintock: "As I've been thinking and praying more and more about the trip there is a verse that really sticks out in my mind. It's Isaiah 6:8 ('Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying 'Whom shall I send? and who will go for us?' and I said, 'Here I am. Send me!''). I love this verse because we will spend our time and money and yet it doesnt matter because we know the reason we are going is a million times more important. Its like God asked who will go and we answered Him saying, Send me...I will go. Knowing that we are doing Gods work and making a difference in someones life is just awesome to know."
From Nancy Kline: Psalm 119:1-3 from "The Message" --"You're blessed when you stay on course, walking steadily on the road revealed by Yahweh. You're blessed when you follow his directions, doing your best to find him.
That's right- you don't go off on your own; you walk straight along the road he set."
FLIGHT DETAILS / HOTEL PICKUPS
If you need to be picked up at the airport on the 26th or early in the morning on the 27th, please get details to Stacey Porterfield: sporterf@snu.edu
If you will need a ride from your hotel to El Paso First Church on the morning of December 27, get details to Stacey Porterfield: sporterf@snu.edu
We're making up the list to get to the people in El Paso who will be helping us with transportation there.
LODGING IN EL PASO
Here's info from Gavin Fothergill ( borderinitiative@nazarene.org ) about lodging at El Paso:
Border Initiative Center
El Paso First Church of the Nazarene
2520 Silver Ave.
El Paso, TX 79930
915-562-6300
Facilities: We have room for about 50 people in bunks, or common rooms. Depending on our occupancy, you may be sharing the room with other people and men and woman will sleep in separate rooms. There is a minor kitchen facility, showers, and wireless internet as well as a common room with snacks, computers, and space for meetings. We have a very limited amount of bedding, so to be safe you will want to bring your own bedding, towels, toiletries, etc. There are pillows for each bed, but you will need your own pillow case.
*Upon request, we can arrange for a shuttle to and from the airport.
Payment: There is a charge of five dollars per person for each night. We will accept payment (cash or check) when you arrive here at the center.
There was no update #12
Email update #11, Sent 12/14/08
Officially registered as of December 14: 130
MP3 FILES OF VBS SONGS AND SKITS We've put MP3 files of half of the VBS songs and skits up on the internet for you. Download them at: http://home.snu.edu/~hculbert/remi.htm Put 'em on your ipod!
STAYING HEALTHY We'll have a team of doctors and nurses with us. But you can also help by keeping your hands away from your mouth during the week and by washing thoroughly prior to eating. Do not drink tap water out on the ministry sites and do not eat food from street vendors. Take along a little bottle of waterless hand cleaner (the type that is alcohol-based like Purell).
CONSTRUCTION FUNDS/MEDICAL SUPPLIES On Friday I received checks totaling more than $2500 for our construction materials / medical supplies fund. Praise the Lord!
RELATIONSHIPS Commission Unto Mexico is all about relationships. Yes, we will pour some concrete and paint some walls. Yes, we will do some kids crusades. What we want to do most of all though is build relationships . . . even in spite of language and cultural differences.
E-mail update #9, Sent 12/08/08
We have updated the Room and Team Assignments today. Please take a look at them and let us know (at mexico@snu.edu) if there needs to be any changes made.
If you know someone that has not registered online, but is planning on going on the trip, please let them know they need to register as soon as they can.
Payments are due preferibly by December 10th, but the absolute last day is December the 15th.
**VBS MATERIAL** We have put a link on the "sites" tab of the website to the VBS Material for this year. Go and check it out!
E-mail update #8, Sent 12/05/08
Officially registered as of December 5: 127
FIRST DRAFT OF TEAMS / HOUSING The first drafts of team and housing assignments are done and posted. Please check and let us know of corrections that need to be made. None of this is written in stone; we can make all kinds of changes. Please check to make sure your name is on both lists and that the names of all family members and people from your church are on the list.
For the housing list, click on the little green jalapeno pepper at www.snu.edu/mexico
For the team list, go to the "Ministry in Mexico" page of www.snu.edu/mexico and click on the "sites" tab and then click on the graphic of the sombrero and the serape. One team is quite a bit larger than the others because that group will be doing construction at two sites (the Salem church and a district office property).
There are a few 6-person rooms at the hotel in which we have put guys.
Please let us know if we have misspelled your name or we are not using your preferred name.
COMPUTER GEEK NEEDED We have CDs of songs for the children's ministry programs and we'd like to post them so you can download them. Unfortunately, they're in CDA format which means they can only be played from a CD copy. We'd like to convert them to something like an MP3 format so we can upload them to the web site. Can somebody do that for us?
HAND CLEANER? In your pre-Christmas trips to Wal-Mart or Walgreens or some such store, be sure to pick up a little bottle of alcohol-based hand-cleaner (like Purell). Using that hand-cleaner before meals in Mexico will cut down on the chances of your picking up a bug during the trip.
MONEY COMING IN? Yesterday I got word that someone who has never been on Commission Unto Mexico is praying about helping us with a $5,000 donation. Thanks to all of you who have been praying that the necessary funds would be provided! We're needing somewhere in the neighborhood of $10,000-$15,000.
SWEATER REPAIRS Several people in the Piedmont, OK group (they're the largest local church group coming this year) have volunteered to help with the sweater repair project. They came by yesterday and picked up 100 of the sweaters.
Email update #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 update #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 update #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 update, #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 update #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 update #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 update #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