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Join us in Juarez!

    Mission Trip Volunteer Form

    Passport and Travel Information

    ​Traveling Companions Names (if any)

    Spanish Speaking Abilities

    ​AeC Juarez Security Plan
     
    Over more than the last decade, Amigos en Cristo Ministries has truly experienced God’s grace over the many mission trips that have been undertaken in Juarez, Mexico.  Over this period of time there have been no serious injuries or threats to our well-being, and that can only be because of God’s grace in protecting us and answering the faithful prayers of the people who support the many ministry activities of Amigos en Cristo.  Although we pray for God’s continued mercies, we also take all prudent actions and precautions to ensure that we are doing everything we can reasonable do to minimize risks and to develop advance plans to deal with medical and situational emergencies.
     
    No security plan can anticipate every eventuality or preclude the possibility of illness, injury or risks to safety.  However, regular adherence to the following rules is essential to maximize the safety of everyone serving as short term missionaries for Amigos en Cristo:

    1. Prior to each short term mission trip, an appropriate number of Team Leaders will be designated based upon the number of trip participants.  There should be enough Team leaders to ensure that at least one leader is present at all times at every work site being serviced on that trip.
    2. Each Team Leader will give regular direction over the work being performed at the work site, and will ensure adherence to this security plan by all trip participants.
    3. Team Leaders will be familiar with the Anapra area of Juarez and be capable of driving Team vehicles without assistance to and from the La Paz Missions Center, the Amistad and New Beginnings Community Centers, and the home of Field Director Misael Loera.  Team Leaders will also be able to drive without assistance if necessary to the Santa Teresa port of entry, and either the Bridge of the Americas (“free bridge”) or the Pasa Del Norte (“pay bridge”) port of entry to the United States.
    4. Team Leaders will always have a cellular telephone with them, pre-programmed with the telephone numbers of all other Team Leaders on that trip and the U.S. telephone numbers of the above listed ports of entry.
    5. No trip participant will leave the La Paz Missions Center or the Amistad and New Beginnings Community Centers unless they are accompanied by a Team Leader.
    6. Whenever possible, AeC vehicles will travel together, obeying all traffic control devices and being operated in a manner which will not attract unnecessary attention.  Trip participants will ride inside the passenger compartments of vehicles and not in the open beds of pick up trucks.
    7. Whenever possible, AeC vehicles will operate only in daylight.
    8. Alcohol and tobacco products are not to be used on any of the Amigos en Cristo properties.
     
    More important than any set of rules we can devise is our faith in God’s protection.  We believe that God has been faithful to protect past mission trips to Juarez, and that He will continue to bless our work if we faithfully trust in Him.  Working in Juarez has some inherent risks, but we believe God calls us to serve His people in all parts of the World, not just in those places which are pleasant and safe.  We are committed to the work that has been started in Juarez, and to taking all precautions which are prudent and advisable.

    Emergency Contact Information

    ​Please list names and phone numbers of who we should contact in case of emergency.
COSTS in Juarez
Cost for each trip is $750 (this includes your food, lodging and materials for the week) plus the cost of airfare (which can be from $400-$600.00).  Children 12 and under, the fee is $550 for the week.  AeC is happy to book your flight for you so that you can travel with the group that you will be serving with (Springfield, IL folks).
 
PAYMENT
Checks should be made out to Amigos en Cristo Ministries 2-4 weeks prior to the trip.  Write (for example) “Tom Wright June Trip” in the Memo line so that these funds go towards your trip.  Please send checks ATTN: Jim Fay at Cherry Hills Church, 2125 Woodside RD., Springfield, IL  62711.
 
Note for Team Leaders: Send the complete list of your team members’ names to Jim Fay jim@cherryhillsfamily.org so that he will know which people are sending checks for which trip for which church or organization.

Packing List for most trips~

Some things that you may or may not think of!
  • Passport
  • Chap stick, eye drops, nose spray (It’s the desert!)
  • Sunscreen – we are in the high desert and the sun is much stronger
  • Hand lotion
  • Bandana
  • Hat – especially if you’re follicly challenged like me
  • Flip flops to walk back and forth to the bathroom at night
  • Small flashlight
  • Bed sheets twin size & pillow case
  • You may also want a light blanket
  • Towel – wash cloth
  • Toiletries
  • Earplugs
  • Medicine - prescription, aspirin, misc.
  • Phone charger
  • Work gloves if you are planning on helping with construction. Bring two pair in case one gets lost.
  • Work shoes if you are planning on doing construction. The sand is hot and full of thorns so you will want something more than sandals.
  • Work clothes for painting or construction
Tools – Some of us will be doing construction, maintenance, or painting in the mornings and have other projects (with kids, etc.) in the afternoons.
  • Hammer
  • Tool belt
  • Tape measure
  • Carpenters pencil
  • Tools needed for construction will be hammer, tape measure, tool belt, carpenter’s pencil. For painting: paint brush & paint scraper. 
The temperature high should be around 100 during the day and get down to the 70s in the evening. There usually is a nice breeze and low humidity.  You can check the Internet before we leave to get an up to date forecast. If you’re doing construction work most of it will be done outside. Dress accordingly. The locals wear long pants and long sleeves. I wear shorts and a t-shirt. If you’re working in construction you will at least want to wear tennis shoes if not work boots.
 
Sleeping conditions. We are set in a dorm like setting. We have two small rooms for the women and one large room for the men.  You will need to exit the sleeping room to go to the bathroom. The bathrooms each have two showers, two toilets and two sinks. Each room has bunk beds. It would be great if the younger people could take the top bunk.
 
Depending on how hot the temperature is during the week the construction team may start at 6:00 a.m. break for lunch and a siesta before going back to work. The key is to drink plenty of water or Gatorade. Water is best.

Meals
  • Breakfast will be self-serve. We will have cereal, bagels, & toast.
  • Lunch will be again self-serve. Sandwich meat, peanut butter & jelly, & salad.
  • Dinner most nights will be at one of our community centers, Amistad. The meal will be a variety of homemade Mexican food. There will also be a salad.  

Phones
Your cell phones will work there but it is important to make sure that they are not on a Mexican tower as rates are expensive.
© Amigos en Cristo (Friends in Christ) 2020, all rights reserved
Amigos en Cristo (Friends in Christ) is a Non-Profit 501(c)(3) organization
P.O. Box 1225
Springfield, IL 62705-1225
mail@aecministries.org
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