By now you should have accomplished some monumental tasks in preparing for our trip to Guatemala.

• Passport received
• Immunizations done
• Most of your funds received and submitted to the church

If any of these items have not been completed, please contact Edward ASAP.

We are only 2 weeks away from our Mission Trip!! I have included below some information that you will need as we make our final preparations to go...

Population

Estimated to be 12 million people

Capital City

Guatemala City

Language

The primary language spoken is Spanish.

Primary Religion

The main religion/denomination in Guatemala is Roman Catholicism.

Time Zone

Guatemala is in the Central Time Zone (UTC-06:00).

Currency

The main currency used in Guatemala is the Quetzal. The currency conversion rate as of August 2015 is 1 US dollar to 7.6 GTQ.

Safety

Servant Life makes every effort to keep you safe during your entire experience with us. We visit every location before sending a group and work with partners in the country who are familiar with the area we will be staying in and working in. We research and plan the safest places for you to eat, stay, work and play. In general, you should always be cautious and aware of your surroundings when you are traveling internationally.

Food

The food in Guatemala is similar to that of Mexico and other Central American countrie. Staples include corn, beans, bananas, and rice. All of your meals, except for those while traveling, will be provided while you’re in country. DO NOT drink the tap water in Guatemala.

Water

Do not drink anything that has not been pre-approved by the missionaries. Tap water, fruits and foods rinsed in tap water, and ice should be avoided. Bottled or purified water will be provided for you and should be used for drinking as well as brushing your teeth.

Weather

The climate of Guatemala is mostly tropical, but has a high elevation. We will be in the mountains. Where we will be staying and serving, the temperature will likely be highs in the 70s. At night, it can be chilly with temps in the 50s. You can expect to see a little bit of rain, usually in the form of afternoon showers so remember to pack your rain jacket!

As those seeking to honor Christ, it should be our desire is to build each other up and encourage one another in love at all times. The staff of Clubhouse Guatemala want it to be one of the most encouraging places on earth! They desire to walk in a way that is pleasing to the Lord throughout the year. The staff will positively encourage one another in both word and deed, treating the opposite sex with the utmost respect! As such, they expect both their visiting leaders and their mission team to possess similar character and lifestyle qualities.

DON’TS

• DON’T be a loud/obnoxious tourist that needs to be toned down.
• DON’T give out your personal information
• DON’T make yourself stick out by wearing inappropriate clothing.
• DON’T make fun of differences in culture. You never know who might understand English. It is safer to just assume someone in the crowd understands you.
• DON’T encourage begging by rewarding the effort.
• DON’T go out after dark.
• DON’T bring anything that you aren’t willing to give up if someone asks for it.
• DON’T drink tap water.
• DON’T go without sunscreen!

DO’S

• DO be prepared to smell body odor. Stifle your reaction (facial expressions are bilingual)!
• DO compliment babies and play with them. Be aware that women breast-feed at any time and in any place.
• DO feel free to give gifts, but please ask the missionary before doing so.
• DO label any medicines you are taking with you.
• DO remember that you are representing a ministry that has been around longer than you’ve been in the country and will still minister there after you have left.
• DO keep a copy of your passport on you, NOT your actual passport (except in the airport).
• DO use the “buddy system.”
• DO bring any medicines that you may need (pepto bismol, ibuprofen, allergy, etc.).
• DO take food that’s offered to you - just wait until the missionary gives the okay to eat it.
• DO sanitize your hands before eating. But do it discreetly, not blatantly just after holding a child or shaking a national’s hand.
  

Servant Life is thrilled to partner with Clubhouse Guatemala to send American teams on short-term missions experiences to Guatemala.

Clubhouse Guatemala is a Christ centered ministry that desires to reach the lost of Guatemala. Clubhouse was started in 2003 by Mike and Carla Parker. The Parker's desire is to go into villages and reach children and adults through block parties, shoes, face paint, cotton candy, vacation bible school, and many other creative ways to show the love of Christ. They not only want to share the good news of Christ, but also desire to help families get connected to local church bodies where they can experience Christian community, accountability, and worship.

Clubhouse Guatemala has a talented staff including the Parkers, directors, administrators, and translators.

You can learn more about Clubhouse Guatemala by visiting their website by clicking the bar below...

What are your expectations for this missions experience?

By now you have probably spent some time imagining what your mission trip will be like. You have thought about what the culture will look like, how the food will taste, what type of work you will be doing, and many other aspects of your trip.

There is nothing wrong with having expectations, but we have to hold on to them loosely. Mission trips never go exactly as planned and foreigners often have a difficult time imagining what life in another country, or even a sub-culture in their own country, will be like before they experience it. There is a good chance that many of your expectations will not be a reality, especially if this is your first time serving in another context.

It is crucial to begin a mission trip with proper expectations. Consider this equation:

If (Expectations ≠ Reality); then (Reality = Frustration)

Don’t spend the first few days of your trip unlearning what you expected to be true prior to the trip and getting frustrated as a result. But even worse, you could miss the point of the trip altogether.

The purpose of missions is to glorify God by making disciples of Jesus Christ. Therefore, you should expect:

To serve missionaries and the local church

• Making disciples takes longer than a week, therefore, Servant Life partners with missionaries and the local churches to create long-term ministry strategies. Makingdisciples is about sharing life in Christ with others. A short-term team can establish great initial connections or even deepen the faith of the local church, but the ministry must extend past the 7-10 days your team is on the ground. In order to make disciples, we support the missionaries and the local church in their mission.
• In Matthew 20:28, Jesus tells us that, “the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” This is what we are called to do as those who follow Christ. We are not heroes coming to save the world in a week. We come humbly with a heart to serve the Church in the way that will best help them in their ministry.

This heart of service may lead you to cleaning toilets, washing clothes, or mopping floors, but know that, “whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” (Colossians 3:23-24)

To share your faith

• As we “go and make disciples” we must proclaim the Good News.
• For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” (Romans 10:13-15)
• We must be sent and preach so the nations will believe and call on the name of The Lord for salvation.

To experience difficulty

• In John 16:33 Jesus says, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” We are promised difficulty in this world. Since the fall of man this world has been warring against man. When we take mission trips, we do not escape the the sin of this world. In fact, when the Church is proclaiming the Gospel we often enter dark places and Satan is working much harder to distract us. Go into this trip expecting to experience difficulty, but know that our God is bigger than delayed flights, broken down vehicles, the weather, or any other obstacle that you may encounter.

To grow

• We have never known a person to leave a mission experience the same as they began it. Mission trips can forever alter your world-view as you become aware of the physical, spiritual, and social needs of the world. Expect to grow in your knowledge of the world you live in. Expect to grow in your love for The Lord and His people. Expect to be changed.

Pray that God will give you proper expectations for your missions experience. Pray daily throughout the trip that He will give you wisdom and discernment to handle everything that comes your way. Trust that He will never leave you, nor forsake you. "Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10)

1. Have an “It’s all about me” attitude. The best way to ruin your mission trip is to act as if everything revolves around your comfort and your wants and needs. Even if you are sacrificing time and resources to go and serve, don’t expect others to worship the ground you walk on. Read Philippians 2:3-8 and consider the humble attitude of Christ.
2. By all means, don’t be flexible. If you don’t live out the words of Philippians 2:14 to “do all things without grumbling or questioning,” then you are guaranteed to have a trip full of complaints. There is not a formula to mission trips; you should expect a high degree of flexibility when you are serving real people and meeting real needs. Please be a blessing to work with and a joy to be around, not the person complaining that your expectations aren’t being met.
3. Don’t devote yourself to prayer or time in the Word. Spending time talking to the Lord and studying His word only ensures that your heart will be aligned with His will. Failure to draw near to the Lord will set you up to have the wrong attitude, and possibly the wrong actions. Furthermore, in order to tell others about the spiritual disciplines of prayer and Bible study, we ourselves must practice those disciplines.
4. Start thinking your mission trip is terrible because you didn’t see much fruit. It is likely that you might not see hundreds of people come to know Christ while you are there, but that does not mean your trip was a bust. 1 Corinthians 3:6 reminds us that there are stages of planting seeds, watering, and seeing growth. As a short term team, you are largely helping to plant and water seeds-- and ultimately God gets the glory in their growth!

(We want you to have the best mission trip possible. So please do the opposite of these 4 things. Always keep the Lord and the gospel in the forefront of your mind!)

Outlined below you will find a list of character traits along with Scripture references. As you begin to process the attitude and posture of your heart and prepare for the trip, pray the Lord will supply you with these Christ-like traits.

1. Humility

• Go with a humble heart attuned to the Lord’s plans for the trip, not your own agenda. You are not going to “fix” anything, but rather to selflessly serve alongside the long-term missionary partners. Fervently pray against pride creeping into your heart.
• Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. {Philippians 2:3-4}
• When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom. {Proverbs 11:2}

2. Flexibility

• A mission experience exposes you to different cultures, which often times means the schedule isn’t always predictable. Having a “go with the flow” attitude is crucial, as plans may change from day to day. Flexibility allows you to continually find joy in each circumstance.
• I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart. {Psalm 40:8}
• Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. {1 Thessalonians 5:16-18}

3. Patience

• Patience is key as you encounter new people, places and cultures. Things may not always go as planned, and communication with locals may not always be as easy. Pray for the Lord to equip you with an attitude that is slow to speak and quick to listen.
• Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger. {James 1:19}
• May God who gives patience, steadiness, and encouragement help you to live in complete harmony with each other – each with the attitude of Christ toward the other. {Romans 15:5}

4. Perseverance

• You may experience unfamiliar or difficult situations while serving; therefore perseverance is important. The Lord will supply you with the strength to make it through each and every circumstance.
• Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. {Galatians 6:9}
• Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. {James 1:12}

5. Love

• Love is central to each and every character trait that a Christ-follower embodies through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Love always, often, deeply, sacrificially, selflessly, and unconditionally.
• Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. {1 Corinthians 13:4-5}
• And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. {Colossians 3:14}
  

As the Lord prepares you for this journey, He is also preparing the hearts of those who will pray for you. Believe it or not, there are probably many who are already lifting you up without you even knowing it. In an effort to join the body of Christ together in commissioning you on this journey, it is important that you have a group of committed prayer partners who will bathe you in prayer before, during, and after your trip. Begin now to recruit a team of prayer partners who will commit to pray for you as you share this journey with them. Keep them updated with requests and how your journey is going so that they can know how to pray specifically for what the Lord is doing in and through you.

• Make prayer cards containing specific prayer requests and hand them out to church members, family or friends.
  
• Create a blog to keep friends and family updated on your trip.
  
• Use a journal to record some of the steps of your journey, not only emphasizing your time in-country, but also in the weeks leading up to your trip.
  

Before you go, we want to make sure that you have a clear understanding of the gospel and how to share it. After all, if we are going to make disciples, we need to be able to tell others what that means. Obviously, we don’t feel that your ability to share the gospel and your testimony should only be important for your trip, but as believers we are called to be prepared in and out of season (2 Tim 4:2). Are you prepared to share your faith?

Below is a guide to help you prepare how to the share your testimony with the essential elements of the gospel. On a mission trip you may or may not have extended time to fully layout the story of salvation with those you encounter. It is important that you are able to share the Gospel in short and extended versions. We ask that you take the needed time to seriously work through the following questions. We know that it is the work of the Holy Spirit that brings about new life through Christ, but we have the responsibility to share God’s good news and make disciples (Mt 28:18-20, Acts 1:8-9 & Luke 24:44-49). Our hope is that this exercise will not only prepare you, but also remind you of the goodness of God’s grace through the work of Christ (Eph. 1:18-21 & 2:4-10).

Get out a writing pad or some paper and read, look up, and write out the answers to the following items. By going through this exercise, you will be better prepared to clearly communicate the Gospel while in Guatemala...

Use these five elements of God’s story to write the Gospel in your own words:

The Character of God (1 John 1:5-10, Ephesians 2:1-10)

Write the Biblical truth about the character of God found in these passages.

The Sinfulness of Man (1 John 1:5-10, Ephesians 2:1-10, Romans 3:23, 6:23)

Write the Biblical truth found in these passages.

The Sufficiency of Christ (1 John 1:5-10, Ephesians 2:1-10)

Write the Biblical truth found in these passages.

The Necessity of Faith (1 John 1:5-10, Ephesians 2:1-10, Romans 10:9-13)

Write the Biblical truth found in these passages.

The Urgency of Eternity (Ephesians 2:1-3, Romans 6:23)

Write the Biblical truth found in this passages.

Write in your own words (100 words or less) the five biblical truths studied above.

Work through the following questions to help you simply and clearly share your story.

I was awakened to my need for a Savior by (people, circumstances, books, etc.)...

I realized that God is...

I realized that I was separated from God because...

I came to understand that Christ...

I responded to the good news of Christ’s death and resurrection by...

Using the five elements of the Gospel and the previous questions just answered, write out your your story and the gospel. The goal is to be able to clearly articulate the Gospel and your story within 60 seconds.

2 Days before we leave (Wednesday Morning)

DRINK at least 4 16oz bottles of water a day!!!!!!

It is VITAL that each of us go extremely hydrated because we will be staying in a very high elevation that will require MUCH more water than usual for our bodies. Trust me, dehydration is a horrible thing to experience.

Friday

Arrive in Guatemala

Meet the Clubhouse Guatemala team

Have Orientation

Eat dinner

Settle in

Saturday

We need to understand the culture before we minister to the people

We will travel to historic Antigua for the day

Visit the cross and the market (buy souveniers)

Have dinner at Las Palmas (paid for with funds already submitted)

Sunday

Visit Local Church for morning service

Eat lunch with locals

Afternoon Prayer

Prayer Walk around the city

Rest and prepare for the week

Monday - Thursday

7:00 AM - Devotional/Breakfast

8:00 AM - Leave for Mission site

9:00 AM - Arrive/Work at the mission site

12:30 PM - Lunch

2:00 PM - Work at mission site (VBS, Kids Games, Painting, Projects, Women's Ministries)

4:30 PM - Leave for mission house

7:00 PM - Dinner

8:00 PM - Team Meeting

Saturday

Depart from Guatemala

Please keep in mind that this is just a sample schedule. Your group might be asked to leave earlier in the morning, work later in the afternoon, and lunch and dinner likely won’t be exactly at these times. Remember how important it is to be flexible.

The main area we will be serving in is in the main church located Downtown Guatemala. We will be working primarily with kids...feeding booths, vbs type activities, games.

The kids in this area come from very poor broken homes. There are many parents who have kids then can't afford them, primarily because the parents are so young (14 years old) and unmarried. The kids in this culture are exposed to pornography by age 5, it's ingrained in them by age 9, and the girls are then taken at age 14 and used in human trafficking. The boys turn to gangs at age 14 and are violent and abusive.

What we wear is vital to our being able to minister to these kids. They are sexually charged, so we need to be aware of that and wear clothing that is loose and does not draw attention to us at all.

Clubhouse Guatemala works diligently to save these kids from that life and teach them about Christ, setting them free from the bondage of their culture.

Another thing to note: about 2 weeks ago there was a fire that killed 40 kids in Guatemala and the community is still grieving over it.

Vacation Bible School

Clubhouse Guatemala has operated in local schools for years. VBS and sports camps are a great way to change the entire culture of a school with the love of Christ! The schools often allow kids to be part of the programs for the school day. We will be helping and doing a Vacation Bible School. Servant Life will offer helpful Vacation Bible School guides for us to use.

Light Construction

In addition to meeting the spiritual needs of the community, you will have the opportunity to provide physical support as well. This might involve painting, landscaping, cleaning, upkeep, and other forms of labor. Residents will be drawn to your ministry when they see that you are helping to transform and develop their community.

**They are in specific need of someone to paint murals on the walls of their clubhouse.

Your group will also have the opportunity to provide and support the following projects: Rocket Stove ($200), House Construction ($600-$1000), Bunk Beds ($350), and Food Baskets ($60). These costs are separate from all other costs and will need to be determined 60 days before your departure date.

Camp Calvary

Camp Calvary is a new camp built by Clubhouse. The camp sits in the middle of a very rural village at the base of Pacaya Volcano. At Camp Calvary you have the opportunity minister to children and families in the immediate area of the camp. However Camp Calvary also has 18 different villages within a short drive that Clubhouse is starting to build relationships with.

Home Visits

Your group will have the opportunity to visit homes of some of the community or church members. Most of the time, regardless of the size or condition of their homes, people will be thrilled and honored to host you as visitors. You may have the opportunity to encourage believers, pray with them, and even share Christ with nonbelievers.

Feeding Programs

One of the simplest and most effective ways to show the love of Christ is to provide meals for families in need. Your team will assist with this.

We will be staying at a mission house in Guatemala City.

You will NOT need to bring linens or a towel.

Each room has its own bathroom and shower.

The electricity is the same as the U.S., so adapters and converters are not necessary.

Each room has electrical outlets for you to charge any devices you might bring.

While we are there on Friday we will be sharing the house with other groups that are preparing to leave. From Saturday through the next Friday we will have the entire house to ourselves!

A link to view the house is below...

Clothing Overview: The most important thing to keep in mind as you decide what clothes to pack is to be appropriate and modest. It is essential to be sensitive to the culture of Guatemala. While you’re out working during the day, cotton t-shirts and appropriate length shorts are great! Make sure to pack nicer clothes for church and worship times. Here are a few packing tips as you begin preparing for your trip.

Pack lightly! Airlines have restrictions on how much your checked luggage can weigh. Make sure you pack what is necessary without too much excess. Plus, who wants to carry around that much stuff in another country?

• One SMALL personal carry-on bag will be permitted. About the size of a small backpack, laptop bag or purse. Max dimensions will be 16x14x12.
• One Medium sized bag to check.
• Leave room in your suitcase for any souvenirs you may want to bring back.
• Consider packing items like shampoo, conditioner, etc in plastic bags. In case these things leak during travel, your clothes and other items will be protected.
• It’s a good idea to pack a change of clothes, toothbrush, and any irreplaceable items in your carry on bag in the event that your checked luggage is lost.
• To save space, you can roll your clothes instead of folding them.
• It’s best not to pack any flashy or expensive jewelry to wear while you’re in Guatemala.
  

Edward will take up and keep all your important docs like passports and plane tickets in his bag for the duration of the trip until you need them.

Baggage policies are based on airline regulations and are subject to change.

Clothing

• Lightweight clothing for warm weather
• Pants and shorts that you do not mind getting dirty
• Tennis Shoes, chacos, or sandals
• Shorts - NO cut-offs, spandex, or jogging shorts (knee-length shorts, capris, jeans are fine)
• T-shirts – No tank tops/spaghetti straps, no inappropriate slogans, midriff must be fully covered
• Nicer clothes for worship
• Sweater, sweatshirt, or light jacket for chilly evenings
• Flip flops for use in the showers
• No need for a Bathing suit - we will not be swimmking at any time
• Hat strongly suggested
• Raincoat/Poncho will be a necessity. It is a tropical climate and rains every day.
• Girls: it’s a good idea to bring a couple of long skirts
• Guys: bring some khaki shorts (cargo shorts) for village visits

Toiletries

• Basic Personal toiletries – toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, feminine items, etc.
• Insect repellent
• Sunscreen
• Disinfectant hand gel
• Dramamine/Gas X/Antacids/Imodium/Tylenol (as needed)
• Baby Wipes/Kleenex
• Chapstick with Sunscreen
• Aloe vera – for sunburn relief

Other

• Passport (place in your carry-on bag and have a copy in your checked bag)
• All your linens will be provided but feel free to bring your own pillow/blanket, etc. if you’d like
• Bible, Journal and Pens
• Camera
• Flashlight
• Work gloves
• Sunglasses
• Snacks
• Water bottle for refills from a fresh water tank in the house
• Spending money for: the airport on the way there, the day off we will have (we will exchange monies in Guatemala)
• Do not plan on being able to access / use laundry facilities.

Electronics/Phones/Etc

We are embarking on a mission trip to get away from "normal" and to experience the country of Guatemala, and build relationships with our team and with the people there. Also, the potential costs of using your phone to call or even text outside the US could be high. Due to costs and relationship building, once we enter the plane to Guatemala, leaving Ft Lauderdale, all calls and texting and social media will be prohibited.

• You may bring your phone for pictures only
• No use of social media or texting or calling will be allowed
• There will be standard electricity and plugs available to charge your items

Things to bring and give

• Small Toys/games to play with the children like hotwheel cars, hairbows, hygene items
• Goodie bags with hygene items for delivery to the local Police Academy

It may not seem like it, but culture shock is a big deal. Any time you experience another country, culture, people group, and way of living, it takes some adjusting. Not everyone experiences culture shock, but it’s still important to recognize it and know how to deal with it.

Culture shock is characterized by an anxious feeling from being surrounded by completely new things. You are so accustomed to life in America that it may overwhelm you to all of a sudden find yourself in a culture that you know nothing about.

The best thing you can do when it comes to culture shock is to keep an open mind about your new experiences. Remember that people around the world think and act differently than you. Keep an understanding mind about others’ opinions. The worst thing you can do is to think that you are superior to someone of a different culture or people group.

Along with keeping an open mind, it’s important to be flexible as well. You will be experiencing a new culture and things may not always go your way. In fact, you probably already know that things will rarely go your way. Remember to be easy going when new plans arise. This also includes maintaining a positive attitude instead of complaining.

If you’re feeling some culture shock, communicate that with the people on your team. Chances are good that someone else may be feeling the same way or can at least help you through it. Being able to identify with others about your thoughts can help you not be overcome with culture shock.

Keep in mind that if you experience culture shock, that does not mean you are a failure. Everyone adjusts differently to a new setting. You may not even identify with culture shock. However, if you do, it’s important to be aware of what to do so that it does not become a problem.

Flight Information

• We will arrive Super early for check-in at the airport. They suggest we be at the airport no later than two hours before your flight is scheduled to depart. So we will need to arrive at the airport no later than 6:00am on Friday, March 31.
  

• We will meet at the church to leave no later than 4:40am on Friday, March 31 to pack and leave. We will be LEAVING the church at 5:00am, no exceptions.
  

• Departing Friday, March 31:
  

Spirit Airline Flight 231 Departing Atlanta at 7:55am

Arriving in Ft Lauderdale, FL at 9:42am

Spirit Airline Flight 243 Departing Ft Lauderdale, FL at 10:45am (Atlanta Time)

Arriving in Guatemala City, GUA at 11:34am (Guatemala Time)

• Returning Friday, April 7:
  

Spirit Airline Flight 244 Departing GUA at 12:24pm (Guatemala Time)

Arriving in Ft Lauderdale, FL at 5:03pm (Atlanta Time)

Spirit Airline Flight 230 Departing Ft Lauderdale at 9:30pm

Arriving in Atlanta at 11:20pm

If everything goes as planned we should be back at the church around 12:30am.

• Label all of your luggage. Servant Life provides each trip participant with two luggage tags that we strongly recommend your group using. This will help when collecting luggage from baggage claim. Due to the similar look of most luggage, you may also want to set your bag apart in another way by adding a ribbon, luggage strap, or sticker in a visible location.
• Edward will collect all passports at the church and hold all passports until they are needed.

Checked Baggage

• You will only be allowed to bring one checked bag.
• Everyone will manage their own luggage while traveling. Luggage with wheels will make life much easier as you maneuver through airports!
• Be sure to put a copy of your passport information page in every piece of your luggage.

Carry-On Bags

• It is always a good idea to keep a change of clothes as well as a small toiletries kit (toothbrush, deodorant, etc.) with you in your carry-on in the event of flight delays or cancellations.
• You may not carry-on liquids of any kind larger than 3 oz. Any liquids 3 oz. or smaller must be in their original container and in a quart-sized Ziploc bag.

**Baggage policies are based on airline regulations and change often. Any costs associated with checking bags or overweight bags are solely the responsibility of the participant.**

You will be able to follow the flow of the crowd as you proceed through the airport in Guatemala, but we’ve also given you specific information to help this process go as smoothly as possible.

** Clubhouse Guatemala recommends not wearing matching t-shirts in the airport. It is more likely that you will be searched in customs if you are wearing matching shirts.

Arrival

Just before your plane lands in Guatemala, each person will be given customs forms to fill out.

• You are considered a tourist by the government so you can list that as your reason for entering the country.
• You don’t have anything to declare unless you brought something LIVE over, such as an animal or plant (and we hope you didn’t!).
• Do not lose these forms, as you will be asked to present them as you go through customs.
• The address you should put on your customs form is: Condominium Bakara - Casa 2, Sector B-2 San Cristobal, Zona 8, Mixco
• Follow signs to exit/customs once you get off the plane. Here you’ll hand the form you received on the plane. Once you process through, you’ll be able to claim your luggage and proceed to the exit.
• Upon exiting, there will be a Clubhouse Guatemala staff member waiting for you as well! They may have a sign that says “Servant Life.”

Departure

• Before you clear security, there is a departure customs form that you will have to fill out that you will get at the airport.
• Always mark tourism/travel as your reason of travel.
  

Servant Life Home Office

Zac Condie, Director

Email: zac@servantlife.com

Cell phone: 409-200-5671

Danielle Lee Condie, Coordinator

Email: Dlee@servantlife.com

Lesley Blanton, Coordinator

Email: lesley@servantlife.com

Mailing Address:

Servant Life

P.O. Box 36307

Birmingham, AL 35236

Physical Address:

Servant Life

2148 Pelham Parkway

Building 200

Pelham, AL 35124

Office phone: 1-800-772-2615

Clubhouse Guatemala / Guatemala

Mike Parker, Executive Director

Email: mike@clubhouseguatemala.com

US Phone: 865-386-2638

Guatemala Phone: (011)-502-5978-4175

Address: Condominium Bakara, Casa 2

Sector B-2 San Cristobal

Zona 8, Mixco

(Use this address on your customs forms when you arrive in Guatemala.)

I am so pleased that you are looking at this page and perhaps considering joining our team as we plan to minister to the people of Guatemala! Below is a compilation of information that you will need as we plan this Mission Trip...

There are several things we need as soon as possible so that we can begin making reservations, purchasing plane tickets, and coordinating with the missionaries in Guatemala...

Primarily for any student age 14 by April 1.

This trip is also open to anyone from the church who wants to come.

If you are going with us, we need a non-refundable $200 deposit, as soon as possible. You can submit it online, through our website, or you can place it in the offering designated as "Guatemala Mission Trip".

The expenses for this trip while we are in Guatemala total $749, which includes all housing, food, transportation, and other miscellaneous costs. It does not include our plane tickets.

We are searching now for good airfares and will purchase tickets when all of our team's non-refundable $200 deposits have been received. We are hoping to find round trip tickets for around $500-$600.

We will meet frequently as we approach our departure date...

Sunday, February 12

Sunday, February 26 (Missions Lunch Presentation/Appetizers) to raise awareness and funds...

Sunday, March 12

Sunday, March 19

Sunday, March 26

These will be lunch meetings where you will bring a Dominican dish to share. You can look them up on Pinterest or online...

Also, no later than February 15, you need to go online and purchase or renew your passport. It takes at least 6 weeks to process and send you a passport, so the sooner you do this, the better...

For more information, go to:

https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/passports.html

Costs:

If you are 16+, the cost is: $135

If you are 15-, the cost is: $105

All of our fund raising is done through letters sent to family, friends, and church members. You will need to write a letter outlining:

where we are going

what we are doing

when we are going

why we are going

how we are going

and asking for prayer support and financial support

For more details concerning this letter and to download a sample letter, click the bar below.

you will need to send out at least 30 letters by mail and email.

I suggest you opening up a blog (or point people to your fb page) and put that link into the letter so your supporters can keep up with what God is doing in and through you during the process of getting ready to go and while you are there.

Post financial goals and level break-throughs

Post prayer requests and answers, pictures, your concerns...whatever, just post!

For your protection Mobilizing Students requires that each person attending a mission trip have the following immunizations prior to departure:

* A Hepatitis A shot within the last 10 years

* A Tetanus or Tetanus booster within the last 10 years

* A Typhoid shot within the last 10 years

Please visit: www.cdc.gov/travel/ for detailed info on additional required & recommended shots needed for the country you will visit.

NOTE: County Health Clinics are the least expensive places to receive immunizations.

As we receive information and meet concerning this trip, more information will be given. please feel free to contact Edward at anytime with any questions you may have:

Mobile: 404-456-9063 (texting is allowed)

Email: edward@thecrossroadsfamily.com

Below is a link to the Servant Life Website for more information as well...