What To Bring To Guatemala

Consider the fact that Mother Teresa and her sisters “traveled only with such personal luggage as could be contained in a bucket or a cardboard box”.

CLOTHING
Dress should be casual and conservative. Don’t bring your favorite clothing to work in, as you will likely be getting dirt, paint, etc. on them.  It’s a work trip not a fashion show!
Remember that we do not work in shorts.

Packing Tips: Bring a mixture of clothing that will allow you enough variety, but won't weigh your bags down too much. Don’t over pack. Expect to wear pants and shorts more than once.

· Casual shoes – I wear my shoes and pack the flip flops so as to save space in my bag.

· Work shoes – You don’t necessarily have to have work shoes other than your casual shoes but I have seen many people completely destroy their shoes on a work site. Also, you may be tracking around more than just “dirt” if you know what I mean.  Keep that in mind when choosing what you will work in.

· Sandals or flip-flops

· Socks.  For some reason, people run out of socks regularly.  Plan accordingly.

· Underwear (that’s fun to wear!)

· Comfortable Pants/Shorts - On work days, pants or Capri’s below the knee are expected.  Knee-length shorts may be worn while we are at our lodging facility only.  Short shorter than knee-length are not permitted.  Skirts and dresses are ok for our Antigua day and/or church.  Consider what clothing is made out of before you pack.  Lightweight and breathable materials may generally be more comfortable. (Hint: Cargo pants are my preferred choice for traveling because I always have a safe place for my passport & wallet.)

· Comfortable T-Shirts – No short or skimpy shirts, No tanks, spaghetti strap or strapless tops. Any writing/advertisement on shirts should be appropriate. (Hint: It is best if your t-shirts are not 100% cotton as those kind tend to retain moisture and do not dry quickly, I actually prefer %100 polyester because it dries so quickly. Wash it at night and it will be dry by morning!)

· One Church outfit – Girls: dresses (below the knee, with sleeves) or skirts (below the knee) with sleeved shirts. Guys: Kaki pants & a short sleeved dress shirt or polo shirt. (Hint: Most cultures dress to the nines for church. If you are going to err here it should be on the nice side).

· One Antigua outfit - We’ll be going to Antigua for our fun day.  It is an extremely popular tourist area.  We usually encourage people to dress in “nice-casual” attire.  So, don’t plan to wear your work clothes on this day.  Also, Antigua has cobblestone streets so we recommend shoes that will be comfortable for walking in those conditions. (One time I tripped on a rock the size of a softball in the middle of the sidewalk.  Thankfully I had the right footwear or I would have broken my toe.)

· Hat, Bandanna, Sunglasses (you may not be a “bandanna person” but the Guatemalan sun can quickly convert you!)

· Rain Poncho (that can always be carried with you in your daypack)

· Comfortable work gloves

GENERAL ITEMS

· PASSPORT + 3 copies.  One copy will be given to your team leader before leaving the country.  One copy should be kept by you, in a location other than where you keep your actual passport.  It is also recommended that you make a third copy of your passport and leave it with your family here at home.

· Toiletries: Shower soap, hand soap, razor, shampoo, deodorant, toothbrush, tooth paste, contact solution, Q-tips, Hair dryer etc. (Hint: Same sex team members may consider sharing shampoo in order to save space and weight in bags. Liquids should be packed in ziplock bags in order to prevent spills in your suitcase.)

Contact wearers: Don't chance missing the view! Bring extra contacts – just in case. Also bring your glasses.

· Towel & Wash cloth

· Sun screen, chap stick, & Aloe

· Bug repellent – though I don’t typically see lots of bugs in Guatemala.

· Medications & Vitamins / Allergy & prescription medications

· Small Hand Sanitizer or Wipes (it's good to have this when adequate hand washing facilities are not readily available.)

· Small Kleenex packs (these are handy).

· Bible, Notebook, Journal, Pen (Hint: you’ll need a pen on the airplane for completing your immigration forms)

· Ear plugs (in case your roommates snore - these are priceless!)

· Alarm clock

· Camera & batteries or charger, memory cards, etc.. (They have standard outlets and electric items work fine in Guatemala)

· Flashlight

· Trash bag– you’ll want this for your dirty clothes on the way home.

· Stationary – you may want to write an encouragement note for someone, etc.

· Refillable Water Bottle – You may also consider bringing some of those individual Gatorade/PowerAde Packs to flavor your water. Purified water will always be available for you during your stay.

· Small daypack (Hint: those nylon bags with strings make great daypacks for packing gloves, rain poncho, water, sunscreen, chap stick, kleenex, and hand sanitizer to the work site)

· Personal snacks (Sealed packaged snacks if desired. Granola bars, power bars, etc. Don’t take anything that will melt. Don’t eat in your room, or anywhere you don’t want cockroaches. Be prepared to share.)

· Card games, or the like.

· Money:  You’ll want spending money, for souvenirs or for food in airports (all food in Guatemala is already covered), and you may also consider bringing some money to give at the church service we will attend.  From time to time, teams also like to make an additional donation to the missionaries we serve with at the end of the week.

We will carry a small first-aid kit with things like aspirin, band-aids, Imodium (just in case), and antiseptic cream to cover most situations.

OTHER IMPORTANT STUFF TO HAVE:

• Good Attitude
• Flexibility
• Patience
• Willingness to learn and grow
• Love for other people

WHAT NOT TO BRING:

• Knives & Firearms
• Fireworks
• Pets
• Electronic gadgets that mean a lot to you – (iPods, phones, etc..)
• High value items (jewelry, etc)

Updates & What to Bring to DR

Hey DR Team!

Here are a couple of updates…

1. Thanks for checking the blog for updates and new info. Tell your friends and family that they can check this site while we are in DR for updates and photos of the team.

2. At one point I had discussed with some of you the possibility of not having a resort night before we leave DR. After reviewing our flight schedule, our hosts in DR have decided it is in everyone’s best interest to stay at a resort in Santo Domingo on the 16^th. So we are back to our original plan.

3. In a previous post I mentioned mosquito nets. If you are thinking about purchasing a mosquito net I wanted to offer some suggestions. First, get something simple, not a big complex setup that won’t fit in your suitcase. Second, look for permethrin treated products or some do-it-yourself permethrin. That is the chemical that is most effective in warding off the “bugs”. Third, consider ordering with a friend to save shipping costs if you are buying online. Lastly, I have provided a few links below to help you get started shopping around if you are looking for a net.

Permethrin Products: REI, Campmor,

Mosquito Nets: REI, Campmor,

Pretreated Net: Travel Health Help

4. Here is a tid-bit of knowledge to store in a handy place in your carry on (along with a pen). The address for your visa forms (that you fill out on the airplane) is:

Juventude con Una Mision
KM 4, Entrada del Salto Jimenoa
Piedra Blanca, Jarabacoa

5. Many of you have asked for a “What To Bring” list… so here you go: (this is also available on our blog site)

CLOTHING

Dress on the base and in Jarabacoa is fairly casual. Most people wear jeans, shorts and t-shirts on the base. You should also bring a light jacket and an umbrella.

Bring a mixture of clothing that will allow you enough variety, but won't weigh your bags down too much. We suggest bringing at least 2 pairs of jeans, along with light cotton trousers or sweatpants, shorts if you wear them, and several t-shirts. You should also bring one set of old clothes that can be used for construction work and one set of nicer clothes to wear to church or to a restaurant. You will also need at least one pair of walking shoes/sneakers, and a pair of sandals to wear inside the house.

GENERAL HOUSEHOLD ITEMS

The base will provide pillows and blankets, but you should bring you own sheets, pillow cases, and towels. A mosquito net is optional, if you want to be extra cautious, feel free to bring one.

Other household items you may want to bring include a hair-dryer, an alarm clock, and a flashlight. Consider sharing a hairdryer among friends, to cut down on space needed in your luggage. Voltage is the same as in the US (no adaptors needed).

Don’t forget to bring a camera if you have one and a generous amount of film (or memory for your digital camera) since film is expensive here.

DAY TRIPS

It will be helpful if you bring a small backpack. The backpack may also be useful for day trips or for other projects in the city or nearby towns.

STUDY ITEMS

Bring a pen, a notebook and don’t forget your Bible!

COSMETICS/TOILETRIES

Come prepared with your own bug spray, anti-itch medicine (for bug bites), shampoo, toothpaste, soap etc ... sunscreen is recommended. Our team will have a small first-aid kit with things like aspirin, band-aids, Imodium (just in case), antiseptic cream to cover most situations. Remember to pack all these liquids in your checked baggage and not in your carry on!

HEALTH

Most people ask about Malaria risk in DR but Typhoid is actually more common than Malaria in the area we will be traveling to. No specific immunizations are required before traveling to DR, but we advise you to check with your doctor on any suggestions he has for any kind of vaccinations for your time in DR. If you are taking any specific medication we advise you to get enough of it to last you during your time there, as it may be impossible to get your medication there. The pharmacies do sell a variety of medications, but might not sell the one you need.

MISCELLANEOUS

Please be aware that you'll be sharing a dormitory-style room with several others, and there won't be too much room for personal belongings. Consider the fact that Mother Teresa and her sisters “traveled only with such personal luggage as could be contained in a bucket or a cardboard box”.

Here are a few miscellaneous things to have in your bucket…

· refillable water bottle. (this should be empty and packed in your checked luggage)

· personal bottle of hand sanitizer. (sometimes it's good to have this when adequate hand washing facilities are not readily available.)

· work gloves

· batteries for your camera

· charger for your camera (or rechargeable batteries)

· a basketball or other sporting equipment (consider donating it at the end of the week)

· insect repellant (don’t let me emphasize this too much!)

6. Finally, I am still working on a date for one more team meeting before we leave. You wouldn’t believe how crazy the school calendar is these days (or maybe you would as most of you are involved in all those sports!). I will keep you posted. But for now… maybe all this info will keep you happy for a few days.

Email me with any specific questions you have! And keep praying!

What to Bring: Additions

I forgot to mention a few things on the what to bring list, so here's an addendum.

1. refillable water bottle. (this should be empty and packed in your checked luggage)
2. pillow case.
3. towel.
4. personal bottle of hand sanitizer. (sometimes it's good to have this when adequate hand washing facilities are not readily available.)
5. international calling card (this wasn't on the list but I know we had talked about them at one point. These will be available for purchase at the YWAM base as well.)

Hopefully that's everything. And if it's not... well, I'm pretty sure we'll get by without the things we forget.

see you all on Saturday.

What to bring to Costa Rica

Below is some information on what to bring to Costa Rica. I received this from the YWAM staff in San Jose and thought you might find it helpful as well.

CLOTHING

Dress on the base and in San José is fairly casual. Most people wear jeans, shorts and t-shirts on the base. During the rainy season it is sunny in the morning, but it can be quite cool at night and during the afternoon, so bring clothing you can wear in layers - t-shirts, over-shirts with long sleeves, and light sweaters. You should also bring a light jacket and a good, strong umbrella to cope with the rain!

Bring a mixture of clothing that will allow you enough variety, but won't weigh your bags down too much. We suggest bringing at least 2 pairs of jeans, along with light cotton trousers or sweatpants, shorts if you wear them, and several t-shirts. You should also bring one set of old clothes that can be used for construction work and one set of formal clothes that is dressy enough to wear to church or to a restaurant. You will also need at least one pair of walking shoes/sneakers, and a pair of sandals to wear inside the house.

GENERAL HOUSEHOLD ITEMS

The base will provide pillows, but you should bring you own sleeping bag, sheets, pillow cases and towels. A mosquito net is not needed in the city as we have but a few mosquitos, but if you want to be extra cautious, feel free to bring one.

Other household items you may want to bring include a hair-dryer, & a flashlight. Remember that the voltage here is 110 watts, so you may need an adaptor for some of your appliances. However, we do have limited power plugs available in the bedrooms, so bring a battery-operated alarm clock. We recommend bringing 1 or 2 hairdryers that you can share among yourselves, to cut down on space needed in your luggage.

Don’t forget to bring a camera if you have one and a generous amount of film (or memory for your digital camera) since film is expensive here.

DAY TRIPS

It will be helpful if you bring a small backpack. The backpack may also be useful for day trips or for other projects in the city of San José or nearby towns.

STUDY ITEMS

Bring a pen, a notebook and don’t forget your Bible!

COSMETICS/TOILETRIES

Come prepared with your own shampoo, toothpaste, soap etc ... sunscreen is recommended. A small first-aid kit is also a good idea, but keep it simple. Aspirin, band-aids and a small tube of antiseptic cream will cover most situations; most other things can be bought here in San José.

HEALTH

No specific immunizations are required before coming to Costa Rica, but we advise you to check with your doctor on any suggestions he has for any kind of vaccinations for your time in Costa Rica. If you are taking any specific medication we advise you to get enough of it to last you during your time with us, as it may be possible that you will not be able to get your medication here. The pharmacies do sell a variety of medications, but might not sell the one you need.

MISCELLANEOUS

Please be aware that you'll be sharing a dormitory-style room with several others, and there won't be too much room for personal belongings. We do have a few limited rooms available for a couple or family, but space is limited and there is no guarantee they will be available during your trip. If you require this type of housing, please inform us so we can make the proper arrangements, if at all possible.

CONTACT INFO

YWAM San Jose

PO Box 252 Sabanilla

San Jose, 2070

Costa Rica

Telephone: 506-227-4435

Telephone/Fax: 506-227-4486

Email: missionadventures@ywamsj.org

Contact person: Bryan Wolfe

BASE INFORMATION

We believe in the potential that God has placed in the youth of today, and it is our heart’s desire to see them become relevant leaders who are able to impact their generation and society. (1 Timothy 4:12)

YWAM San Jose was established in August of 2004. God has blessed the ministry as we have seen 100% growth over the last 2 years. Our goal is to impact communities through a biblical worldview, enabling God to transform the hearts of the people and thus transforming their communities. We work in some of the poorest communities of the capital city of San Jose.