Prayer Points for Your Trip

The key to effectiveness on our trips is prayer. Our ministry starts through prayer, not just when we get there. Consider praying daily for the following as you prepare your heart and as God prepares our way. Enlist others who will pray with you, and for you.

• Effective ministry to the people of San Lucas
• Unity on the mission team
• Team leadership
• Health
• Prayer support

Basics

• Be flexible and provide work and help as needed. We are there to walk side by side with the Mayan People of San Lucas. It is by walking with them that we build solidarity with them and understand their culture and way of life.

Water

• Use bottled water – The water from the faucet is not safe to drink. That includes brushing your teeth and keeping your mouth closed while you are taking a shower. There will be  bottled water at the mission for you to refill your water bottles. It is difficult to recycle plastic in Guatemala so help the environment by using as few plastic bottles as possible. “Please Refill!”

Animals

• Please do not attempt to pet the street dogs. They are not friendly and should be left alone.
• Do not give them food or scraps. It encourages begging.

General Items to Bring

• PASSPORT (If you forget it, you will not go. It has happened to others!)
• Xerox-type copies of first page of passport, and driver’s license (Place these copies in an inside pocket of your suitcase.)
• Suitcase (it can be with a lock, but don’t lock it before you check your luggage.)
• Backpack or carry-on bag (fanny packs and backpacks are safer than a purse)
• Bible and journal
• Paper and pen
• Bilingual dictionary
• Travel alarm clock with fresh batteries
• Camera and camera charger
• Flash Light
• Reading light for after lights out
• Consider for your sleeping comfort:
  • Sleeping mask for eyes and ear plugs
• Did I say, “Ear plugs!” (an essential item because of the dogs and roosters who sing all night)
• Small fan and extension cord
• Sound machine

Money

• If you are bringing American dollars make sure they are in pretty good, crisp condition… newer the better.   In Guatemala the banks are very picky about changing out dollars, so the people who will be taking the dollars to the banks are even more picky when you give dollars to them.
• The mission will cash personal checks. The limit is $100 per day so you may need more than one.
• Some examples of bills that would not be accepted in Guatemala

Medicine

• Prescription medication – in original container is best to avoid questions by customs
• Pepto Bismol is really good at preventing getting Montezuma’s Revenge from E Coli so a supply of that is a good idea.
• A prescription for ciprofloxacin HCL is good to have should you contract Montezuma’s Revenge. A prescription can be obtain from the county health office or your doctor at the same time you get your inoculations.
• Pain relievers
• Imodium
• Antihistamines

Mosquitos

• Bug deterrent.  The best thing for this is DEET, either by itself or in a formula.  You can get it at any outdoor store like Bass Pro or Gander Mountain.  We are on a lake so you will want to have this.

Snacks

• Gum/candy/crackers/granola bars
• Power bars/jerky

Toiletries

• Shampoo, soap, deodorant, toothpaste, tooth brush, dental floss
• Hand sanitizer (like Purell)
• Tissues (travel packs are great)
• Sunscreen
• Make-up
• Hair dryer

Bedding

• Pillow (pillows are provided, but if you want or prefer your own, please bring it)
• Washcloths (towels, sheets and light-weight blankets are provided)

Clothing

• (laundry service will be available for a small fee)
• ** Guatemala is a very conservative country and you are representing America and St. Luke Mission.
• Women must dress modestly at all times without low cut shirts or short dresses.
• Also please refrain from “fashionably torn” clothing. The Guatemalans will just think it looks like torn clothing.
• We will go to a church service one day so please have appropriate clothing for that as well.
  • Clothes for church service:
    • women—modest length skirt or dress
    • men——dress pants with polo or buttoned shirt.
• No shorts are worn in the San Lucas or surrounding areas.
• Scrubs should be worn if serving with medical/dental team—must be professional-looking and in good condition.  If going outside of the mission to work with medical or dental wear blue jeans and a scrub top.  If going with a construction group then dress for construction.
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Sleepwear
• Socks and undergarments
• Light rain gear or jacket. The temps at this time of year range between 50 at night to an average high of 74 during the day.  You are going at the best time all year!
• Mix and match clothing (4-6 changes)
• Sweatshirt/sweater
• Flip flops for shower
• Jeans for travel and free days.
• Antigua is a tourist town so the dress there is more relaxed.  You can even wear shorts there.
• You will not need to dress up for anything but there are nicer dining options if you choose.

Optional

• US map (to show where you live)
• Family photos to share

Things to avoid taking

• Cologne/perfumes
• Expensive jewelry (or anything else of value that you’d be sorry to lose)
• Weapons, knives, sharp scissors etc.

Important Special Notes!

• If you can’t carry it, don’t bring it! There is a limit of two bags per person: one suitcase and one carry-on in addition to your purse/backpack.
• Per usual, your suitcase is to be no more than 62 inches in total (height, width, and length) and cannot weigh more than 50 lbs.
• Your carry-on must fit under your seat and cannot weigh more than 20 lbs.
• Any liquids you bring in carry-on luggage must be in no larger than 3 oz. bottles, collected in one quart-size zip-lock bag.
• You will probably want to get to bed early once you are settled in at the hotel.
• We will leave very early in the morning on Sunday so a good night’s sleep will help.

While on the mission trip:

• Never go anywhere by yourself. Every time you leave the clinic, make sure you go in pairs. Let the Trip Leader know where you are going, even if we have gone somewhere else as a group please let someone know if you are going somewhere else.
• In a group, always take a headcount.
• Passport and monies should stay in the dorm in a locked suitcase or in a safe location designated by your Trip Leader.
• Do not drink anything with ice.
• Do not eat lettuce or anything that requires cleaning with water except food at the clinic.
• Your Trip Leader will provide other rules to promote safety as well.