In addition to your group fees & registration fees, there are other costs you will want to be aware of:
Food Cost
Cost of food is not covered in your group fees. A furnished kitchen and dining hall is provided for you to
prepare your meals. Meal prep can be very easy if you consider the following options:
1. Most groups have each person bring their favorite box of cold cereal for the week in Mexico. Milk and
fruit can be brought with you, or purchased here in Mexico. This provides a quick, healthy breakfast with
little costs or work.
2. We provide an option to groups of eating the noon meal at the church you will be serving at, prepared
and served by the women of the church (Monday-Thursday). This is a wonderful way to save time, money,
and get to know the people and culture of Mexico . It’s a popular hit among all groups (you will be hard
pressed to buy and cook a meal for less than the recommended donation). We recommend a minimum
donation of $3.00 per person per meal for this option. This amount also includes enough money so the
Mexicans who are ministering with you can eat with you as well.
3. The remainder of the meals can be prepared at the base. The facilities are very accommodating (two
stoves, refrigerator, freezer, large work areas, large serving bar & more).An option to consider if you don’t
have a cook, is to designate a kitchen and meal coordinator to oversee the meals and kitchen. Divide the
group into food teams and allow them to plan the meals (with the oversight of the kitchen and meal
coordinator). Meals can be pre-cooked in the States and then prepared in Mexico. Make sure you have
healthy meals as you will be exerting extra energy while on your trip. Also, many groups like to eat out at
least once during the week which cuts down on meal prep too.
Suggested shopping list for items other than food
Following is a recommended shopping list for items you will need for your group in Mexico while on the
ministry base.
Cleaning Items
3 liquid hand soaps
1 bottle dish washing liquid
Scrubber pads for pots and pans
Paper & Plastic Items
Small bathroom trash bags (10 gallon)
Large trash bags (30 -40 gallon)
Toilet paper
Paper towels (bring plenty)
Napkins
Roll of aluminum foil
Paper plates (we recommend using paper plates, bowls, cups & etc. for eating, this cuts down on work &
time)
Paper bowls
Paper cups
Baby wipes for cleaning hands after V.B.S. and etc. (put in vans)
Ziploc bags
First Aid Kit & Medicines
Hand lotion
Neosporin
Hydrogen peroxide
Tylenol
Imodium AD
Purified drinking water in Mexico
We will have at the Ministry Base 5 gallon bottles of purified drinking water for your use at the base. These
bottles can be filled with purified water at all grocery stores for less than $1.00 each. It will be your group's
responsibility to purchase your own water. There is no need to bring purified water with you unless you
would feel more comfortable doing so.
Work Projects
Part of group fees will be used for your construction projects, no need to worry about funds for this.
Insurance
Although vehicle insurance is not required in Mexico, you might want to have it just in case. We strongly
recommend that you purchase insurance prior to your trip. Purchasing insurance at the border can be
costly and time consuming.
Bibles
We ask each group to bring two cases of Bibles (NIV complete Spanish Bibles) to be able to give to those
who might receive Christ through your time in Mexico, and also, to be able to provide pastors and churches
with Bibles. Many churches and pastors come to us asking for Bibles and it’s nice to be able to provide
them with this important resource. You will find an order form enclosed in this packet. We ask for the NIV
version (NVI in Spanish). Please bring complete Bibles containing both the Old and New Testaments.
These can be ordered from International Bible Society at: www.gospelcom.net/ibs Tel: 1-800-237-7266
Evangelistic tracts
On Sunday, the day after your arrival, we start the week off by doing an evangelistic outreach in the
community of the church you’ll be serving at. We hand out invitations for the week’s activities at the
church, and tracks as well. We ask that you bring at least 600 tracks for this important activity. We have
found that tracks by Chick Publishers or Atstracks work very well because they are in a cartoon format.
Because many here in Mexico lack the ability to read, a cartoon format really grabs and holds their
attention. Make sure you order all tracks in Spanish!
Tracks can be ordered at: www.chick.com Tel: 1-909941-8128, or at www.atstracts.org select international
tracts, then select browse by category, then select Spanish and you'll find the Spanish tracks. Make sure
you order tracts that have a cartoon format and are in Spanish.
Ideas for fund raising
1. Each month, set aside a regular amount to give toward your cost. Example: if you just put $20 per month
toward your trip cost, in six months you will have $120.
2. Consider having a garage sale to sell items you no longer need.
3. Cut down on part of your entertainment spending, and save it for your trip.
4. Pray and ask God to help you. Who knows what might happen?
5. Send out a letter to your friends and relatives, share the plans of your short mission trip and ask if
they’d like to share in the cost.