Mission Base & Ministry Orientation
While your here at the ministry base, we want you to feel at home and like it belongs to you.  From our viewpoint, it is yours for the
week.  The following guidelines are to help your group to keep their environment clean for the week they are here.  We don't view the
ministry base as a hotel, but a place for you to stay and minister from.  Therefore, we just post these guidelines as suggestions.  We
aren't going to police or check everything on the list.  We just want to provide this tool to help you.

Some of the ministry guidelines such as: dress, cultural aspects and etc. we will be more strict on because they affect ministry and
people.

The following guidelines are what we normally go over with groups during part of their orientation meeting upon arriving at the ministry
base in Mexico.  They are posted here so you can get a head start and understand more fully about your time here in Mexico.  You
can also, if you like, make copies and go over them ahead of time with your group.

The rules are not intended to take away from your time here, but just the opposite, add to it.  We have found that groups get the most
out of their trip by avoiding some potential problems.  Some of the guidelines deal with your stay on the base, others, about your
ministry and safety while traveling to and from the base

General Guidelines

  • Drive slowly entering and leaving the base, be careful of children and activity.
  • Drive carefully on highways, many don’t know how to drive down here and there are slow moving vehicles.
  • Don’t write on any walls, bunks, or furniture.
  • Keep the base clean by throwing all trash in trash cans.
  • Don’t play in gravel areas, play games, and etc. in the dirt area on the South side of base.
  • No smoking allowed on the base, at church, or around any Mexican.  (Mexican culture is very sensitive in this area)
  • Conserve electricity by shutting off any unnecessary lights, and shutting off lights upon leaving rooms (electricity cost about three times
    more than in the states).
  • Don’t climb over fences or go on other people’s property.
  • Lights out and quiet at 10:30pm (unless other arrangements have been made).
  • Main gate will be shut at 10:00pm (unless other arrangements have been made).
  • Please take care of the base by not slamming doors, or abusing things.  
  • If something isn't working, or gets broke, please report it.

Showers

  • One shower per day is allowed (we’re in a desert with little water).  Get wet, shut off water, soap and clean yourself, turn water back on and
    rinse.  Please conserve as much water as you can as water is scarce here.
  • Make sure showers are shut off when you’re done.
  • Ladies can use plastic tubs for shaving their legs.

Bathrooms

  • Don’t put toilet paper or other items in the toilets.  Put it in the trashcan.  Mexican sewers cannot handle toilet paper.
  • If any toilets are leaking, or not working right, let us know.
  • Make sure all water in sinks is shut off when finished.
  • Use your water bottle for brushing your teeth.  Don’t drink water from taps.

Dorms

  • Take care of the foam cushions on the bunks. Don’t write on them, tear, or mistreat them.
  • Don’t hang clothes on curtain rods in your dorms, or trees.  Hang them on the clothesline.
  • Keep your dorm clean.
  • Don’t sweep trash & junk from your dorm outside onto the patio.

Kitchen

  • Don’t put food scrapes down sink.  It doesn't have a garbage disposal.
  • Separate trash into burnable and non-burnable trash cans.
  • Save your aluminum pop cans separately (we give them to a pastor).
  • Put all food scrapes in the scrap bucket.  We'll tell you where to dump them.
  • When washing dishes you can add a little bleach to the water to purify it if you like.  No need to boil it.

Chores

  • Each day, between breakfast and chapel, there will be a few chores for everyone.  The chores are located on the bulletin board by the
    kitchen.  The leader, or someone appointed, can divide up the chores and rotate them as they see fit.  By everyone doing a few chores,
    we keep our environment clean and healthy.  Thank you for your great attitude and cooperation.  For more go to: Chores

Health Concerns

  • You’re in a desert climate, please drink plenty of water.
  • Take your water bottle with you at all times.
  • Don’t drink water out of the taps, drinkable water is in the large water jugs.
  • Put caps back on the water jugs when done, this keeps them from getting dirty.
  • Water jugs can be filled up at any store.
  • Get plenty of rest.
  • Eat healthy.
  • Wear a hat.
  • Put on sun-block.

Pictures During VBS & Outreaches

  • Don’t take pictures the first two days (except for your designated media person as long as they exercise discretion).  They will interpret this
    as exploitation of their poverty.  However, the last days, after relationships have been developed, they will be honored. For more go to:
    Taking photos

Dress Code Click here for more on dress code

  • Remember you are in a more modest culture and are viewed as missionaries.
  • No shorts outside base except for free time that is not related to ministry or work.
  • Ladies must wear skirts below knees to ministry activities (pants can be worn at work times).
  • No sleeveless tops or questionable clothing.
  • No earrings for guys or exotic dress or hairdos.   

Ministry Guidelines

  • Remember to sit in the outer edges, and the back of the church.  Spread out.
  • Shake hands, smile & greet everyone.
  • Be sensitive to being loud in church before church starts.
  • Have fun and serve the people.
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