Participant Orientation #1 St Simon Parish May 29, 2012 TIJUANA MINISTRY July 7-14, 2012.

Participant Orientation #1St Simon ParishMay 29, 2012

TIJUANA MINISTRY July 7-14, 2012

Prayer

Lord Jesus, Carpenter and Healer, we ask that you look upon those multitudes in Tijuana who have too little to eat, have too little shelter and struggle each day to find work and ways to care for their family.  We pray for the sick who have little resources to be healed.  We ask you to guide us and open our eyes and hearts to their plight. Help us to hear their voices and learn from their faith and wisdom. Show us how we can help.  In your name we pray. Amen.

‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Matthew 25:39-41

Agenda

Introductions | Ice-breaker Paperwork Transportation Where We Stay Food Typical Day Safety Regulations Packing Gifts for the Families Important Dates Help Us Q & A

Introductions

Joan Mibach, St Simon Parish Lead 650.279.0450

Bob Malone, Director 408.640.0206

Joanna Thurmann, Co-director 408.568.2559

Bobby & Amanda Dartez, Fundraising Leads, Build Lead 408.690.6672

Francesca Paist & Monica Rising (absent) - Paperwork

Ice Breaker

Find someone you don’t already know (or you don’t know well) and tell them 3 things

about yourself.

Paperwork Submit Online Application Pay Travel Fees Get Passport - Everyone needs a current US passport which

expires October 2012 or later. Visa not required if US Citizen. Some resident aliens must apply for visas ASAP

Fill-out Medical Information & Release forms Fingerprinting (LiveScan) from Diocese of San Jose for age 18+ Diocesan Safety Class for age 18+ Code of Conduct (minors only) Drivers Only:

• copy of driver's license (you must be 25+ to drive if not your own family)• copy of vehicle registration• copy of US auto insurance• copy of Mexican insurance, if you purchased it on your own OTHERWISE

you will fill out the BajaBound Mexican insurance form See website under > 2012 Trip > Apply

Transportation

480 miles from San Jose to Tijuana About 8-10 hour drive Carpool – 3-5 people/vehicle Caravan with others Leave Saturday at 6am Arrive Chula Vista by 4pm (eat and

gas up) All meet at Chula Vista & cross

border together One Spanish speaking person per

car, if possible

Transportation - Drivers

Need to check who drives and number of seats available Reimbursement for gas - save receipts Caravanning techniques Caravan over border – Otay Mesa Border Etiquette – no talking, answer only necessary questions Need Mexican Auto Insurance (Baja Bound)

St Julie’s will coordinate Drivers will receive more info via email on this

Drivers have copies of everyone’s health and emergency records in a special binder in each car. Also contains cell phones of people in other cars

Liaisons in Tijuana

Fr. Tom Rush – priest at San Eugenio & main point of contact for Tijuana Ministry in San Eugenio Parish

Rosita – works for the parish and helps us do all logistics Jose – her husband, helps odds and ends Francisco (Poncho) – on-site construction workers and helpers Carlos – Rosita’s son and taxi driver

Jose & RositaFr. Tom Rush

Where We Stay

Compound is enclosed and gated for security 2 story dormitory at St Eugenio Parish Men (& tools) on bottom floor (4 showers & toilets) Women on second floor (4 showers & toilets) Town is one of the poorest, transitory area

San Eugenio Church Grounds in La Morita with potential 2nd location based on participation

Where We Stay

Dome Lodging

HallChurch

Food

Some food brought from US; fresh food bought locally Home Site | Cook Team prepares breakfast each day (variety of hot &

cold choices) Home Site / Cook Team & Mothers and Children’s Teams for that day

prepare lunches for Building Teams (sack lunches of sandwiches, fruits, snacks, drinks)

Lunches delivered to build sites at noon Dinner cooked by local parish women under Cook Team guidance and

direction Vegetables are cooked; fruit is carefully washed Do not buy from local market vendors Drink only bottled water Let us know of special dietary restrictions (on application form)

Typical Day5am Cooks: Begin to cook breakfast

5:30am All Volunteers wake and get ready

6:00-6:30am Breakfast

6:30am Cooks: Make Lunches

7:00am Load up and drive to sites

7:15am Construction Team: Begin tasks from foreman

9:00am Kids Program: Meet with community children; play games

9:00am Mother’s program: Discussion about health and nutrition

12pm Lunches delivered/Break at Job Sites

1pm-5pm Construction: Continue building

3-6pm Cooks: Prepare Dinner

5pm Construction: Return back to Church grounds; clean up for dinner

6pm Dinner with everyone on patio

8:00pm Reflection

10:30pm Ready for Bed

11pm Lights out

Safety - Personal

Do not leave the compound except for scheduled events and programs

Stay in groups when outside the compound Use the buddy system (let others know where you are

going) No 1-on-1 with teens The compound is enclosed and gated; 24-hr security

provided. Cars also stay within the secure compound. Men and Women sleep separately in 2-story building Act and dress conservatively Communication via radios and cell phones between sites,

compound Site has a local parish leader Safety in the surrounding area: crime, violence, drugs

Safety – Your Health

Stay hydrated; drink plenty of water Drink and rinse with bottled water only Job site: work boots, long pants, long sleeves, hats, work gloves Sun protection: sunscreen, hats with neck protection, long-

sleeve shirts, bandanas Don’t drink local tap water or eat local food. Risk of getting ill. First Aid people at each site & compound. First Aid kits available. Ask if unsure of tools, methods, stability of structure, roof, etc No need to get special shots or immunizations except to make

sure your tetanus is up to date (esp. for work site)

Safety – Your Valuables

Keep passport on your person Keep the building locked Do not leave gadgets in visible places Don’t bring valuables on the trip (laptops, expensive

cameras, credit cards, jewelry, etc) Use fanny-packs or backpacks versus purses or bags Bring only enough $$ to buy food on drive to/from Tijuana We don’t do shopping, souvenirs, etc

Regulations

Evening “campfire” meeting and reflection is mandatory

No dryers or curlers (to save electricity) No toilet paper in the toilets Don’t give money to people on the street Gifts are only given through the programs, e.g:

to the families for whom we are building the kids in the Children’s Program families who participate in our community talk as thank-you

No individual gifts or treats, etc. It sets the wrong message (i.e. pity, favoritism, beggar mentality)

Dress and act conservatively. Be respectful of the local culture. Remember we are guests.

Packing

Pack light, comfortable, reusable. Nothing fancy except perhaps fiesta on last day. No laundry on-site Bring own towel, sleeping bag, pillow, blanket, linens Men have army cots. Women have foam pads Bring small inflatable air mattress or mattress pad to sleep on Bring ear plugs if you’re light sleeper – snoring, barking, roosters Handout - Personal Packing List

Personal Packing List

Bob (5 mins)

Miscellaneous

Get international phone coverage for your cell phone; roaming charges may apply

We need old suitcases

Gifts for the Families

“Housewarming” Gifts come from participants going to Tijuana each year

Items requested in NEW condition Gifts presented during the House Blessing on last day We also present a display poster board signed by all

participants during that week Joan Mibach from St Simon has a list of suggested gifts for

families

Important Dates

Date Time Location Event05/29/12 7-9pm St Simon Parish TJ Mandatory Mtg #1 – Participant

Orientation for St Simon travelers06/03/12 4-7pm St Julie's, Sullivan Center TJ Mandatory Mtg #1 Participant

Orientation for St Julie, St Clare & other travelers

06/10/12 7am-3pm St Julie’s, Parking Lot Tijuana Carwash & Taco Sale – ALL travelers strongly encouraged to attend

06/23/12 12pm-2:30pm St Julie's, Sullivan Center TJ Mandatory Mtg #2 Participant Orientation – for ALL travelers

July 6 5pm mass Blessing of Tijuana workers from St Julie’s

St Julie’s Church

July 6 6-9pm St Julie’s Packing of trucks, trailers, cars. Drivers required, others optional

July 7 6am St Julie’s Leaving for Tijuana

Help Us

Drivers – need cars which can seat 5 or more people First Aiders – serve with First Aid and help prepare First Aid kits

Gift Organizer – prepare, collect, label, list & organize gifts for the families

Donations Sorter – sort, pack, label donations for Casa Migrante, Children’s, Mother’s Programs, and miscellaneous

Kitchen Lead Home Site Crew

Thank you for participating andfor opening your hearts to the

people of Tijuana!

Q & A