March 18 meeting

The mission team participants (Ben, Ellen, Jane, Lowell, Luke, and me) – plus Luke parents Eva and Jerry - met for the first time by ourselves Wednesday, after the light Guatemalan supper and mission partnership conversation. The church cleared about $1,200 from the Leslie McClure concert and dessert event for the Guatemala mission partnership fund (and a little bit from the light Guatemala partnership supper and mission partnership conversation preceding this meeting). We agreed that the trip would cost $800 for each of us – meaning that some folks still owed a second, $400 installment payment to the church. There was some discussion as to whether one of the organizers (Ben) would have his way paid.

The team will meet at church at 10:30 a.m. next Friday, March 27. Bob, Soni, and Stephanie will drive. Our flight out of Cincinnati will now not leave until 2:40 p.m., giving the team a little more time. The team will fly on Continental through Houston. Guatemala is not on Daylight (or vice versa) – meaning that it’s essentially like on Mountain time there – there is a two hour difference. That’s mean that when the team arrives in Guatemala City at 9 p.m., it will feel like 11 p.m.

The team is slated to fly out of the airport at the crack of dawn on Thursday morning, April 2, and so team members may get little sleep. Arrival time in Cincinnati is slated for 2 p.m. Because Stephanie cannot pick up, Jerry may also drive back.

Continental allows each passenger to bring one bag weighing no more than 50 pounds. The team will also bring a bag for Amanda, the former Presbyterian Center staff person who recently landed Ellen’s old job in Guatemala (which the team will pay extra for). Another extra bag may be needed to bring gifts, etc. Trip participants, for themselves, should not plan to bring conventional suitcases or 50 pounds of luggage, as that will not work on the bus. Packing light in duffle bags or knapsacks is the way to go.

Trip participants are encouraged to bring one pair of shorts – possibly for bathing – and a sheet, pillow case, and towel – which they may end up leaving there with their host families. Also bring toilet paper, but always put toilet paper in the trash can next to the toilet or latrine, never in the toilet.

Participants should not give gifts to anyone – except for things we’ve agreed upon before – probably a packet of two towels for each host family, the banners the youth group made for each church and fellowship in the presbytery.

Mission team members should not drink water or consume ice. Ben and Ellen will be responsible for buying water. Eating fruits and vegetables are only OK if cooked or if peeled (like bananas – fruits and vegetables with real thick skins – not mangos).

In countries such as Guatemala (as sometimes in the United States), there are riots and robberies. Don’t bring jewelry or flash cameras. If you’re asked for something in a robbery, give it up. Don’t take pictures of people without asking. You might get a special passport pouch to wear under your clothes.

The team will get together a card to take with Soila, the Honduran woman who lived and worshiped as a missionary among us in 2003 who helped make arrangements and will host us at the Mennonite seminary complex, as well as a special gift. Crescent Hill folks will get a chance to sign and write notes on the card Sunday, when the congregation will also during worship dedicate and commission the mission team members and their prayer partners.

-- Perry