WEEKEND MISSIONS TRIP INFORMATION 2017
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many. Mark 10:45 NIV VISIONS OF THE MINISTRY Our USA mission is to provide anyone with the opportunity to experience an affordable weekend mission trip to Puerto Penasco, Mexico. This is the heart of our ministry and provides a cultural experience as well as an opportunity to serve the community. It is Christ centered and a safe atmosphere for transparency and life change. Our prayer is that trip participants would come back changed from the inside out as they serve the least of these and that it would have a ripple affect on their daily lives & relationships in the Our Mexico Community Mission is to partner with the local church leadership in the challenged areas of Rocky Point. We come alongside the church as they minister to their local communities. The church leadership expresses their needs to us instead of dictating to them what we feel they need. Our prayer is that we are the hands and feet of Jesus as we serve the church and that the surrounding neighborhoods are changed as they witness our love displayed in action! Our Villa Granada Mission is to provide a clean lodging experience for trip participants and to make it available for Christ centered groups as a local community center. This community center provides HOPE and PURPOSE for the local people by serving as a safe venue for meeting, learning and sharing through Christian activities! NOTES
NOTES WHO CAN GO ON A WEEKEND MISSIONS TRIP? Anyone with a heart to serve can participate in a Weekend Missions trip. Typically, we have a balanced mix of young people, busy professionals, families & retirees who seek a short term mission experience. We are simply looking for people willing to lend their unique gifts for one weekend. If you have never been on a mission trip to a foreign country, then this is the perfect trip for you! While building homes is not the bulk of our ministry, we have repaired roofs, built walls & rooms, laid block and countless other construction related projects for individuals, families, churches and shelters. We are currently involved in dozens of projects in Puerto Penasco and although many Weekend Missions volunteers are not trained in a specific trade, we welcome specialists in the plumbing, electrical or carpentry industries. Those without specific skills are trained on the job with a team leader who coordinates the particular project for that weekend. A project could be as simple as painting a wall, digging a trench or playing soccer with the kids! Our ministry foundation is about building trust and relationships, coming alongside churches and families and being a part of what God is already doing in the lives of those in the community! We are committed to a lasting, long term relationship with the people we have grown to love. More importantly, we hope to truly make a difference by empowering the local people to ARE YOU READY TO BE PART OF SOMETHING BIGGER THAN YOURSELF?
WHERE WILL I STAY? Weekend Missions purchased the Villa Granada in 2010, a 35 room hotel that is in the heart of Rocky Point. It has a large common area, 2 fireplaces, a dining room that seats 100, and a large courtyard area with a BBQ & swimming pool. Each room can sleep up to 3 or 4 people and contains a private bathroom, hot water shower and is air conditioned. We also provide purified drinking water that you can use to refill a water bottle. On a mission trip, please expect to share your room with up to 3 adults. Our prayer is to see the Villa Granada filled with local people who consider it a second home and on a broader scope, a retreat center and emerging community center for the residents of Rocky Point. Currently we house over 1,000 volunteers throughout the year! We FACTS ABOUT PUERTO PENASCO, MEXICO Puerto Penasco (Rocky Point) began as a small, quaint fishing village in the 1930 s on the Sea of Cortez. Today, although offering every modern convenience including future plans to have a port for cruise ships, it still retains much of the traditional charm and culture of the early days. The Sea of Cortez, or Gulf of California, has long been known for its aqua blue waters and white sandy beaches. It is just 60 miles southwest of the US-Mexico border, approximately a 4 hour drive from Phoenix. No car permit or visas are necessary, as Rocky Point is located in a Free Zone although Mexican insurance is required for all trip participant vehicles. The weather typically offers warm temperatures and clear skies, especially in the evening. The climate is more moderate than Arizona, being slightly cooler in the summer and slightly NOTES
NOTES Rocky Point has gradually developed into one of the largest shrimp producing areas in the Sea of Cortez. It is surrounded by the Sonoran Desert on one side and the Sea of Cortez on the other. Unique ocean conditions create extreme tides of up to 23 ft which produces a unique marine life. The entire area around Rocky Point has been of scientific interest to Population: 65,200 Currency: Mexican Peso Life Expectancy: 77 years (compared to the U.S., age 79) GDP per Capita: (value of goods produced) $10K (compared to U.S., $53K) Literacy: 94% Roughly 50% of the population live in poverty, many in extreme poverty. Most exist in hovels they call home, often put together with leftover building materials gathered on the side of the road. Indoor plumbing is a luxury for most homes and electricity is often spotty and non existent. Air conditioning is rare and many homes lack a refrigerator. We partner with the local churches to serve the poor through a variety of projects including children s programs, serving meals, building projects, outreaches, visiting men s & women s shelters and an annual Family Festival for the entire community.
TRIP ITINERARY Trips last about 3 days from Friday AM through Sunday PM. For those that have never been on a Weekend Missions trip, we meet at our office, 500 N 56th St #16, Chandler 85226 at 9:30 Friday morning and caravan to Rocky Point. A typical weekend itinerary looks like: FRIDAY 1:00-4:00pm Arrive at the Villa Granada, check in for room assignments and settle into your room 5:00pm Nachos & snacks served in the dining room, self tour of the Villa Granada 5:30pm Meeting in the dining room 6:00pm Community outreach-walking though the barrio door to door & talking to families about joining us on Saturday 7:30pm Dinner served in the dining room 8:00pm Group meeting in the courtyard with a review of Saturdays projects 9:00pm Devotional/Sign up for various project 9:30pm Free time, optional ice cream run SATURDAY 7:30am Breakfast served in the dining room 8:30am Group Photo 8:45am Head out to community projects 1:00pm Back to the Villa Granada for lunch 1:45pm Head back out to the community to finish projects. Visit men & women s rehab centers 4:00-7:00pm Free time 7:30pm Dinner served in the dining room 8:00pm Group meeting in the courtyard 9:30pm Free time, optional ice cream run SUNDAY CONTACT INFORMATION Weekend Missions Office #: 480-503-8832 Weekend Missions Email: info@weekendmissions.com Facebook: Weekend Missions-Mexico Weekend Missions Thrift Store Mission Villa Granada Camp Granada-Summer Youth Camp Weekend Missions Website: www.weekendmissions.com Villa Granada Phone #: 480-626-5440 Thrift Store Address: 1837 W Guadalupe Rd #107, Mesa 85202 Thrift Store Phone #: 480-664-0738 Then Jesus came to them and said, All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you al-
DIRECTIONS TO THE VILLA GRANADA WHAT TO BRING Take I-10 towards Tucson & take exit 164 for AZ347 at Queen Creek Rd towards Maricopa, Take a right onto AZ347 Passport or Passport Card Mexican auto insurance (if driving) Beach towel Turn right onto AZ238 to W Smith Enke Rd towards Gila Bend. We typically will stop for lunch at McDonalds or Taco Bell in Gila Bend. Go through Gila Bend. Shampoo/soap/deodorant Toothbrush/toothpaste Sunscreen Take the Phoenix bypass route and turn right onto AZ85 South towards Ajo, Mexico. This is a good place to stop for a bathroom break. Follow Hwy 85 through Ajo, Why, Lukeville and then into Mexico. Continue straight on Benemerito de Las Americas/ Mexico 8 Hat/visor Socks Underwear T-shirts Shorts Long pants Turn left onto Fransisco Eusebio Kino/San Luis Rio Colorado-Sonoyta Mexico 8 Take a slight right onto Calle Benemerito de Las Americas/Fransisco Eusebio Kino/Peurto Penasco Mexico 8 Roughly 65 miles until you get to Puerto Penasco Keep heading south on the main road (Benito Juarez) in Puerto Penasco Look for El Pollo Lucas (Chicken Hut) on your right and then Marisco (Seafood Hut). There is a small Weekend Missions sign on your right soon afterwards. Long sleeve shirt Water container (labeled with your name) to refill with drinking water Tennis shoes or comfortable shoes Flip flops Hand sanitizer Journal/Bible/Pen Work gloves Swimsuit Take a left at the sign and go 2 blocks to the Villa Granada on your right.
ADDITIONAL TRAVEL SUGGESTIONS Pack light with one small suitcase An under garment money belt for safe keeping of your passport, money & bank cards is recommended. Bring a small Bible and a journal. We encourage you to journal every day so you have a record of what you experienced and what God impressed upon your heart and mind. We have a time in the evening to debrief where you will be able to share what God has shown you. Dress casual! A photocopy of your passport just in case you lose your original. Immodium is a good safeguard if you experience stomach issues. Bring some additional money. We typically stop at a fast food restaurant for lunch on the way to Rocky point and on the way back home. In addition, there is free time on Saturday and Sunday if you d like to go to the market and we have an optional ice cream run at night. We also have T-shirts, hats & water bottles for sale at the Villa Granada if you d like to purchase them. TRIP PARTICIPANTS RESPONSIBILITIES Application and payment is due no later than 1 week before trip. A $20 fee will be added if signing up the week of departure. A pre-trip meeting is the Wednesday before the trip date at the Weekend Missions Thrift Store at 7:00 pm. The address is 1837 W Guadalupe Rd #107 Mesa 85202 A trip release form must be signed prior to the trip. Car assignments will be made if driving in the caravan that leaves from our office. Let us know of specific carpool requests. Please do not park your car in front of the businesses if leaving from our office. You must let us know if you are driving down separately from the caravan & when you will arrive. You must let us know of any specific roommate requests. You must bring a passport or birth certificate to cross the border. Please try and limit your time on cell phones, I pads or laptops as it causes you to disconnect from the trip experience.