Pre-Travel

  • Thorough orientation that addresses all the practical issues (travel needs, food & water, immunizations, etc.), cultural issues (appropriate dress & behavior, boundary setting with new Mexican friends, language, etc.) and worksite issues (demanding physical labor, teamwork, when to pace/hustle/break on the worksite, etc.) .

  • Discussion about the right balance of work, worship, rest and play. This could vary according to the composition of the group and may be best determined by the group in advance. Short answer: youth can stay "on the go" more but still need time to rest and reflect on the experience. Specific discussion about leaders' responsibility to help youth keep moving if the demanding nature of the physical activity gets overwhelming. By addressing this in advance, youth can offer suggestions to leaders about what works and what doesn't work.

  • Meaningful team-building activities that involve problem-solving and require teamwork to complete tasks (i.e. challenge courses)

  • Develop a daily devotional guide for use individually and the assignment of individuals to lead the group in daily devotional time each morning

  • Prepare songs in both English and Spanish to share in worship services

  • Prepare brief personal introductions in Spanish to share in worship services (name, age, a little about your family and one interesting thing about yourself). Have someone who knows correct Spanish pronunciation listen and help you prepare phonetic pronuciation notes that help you say things in a way that could be understood by a Spanish congregation.

During Travel

  • Have nightly "wrap-ups" with leaders FOLLOWED BY "wrap-ups" with leaders & youth together. Allowing time for leaders to meet with each other privately helps identify and problem-solve about specific issues, pray for specific youth, and identify/pray for specific leader needs. Then, wrap-up time with youth allows issues to be addressed and processed in the privacy of the group rather than in the community with our Mexican brothers & sisters in Christ watching our every move.
  • At least 2 times during the week, invite Pablo, Jan, John or Ginny into the leaders' meeting to ask questions, identify issues, etc. Decide together what needs to be addressed in time with youth and what is simply important to keep in mind as leaders.
  • Set aside time each day for youth to complete their daily devotional time
  • If possible, arrange for a collection of digital photos on one laptop and the sharing of a projected slideshow of the week's activities with our new brothers & sisters in Christ at the closing worship service. This worked GREAT thanks to the help of one tech-savvy leader, and the trick is to make sure you have photos representative of as many of the local people as possible.

Post-Travel

  • On the way home, have each traveler complete an evaluation of their experience that is shared with the Hebron Foundation and trip leaders
  • Everyone get together within 7-10 days to discuss the re-entry experience of returning to the US culture after the mission experience
  • Leaders and at least 3 youth representatives meet to discuss what worked, what didn't, what you'd recommend be changed in the future, etc. Decide if your group wants to return to Mexico, and if so, identify weeks you'd like to request. Assign one person the responsibility of communicating with the Hebron Foundation to reserve one or more weeks according to the group schedule for the coming year(s).
  • Get together again within 6-8 weeks to share pictures, fellowship and stories. Bring your family and friends who may want to travel next year. Have information available about future trips (dates of travel, information sessions, application/eligibility requirements)and details about when and how to get more information.