What are ministry sites, and how do we get matched?

We strive to provide an exclusive relationship with a church ministry. We know ministry can go deeper if your relationship continues from trip to trip.   We will work with you to develop the best ministry plan for your group. We will begin with an assessment that we call a partnership form. We will take the information from that form and communicate it with our ministry coordinators in Mexicali. Most of our ministry coordinators are local pastors with many years of ministry experience in Mexicali. They have worked with hundreds of churches and organizations over the years. We will do our best to match you for a healthy ministry partnership.

What Happens in Chapel?

We provide chapels in English for your groups before and after you go out to minister each day. Motivational speakers are brought to point us toward more profound relationships with Jesus so that we can stay focused on why we do what we do! Worship bands wake up our spirits to motivate us to thank the LORD Jesus for who we are in Him. Special moments happen during the week when many stand to dedicate their lives to Jesus. The greatest miracle is to see a changed life, where we are being set free from the bonds that hold us. Remember that the chapel area is a field or amphitheater, so you must bring your own form of seating. Ask us what options are available.

What do teams pack?

Ice chests (for all lunches and snacks), Igloos (team drinks & VBS snack time), tents, folding table (brushing teeth area), canopy (EZ-up or other), first aid kit, bug spray, sunscreen, tarps, tool kit, rake, shovel, brooms, and trash bags.

What does each person pack?

Passport, clothes for each day, dress clothes, hat, Bible, paper, pen/pencil, sleeping bag, pillow, warm jacket, flashlight, toothbrush, toothpaste, toilet paper, wet wipes, hand sanitizer, sunscreen, bug spray, washcloth, towel, personal medication, personal water bottle, comfortable shoes, beach chair, and maybe musical instruments.

Are there gluten free options provided?

We care about participants who have special limitations on what they can eat. We will do our best to accomodate most requests. Please let us know your needs as you register.

What meals are included?

We provide hot breakfasts and hot dinners with many options. We pack your lunch in your ice chest fresh each morning. We purchase our food fresh daily from local vendors in Mexicali. The food is then prepared by teams of volunteers with the leadership of community members. You’ll need to bring an ice chest and igloo to take your lunch while you minister during the day.

Is transportation provided?

Transportation is not included for church or school groups. If you are flying, we suggest you fly into San Diego, California, and rent vans from the airport. It is about a 2-hour drive from San Diego to the border crossings to Mexicali.

Can you help me with immigration or Customs questions?

US /Mexican relations impact immigration and customs regulations, which change with some frequency. Please get in touch with us with any questions you may have. We will do our best to support you. It is, however, your responsibility to comply with the laws of Mexico and the United States when crossing borders by providing documents while traveling.

Where can I rent a vehicle to take to Mexico? Do I have to have Mexican auto insurance?

We recommend you contact rental car airport branches. Mexican auto insurance is a must. Mexican law is different than where you are from, so you only end up in the police station with a way to pay for damages in the unfortunate chance you get in an accident. If you rent a vehicle at the airport, make sure to purchase Mexican Insurance from the rental company.

What safety resources are available?

We provide safety statistics for your leaders and parents to decide for themselves, from an informed position, whether their decision to go is right. We also follow an emergency action plan that includes protocol in emergencies.

What provitions are given to First Aid?

Each team must provide their own First Aid person(s) and supplies. At the minimum, we recommend having at least one person certified and trained in CPR and First Aid. Look around your church and try to recruit firefighters, paramedics, and nurses.

In cases where this situation is more than first aid, you will be referred to the local Red Cross, which offers emergency services. We usually refer teams to El Centro Regional, about 20 miles from Mexicali, since they take most insurance.

What housing is provided?

Camps range from 50 to 300, and we provide space for tents and RV's. You are responsible for bringing your tents. Security is provided. We have limited indoor facilities that may be available for custom dates when large camps are not in session.

Is RV & Trailer use available?

We welcome RV and trailers on-site at our facilities. However, we do not have hook-ups. We ask those with generators to be kind to their neighbors with their exhaust and noise.

What bathroom facilities are available?

There aren’t enough bathrooms for so many, so we have portable bathrooms like what you’d see at a work site in the states. They are serviced and emptied daily.

Are shower facilities provided?

Unfortunately, we do not have shower facilities for teams during our camps, but many ministry sites and churches have generously offered showers to their partner teams. Also, not far from camp, there are businesses that charge a few dollars for showers. We do make accommodations in emergency situations. If this is the case for one of your team members please make a request with the camp leadership.

WHAT’S THE TYPICAL DAILY SCHEDULE?

6:30 am - Barnabas Wake-up Call
6:45 am - Early Breakfast Service for leaders and interpreters
7:00 am - Leader’s Meeting; Interpreter’s Meeting
7:00 am - Breakfast
8:00 am - Morning Chapel
9:15 am - Teams Leave camp
10:00 am to 6:30 pm - Ministry
6:30 pm - KP reports to the kitchen
7:00 pm - Dinner
8:00 pm - Evening Chapel
9:15 pm - Group time
10:45 pm - Lights Out
11:00 pm - Camp Quiet 

What is a Typical Week Schedule?

Saturday (Arrival Day)
2:00 - 7:00 pm - Event check-in at Info Center
• Tent set-up
• Turn in your lunch ice chest in the kitchen.
7:00 pm - Dinner
8:15 - 9:30 pm - Evening Chapel
10:45 pm - Lights Out
11:00 pm - Camp Quiet

Sunday (Ministry Day 1)
6:30 am - Barnabas Wake-up Call
6:45 am - Early Breakfast Service for leaders and interpreters
7:00 am - Leader’s Meeting; Interpreter’s Meeting
7:00 am - Breakfast
8:00 am - Morning Chapel
9:15 am - Teams Leave camp. This first day is usually a Sunday. Come ready to join the service at your ministry site (Mexican church).
10:00 am to 6:30 pm - Ministry First, meet with your Mexican Pastor and leaders to discuss how you will get to know everyone (ice-breaker). Cover the Do and Don’t list and logistics for your chosen ministries. Purchase purified water.
6:30 pm - KP reports to the kitchen
7:00 pm - Dinner
8:00 pm - Evening Chapel
9:15 pm - Group Time
10:45 pm - Lights Out
11:00 pm - Camp Quiet

Monday (Ministry Day 2)
6:30 am - Barnabas Wake-up Call
6:45 am - Early Breakfast Service for leaders and interpreters
7:00 am - Leader’s Meeting; Interpreter’s Meeting; Barnabas Prayer Meeting
7:00 am - Breakfast
8:00 am - Morning Chapel (Camp Photo -wear your theme t-shirt)
9:15 am - Teams Leave camp.
10:00 am to 6:30 pm - Ministry
6:30 pm - KP reports to the kitchen
7:00 pm - Partnership Night Dinner. Mexican Church partners eat with us.
8:00 pm - Partnership Night Chapel. Bilingual worship and message.
9:15 pm - Group time
10:45 pm - Lights Out
11:00 pm - Camp Quiet

Tuesday (Ministry Day 3)
6:30 am - Barnabas Wake-up Call
6:45 am - Early Breakfast Service for leaders and interpreters
7:00 am - Leader’s Meeting; Interpreter’s Meeting
7:00 am - Breakfast
8:00 am - Morning Chapel with Solo Time.
9:15 am - Teams Leave camp.
10:00 am to 6:30 pm - Ministry
6:30 pm - KP reports to the kitchen
7:00 pm - Dinner
8:00 pm - Evening Chapel
9:15 pm - Group time
10:45 pm - Lights Out
11:00 pm - Camp Quiet 

Wednesday (Ministry Day 4)
6:30 am - Barnabas Wake-up Call
6:45 am - Early Breakfast Service for leaders and interpreters
7:00 am - Leader’s Meeting; Interpreter’s Meeting
7:00 am - Breakfast
8:00 am - Morning Chapel
9:15 am - Teams Leave camp.
10:00 am to 6:30 pm - Ministry
6:30 pm - KP reports to the kitchen
7:00 pm - Dinner
8:00 pm - Chapel (Candle lighting Service)
9:15 pm - Group time
10:45 pm - Lights Out
11:00 pm - Camp Quiet 

Thursday (Ministry Day 5)
6:30 am - Barnabas Wake-up Call
6:45 am - Early Breakfast Service for leaders and interpreters
7:00 am - Leader’s Meeting; Interpreter’s Meeting
7:00 am - Breakfast
8:00 am - Morning Chapel (Communion)
9:15 am - Teams Leave camp.
10:00 am to 6:30 pm - Ministry Have a goodbye celebration at your site. Sign up (before leaving camp) for late dinner if necessary.
6:30 pm - KP reports to the kitchen
7:00 pm - Dinner
8:00 pm - Chapel
9:15 pm - Group time
10:45 pm - Lights Out
11:00 pm - Camp Quiet 

 Friday (Departure Day)
6:00 am - Early Breakfast. Pack and Departure.

Does my cell phone & data work in Mexico? How do I access the internet?

Contact your carrier first to see your cell use options in Mexico. New cell services have started, including Canada and Mexico in their text, talk, and data plans. Internet data is also available in the local Starbucks in town. We suggest you tether your phone to your laptop for data use. Here is a link to Baja Bound Insurance and their update on cell phone service plans.

Can we contact you for answers?

We pride ourselves in knowing what is going on in the areas where we work and minister throughout the year, and we offer our expertise freely to any who contact us. Our staff on-site and in the United States includes missionaries, pastors, and coordinators. Most of our staff have decades of experience taking teams to Mexico. Several have continued since the inception of Mexicali Outreach in 1970.