Mission Trip FAQ
There are a number of
questions regarding our evangelistic
outreach ministry that we often answer over the phone. So, before giving us a
call, please take a look at our most common questions
and answers:
- A comprehensive training package to equip you for this ministry.
- All meals, beginning with breakfast on the first morning after you
arrive. These meals are well balanced, well made and quite tasty.
- All materials needed for the Children's ministry. You do not need
to bring crayons, glue, scissors, hole punches, nametags, craft materials, or yarn. We
provide all these materials.
- All sports equipment needed for the Sports and Children's
ministries. Soccer balls, baseballs, bats, volleyballs, basketballs, footballs, Frisbees,
playground balls, and jump ropes are available to the teams. We do collect these back at
the end of each week.
- All craft materials for the Women's ministry. These are complex and
time-consuming crafts, so we cannot send you samples. All materials will be provided at
Outreach Headquarters along with instructions on how to use them. We will also provide
worksheets and pencils for the lesson time.
- All tracts and literature. We will furnish you the tracts and New
Testaments that you will need. (New Testaments are to be given only to new believers who
can read. They are not meant to be given out randomly.) When you
run out of something, we will replenish your supply.
- Accident (medical) insurance for each registered participant.
- One free T-shirt for each participant. They're on us! We hope you
enjoy them.
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1. Transportation from home. For the amount we charge, we can't fly
you in from Wisconsin. Sorry.
2. Vans. We would love to have a fleet of vans to be used by our teams
who must travel by plane. Unfortunately we don't. Teams who fly to an outreach must also
rent vans for use during the week.
3. Full Bibles. We do have some complete Spanish Bibles that can be
used in special circumstances. But, these are not always available. Most of the time a New
Testament is better for new believers.
4. Mexican Auto Insurance . Be sure to buy this before you cross the border. It is available in many well-marked places near the border. It is also available through the Auto Club, but is less expensive at the border.
5. Camping equipment. As with vans, we wish we could provide everyone
a tent, at least for those who must fly to our outreaches. We do have a very limited
number of tents available for rent. Normally, you will need to bring all tents, lanterns,
sleeping bags, etc. to our outreaches where camping is required. If you need to rent a
tent, U.S. teams please call the YUGO Office at 909-592-6621.
6. Interpreters. We normally have some staff interpreters available to
work with you for a per day fee. Therefore, teams should do everything possible to recruit
and bring their own interpreters.
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No. YUGO is an inter-denominational missions organization. Both the YUGO Staff and
Board of Directors are denominationally diverse. Participating churches have been Baptist,
Evangelical Free, Presbyterian, Assembly of God, Lutheran, Calvary Chapel, Methodist,
Christian and Missionary Alliance, Mennonite Brethren and others.
We do ask that each Team Leader sign a copy of our doctrinal statement. It focuses on
the main tenets of the Faith, such as the virgin birth, the resurrection, the atonement,
etc. It does not deal with issues such as spiritual gifts or modes of baptism. You can
find a copy of our doctrinal statement
online.
If you wish to be assigned to work with a Mexican church of a particular denomination,
please let us know and we will do our best to arrange that.
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We have designed a comprehensive training package that will prepare you and your team
for an effective week of ministry in Mexico. You can cover these materials in four
training sessions of three to four hours each. The Leader's Manuals and the "Where do
I Start?" books are designed to make training understandable even to those who have
never done any sort of cross-cultural ministry before. The materials include training
manuals; training videos; overhead transparencies; curriculum for the Children's,
Sports, Women's, and Evening ministries; craft samples; literature samples; promotional
flyers; registration materials; and more.
Upon completion of the training, participants will have a basic understanding of
Mexican culture, have a testimony prepared, be able to give their curriculum lesson, and
have some key Spanish phrases committed to memory. They will also know some Spanish
worship songs, and be ready to function as a team. Training materials are included in the
registration fee and will be sent out upon receipt of a $200 per team deposit.
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YUGO does not hold that Catholic doctrine necessarily excludes the Gospel or
Salvation. YUGO is not an "anti-Catholic" organization. However, there is a
sharp division between Catholic and Protestant churches in Mexico. The Catholic Church in
Mexico has made it very clear that they are opposed to what missions organizations such as
YUGO are trying to do. Therefore, we cannot accommodate Catholic teams or participants on our Evangelistic Outreach Weeks.
Catholic groups are welcome to participate on our construction ministries through our Ensenada Outreach Center.
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On YUGO Outreaches, God has shown participants that He can use them to do real ministry
--- even cross-cultural ministry. They see God answer their prayers like never before.
Many lead a person to Christ for the very first time. The team-dynamic on this type of
ministry produces a teamwork and unity that helps people to grow. Participants come away
from a YUGO week in Mexico with an expanded world view and a clearer understanding of
God's priorities. We realize this is not a cure for all of your team members' spiritual
problems, but we have consistently seen growth in the lives of those who have experienced
a YUGO Outreach.
Some of your team members may even become missionaries. Dozens of full time
missionaries serving all over the world were first introduced to missions on a YUGO
Outreach. Some came as team leaders and others as participants. Today, the Church in North
America loses about 80% of its young people before they graduate from high school.
This is why we must show our young people real Christianity, not just tell
them about it. Let them experience their faith first hand by bringing them on a YUGO
Evangelistic Outreach!
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YUGO has been bringing groups down to Mexico since the early 1960's. During that time,
we have never had anybody killed, mugged, maimed, or permanently injured. Yes, we have had
a few broken bones, usually a result of the sports ministry. Every so often, somebody gets
sick. This usually happens when people do not eat, drink, or sleep enough. If we encounter
any medical problems that the Outreach First Aid person cannot handle, we do not hesitate
to take the afflicted person to a U.S. hospital.
Mexico is like any country: some areas are safer than others. YUGO is an entry-level
missions program. Therefore, it is our intent not to send teams into areas that are known
to be dangerous. If a team is uncomfortable with their village assignment for any reason,
we will give that team a new ministry location. We have a great track-record when it comes
to safety and our commitment is to continue functioning with safety as a top priority.
However, there are risks involved. But there are also risks involved with white water
rafting, summer camp, road trips, and staying home. If you need to know more about our
safety record, feel free to call our Executive Director, Leonard Janssen at
(619) 475-1584.
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