short term missions team orientation and training … · god bless you dios le bendiga (dee-ōs lay...

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Short Term Missions Team Orientation and Training Booklet

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Dear Team Leader,

Greetings from YUGO Ministries here in Mexico! We are so excited that you have chosen to make YUGO a part of your missions focus this year, and we have already begun to pray for you and your missions team.

“YUGO Ministries exists so that lives are transformed by Jesus Christ in Mexico and the World.” This transformative work by God is always our goal, and this is why we appreciate your partnership so very much. We believe that you and your team will be able to serve as a catalyst for the Lord to bring about lasting transformation both in the lives of the people of Mexico and in the lives of your missions team.

In this document you will find some very helpful resources. We have broken these resources down into three main categories:

1. Helpful Information2. Team Training and Preparation3. Missions Trip Orientation

We recommend that you host 6 team meetings during the months leading up to your missions experience, and that you use these meetings to train your team both mentally and Spiritually for the upcoming missions trip.

There will be much planning and fundraising to do in the coming months and we would like to help you along the way. Please feel the freedom to stay in contact with our office and to take advantage of the great resources that YUGO has to offer.

God bless,

Nathan Alpert & Scott WesterPresident CEO

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Contact Information:

Team Ministry Questions: YUGO’s International OfficeMelissa Williford - [email protected](619)336.9003

Financial Questions USA: YUGO MinistriesPO Box 58National City, CA 91951(619)336.9003A.J. Arbogast - [email protected]

Financial Questions Canada: YUGO MinistriesPO Box 68Legal, AB T0G 1L0(780)961.7625Helga Siemens - [email protected]

Van Rental Information:

Automotriz Casillas Phone: 011-52-646-293-3146 www.automotrizcasillas.com

• Ramon and his staff have a special advantage over the other van rental companies. They are based here in Mexico so their vans don’t need the expensive “Mexico Insurance Rider.” This keeps their prices low. They offer van drop off at the airport, but also have an option of a guide/driver for your group all the way to YUGO.

This is our recommended company, however there are many other options for van rentals available in the San Diego area.

mailto:[email protected]




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Team Training and PreparationIt is vital that you and your team members are prepared and trained for your missions experience. We recommend that you meet with your team several times to train and prepare together.

YUGO Ministries recommends at least 6 training meetings.

In this section, you will find some practical resources to help you prepare your team Spiritually and physically for their missions trip.

No matter what ministry you have chosen, we recommend that you train in all of them! These skills and preparations will help you be ready for any ministry opportunities that may come up.

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Team Training Session 1 of 6

Spiritual Preparations:

Prepare your testimony. It is important that each of the team members be able and prepared to tell their faith story. If a team member is still on a spiritual journey, that is great, they should be ready to speak openly about it.

Telling how God changed your life and what He is doing to help you grow can be one of the most powerful ministry tools available!

Team Bible Study: 2 Timothy 4:2

Team Exercise: Break into small groups and practice giving your Faith Story.

Physical Preparations:

Team Exercise: Memorize these Spanish phrases together

English Spanish Spanish PronunciationHi Hola (Oh, Läh)Yes/no Si/no (See, no)How are you? ¿Cómo estás? (cō-mō es-täs)My name is… Me llamo… (may-yom-oh)What is your name? ¿Cómo te llamas? (co-mo-tay-yom-äs)

Ministry Specific Training - Construction Ministry

You must understand that all YUGO Construction projects are designed to meet a physical need while allowing your team an opportunity to make a deep connection with a local Mexican family. Many times, these family connections can result in eternal life transformation. Its all about the relationship, not the project!

All tools will be provided, all you need to bring are willing hands and hearts to serve, sweat and work hard.

Study the following guidelines together with your team:

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Team Leadership:

YUGO Ministries will provide your team with an assigned member of the YUGO staff. Make sure that you listen to the staff member’s advice especially when he or she is giving you some instructions, these missionaries have been trained and are very familiar with the construction process as things are done in Mexico. Your YUGO leader will also be prepared to handle any situations that may arise during your construction project.

Many times, YUGO will also assign an intern to your construction project. Please make sure to listen to your intern and allow them to help you.

Work Teams:

Your leaders will divide you up into different work teams (paint team, cut team, frame team, etc.). There must be a capable adult leader on each team. Remember to work hard and stay focussed on your area. Also remember that not all jobs are the fun jobs, the Lord is looking for people who are willing to lay down their rights for the good of the team!

Safety First:

Remember to pack a First Aid kit for each ministry site. Keep the work area free from tools, sharp rocks, and anything that could be dangerous. We think horseplay is awesome, especially with the local kids in the community, just keep all horsing around away from the construction site.

Connect with the Community:

Our desire, and our main goal is that lives are transformed by Jesus Christ through this construction project. The physical construction itself will be life transforming but remember, its all about the relational evangelism with the family and local community.

Don’t get so caught up in the construction project that you forget what we are really doing.

Team Prayer Focus:

Pray for the Needed Finances for your tripPray for the Family and/or Pastor that you will be servingPray for deep connections with individualsPray for BOLDNESS as each person shares their testimony

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Prepare to GIVE:God is calling us to show His love with action and in truth. You are about to be poured out physically, emotionally, and Spiritually. We need to be prepared for what we are about to step into. This trip will be all about our willingness to give of ourselves for the kingdom.

Team Bible Study: 1 John 3:16-18

Team Exercise: Break into small groups and discuss how love can be shown through actions and through truth.



English Spanish Spanish PronunciationNice to meet you Mucho Gusto (moo-chō-goo-stō)How are you? ¿Cómo Estás? (cō-mō-es-täs)Good morning Buenos Días (b-wayne-ōs-dee-äs)Good afternoon Buenas Tardes (b-wayne-äs-tär-dez)Good Evening Buenas Noches (b-wayne-äs-nō-chez)

Ministry Specific Training - Children’s and VBS Ministry

Children’s ministry provides you and your ministry team an opportunity to love and connect with the incredible kids of Mexico. The impact that you could make on the lives of the kids that you will meet is immeasurable. YUGO has seen children who have accepted Jesus through these ministries go on to do great things for God.

No matter what happens, you will always have the opportunity to show them God’s love and offer them joy and hope in the midst of some heartbreaking circumstances. We will connect your team with a local pastor and you will be helping to reach out to His community.


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Team Leadership:

YUGO Ministries will provide your team with an assigned member of the YUGO staff. Make sure that you listen to the staff member’s advice especially when He or She is giving you some instructions, these missionaries have been trained and are very familiar with the VBS process as things are done in Mexico. Your YUGO leader will also be prepared to handle any situations that may arise during your outreach.

Many times, YUGO will also assign an intern to your outreach. Please make sure to listen to your intern and allow them to help you.

If your team does not have a translator, make sure to hire one from YUGO!

During your Children’s Ministry or VBS these training tips will be vital:

1. Be prepared for all different ages. Be prepared for different numbers on different days.

2. Be prepared to work with what you have. Remember you may be working with limited resources, limited or cramped space, and with limited equipment. Remember to keep a creative attitude and keep the focus on Jesus.

3. Be prepared with your program. Before arriving, practice skits, learn simple crafts, learn simple songs. Don't plan this when you arrive.

4. Be prepared to set boundaries, don't let things go crazy.5. Remember there are stores nearby all YUGO Campuses where you can purchase

supplies instead of bringing them with you.

Team Exercise:

Decide together who will be you Children’s Ministry leader.

Begin planning your ideas for the Children’s Ministry.

Great ideas for Children’s Ministry include: Games, Songs, Crafts, Creative Bible Stories, Kids and Teens sharing their testimony (translated), Dramas, and free play.

Team Prayer Focus:

Pray for the Needed Finances for your tripPray for the Family and/or Pastor that you will be servingPray for lives to be transformed on this tripPray for the Children that your team will connect with

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Prepare to live in Community:You are about to spend a week in ministry living in close quarters with other believers. Are you prepared to live like this? It will require sacrifice and selflessness. How will it be for you and your team when you are faced with differing opinions and disagreements within your group? Be willing and prepared to walk and serve in humility. Discuss how life was for the early Church.

Team Bible Study: Acts 2:42-48

Team Exercise: Break into small groups and discuss how life must have been for the early Christian Church and how our week at YUGO will be the same.



English Spanish Spanish PronunciationPlease Por Favor (pour- fäv-or)Thank You Gracias (grä-see-us)You're Welcome De Nada (day-näh-duh)God Bless You Dios Le Bendiga (dee-ōs lay ben-dee-guh)

Ministry Specific Training - Sports Ministry

Sports Ministry is a great opportunity to connect with Children and Young People in the communities. Sport creates a common or “neutral” ground that will allow you and your team to make some great connections even when there are language barriers. This type of ministry will allow you to show love to these young people and make them feel loved and special.

The goal of the Sports Ministry is to use Sports to open the community up to hear the Gospel message. It is important to remember that each team member should be prepared to share their testimony and that the Sports are not the ultimate goal.


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Team Leadership:

YUGO Ministries will provide your team with an assigned member of the YUGO staff. Make sure that you listen to the staff member’s advice especially when He or She is giving you some instructions, these missionaries have been trained and are very familiar with the YUGO Sports Ministry. Your YUGO leader will also be prepared to handle any situations that may arise during your outreach.

Many times, YUGO will also assign an intern to your outreach. Please make sure to listen to your intern and allow them to help you.

Play Hard, but Play Fair:Be competitive, but don't get so obsessed with winning that you forget why we are here. Don't let that spirit of competition take over. Encourage good, hard, fair play.

Bring a Translator:Make sure that your team always has a Spanish speaker at all times. YUGO has translators available which may be hired at a very reasonable cost. Even when doing Sports Ministry, a translator is a must.

Suggestions:Many kids in Mexico love soccer, they call it Futbòl, and they could play it all day long. Consider having some skills training, or even a half field game. Baseball is also popular, but basketball is a foreign idea, American football is almost non existent.

Attire:We always want to keep our shirts on, even when the locals do not, remember we are here as guests and we are representing the Lord Jesus, sometimes that requires being a bit different.

Team Prayer Focus:

Pray: How can we use Sports on this missions trip?Pray for the Family and/or Pastor that you will be servingPray for Health and Safety Pray for the Children that your team will connect with.

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Prepare for a Spiritual Battle:You and your missions team are headed for the front line in the battle for the hearts and minds of the people of Mexico. God has your back, but the devil may try to de-rail your plans before your trip even begins. Remember, we are in a battle in Mexico, but it is not against flesh and blood….

Team Bible Study: Ephesians 6:12

Team Exercise: Break into small groups and discuss how the Devil may be planning to mess things up and how we can stand against him through the power of Jesus.



English Spanish Spanish PronunciationSee you tomorrow Hasta Mañana (ah-stäh-män-yän-a)How old are you? Cuantos años tienes? (quon-tōs-on-yōs-tee-in-ez)Where is the bathroom? Donde esta el baño? (don-day ez-ta el bon-yo)

Ministry Specific Training - Women’s Ministry

No matter what your area of ministry, you will most likely encounter more women than men. Many of the indigenous families have been separated by lack of work opportunities and the ones who are still together, may have differing work schedules.

If you are planning on doing any Women’s only ministry, take time to learn and understand some of the unique things that your missions team may encounter.


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Team Leadership:

YUGO Ministries will provide your team with an assigned member of the YUGO staff. Make sure that you listen to the staff member’s advice especially when He or She is giving you some instructions, these missionaries have been trained and are very familiar with women’s ministry. Your YUGO leader will also be prepared to handle any situations that may arise during your outreach.

If your team does not have a translator, make sure to hire one from YUGO!

Local Church Importance:

Especially in women’s ministry it is vital that you operate in conjunction with the local Church. Many of the indigenous women may be struggling with trust issues and the local pastor and His wife that YUGO will assign you have been working in the community to tear down emotional walls.

Great Idea:

If you have a professional in your group, a great way to open up the hearts of the women is through “Spa-Treatment” or “Hair Care.”

Team Exercise:

Continue to Work on your plan for VBS and Children’s ministry together. Work on your plan for Women’s ministry.

Team Prayer Focus:

Pray: Lord open the hearts of the Women we will meet.Pray for the Families who will stay behind that God will protect them.Pray for the team members by name. Pray for the team leader and the YUGO team leader.

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Prepare to Receive:If you listen, God will speak clearly to you during your missions experience. Many times, missions trips do more for the team than they do for Mexico. Begin to explore right now what God might be wanting to teach you through this missions trip. This trip is a great time and a great way for each of the group members to “fix our eyes on Jesus.”

Team Bible Study: Hebrews 12:2

Team Exercise: Break into small groups and discuss how the Lord might want to be changing your lives this week as you step into this missions trip.



English Spanish Spanish PronunciationHow much does this cost? Cuanto Cuesta? (quanto quest-a)I don’t understand. No entiendo (no in-tee-in-do)I don’t speak Spanish No hablo Español (no ah-blow-es-pan-yōl)

Ministry Specific Training - Cultural Sensitivity

It is very important that everything we do in Mexico is done with special attention to cultural sensitivity. In fact this is one of YUGO’s core values!

There are many things that seem common to us that may not be accepted in Mexican culture or may not be accepted in the cultures of the indigenous people whom we are serving.

Use this time to do some cultural sensitivity training with your group.

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Dress and Attire:

Many local Mexican pastors are very conservative especially with respect to the women and girls. Please be respectful when asked to dress appropriately to the situation. Guys, always keep your shirts on.

Sometimes helping hurts:

Please do not just pass out money nor donations. All giving should be done through the local Pastor through YUGO Ministries. We will help you to help the pastor love his community through meeting physical needs and spreading the Gospel in a sustainable, culturally sensitive manner. Passing out candy is fine.

Please do not make promises that you (YUGO) can’t keep. An example of this may be a simple conversation like: “maybe one day we could come back and build you a storage shed.” This type of hopeful statement can be taken as a promise that will never be forgotten! Please sympathize and pray, but don't make any promises or statements that could be perceived as a a promise.

Food and Eating:

Please accept and try anything that the local family or pastor gives you. Remember they are giving out of their poverty and it is insensitive to turn it away. When you eat as a team, always offer the family or Pastor whom you are working with, to eat along with you, be sensitive that they are people too.

Team togetherness:

One of the biggest areas of sensitivity is knowing that the family and community is watching the way that the team treats them and treats each other. We have a chance to reflect the love of Jesus or turn people off to the Christian faith.

Team Prayer Focus:

Pray: Lord how can we be sensitive to the Mexican culture?Pray for the Families that we will meet this week. Pray for the Pastor of our Church and the Mexican Pastor. Pray for the staff at YUGO.

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Prepare in Prayer:Begin right now in daily prayer for your missions week. Consider using this training session as a time of focussed prayer. Pray for your team, for your attitude, for your heart, for the friends and family that will support you. Challenge your Church Body to be in prayer for you!

Team Bible Study: James 5:16

Team Exercise: Break into small groups and pray. Make a few phone calls and ask people to pray for the upcoming trip. Challenge your Church to hold a sendoff prayer for your group as you leave on the trip!



English Spanish Spanish PronunciationI don’t know No se (no say)Come over here Venga por aca (ben-ga pour-äh-cä)Jesus loves you Jesucristo te ama (hay-sue-chree-sto tay-äh-mä)

Ministry Specific Training - Its all about the Gospel

Whether you are building a home, re-roofing a Church, feeding Children, hosting a local VBS Program, or loving people in another way, remember its all about the Gospel.

The Gospel is the good news that even though through sin we are separated from God, that He sent his Son Jesus Christ into the world to pay our sin debt. And that through the blood of Jesus, we can be reconciled to God by Faith.

The Gosple is the good news that even though sin is messing everything up and causing pain, grief, hurt, brokeness, and despair, through Jesus, we can place our hope in the fact that one day, God will make everything new.

Spend some time training your team on the message of the Gospel:

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Make sure each person on the team knows what they will share about the role of the Gospel in their own life.

It is important that each person knows that the ministry focus does not take priority over the one on one relationships that will be built.

Team Exercise:

Spend some time together looking up and marking in your Bible key verses that pertain to the Gospel message. Be prepared!

Team Prayer Focus:

Pray: Will you give us an opportunity to pray with someone for salvation?Pray for the local Pastor who will follow up with Discipleship. Pray for the Members of your Church. Pray for God to do a work in your heart.

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Missions Trip Orientation

Things To Pack:

Pack Smart: Do not wait until the night before you leave and then just pack what you need. Consider what you will want to pack and begin

early. Also consider leaving some of your gently used items for YUGO to use on our campus.

Passport (Also a copy of your passport)Sleeping bag or Bed Clothes & PillowWater BottleTowels for ShowerBible, Notebook, PensToiletriesSunscreen, HatWork Clothes (May get ruined)Footwear, work shoes, casual shoesSpending money (Campus has a store, also Churros, Tacos, etc)Personal Medical Items (glasses, prescriptions, contacts, inhaler)

Go slow and stay alert. Try to position yourself on the right side of the open lanes, because you will need to get over to the right after crossing into Mexico.

If you are traveling in a group, stay in one line and have each vehicle turn on their headlights. This will alert the guards that your vehicles are together.

If you receive a green light as you cross through: Proceed on your way to YUGO.

If you receive a red light as you cross through:Pull into the inspection lane as directed, politely answer any questions with honesty, and submit to a brief search if needed.

Remember:

If one vehicle gets pulled in to be checked, all vehicles in the caravan should wait and leave together.

If you are bringing donations into Mexico, be prepared to pay a small tax on them.

Crossing the Border into Mexico:

Campus Rules:

Clothing Guidelines:

On Campus: Please be comfortable but don't attract attention to yourself. Nothing super tight or low cut, just be humble and remember we are here to honor the Lord Jesus.

Construction: Pants, T-shirts, Sturdy Shoes. No Shorts or Flip-Flops.

Communities: Pants or Skirts, T-shirts/Blouses are great. No Shorts.

Swimming: Ladies, one piece swimsuits, Guys swim shorts. Bring T-shirts.

YUGO Campuses are safe and clean and offer many of the luxuries of home, however there are a few guidelines that will help you on your stay with us:

We are Wi-Fi enabled, please use #yugoministries on Social Media.

YUGO offers plenty of awesome games like foosball and ping-pong, we ask that you keep the soccer and basketball in designated areas.

We have plenty of fresh, clean water available for you, so please do not drink the tap water, it’s not good for you.

There is a rule in Mexico that restroom tissue is not flushed down the toilets, we didn't make it up, but the same goes for our Campus, please throw it in the trash.

We will always provide safe places for you to keep snacks and food, we ask that you do not take it into your rooms because of ants and critters.

Please do not leave our campuses alone, and when you do leave make sure that you have let your team leader know where you are going and when you will return.

We are here for you! So please listen to, and respect the YUGO Staff.

Our schedule can be very loose at times, but many times we need everyone to be places on time. Please be aware of Chapels and Meals, and be ON TIME!

short term missions team orientation and training … · god bless you dios le bendiga (dee-ōs lay...

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