Practice Documents for Guatemala Mission Teams

It seems like every time I take teams to Guatemala there are always a lot of questions on the airplane about how to fill out the customs and immigration forms.  It's tough to try to help everyone at that time, but the good news is that it's not really that complicated, there are just a few terms that we don't use regularly like, "Surname".

So, in hopes of helping participants feel more prepared and comfortable with this paperwork, I thought I'd provide samples of the papers that team members will need to fill out on the airplane.  This way, if there are any questions I can help you ahead of time.

If you are headed to Guatemala on one of our mission teams this year, take a moment to review these documents and let me know if you have any questions.

Guatemala Customs Form

Guatemala Immigration Form


I hope this helps you feel more prepared for your upcoming trip!

What To Know Before You Go To Guatemala

Before going on any trip, it's important to know a few things about where you are going. And while we always emphasize the idea that "expectations are the enemy", in this particular case it is good to have a general understanding of what to expect regarding climate, dress, food, and entering the country.

Climate

The climate in Guatemala City is spring-like most of the year due to the altitude being more than 5,000 ft above sea level. Your body will take a few weeks to acclimate to this change if you are not from a mountainous area. Your body will tire more quickly and physical activity will cause you to breathe more heavily. Try to be patient with yourself.

There are two seasons - rainy and dry. The dry season is from mid-October until early May. Sometime in May the rains begin to return. From June until early October daily heavy rains are expected in the afternoons. The warmest times from February until August (65 to 80ʼs). The coolest months are November through early January (50 to 75 degrees). Due to no heat in homes, the mornings and evenings can be a little chilly in the cooler times of the year.

Dress

Dress in Guatemala is a bit more conservative than some other locations in the world.  While you will see people wearing them, please choose other shirts than tanks, spaghetti straps and muscle shirts to use during your time there. Pants and skirts below the knee are worn in most locations no matter the heat. (The hot coastal plains will vary from the locations you will usually be in.) Men and women alike do not use shorts other than for sporting events or at the beach. Mission team members will not be wearing shorts on work days. So, please come prepared with pants for the work days of your trip. Ladies, long capriʼs (calf length) are fine. Please bring pants or long skirts to wear when not playing sports. You will need athletic shoes or work shoes for most occasions that are work oriented. Sandals are fine for other times, but please expect to wear shoes that are good stable walking gear most of the time.


Food

In general, Guatemalans eat a breakfast early in the morning, a big lunch somewhere between 1 and 2pm, and a lighter dinner about 7 pm at night. There are a variety of breakfasts, but one common one is an atoll. It is a thick, hot cereal drink made from any of a few grains. Lunch, generally consists of rice and tortillas with a main stewed vegetable dish with meat (if available), and many times a salad. A typical dinner is scrambled eggs, fried ripe plantains, beans, and tortillas or bread. Soups are popular, as well.

As a mission team member, you will likely get foods that you may be more familiar with, rather than 100% Guatemalan food. You may also want to bring a few of your favorite snacks along. (Please notify me of any food allergies at least a week or two prior to your departure.)


For your safety, please do not drink any water that is not purified (bottled) during your trip. Brush your teeth with bottled water, as well. It is not fun to spend hours in the bathroom because of not being careful in this simple way. If you are going to eat fresh fruits, a good rule is to peel it yourself before eating. Do not buy pre-cut fruit on the street. All fresh fruits and veggies are to be washed in a disinfectant (bleach water mixture) and rinsed before eating. Salads (including lettuce and tomato on sandwiches) usually are best to avoid at restaurants - unless we are at a chain type restaurant like McDonald's or Subway.

Enjoy the variety of foods that are available and different from what you usually eat. It is a great experience to try these different foods, however, please do it with the above guidelines in mind.


Entering Guatemala

You will need your passport handy when entering Guatemala. Keep all other important documents, cash, cell phones, etc. tucked away. You won't need them at this point in the journey. Go through the passport check point area. You are a tourist. You are likely only bringing items that will be deemed for ʻpersonal useʼ on your entry papers. Then go to baggage claim to gather your belongings. You will then pass through customs. It is usually pretty smooth.  You will probably not need help with bags at the airport. It is best just to say, "No Gracias" to the men offering help. Our missionaries will be outside the airport waiting for you.  

Enjoy the trip!

What To Bring To Guatemala

Consider the fact that Mother Teresa and her sisters “traveled only with such personal luggage as could be contained in a bucket or a cardboard box”.

CLOTHING
Dress should be casual and conservative. Don’t bring your favorite clothing to work in, as you will likely be getting dirt, paint, etc. on them.  It’s a work trip not a fashion show!

Remember that we do not work in shorts.

Packing Tips: Bring a mixture of clothing that will allow you enough variety, but won't weigh your bags down too much. Don’t over pack. Expect to wear pants and shorts more than once. 

· Casual shoes – I wear my shoes and pack the flip flops so as to save space in my bag.

· Work shoes – You don’t necessarily have to have work shoes other than your casual shoes but I have seen many people completely destroy their shoes on a work site. Also, you may be tracking around more than just “dirt” if you know what I mean.  Keep that in mind when choosing what you will work in.

· Sandals or flip-flops

· Socks.  For some reason, people run out of socks regularly.  Plan accordingly.

· Underwear (that’s fun to wear!)

· Comfortable Pants/Shorts - On work days, pants or Capri’s below the knee are expected.  Knee-length shorts may be worn while we are at our lodging facility only.  Short shorter than knee-length are not permitted.  Skirts and dresses are ok for our Antigua day and/or church.  Consider what clothing is made out of before you pack.  Lightweight and breathable materials may generally be more comfortable. (Hint: Cargo pants are my preferred choice for traveling because I always have a safe place for my passport & wallet.)

· Comfortable T-Shirts – No short or skimpy shirts, No tanks, spaghetti strap or strapless tops. Any writing/advertisement on shirts should be appropriate. (Hint: It is best if your t-shirts are not 100% cotton as those kind tend to retain moisture and do not dry quickly, I actually prefer %100 polyester because it dries so quickly. Wash it at night and it will be dry by morning!)

· One Church outfit – Girls: dresses (below the knee, with sleeves) or skirts (below the knee) with sleeved shirts. Guys: Kaki pants & a short sleeved dress shirt or polo shirt. (Hint: Most cultures dress to the nines for church. If you are going to err here it should be on the nice side).

· One Antigua outfit - We’ll be going to Antigua for our fun day.  It is an extremely popular tourist area.  We usually encourage people to dress in “nice-casual” attire.  So, don’t plan to wear your work clothes on this day.  Also, Antigua has cobblestone streets so we recommend shoes that will be comfortable for walking in those conditions. (One time I tripped on a rock the size of a softball in the middle of the sidewalk.  Thankfully I had the right footwear or I would have broken my toe.)

· Hat, Bandanna, Sunglasses (you may not be a “bandanna person” but the Guatemalan sun can quickly convert you!)

· Rain Poncho (that can always be carried with you in your daypack)

· Comfortable work gloves

GENERAL ITEMS

· PASSPORT + 3 copies.  One copy will be given to your team leader before leaving the country.  One copy should be kept by you, in a location other than where you keep your actual passport.  It is also recommended that you make a third copy of your passport and leave it with your family here at home.

· Toiletries: Shower soap, hand soap, razor, shampoo, deodorant, toothbrush, tooth paste, contact solution, Q-tips, Hair dryer etc. (Hint: Same sex team members may consider sharing shampoo in order to save space and weight in bags. Liquids should be packed in ziplock bags in order to prevent spills in your suitcase.)

Contact wearers: Don't chance missing the view! Bring extra contacts – just in case. Also bring your glasses.

· Towel & Wash cloth

· Sun screen, chap stick, & Aloe

· Bug repellent – though I don’t typically see lots of bugs in Guatemala.

· Medications & Vitamins / Allergy & prescription medications

· Small Hand Sanitizer or Wipes (it's good to have this when adequate hand washing facilities are not readily available.)

· Small Kleenex packs (these are handy).

· Bible, Notebook, Journal, Pen (Hint: you’ll need a pen on the airplane for completing your immigration forms)

· Ear plugs (in case your roommates snore - these are priceless!)

· Alarm clock

· Camera & batteries or charger, memory cards, etc.. (They have standard outlets and electric items work fine in Guatemala)

· Flashlight

· Trash bag– you’ll want this for your dirty clothes on the way home.

· Stationary – you may want to write an encouragement note for someone, etc.

· Refillable Water Bottle – You may also consider bringing some of those individual Gatorade/PowerAde Packs to flavor your water. Purified water will always be available for you during your stay.

· Small daypack (Hint: those nylon bags with strings make great daypacks for packing gloves, rain poncho, water, sunscreen, chap stick, kleenex, and hand sanitizer to the work site)

· Personal snacks (Sealed packaged snacks if desired. Granola bars, power bars, etc. Don’t take anything that will melt. Don’t eat in your room, or anywhere you don’t want cockroaches. Be prepared to share.)

· Card games, or the like.

· Money:  You’ll want spending money, for souvenirs or for food in airports (all food in Guatemala is already covered), and you may also consider bringing some money to give at the church service we will attend.  From time to time, teams also like to make an additional donation to the missionaries we serve with at the end of the week.

You will want to get Guatemalan currency in the US ahead of time. The current exchange rate can be found at www.xe.com.  For a small fee, most local banking institutions can exchange your money for you with proper advanced notice.

We will carry a small first-aid kit with things like aspirin, band-aids, Imodium (just in case), and antiseptic cream to cover most situations.

OTHER IMPORTANT STUFF TO HAVE:

• Good Attitude
• Flexibility
• Patience
• Willingness to learn and grow
• Love for other people

WHAT NOT TO BRING:

• Knives & Firearms
• Fireworks
• Pets
• Electronic gadgets that mean a lot to you – (iPods, phones, etc..)
• High value items (jewelry, etc)

LCS - Day 8 in photos

At the Airport, John sends us off with prayer.

 Our final debrief around the campfire.

 Some of the wildlife caught on film at the zoo!

 More amazing zoo animals! (Really it is a fantastic zoo, I just thought it was funny that they had raccoons.)

The Banta Family, serving God in Guatemala through Global Soccer Ministries.

LCS Student Reflections - Day 7

This week was such an amazing week. Today is our last night in Guatemala and I can’t believe that it’s Saturday already. I really learned a lot at Guatemala. It really changed me a lot. When I first came to Guatemala, I was really excited and nervous because it was my first mission trip. I wasn’t sure at first if this mission trip would be a life changing experience for me, but now I’m sure it changed my life.

I learned the value of relationship. I didn’t know a lot of people on our team so I wasn’t sure if I would enjoy my mission trip. But I got to know every single person on our team. We had a small meeting every evening after dinner. We talked about what we felt and learned that day. We also played games at night which really bonded us together. We had a story time with about 10 people and it really helped me to know about others. Our team also got to know the Bantas and Carlos. It was actually them who taught us and helped us to learn more about God and see Jesus in Guatemala.

I was also really impressed to see the Guatemalan kids. They were so bright and full of happiness even though they are living in harsh conditions. I always think about and pray for myself at home. But meeting those Guatemalan kids, I thought that I should spend some time praying for the kids in Guatemala. I felt like I have been way more immature than the Guatemalan kids. I give up easily or ask my parents or friends to help me a lot when I have some problems. But those Guatemalan kids just never give up. They find hope for their lives through playing soccer. They never keep their smiley faces down. I was really impressed by the way kids are so happy even though they don’t have anything. They also really welcomed our team. They wanted to play with us. That’s all they wanted. I’m sad that we didn’t have more opportunities to play with those kids and plant hopes in their hearts. Hopefully next year (:

- Jung Yul

Hola Amigos!

This is Bob.  If you don’t know who I am, ask your children in about 36 hours.  With that said, our trip is coming to a close.  We will soon return your student – hopefully changed by the exposure of the week and the work of the Holy Spirit.  It’s difficult to consider all of the aspects of this week succinctly, however, our final day of ministry did help close our thoughts.  Today was spent focusing on life beyond our week, beyond our experiences and beyond our own imaginations, but certainly not beyond our God.  John and Amy spent the morning casting the vision of the future ministries that are ahead for GSM in the next few months. God has provided opportunities that only he can prepare with promising land and facilities possibilities.  After a classic sandwich, chips and tang lunch, we moved on to Pinitos, a neighborhood in which the team last year worked.  Being my first time, I witnessed the children of the neighborhood greet our team with broad smiles, big hugs and fresh memories.  The team was incredibly encouraged to see the produce of the seeds that their labors and relationships last year, and even reinvest in the relationships via hugs, broken conversations and gifts of beanie babies, which is an equivalent of Christmas morning to the children whose parents earn their living by drying out cow intestines to sell as hotdog casings.  In conclusion, the moral of the day: God is at work above and beyond our presence, our efforts or even our imaginations.  A comforting thought as we leave our work and relationships behind as we trust God to work beyond us.

Bob

LCS - Day 7 in photos

 Bob learning the secret handshake.

 Some of the team posing with kids from Penitos (literally translated: little pain).

 Girls sorting jerseys for the U10 soccer practice at the future site of GSM's Soccer Center.

 How many LCS guys does it take to assemble a soccer goal?

 John Banta casting the vision for GSM Guatemala.

 The LCS crew planning out their chapel presentation.

 Merry-Go-Round, Guatemalan style.

 Sarah with a girl from Pentios.

 Loving the kids.

 Some of the team stops to pray with a family in need.

 Words can't describe moments like these.

Paul providing shade for the girls making water bags.

LCS Student Reflections - Day 6

This trip has been a mix of amazing and also depressing. God has been bringing me on quite a trip. Yesterday, when we were Alamadia, we had a soccer tournament with some kids. There was this one child whose name was Julio who was nine years old and lived 40 blocks away from where we were at. He was extremely quiet and very small. I asked him if he went to school and he said no. I asked him if he played on a soccer team and he said no because he had to help his dad out at the market. I gave him a ball and his face just lit up! Bob played goalie and I played defender. Julio giggled his head off and ran around the field. John told us we had to leave and I looked at Julio who was still playing, knowing that I would never see this child that fears the gangs everyday. When we loaded up in the van, he walked us down to the curb and watched us drive away. Among all the kids that we had to say good-bye to, he touched my heart the most. My eyes welled up because I did not know if Julio would make it to his 10^th birthday which was on June 8^th. He was very proud of that. All of this has given me a different look on life and God has given me new things to think about.

-Jocelyn

This week has been one of the most amazing weeks I have ever experienced. I have loved getting to know the Guatemalan people and my teammates better. Our team has grown so much closer through playing crazy games, shouting along to Don’t Stop Believing, and working next to each other moving dirt and picking up rocks. The Guatemalan people have also left a great impression on my heart. They have taught me so much, and I feel like they have helped me just as much or more than I have helped them. When we were working on a garden at the school we worked at, two little girls came up and to me and asked me my name and questions about my family. They offered to help me, even though I was moving big cement blocks. They each grabbed an end of a block and carried it to where I was moving blocks, laughing all the way. They didn’t just sit back and let me do the work, but they stepped out and helped because they were thankful. The children here are so satisfied and joyful with what they have, even though they have so, so much less than I do.

Today, our team went to Antigua for a shopping trip. There was a woman there selling bracelets and other items. She asked why we were in Guatemala, and we told her we were on a mission trip. She asked us our names, and gave each of us who were there a free bracelet. She said, “Thank you for helping my Guatemala. My Guatemala cannot pay you back, but my Christ will.” The free bracelet may have been a clever scheme to get us to buy her goods, but I think she was seriously honest. It was a really touching, sweet reminder that it doesn’t matter if we get recognition for our work here on earth. Our treasures will be stored up in heaven, and that’s the only thing that really matters.

-Anna