Team member section

TEAM MEMBER SECTION
Each Mission Team member must complete the following forms and read the information sections. The Team Leader must return all completed forms to the Honduras Outreach
Mission Team Coordinator no later than four weeks prior to trip departure.
Individuals (18 years and older)
______Completed Missioner Profile
______Signed and Witnessed Release & Indemnification Covenant
______Signed Physician’s statement
______Signed copy of 2010 Policies of Honduras Outreach Inc.
______Legible copy of current passport with a minimum validity of 90 days beyond completion
of the trip
Youth (13-17 years of age)
______Completed Forms as above for adult team members (due 4 weeks prior)
______Signed Release & Indemnification Covenant for Minors (due 4 weeks prior)

If any person’s information is incomplete, please list his / her name and the expected date the
missing item(s) should arrive in the Atlanta office. Only individuals whose paperwork and
payment have been received by the four-week deadline will be allowed to travel.
No additional team members can be added after the four-week deadline.
MISSION STATEMENT

Honduras Outreach Incorporated is a life-changing, centered-in-Christ partnership between
Hondurans and North Americans which promotes community-directed and integrated spiritual,
physical, educational, and economic development of men, women, and children in Honduras that
fosters dignity, cooperation, and self-sufficiency.
WHO IS HONDURAS OUTREACH, INC.?
Honduras Outreach is a non-denominational, non-profit Christian organization headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, with the base of operation at our facility in central Honduras, Rancho el Paraiso, near San Esteban, in the department (state) of Olancho.  Medical directed by Dr. German Jimenez and his staff at the clinic at Rancho el Paraiso and the
three outlying clinics we staff and fund  Education directed by Leslie Bobadilla who oversees the 41 kindergartens we operate as well as
Aldersgate Elementary, Hope Middle School and Grace High School in Culuco. She also coordinates the scholarship program.  Spiritual Life directed by Wilmer Padilla who teaches local faith leaders the fundamentals of the
Bible during a 10 week class and mentors them when they return to their villages.  Agriculture directed by Osman Eschevarria. Besides the visible signs of farming at the ranch,
Osman and his staff teach a 10 week Vo-Tech course to local farmers.  Economic Development program seeks viable sales outlets for the hand-made items currently
produced by local artisans as well as works to develop cooperatives in other communities in order to create income producing goods.  Community Development addresses needs in village infrastructure, education, health and
hygiene, agriculture and entrepreneurial development. The HOI ranch staff focuses its efforts on advising the communities of the opportunities available through HOI in each specific program area. It is our goal to enable each community in the Valley to become self-sufficient.  Short term Mission Program is the source of sweat and love that enables residents in the Agalta
Valley to improve their quality of life. The entry point for North Americans to be the hands and feet of Jesus, this is the HOI program that connects North Americans to Hondurans and interfaces with the other programs of the organization, specifically Community Development. By traveling with a mission team to Rancho el Paraiso, you will become an important part of the Short Term Mission Program. This program interfaces specifically with the Community Development Program. The work you and your teammates do during your week in Honduras has been designed to address the assessed needs of the residents in the community where you will work. You will work with the families who requested and will benefit from your labors. By the end of your mission week you will be a beloved member of these families and they will hold a Senior level Honduran and North American HOI staff members have designated communities for mission team assistance in 2010 and have designed the Short Term Mission Program to interface with Community Development as follows:  Work projects will be driven by village needs, as determined by the community and the HOI  Villages may host more than one Mission Team during the year until the work projects are completed thus enabling projects to be completed in a timely manner.  Mission Teams are encouraged to partner with HOI’s Community Development Program to ensure that successive trips will be made to your partner village. The partnering fee of $2,000 not only guarantees your village partnership but will provide additional funds ($1300) to your community for kindergarten teacher support, expenses for faith leaders who wish to attend the pastor’s training school, expenses for students who attend the Vo-Ag school and regular visits  from a health promoter; the Silent Partner portion of the partnering fee ($700) will be pooled to assist communities elsewhere in the Agalta Valley where no HOI mission team will work.  Mission Teams who choose NOT to partner with HOI and a village will pay a “Silent Partner” fee which will be equivalent to an extra “in-country” fee ($700 in 2010) to assist with work project costs in Agalta Valley communities which need assistance but where no group has been assigned to work. These mission teams will be assigned to work in villages on first needs basis. Several weeks prior to your mission trip, the HOI Mission Program Coordinator in Atlanta will advise your Team Leader of the work projects planned for your team. In addition to work projects, your team will be able to offer daily Children’s Bible School. Another facet of the Short Term Mission Program is spiritual growth and renewal of each North American team member who comes to Rancho el Paraiso. You will be the hands and face of Jesus as you serve our friends in the Agalta Valley during your mission week. Teams are encouraged to have morning devotions prior to the start of the work day and vespers after dinner. We encourage each participant to keep a journal during your week in Honduras and to reflect on your experiences in the mission field. The Ranch staff has devotions on Monday mornings, Bible study on Tuesday evenings and a worship service on Thursday evenings. You and your team are cordially invited and encouaged to attend the Thursday worship service which will be led by Pastor Padilla. If your team and / or your pastor would like to participate in this worship service please contact the Mission Program Coordinator in Atlanta several weeks before your scheduled departure. SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT

“Father, hear my prayers….”
Before the trip:
pray that the trip will be according to God’s will;
pray that God will provide the teacher(s) and/or a storyteller for the mission team;
pray for unity, harmony and Christ-like love among the mission team members;
pray for safety during travel, and
pray that Christ will be glorified in everything you do.
“….extend my vision to include my sisters and brothers….”
During the trip:
pray that the team members have Christ-like love for the Hondurans and for each other;
pray that God will provide the interpreter with a gift of interpretation for the lessons;
pray for safety during the ride to and from the village and at the work site;
pray for insight to biblical principles brought to life, and
pray for opportunities to be Christ’s heart and hands each day.
“….in Honduras and beyond, O, God of all the Nations.”

After the trip:
thank God for the opportunity to experience another part of His Creation;
thank God for the work that was done, the lessons that were learned and blessings that were received;
thank God for allowing you to be a witness in God’s kingdom, and
pray God’s continued blessings and mercies on your new friends in Honduras.
We at HOI want prayer to be a part of the preparation for your trip as well as your daily activity while you are
in Honduras. Before you depart the US, plan your group’s daily time of gathering and reflection. You could
do brief morning meditations before you leave the ranch. Once you arrive in the village you could gather in
a circle for a quiet song and to pray for the tasks at hand and the workers involved. Imagine the witness
you could provide to the Hondurans with this activity! After dinner, groups usually gather for a time of
devotions, singing, prayers and reflection following the day’s activities. With Bible School teachers, the
medical people and the construction crew sharing their impressions, the various elements of work and
village life are brought into a cohesive whole.
PREPARATION FOR YOUR MISSION EXPERIENCE
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than
yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of
others. Philippians 2:3-4

MISSION TRIP EXPENSES
There are two major expenses involved with a missionary trip to Rancho el Paraiso: airfare (getting there)-- your team is responsible for securing air transportation from the US to Tegucigalpa—and the in-country fee (being there). The in-country fee of $700 per person must be sent to the Atlanta office at least four weeks prior to your  travel accident and liability insurance coverage  transportation from the Tegucigalpa airport to Rancho el Paraiso and back,  leadership by a bi-lingual Honduras Outreach staff member who will meet you at the airport and stay with your group until you depart at the conclusion of your mission experience.  overnight accommodations for the mission week, including two nights in hotels and five nights at the  snack at the Mennonite Bakery on Day 1, (a snack is either one cookie or one soft drink – not both.
Additional items, including loaves of bread, are available for purchase at the individual’s expense),
 all meals while in-country including three meals a day while at the Ranch, two breakfasts and dinners at the hotels at the beginning and end of your mission week  beverages with meals, including two sodas a day at the ranch but NO beverages except bottled water with dinners in the hotel restaurants and coffee with breakfast in hotel restaurants  purified, bottled water while at the ranch  building supplies and tools for the work project in your host village, and  tips to the porters at the airport upon arrival and departure  Dinner, if you choose to dine elsewhere, away from the hotel, on your evening in Tegucigalpa. The in- country fee covers the meal at the hotel. If you choose to dine elsewhere, the meal becomes an out
of pocket expense. Any deviation from this plan must be communicated to the Honduras Group
Leader several days in advance so the meal at the hotel can be cancelled.
 Beverage with your meals at the hotels, excluding water with dinner and coffee with breakfast  Tips in restaurants—ask your Honduran group leader to advise you but generally $2 for the hotel  Tips, $1 per bag, at the hotel if you choose to have a porter help you to your room  The mandatory exit tax, $34.40, which will be collected prior to the security check- in at the airport. Please note that this tax can fluctuate with no prior notice,
 Souvenirs and snacks (other than the snack at the Mennonite Bakery),  All charges you incur at the hotels, including items used from the mini-bar and telephone calls. If you wish to call home, you can reach an international AT&T operator at 9-800-0123. The charge will be added to your room bill and you will be responsible for it at check-out.
TRAVEL DOCUMENTS
All travelers to Honduras must carry a valid passport issued by the country of citizenship. There are no exceptions. You must have a passport not only to exit and re-enter the United States, but also to enter the country of Honduras. Begin the passport application process immediately upon committing to participating in this mission trip. The US State Department suggests allowing no less than six weeks to secure a passport through non-expedited channels. Several months before the departure date of your trip check the expiration date on your passport. If it
has already expired or will expire within 90 days of the completion of your mission trip to Honduras,
immediately begin the process to renew your passport.
On the day you depart home to commence your journey to Honduras, double check that you have your HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDELINES
To ensure your health and safety during your mission trip, please read carefully the following pages
which contain guidelines concerning vaccinations and safety tips for your general well-being
before, during and after you mission trip to Honduras. These guidelines are from Dr. Hugh Spruell,
who serves as the medical advisor on the Honduras Outreach, Inc., Board of Directors.

IMMUNIZATIONS FOR TRAVEL
Honduras Outreach Inc., on the advice of our medical consultants and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, recommends that all travelers to Honduras have the following:  MMR and DPT, preferably within the last ten years  Vaccine for Hepatitis A which needs at least six weeks for maximum efficacy.  Malaria prophylactic medicine  for MEDICAL PERSONNEL ONLY, vaccine for Hepatitis B There are several choices for malaria prevention such as Plaquenil or Aralen. In addition, there are medicines made available, such as Doxycycline, for those who may be allergic to Chloroquine-based medications. Please consult your physician for prescription and dose pattern. You will take these before you leave, during the trip, and after you return, so it is important to remember to take the full dose. The Havrix vaccine for Hepatitis A needs at least six weeks for maximum efficacy. However, if you forget to do this, it may be taken anytime before the trip and should not be omitted if you have less than six weeks before your departure. Travel clinics or health departments may recommend additional vaccines such as typhoid for travel to developing countries, however only those listed above are recommended by HOI for travel to our area of Honduras. Honduras Outreach highly recommends that each traveler consult with his/her physician in a timely manner for other recommended medications, prescriptions and dosage patterns. Please feel free to get as many vaccines as you need to feel comfortable. For complete up to date information and some general travel safety tips, please visit the CDC website, www.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/honduras. If you become ill after your trip, it is very important for you to tell your primary care physician that you have recently traveled to Honduras. Some illnesses may not show up for a while. So even up to a year after you return, please mention your trip to Honduras. Remember that although vaccines are very important for disease prevention, you must use care, caution, and common sense when eating and drinking in Honduras to vastly reduce the possibility of illness during your stay. (September Honduras Outreach Inc.  4105 Briarcliff Road N.E.  Atlanta, GA  30345         404‐754‐2540 
 Dear Honduras Outreach Mission Traveler, During your travels to Honduras you will need prevention from Hepatitis A. This type of hepatitis is transferred through unclean water or food. An individual getting Hepatitis A does not become very sick, and more importantly there are no long-term sequels of this type of hepatitis. In any case, we would like to prevent our travelers from getting ill with this type of hepatitis. There is essentially no problem at the ranch because of the cleanliness of food preparation, but once you are away from the ranch and eating other places, prevention of Hepatitis A is important. There is a vaccination for this type of hepatitis and it can be obtained through your physician or through the county health department. You should receive an initial vaccination preferably six weeks prior to travel but if this is not possible I would not hesitate to get the vaccination even up to the week before leaving. A second booster is needed six – 12 months after the initial shot and can afford immunity for Hepatitis A up to 10 years. As always, the prevention of Hepatitis A and other infectious diseases in under-developed countries includes drinking only water and eating food that have no chance of containing infectious bacteria or viruses. Therefore in addition to vaccination and medicine for prevention of disease, you should consider eating only well-cooked food and drinking bottled water or water that has been properly chlorinated or boiled adequately to prevent any impurities. While in hotels, be sure not to drink or use anything but bottled water that you have brought into the hotel yourself. Drink only bottled colas or water while off the ranch area or in restaurants. Also, outside the ranch and other controlled areas, it is important not to use ice in your drinks. If you have more specific questions or concerns about Hepatitis A, please contact the Honduras Outreach office in Atlanta. Yours truly, W. Hugh Spruell, MD Medical Director of Honduras Outreach Promoting Dignity, Cooperation and Self Sufficiency in Honduras TRAVELER’S HEALTH & SAFETY
Even though Honduras Outreach headquarters itself in the beautiful Agalta Valley at Rancho el Paraiso, “Paradise Ranch,” visitors and villagers alike face several health and safety concerns. Most are not worrisome when proper protection is taken and most can be avoided when common sense prevention is used. HOI lists the following as major areas of concern:  Cuts, scratches and blisters where parasites and bacteria can enter the bloodstream  Parasites in food and water which cause diarrhea and other digestive track diseases To address these possible health and safety issues HOI highly recommends that all North American visitors to Ranch el Paraiso: 1. Wear shoes AT ALL TIMES except in bed and in the bathroom. 2. Bring all currently prescribed medications with you including the malaria prophylactic medication. 3. Wear flip-flops in the bathroom and while showering. 4. Use flashlights after dark to watch for snakes and to identify yourself to the ranch security team. 5. Apply mosquito repellant in the morning, at bedtime and after showering. Dengue fever and malaria are serious illnesses which are transmitted by insect bites. 6. Use sunscreen daily on all exposed skin—face, ears, neck, and arms. The sun in Honduras is more 7. Increase your level of fluid intake to a minimum of two liters of water a day, more if you are working in the sun. Dehydration happens quickly and can lead to heat stroke or heat exhaustion. STAY HYDRATED and this will be prevented! 8. Drink only bottled water. Bottled water is provided at the Ranch at each of the dorms. Avoid tap water 9. Avoid ice except at the hotel in Tegucigalpa. 10. Check yourself regularly, head to toe, for ticks and remove them immediately. They too carry dangerous diseases. If you need assistance, or cannot remove the entire tick, please seek help from the health care professional traveling with your group. 11. Wear gloves when participating in work projects to prevent blisters and cuts. 12. Report all cuts, scratches and blisters to your group’s medical person immediately, even if the wound seems insignificant. Wounds must receive care because they provide a place for parasites and bacteria to enter the body. 13. Eat only food that is cooked and served hot or fruit with thick skins that you peel yourself. When eating away from the ranch, avoid fresh produce including tomatoes (unless they are cooked) and lettuce. Eat fruit only if it has a thick peel. It is the water used for washing, not the fruit itself that can cause intestinal problems. Because there is no way to be sure of whether or not the produce has or has not been washed, it is best to avoid it completely. Everything served at the ranch is safe to eat. 14. Seek help immediately if you feel sick in any way. It is always best to treat problems when they first PACKING GUIDELINES
A traveler once said that the first thing to pack for your mission trip is your Faith. The second thing is your Flexibility! Equally important are the following suggestions:
Carry on luggage - must meet current regulations and restrictions imposed by the US Department of
Homeland Security and the airlines  pack your passport & ticket  pack all medications you use regularly  pack overnight clothes, toiletries (in accordance with prevailing security measures) and essentials  pack at least one day’s change of clothes  include: o reading material to use en route o camera o journal or notebook o pocket sized tissue packs for restroom breaks en route o wet wipes o money for tips and souvenirs—one and five US dollar bills are easy to handle. US dollars are accepted in most of the places you will visit. o ATM card which can be used for some purchases; you may receive any change in Lempira. There is an ATM in the lobby of the Maya Hotel; you will receive your money in Honduran Lempira – NOT US dollars!
Personal medical kit
 personal prescriptions (including anti-malarial) medications in labeled bottles
 allergy medicine if you use it at home  lotion or salve to treat insect bites  clear nail polish to cover chigger bites  antihistamines  over the counter analgesics, anti-diarrhea medications, antacids Checked luggage
 wash cloth and towel, although the hotels and the ranch supply towels
 snack food, enough to share with your mission teammates (besides the ones in the carry on, if necessary) packed in zip lock bags and the lids taped  appropriate work clothes for four days  appropriate casual clothes to change into at the end of the work day  enough socks, pj’s, and underwear for a week  work gloves, hat, bandana, rubber household gloves for packing mud if doing room additions  small backpack or daypack to carry personal items to the work site each day  Bible, pens, Spanish / English dictionary  Sturdy shoes, work boots, tennis shoes—a pair to work in and a pair to change into after work  a dressier outfit for the final evening in Tegucigalpa, such as nice khakis, a simple skirt and a  plastic bags for packing dirty clothes to bring home;  a bottle of hand soap to share in the bathroom at the ranch  a sports bottle (e.g., a sip bottle or Nalgene bottle) to refill with bottled water each day at the ranch  games for all to play: cards, UNO, dominoes or checkers are easy to carry  plastic bags for soiled and damp clothes in order to protect the interior of your suitcase when you pack to Electrical appliances: Rancho el Paraiso has electricity and the dorms have an adequate number of
outlets which accommodate the same voltage as is required by North American appliances (110V). The same is true of the hotels. There is no need to bring a travel adapter. DO NOT WEAR or BRING flashy and / or expensive jewelry.

ENROUTE TO HONDURAS
During the flight between the U.S. and Tegucigalpa, the flight crew will give you an immigration form to complete. You may list yourself as a “tourist,” staying at Rancho el Paraiso, San Esteban, Olancho, Honduras. Upon your arrival, you will disembark from the airplane and enter the immigration hall where your passport will be checked and the immigration form will be collected. You will pass into the baggage claim section. Once you and your mission team have claimed everyone’s luggage, you will exit through a double glass door into a reception area where your Honduras Outreach staff will welcome you. Your Honduran Group leader will escort you and your team members to the awaiting HOI bus. Prepare for an incredible week! WELCOME TO HONDURAS!

DAY 1: Soon after departing the airport parking lot, you will stop at a gasoline station where you can use the
restrooms and buy drinks and snacks.
Please note restroom etiquette in Honduras: at this restroom and all others, except at the Ranch and
the hotel in Tegucigalpa, the bathroom will be equipped with a trash can for soiled toilet paper. Flush
only toilet paper during your stay at the Ranch and at the hotel in Tegucigalpa at the end of your
mission week. Elsewhere please be respectful of the plumbing and dispose of used toilet tissue in the
waste container provided.
The rest of the afternoon is spent traveling to Juticalpa where you will have dinner and spend the night. At the hotel the HOI group leader will enable your Mission Team leader to place one telephone call to the United States, preferably to the top of the Phone Tree to notify everyone at home that you have arrived safely in Honduras. If you want to take a walk first ask your HOI Group Leader for permission. If he / she agrees, go together in a group, go before dark and do not travel alone. DAY 2: After breakfast you and your teammates will continue to Rancho el Paraiso on the bus, arriving about
lunchtime. After eating and getting settled, your HOI Group Leader will have an afternoon’s activity planned for
you, for example visiting the village where you will be working and meeting the adults and children who live
there. After dinner, your evening is at leisure. The staff and village have worked hard to design a work
schedule suitable to your group. Please respect what has been arranged for you.

DAYS 3-6: Breakfast at the Ranch, followed by work in your host community. Lunch will be prepared in the
ranch kitchen and sent to the worksite. Dinner at the Ranch and evenings at leisure.
 One evening you will meet the on-site Honduras Outreach staff and hear about the programs HOI  On Thursday evening, the Ranch offers a worship service in the Chapel. Please plan to join the staff to sing, pray and worship. If your pastor wishes to participate, including offering Holy Communion, please communicate this with the Missions Program Coordinator in Atlanta before your departure.  To celebrate the completion of the mission work in your host village you can plan a Work Dedication Service and share a Fiesta with the townspeople and children. Talk to your HOI Group Leader to coordinate the activities. DAY 7: After breakfast at the Ranch, you will board the bus to return to Tegucigalpa. En route you will stop
for lunch at La Chiquita, a cafeteria-style restaurant operated by North American Mennonites. You will arrive at
the hotel in Tegucigalpa in time to swim, rest, relax, go shopping, or enjoy the spa before dinner. Evening at
leisure.
If you want to take a walk in Tegucigalpa, you must let your HOI Group Leader as well as your
Mission Team Leader know before leaving the hotel; plan to return to the Hotel before dark, go
together in a group, do not travel alone.
DAY 8: After breakfast at the hotel, you will be transferred to the Tegucigalpa Airport where you say “Hasta
luego” to your HOI Group Leader and Driver. Each person will be responsible for carrying his/her own luggage
to the airline check-in counters. If a local porter takes your luggage, it is the responsibility of the team member
to tip him. Prior to passing through the final security gate, you will have to pay the mandatory $34.40 Exit Fee
(this is subject to change - at times prior to HOI knowing). The exit fee can be paid with either US dollars or
the Honduras Lempira equivalency –however, it must be the exact amount. No change is offered.

RANCH RULES
While you are a guest at Rancho el Paraiso please remember that the Ranch staff are skilled professionals in their respective work areas. Please respect the judgment and decisions of your Group Leader and know that he/she is working in the best interest of your mission team and the village. 1. Dress code: be modest
 no tank tops worn in the village  men must always have shirts on except in the dormitory areawear sandals only in dorm area (this is a  only long pants or skirts are allowed away from the ranch  long shorts are allowed only on the ranch grounds  shoes and socks are required for the worksite in the villages 2. Never leave the immediate area of the ranch alone. If your group wishes to leave the ranch, the Honduran Group Leader must be advised. It is absolutely prohibited to go out from the Ranch at night. 3. Acknowledge that Ranch staff are professionals and are due respect and gratitude for hosting us during  greet everyone you meet with a happy “hola” or “buenas dias”  refer to the staff with proper titles, for example “group leader” NOT “tour guide”  respect each staff person’s work day. Remember the Golden Rule! Work hours for Group Leaders and Drivers are 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Therefore be prompt when boarding the bus in the morning to travel to your village and again in the afternoon when your group leader announces that it is time to return to the ranch. (At the end of your work day, you want to go home; so does our staff!) Do not expect them to entertain you after these hours.  thank the staff at the end of the week for hosting you and your team 4. Smoking is prohibited in the villages and in all HOI vehicles. Smoking is allowed at the ranch only out of doors. Alcohol is prohibited at the ranch and while you are under the auspices of Honduras Outreach, Inc. 5. Driving is absolutely prohibited by Mission Team members. Only designated ranch personnel are permitted to operate vehicles. Recreational horseback riding is also strictly forbidden. 6. Refrain from petting animals in the villages. They can present health problems as well as safety issues. The village animals are not accustomed to attention like our family pets at home and may react viciously and defensively to petting. If you touch any animal, be sure to wash thoroughly. Dogs at the ranch are generally safe and domesticated. 7. Diving is absolutely prohibited during a visit to a waterfall. There is no way to judge the depth of the water
8. If you become ill or injured, even a small scratch, tell your team leader and the medical person traveling 9. Each group is responsible for bringing its own stomachache medications, such at Phenergan. 10. Be considerate of those who wish to go to sleep early or sleep late. 11. Carry a flashlight after dark for safety reasons, whether you are outside or go to the bathroom after lights 12. Keep your dorm room neat. Do not leave food in the open as it will attract bugs and mice. 13. Be brief when showering as there are others in line waiting to shower also.
14. Turn off lights and fans when leaving the dorm rooms.
15. Flush only toilet paper ONLY at the ranch and the hotel in Tegucigalpa. Elsewhere the bathroom will be
equipped with a trash can for used toilet paper. 16. Be prompt for meals. Return for seconds only after everyone, including ranch staff, guests and other mission teams, has been served. Each mission team member is allotted two soft drinks a day.
Additional soft drinks must be purchased from the kitchen staff at $1.00 each
17. On the last morning, please strip the beds and leave bed and bath linens piled in the dorm rooms. 18. Except for the day of Work Dedication and Fiesta in your village, do not give candy or North American 19. The staff and village have worked hard to design a work schedule suitable to your group. Please respect 20. Please check out and return tools daily. If a tool breaks, please advise your Honduran Group Leader. 21. Before departing the Ranch, please give all supplies (medical, school, hygiene kits etc.) to the Ranch Group Coordinator, who logs in all items and ensures that they are properly stored and tallied. 22. Clothing should not be left at the ranch at the conclusion of the work week.
23. Be sure to remove all belongings and/or trash from the ranch vehicles every time you depart a vehicle.

SOUVENIRS
Even in a developing country, souvenirs are ubiquitous and range from tacky to extraordinary. Here are  La Tienda at Rancho el Paraiso sells merchandise made by residents of the Agalta Valley, who participate in HOI’s Economic Development program. US dollars, credit cards and Lempira are accepted. La Tienda will be open for shopping on Thursday afternoon at the conclusion of your work day.  the Candu shop across the street from the Hotel Maya in Tegucigalpa offers items in a range of prices. Credit cards, US dollars and Lempira are accepted. The store offers a 10 % discount to shoppers who identify themselves as members of “HOI Groups.”  several shops inside the airport, in the area before the security gate as well as shops near the boarding FEE REFUND SCHEDULE
 Trip Deposit: Honduras Outreach will refund the $1000 trip deposit if we are able to fill the space your team vacates. HOI will retain the deposit if no other mission team is found to replace your group. o Groups or individuals will receive a 70 per cent refund of the in-country fee if HOI receives the cancellation notice within three weeks of the departure date. o If HOI cancels the mission trip within two weeks of the scheduled departure date, HOI will refund 85 percent of the in-country fee. HOI must retain 15 percent to cover pre-group expenditures including work supplies and construction materials for the group’s project. EMERGENCY CONTACTS & PROCEDURES
**Please leave a copy of this page with your emergency contact person in the U.S.**
Honduras Outreach, Inc., Atlanta, Georgia Regular office hours are 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. E.S.T., Monday-Friday Telephone numbers with voice mail: 404-327-5770 & 404-327-5768 After hours: Emily Grossman 404-754-2540 Should an emergency situation arise in the US involving a team member’s family, etc., while the team is in Honduras, a family member should contact the Atlanta office. We will immediately contact our staff in Honduras who will apprise the team leader and / or the group member of the situation at home as soon as possible. If the affected team member must reach the family at home, our staff will enable the team member to contact his / her family. Should an emergency situation arise in Honduras involving a team member, our staff will immediately contact the Atlanta office. We ask that team members not contact family members in the states as this can cause unnecessary confusion and anxiousness. In case of an emergency on the day of travel (ex: your flight has been cancelled or delayed because of weather), the team leader will first arrange with the airline for re-booking of all team members’ tickets to a subsequent flight. The team leader will work with the airline to re-accommodate all team members involved. Your team leader will call HOI’s after hours number to alert the Group Program Coordinator who in turn will notify the HOI staff in Honduras. Additionally the HOI staff checks with the airlines on the Saturday of your arrival for deviations in the normal flight schedules. If there are deviations, our staff will stay informed of any delay and will make the appropriate arrangements. The cell phone number to reach our staff on weekends will be available from the Atlanta office during the week prior to the mission team’s departure.
IF YOU CANNOT TRAVEL

After you have purchased your airline ticket and learn you will not be able to travel, call your group leader
immediately. If you cancel your ticket in sufficient time you may be entitled to a credit for a future flight. Rules
governing credits and name changes differ among airlines.

Keep all travel documents in a safe place. If you have an emergency after office hours but before your
departure (midnight before your flight at 6 a.m.), it is imperative that you call the airlines’ toll free number. Tell
the ticket agent your name and the flight you are booked on and the reason you will be unable to travel. A
notation will be made in the booking. THIS CALL MUST BE MADE BEFORE THE FLIGHT DEPARTS!
Contact the HOI Atlanta office on the next business day to inform them that you were unable to travel.

Please note: Honduras Outreach is a group travel mission experience. Unfortunately, if you as an
individual team member miss a flight (originating or connecting) and are unable to arrive with the
team in Tegucigalpa on Day 1 of the mission trip, you will forfeit the trip. HOI does not have the staff
nor the vehicles to accommodate arrangements other than for group travel. Please make sure that
ample time is allotted for arrival at the airport on the day of departure.

RETURN TO THE U.S.
Welcome back to the U.S.! As sad as it is for your mission week in Honduras to end, it is always a joy to During the flight from Tegucigalpa the crew will distribute customs and immigration forms for each family (not person) to complete. You will check that you have been abroad as a tourist on a ranch and the items you have purchased are souvenirs (not for commercial or re-sale purposes) with an estimated dollar value. Upon arrival at the gateway airport you will go through immigration / passport control. Once through passport control, you will claim your luggage and clear customs. Since you have been staying in a rural area, your ticket may be checked with an “A” for Agriculture, which means that you will have to go through the Agriculture section of customs (there is the possibility that your shoes will be dusted since you were visiting on a ranch). After this, you will check in for your connecting flight, if necessary, and find your gate and other team members and board the flight. Once you have returned to your home, but haven’t lost the excitement of your trip, consider what you can do to continue the work you have begun in Honduras. You heard about, and maybe even met, scholarship
students while you were at the ranch. Individuals, youth groups, Sunday School classes and other groups in
the US underwrite the cost of a young person’s education through the Honduras Outreach Scholarship
program. Call the Atlanta office to inquire how you can financially become a part of this outreach.

REMINDER

Many mission teams and individuals feel compelled to give the villagers things at the end of the week. Please be mindful that we do not want to create a beggar, welfare mindset. HOI asks you to be very careful about your choices. We suggest taking Polaroid pictures of each family and presenting them to the families. Small tokens can be given from one friend to another specific friend. However, please remember that you have already given them your love and friendship for the entire week. You have provided them hope for the future. That is more than they could ever wish. Please do everything in your power not to turn this time of friendship and encouragement toward independence into a message of dependence on others.  It is imperative that each Mission Team leader and each team member recognize that they must
not make promises of gifts, money or donations to the people in their host community.

 Please do not ask the Honduran staff to follow up on individuals. We serve several thousand
Hondurans in more than 80 villages. It is impossible for our limited staff to check up on all our
special friends.
 Any special requests must be made through the Atlanta office.
Help us continue to make this program
A ministry of His presence
Not
A ministry of our presents.
PRESENTS THAT CONTINUE YOUR PRESENCE
How your Gifts can keep on giving to continue to
Improve the lives of the People in the Agalta Valley
Mission teams and individuals return from their trips to Honduras seeking ways to continue work in their absence. Financial donations can be used in each of our program areas to carry on the work you have begun: Education
$ 35 will provide one child a nutritious snack each day during the school year
$ 50 will provide one child enough school supplies to last the entire school year
$ 100 will provide one teacher the necessary teaching supplies for one year
$ 250 will pay for tuition and books for one student for one year
$ 4,900 will provide a year’s income for one teacher

Medical
$ 50 will provide travel expenses to outlying clinics for one month
$ 150 will supply fuel for one month
$ 300 will allow one family the benefit of our Nutrition Program to help eliminate malnourishment
$ 500 will fund the Annual National Vaccination Program
$ 2,200 will provide a month’s supply of medicine to four clinics
Ranch Operation
$ 1,000 will provide funding for one month’s maintenance for one HOI vehicle
$ 2,500 will provide a month’s supply of electricity for Ranch facilities
$20,000 will provide funds to purchase one new vehicle
Agriculture
$ 500 will purchase one cow for the Agriculture Vo-Tech Training program
$ 1,000 will provide tuition for one Vo-Tech Agriculture student for one year
Community Development
$ 95 will build one latrine (72 cement blocks & 3 bags of cement)
$ 75 will provide a new floor for one family (12 bags of cement per home)
$ 150 will provide a new roof for one family (16 pieces of tin)
$ 300 will provide a new pila for one family
$ 2,000 will provide supplies to ensure “No Village is Left Behind”
$ 5,000 will build a new kindergarten

Below is a sample letter for individuals who wish to invite others to contribute to the cost of a mission
trip. Letters should be modified to reflect the personal aspirations of the individual.

Dear __________:
All of us feel the calling at sometime in our lives to do something meaningful for other people. Not everyone
has the chance to break away and devote 100% of his time for a week to do something special like this.
I have a chance to go to Honduras with an organization that assists the people in the most remote and
impoverished part of Honduras, which is the second most impoverished country in the Western Hemisphere.
Honduras Outreach, Inc. is based in Atlanta, Georgia, and hosts weekly groups at their ranch in the
mountainous Agalta Valley, where education, hygiene, healthcare and even basic craft skills have not evolved
) helps people by training men and women and educating
children to help themselves, working in about 80 villages. It is a Christian-based organization with a universal
purpose.
My trip is scheduled for ___________. I know that everyone can’t take the time to make this kind of trip, and
for me to do it, I need the financial help of friends. The cost of airfare, lodging and food in Honduras and the
supplies we need to do our work comes to about $1,400 per person. I hope you will contribute to the cost of my
trip. I will be proud to represent you and other friends while doing this good work as a service with Honduran
people who have not had the same blessings and opportunities we have had.
Please send whatever amount you are willing to contribute to me at_________________.
Thanks for being part of a noble mission to help other people, including me.
Sincerely,

Source: http://www.smokeriseministries.org/Assets/Smoke+Rise+Recreation+Digital+Assets/Smoke+Rise+Recreation/SmokeRise+Assets/documents/Team+Member+Information+Package.pdf