Mission Team Members,
Here are most of the instructions about our trip that I have sent out in letters during that past 2 months. Please review them and let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks
Ralph McClurg
rmcclurg@mo-net.com


Hi Team,

Only a few more days until the first wave hits La Palma. We are ready!!

One reminder and one new item for you.

Most doctors will recommend that you take a prescription antibiotic with you in event of illness while we are in La Palma. The two that seem to be most recommended are Ciproflaxacin and Levaquin. Some recommend this to be taken as a preventive measure and some recommend having it 'just in case'.

Also, we will have a diet that is high in protein, moderate in carbohydrates, and relatively low in fiber while we are there. Remember, we do NOT eat the lettuce and many other foods because of health concerns. Please consider taking natural or herbal fiber with you.
Dios Le Bendiga,
Rafael

Hi Team,
Here is a little more information for you.

Some of the outlets in the motel rooms are not made for 3-prong plugs, so if you are bringing any power strips or other 3-way adapters, bring a 3/2 adapter for it. There are usually two- double receptacles in each room, so unless you have a lot of things to plug in, you will not need the above.

For any of you who think you may need printouts of any kind for teaching or otherwise, we will have computer/printer capability at the motel plus at some commercial places nearby. Just bring any digital files that you think you might need and we can help you. Also remember that we can download photos onto the computer and then burn them onto a CD for you.

May I remind you of the need to be flexible in planning. We plan and plan and plan for things, but there are sometimes reasons why we may have to change our plans. Please be flexible. Please bear with us if we have to make changes.

If you are a regular blood donor, the trip will not affect your ability to donate unless you go into Honduras or into one of the western departments. Those of you who stay over the weekend of the 10th and travel to the Mayan Indian ruins will be deferred for one year from date of travel. The same applies if you go into Honduras, which is only 15 miles away.

Our country is in a serious debate about immigration. Please try to avoid discussions of our problems while we are there. It will be OK to answer questions, but we should keep our problems to ourselves if possible.

There may be times when you are asked for money (other than when you are making a purchase) by someone. It is almost always recommended to NOT give money for such requests. If someone has a specific need, we may fill the need but do not give the money to the person asking. There are some exceptions, of course, but please discuss it with one of us in leadership before you do.

Some cultural things to ponder:
Handshakes are always appropriate when meeting someone or greeting someone. Hugs are usually welcome, but if the other person hesitates, don't push it.

Touch children on the shoulder or arm, but try to avoid patting the head. (this has been hard for me).

Some women and children have been taught that eye contact is flirting, and they avoid it. Just bear with the situation. It is OK.

Consider bringing a small pocket-size container of hand sanitizer. We want you to stay healthy, and hand washing is good for that.
Thanks
Ralph


Hi Team!!
As you probably are aware, out travel teams on June 1, 3, and 10 are assembling in Houston for the flights to San Salvador. Out teams members are coming from a variety of places and airports - Nashville, Tulsa, Amarillo, Raleigh, Charlotte, Memphis, West Palm Beach, Baton Rouge, Tampa, etc.

God doesn't fail us, but sometimes men and airlines do. If for any reason, you or your flight do not get to Houston as scheduled, please call the emergency numbers given earlier. If you failed to note them, I will give them again.

Rick Long 417-476-2402 home
Rick Long 417-849-4661 cell

Ralph McClurg 417-849-0245
Doug Anders 417-849-0281

That will put our contingency plans into motion. We have people meeting us at San Salvador. There will be a later flight that day into San Salvador, but we would have to make alternate travel arrangements to La Palma if anyone misses the first flight.

Another person that will be helping us a lot lives in San Salvador and speaks English quite well. He can be contacted at 503- 7001-5933. His Name is Napolean Montana. You will need the country code in front of that to dial him, so the real number to call is 011-503-7001-5933.

A suggestion about something to take along: since we will be having several of us to a motel room, and since some of us snore when we sleep, it is a really good idea to take some foam ear plugs to wear at night. They are inexpensive, not really uncomfortable, and are very helpful. That is an old military lesson that I will share with you.
God bless you,
We continue to get excited!
Ralph --AKA Hermano Rafael


Hi Team,
I want to address the subject in the simplest way possible. First, let me say that my biggest and probably most important job is to keep each of you safe and secure. Quite honestly, I will not sleep really well until every one of you is back home with your family. I try not to worry, but I do maintain a high amount of concern.

We have analyzed the risks in our mission trip and will work to minimize them. I am convinced that our greatest risk is from automobiles and buses. We hire the best bus drivers we can find. We let them know that we are concerned about safety. We monitor them and correct them as needed.

We also ask each of you to watch out for traffic in La Palma as you walk. Horns and brakes are used a lot. Don't be a target.

The main north/south hiway in El Salvador runs right in front of the hotel Montana. This hiway also narrows from 2 lanes to one lane right in front of the hotel Montana--and there is a curve there and it is at the bottom of a hill. All of these factors make it a dangerous location. Please watch out for traffic there.

Be careful in the showers. The floors can be very slick! Be careful.

Be careful going up and down the ramp at the Montana hotel. It can be slick. A fall could hurt you very badly.

As for security, we have the Federal police station about a block from the hotel. The mayor has advised them to watch out for us.

Do not be out alone--always go in pairs as a minimum. After dark, a male must accompany any females that are out.

I am not saying these things to scare you. I just want you to be careful and watchful.

When we arrive, I will post some things to do in event of an emergency. In the meantime, please think safety and security in all that you do.

For your information, I believe that I would feel as comfortable walking downtown La Palma at night as I would in Monett, MO!!
God bless you,
Ralph


Hi Team,
Each of us wants to know how much money to take with me on the trip!! Good Question!!

First let me tell you what has been paid for in your package deal on the trip.

You have an airline ticket paid for.
You have immigration and emigration fees paid for.
You have bottled water paid for while you are in La Palma.
You have breakfast and an evening meal paid for --including tips-for each day in La Palma.
Your motel room is paid for.
Your bus fare is paid.

Just about everything else is at your expense--so what is that?

Your travel to your departure airport is at your expense and arrangement.
Whatever you eat on the morning of your travel to Houston is at your expense.

Any noon snacks are at your expense. We will be spread out around the region at noon and could not make fair arrangements for a noon meal. In fact, most of you will not have time or opportunity to do more than drink water and enjoy a small snack. We encourage you to take some of your favorite snacks with you, but you can buy snacks in the city. Some folks last year had a fun time trading their snacks with others. A large bag of corn chips costs 45 cents. Soda pop costs about 30 to 50 cents. There are packaged cookies etc in the stores.

Souvenirs - you can go from zero to a couple hundred on this one. There are thousands of souvenirs in the town for sale. Many stores have them and there is a souvenir mall. Little bracelets and ceramic animals cost 50 cents, 4" stainless steel switchblade knives cost $4, woven hammocks cost about $20. Machetes are about 8-10 bucks, hats go from 2-15 dollars, and decorative plaques are from $3 up to ? Do some bargaining here--they will negotiate on price.

There will be an offering taken for the local church on Sunday.

You may choose to purchase a gift for someone you meet in La Palma.

We encourage you not to give money as gifts to the local people except in very rare circumstances--and that should only be to cover their expense in some given situation. You may be temped or asked to give money--it almost always is the wrong thing to do. Ask for advice in these situations.

Laundry- many of the church ladies and the ladies at the motel will do laundry for you at any time. They almost always do not charge, but a tip is welcome and it covers their soap costs.

On the trip home, you will get breakfast at the motel. The rest of the day you will have to purchase what you eat or drink. There will be a large snack on the flight to Houston. You will probably want a cheeseburger and Dr. Pepper when you arrive in Houston.

You are responsible for your ride home from your destination airport.

Adding it up, you could go with $20 and get by just fine, or you could spend a couple hundred. That is up to you. Please let me know if you have any questions about this.
Dios Le Bendiga
Rafael


Hi Team!!
What about the weather in La Palma in June?

It is the rainy season. La Palma is a jungle/desert/mountain region all in one. You can stand in one place and see tall pine trees, bamboo trees, cactus, palm trees, and banana trees--within a few yards!!!

The temps will go into the high 60s at night and the high 80s/low 90s daytime. The climate is dry because it is at 3400 feet above sea level. Typically there are showers in the afternoon and again during the night. Afternoon showers are followed by a brief period of very high, muggy humidity--then it goes back to being nice again.

It is recommended to bring a water shedding windbreaker and either a rain hat or an umbrella. Not absolutely needed, but recommended.

Almost always, you can step inside to escape a rain shower. It will last a few minutes and be over.

This causes a great deal of frustration to the motel workers. They wash towels and hang them out to dry. Each time it showers, they run and bring them in --then hang them again just a few minutes later.
Have a great day,
Ralph


Hi Team,
Here is what to expect on the travel day to La Palma.

Most of you will rise quite early. Those flying from Tulsa will leave Mt Vernon-Monett at or before 3 am for the bus trip to Tulsa. The flight leaves Tulsa at 6:45 or thereabouts.

Most flights to Houston will be an hour to 2 hours long --depending on where you start.

Consider a small snack at your original airport before boarding.

The flight leaves Houston at about 9:25 am. It is about 3 hours to San Salvador, but there is a time zone change, so you will arrive about 11:30.

There will be a large snack on the flight--typically it is an egg/ham sandwich and some other stuff--a full meal in reality.

The next meal will be at La Palma, so enjoy the one on the plane and eat it all.

Upon arriving in San Salvador, we deplane and go through the Immigration line.

It is recommended that you use the banjo/bathroom immediately after deplaning IT will be a while before you get another one, although there is one near the baggage claim area also.

In the customs line, you will be asked how long you will stay and where you will go while in San Salvador. You will be staying at the Montana hotel in La Palma, you are a tourist, and you will be helping in mission work--if asked. They may or may not ask if you are doing mission work. BE SURE YOU have your passport--in fact; you cannot board the plane without it.

After going through Immigration, you will wait for your checked bags. When all the bags have arrived, we go through customs. Do this as a group or as 2 or 3 groups, but wait until all the bags have arrived or been declared missing. It is more comfortable to wait inside than outside.

Customs may ask to see everything in your baggage, or they may clear you with no inspection, or they may inspect a small part of the stuff. It depends on who is there and how far behind they are at the time and how long the line is. The usual method is to have one person push a button. If you get a green light, there is no inspection--just go on through.
If you get a red light they must inspect something. Just obey the inspector.

As you clear customs, you will leave the building and go outside. There is almost always a large crowd waiting --and the heat and humidity will grab you big time. It will be hot and muggy humid. Taxi drivers will swarm you wanting to help you. Just go around the building and expect to see the bus waiting. Jose and Franklin will probably be there. Load the bus and pose for a group photo and let's go!!

The bus ride through San Salvador is usually exciting. Keep your camera ready and the window open and look for those Kodak moments.

The total bus ride from the airport to La Palma is about 2 hours and 15 minutes. We will stop somewhere along the way for a restroom break if anyone wants to.

We expect to arrive at the hotel in La Palma between 4 and 4:30. We will unload and check into rooms and then enjoy the first meal in this great city. You will be tired from being up early and from traveling.

We will attend worship at the church building if they have one that night or we will have our own devotional service and a briefing. We will get to sleep early that night.

During the entire day we will be meeting others from other places and getting to know them. Enjoy this day as much as possible.

Since we will be meeting many of the other team members for the first time at the departure gate in Houston, we are asking that as many as possible wear light or medium blue tops/shirts for ease of identification. We considered getting matching t-shirts but decided against it for logistical and financial reasons. Wearing blue will help us though when we 'gather at the gate'. It also helps us stay together while waiting in baggage and customs lines. This is not mandatory! Just suggested.

Start getting excited. It is going to be a great time!! It is fast approaching.
God Bless You,
Ralph


Hi Team,
As promised, we will give you and your family some ways to contact the mission team members who are in El Salvador.

During the entire time from June 1 to June 20, Doug Anders and I will be in La Palma and will have cell phones that should reach us. It should be a local or long distance call only to you, since we will be on international plans. Here are those numbers:

Ralph McClurg 417-849-0245

Doug Anders 417-849-0281

The emergency contact in the USA is the husband of Marcy Ellis, one of our nurses. He is also a deacon at the Monett church. Here are the contact numbers for him:

Rick Long - home 417-476-2402
Rick Long - cell 417-849-4661

To email me while I am there, use the address on this letter. I will try to check email daily, although that could stretch into every other day.

This information will be on our website in a few days. I just need to catch up on that and do it. We pray that there will be no need for any emergency contact.
God Bless You,
Ralph


Hi Team,
Here is some information about possible medical concerns while traveling to El Salvador.

We met with the Health Minister in March and inquired about how they will handle one of our team members who becomes ill and needs hospitalization. Here is the plan:

The ill team member who needs hospitalization would be taken by ambulance to Neuvo Concepcion, about 30 miles away. The hospital there is regional and can treat many problems. They do have some English speaking medical personnel. One of our nurses and/or a doctor would accompany the ambulance.

If further treatment is needed beyond what they can handle at Nuevo Concepcion, the next place is one of the big three hospitals in San Salvador. Again, the trip would be by ambulance and our medical people would accompany. The hospitals there are staffed by very good medical people, many of them trained in the US.

If evacuation to the states is still needed, we will work with the US Embassy to make that happen.

If you want to check on insurance for traveling out of the country, you might want to look at
http://www.imglobal.com/coverage/patriot/

I have never had insurance and have not given it much consideration, but you are invited to investigate if you wish. We do pray that everyone will remain healthy and productive during the trip. God is blessing us daily and will continue to do so.
Dios Le Bendiga
Rafael

Hi Team,
While you are in El Salvador, you can communicate home in several ways.

Some cell phone companies have special plans available.

Cingular will allow you to activate an International calling plan for a month at a time. That takes you calling rate from $1.99 per minute to $0.27 per minute. Cingular service is good from there.

You can buy a phone card right across the street from the Motel that allows you to use a pay phone for $0.10 per minute. There is some inconvenience because you may have to wait for a pay phone or you may not get through right away, but it works.

There is an internet cafe right across the street also. They charge $1 per hour for internet use, so you can do emails. They even break it down to quarters of an hour-- $0.25 for 15 minutes on the net.

We will be communicating with folks back home on a daily basis, so we can let your family know that you are OK.

We also will be 'blogging' daily, so your family can see how the team is doing.

Got Questions?

Dios Le Bendiga
Rafael


Hi Team,
Many of you will be taking digital cameras with you and are concerned about taking more photos than your memory chip will allow.

I will be taking my laptop computer and can download your photos onto a CD for you, allowing you to start over again.

This is just a courteous service of your coordinator. No charge.
Have a great day,
Ralph


Hi Team,
Many of you are getting your suitcases packed and ready. One question that I should answer right now is about electrical outlets.

They use standard size electric outlets and the voltage is the same as ours. Fans, shavers, hair driers, phone and battery chargers, etc are standard. What you may want to bring are some 1:3 adapters to allow you to plug 2 or 3 chargers into one outlet, because the outlets are very few and far between.

Caution!! The capacity of the electric service in the hotel is limited. Do not use a hair drier when someone else is in the shower!!

The shower heads are 'point of use' water heaters. You adjust the temperature of the water by adjusting the flow rate. The more flow, the colder the water--the less flow, the warmer the water. Note that I did not say "the hotter the water". If you are one that loves a long, hot, high-flow shower, you will be a little disappointed. You can have it warm or you can have a lot of water.

Remember, do not use a hair drier when someone is in the shower! I took a cold shower one morning because of that situation. I learned!!

Continue to ask questions! That is how we find out what you want to know.
God Bless You,
Ralph


Hi Team,
This is a reminder that we are only a month away from our wonderful mission trip. It is recommended that you are current on Hepatitis A and Tetanus immunizations for this trip.

Also, be planning what you will carry on the plane for your personal use during the mission.
Have a great day,
Ralph


Hey Team,
The time is approaching when we will converge on La Palma. The UV rays there are more intense than here. Do some preparing by spending time in the sun in order to avoid burning later. Take with you some good suntan lotion--the doctor recommends #45 or at least 30. Many of you will be working in the clinic or indoors and will have limited exposure, but we are making an attempt this year to get EVERYONE out into the town and into homes. This may only be a half day, but it could involve some sunshine--and SONSHINE!

Also, get used to walking. Most of us will walk about 6 blocks to the clinic to work. There will be other walking involved as well. It is not a level town--you have to go up and down. Get prepared.

Be making your packing lists now--think about what to take. You want to carry as little as you can get by with but have enough to make you comfortable. Remember that you have to live out of carry-on baggage. That is one suitcase and a briefcase/purse/backpack that will fit under the seat on the plane. Many take clothing to wear while there with the intent of leaving it for someone in La Palma to wear later. That makes coming home even easier and leaves someone there happy.

On your list, be sure to include any medicines that you may need, and any vitamins that you take.

There are ladies there who will do laundry for you, and they do it very nicely. Please read the rules as they are distributed regarding clothing to wear. Dress modestly and decently, but be comfortable. Let me know if you cannot open the attachment so I can send it to you another way.

Get prepared and get excited!! La Palma in just a few days! It will be magnifico !!
Gracias,
Rafael


Ten Commandments of Travel to La Palma

1. Keep your passport on your person at ALL times [except in the shower].

2. Never venture out alone- two or more people required. Women must have a male escort.

3. No youth groups will be allowed to go into the town at night. Everyone is to be back at the motel by 10 pm unless authorized by a team leader.

4. If confronted by an unruly local, smile and keep walking. We are viewed as the wealthy Gringos, and be aware that public drunkenness is common.

5. Do not purchase food from ANY street vendor!

6. Eat only fully-cooked food that is and has been HOT since preparation. Green salads MUST be avoided!

7. Eat only fruit that YOU peeled; do not wash fruit in local water supply.

8. If it is not bottled, or you didn’t open it, do NOT drink it (except in approved restaurants). Avoid ice, use bottled water to brush your teeth, and keep your mouth shut in the shower. Hot coffee may be drunk if made from bottled water.

9. Ask your Doctor for a recommendation of medication for “travelers sickness” in case you ignore commandments 5 thru 8. If you get sick, expect to be out of service for 36 hours.

10. Remember that we are the aliens in El Salvador; our Bill of Rights has no validly there. We are to be ambassadors of Christ and of our nation.

These rules are made for the team’s safety and security and for the success of our mission. Let us all return home in good health and with the satisfaction of knowing we made a difference in the lives of many thankful people, for the glory of God!

El Salvador Mission Trip

Code of Conduct/Code of Dress

We must remember that we are guests of the local Christians on our mission trip. We must respect the customs of the people there and the wishes of the local church by remaining Godly in appearance and behavior. Accordingly, we establish some guidelines for personal appearance, dress, and actions.

The people there have grown up to be conservative and modest. They see some things on television and from tourists passing through that degrade the moral code of the past and have started a decline in the decency standards once observed. The younger people try to imitate what they see. We have some requests from the church leaders in La Palma that we want to honor with regard to dress, especially at worship.

What we are asking is that each missionary display a Godly, modest appearance and behavior. We issue the following guidelines with the intent of having strict voluntary compliance; thus avoiding any need for correction.

Here are the general guidelines:
Missionaries will absolutely not drink any alcoholic beverages.
Missionaries will not smoke while in the country of El Salvador.
Missionaries who chew tobacco will not do so in public.
Missionaries will dress modestly and decently in observance of their Godly mission.
We will not wear shorts or cutoffs.
We will not wear clothing with holes in them or patches sewn on.
We will not wear exotic hairstyles or hair colors.
We will not wear body piercing/jewelry other than ear rings on ladies.
We will present Christ in our language and appearance and behavior.
We are being watched and heard during the entire trip.

For worship:
Ladies are requested to wear dresses/skirts that extend below the knee.
Men are requested to wear collared shirts and slacks.
Men preaching will wear a tie.
Men are encouraged to wear a tie for Sunday worship.
Tennis shoes are discouraged for wear to worship other than solid black ones.

For work at the clinic:
Slacks/blue jeans are OK for men.
Slacks are OK for women.
Scrub tops are preferred—blouses or shirts are OK.
Wear comfortable shoes – tennis shoes are OK.

For evangelist teams:
Collared shirts and slacks are preferred for men.
Dress shoes are preferred.
Dresses or dress slacks are preferred for women.

For other work:
Jeans and shirts are OK.
When meeting with community leaders, dress at a higher level.

Construction Teams

Those desiring to perform construction activities must have a flexible attitude and schedule. Construction activities are limited to what can be accomplished in a very short time. Equipment is limited as well. Concrete must be mixed by hand. Manual labor is the rule. Power tools are in short supply, and building materials are not as plentiful as we are used to.

Typical work by construction teams includes carpentry, simple electrical work, small plumbing jobs, ditch digging and minor landscaping, masonry, and other miscellaneous work.

There is a desire to ‘just start over’ on some remodeling projects, but in most cases that is not possible because of time constraints. We must do what we can and go home. In March we will try to plan enough work to keep crews very busy. We will attempt to make material lists and sketches, and perhaps even purchase the materials in advance. We will take photos of projects that we propose so that crews can have some idea about their tasks before they get there. It is best if the plans are indefinite enough to allow the actual construction team to meet with the building owner when they arrive and define exactly what is to be done. It is preferred that the building owner be present during the construction–and even help – if possible.

Construction crews may vary their work schedules to avoid working in the hottest part of the day if they choose to do so. If that requires changing morning or evening meal times, they must coordinate this IN ADVANCE with the MBFC.

The construction team will be viewed as an available source of manpower for any of the other teams. Construction team members are encouraged to spend one day in the medical clinic and go on at least a half day of door knocking or home Bible studies. The medical team leader and the PETTT leader should call on the construction team for help when needed, but try to avoid causing them to leave important in-home projects unfinished, especially in the second week.

The construction team must plan a budget and raise funds to meet the budget. Consult the previous year’s team leader for figures and do the best job possible.