Honduras and Costa Rica Info!!

HONDURAS/COSTA RICA INFO!!!!!! (COSTA RICA IS AT THE BOTTOM!!)

Hey Guys

      Here are some reminders copied from Tyler’s email!!! What I feel is most important will be highlighted, this does not mean the other stuff isn’t important so do not ignore them!!

* Flight entry / customs forms: Everyone will receive 2 forms on the plane before you land in Honduras.  MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A BLUE/BLACK INK PEN WITH YOU ON THE FLIGHT TO FILL OUT THESE FORMS ... AIRLINES DO NOT HAVE ANY TO GIVE YOU. The forms are going to ask you some questions... here is what you will need to put down:

1) Purpose of visit: Tourist

2) Foreseen address: Villa Gracia, KM 8.3, El Hitillo, Tegucigalpa

* When going through the Honduran Customs booth, they will take a photo of you and scan your finger print. 

* They will staple a yellow form into your passport... this is your "visa" for your stay... do not tear it out or loose it!!!!!  VERY IMPORTANT

* When you check in at the airport they will give you stubs for your luggage.  DO NOT LOOSE THEM!!!!  YOU HAVE TO HAVE THEM TO CLAIM YOUR BAGS IN HONDURAS.  VERY IMPORTANT. (They normally staple them into the envelope that has your boarding passes)

* Wear your Torch tee shirt.  It will make it easier for us to find you in Tegucigalpa at the airport.  There will be a lot of people at the airport and the yellow shirts will help identify you in the crowd. 

* Handle your own bags.  Once you have gone through Customs you will enter the baggage claim area.  Find your bag(s) and proceed to the huge scanner / X-Ray machine (you can't get by it... they will stop you if you try). This is where they will ask for your baggage stubs so that they can compare them to the ones are your bag(s). Before you get here, make sure the numbers/names on your bag match the numbers/names on your ticket stubs. You will then proceed through the glass doors (glass wall) into the main terminal.  Lots of people will want to help you carry your bags, but politely say no thank you and keep a tight grip on your bags They will even say Terry sent them!!!  Do not believe them!!!!!!!!.  Keep control of your bags and roll them yourself.  Torch team members will be waiting in the terminal and will take care of getting you and your luggage to our buses.  The "volunteers" who try to help you want a tip for their services.  

*Be prepared to have $20.00 converted into Honduran limperias when you reach the bus.  You will be able to use that money to eat lunch and go to the grocery store. We will stop at the grocery store on the way up the mountain to Villa Gracias so that you can buy stuff to make lunches with for the first couple of days.

* Most stores will take American money (nothing larger than a $20.00) but they will give you change in Limperias. 

* Make sure to have close toed shoes on when you get off of the plane... no sandals or flip-flops.  There is a chance we might have a project going on and you might go there to work before going to the grocery store.

* Housing assignments are made before we arrive.  We are assigned certain rooms to use before we get there.  other groups will be staying at the Mission House (Villa Gracia) besides us so we have to abide by our rooming assignments.  Groups are mixed and mingled together on purpose to help get people to meet new team members right away.  Please be flexible.

* Media fast: we are asking EVERYONE to adhere to the media fast.  Media fast means no use of cell phones, computers, IPads, etc. except during designated times.  The media fast helps keep people plugged into the trip and not friends and family back home.  We will have media days when you can use your phones and computers (we even have laptops to use if you didn't bring one). 

Media days include:

1) Day of your arrival... let people back home know you made it safely ***Side note here: If someone arrives on a day that is not a designated media day, they will be able to use the computer.  We will have a sign up.  You will not be aloud to use for a long time, only long enough to send messages back home. If there are any questions regarding this feel free to talk with me Brandy about it.  The media fast is put into place so we can focus on what God is sending us to do.  Trust me, you will not miss it if you are 100% into the mission!!!

2) June 23; June 26; June 29; July 3. 

3)  Along with the media days, we will be sending out a daily blog to keep people back home informed about the daily events taking place.  The blog address is:  www.childrenoftheking.blogspot.com  The blog will also have Brandy Barnett's email address in case anyone back home needs to get a message to a team member.

*The bug spray CACTUS JUICE does pretty well against the bugs in Honduras if you're looking for a good insect repellent to take along.  MAKE SURE TO BRING BUG SPRAY!!! 

*Many of you are already bringing along supplies, but if anyone would like to bring along some supplies for Daughters of the King, here are some items that we could use: Lice Shampoo, Nail Polish, Hair Ties, Spray In Detangler, & Chapstick

1. Make sure everyone in your group knows that there is a 50 pound weight limit on bags. ***Before you leave check your airline to verify weight, and fees!!!!

2. Please stress the dress code with your groups (both males and females): no sleeveless shirts, no short shorts, no spandex (as the most exterior layer), no low collars on shirts, closed toed shoes, etc. [If you have questions about what is appropriate and what isn't, contact Margaret Reeves]

3. We recommend $112.00-$207.00 for spending money. We will be eating out a few times, so folks will need to have cash for that as well as for any gifts they want to buy. 

4. Remind your group of the media fast.  We will have several days where folks will be allowed to use the internet to communicate to folks at home... just not everyday.

5. Eye protection and gloves MUST BE WORN if they are going to build

7. If you are bringing money for the work fund or any final payments MAKE SURE YOU BRING IT IN CASH.... NO CHECKS!
8. If you have anyone with military IDs (including family ID's), please remind them to bring their military ID's with them on the trip to get discounted exit fees.
9. The VBS team is asking everyone to bring at least 1 box of crayons with them.
10. Taylor Sullivan will be coordinating volunteers to help with devotionals so if you have gentlemen in your group who would like to volunteer to lead prayers, singing, or speak at a morning devo, please email me their names so that I can forward them on to Taylor. 
11. Please remind your groups to be flexible and patient with us down there. We may ask them to do a lot of "hurry up and wait," or we may have to change plans on the fly. It makes the trip go really smooth if everyone just goes with the flow and doesn't get frustrated when we have to do this.

Costa Rica

For Costa Rica, a number of things will be repeated, but trust me it is important. 

      Here are some reminders copied from Tyler’s email!!! What I feel is most important will be highlighted, this does not mean the other stuff isn’t important so do not ignore them!!

* Flight entry / customs forms: Everyone will receive 2 forms on the plane before you land in Honduras.  MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A BLUE/BLACK INK PEN WITH YOU ON THE FLIGHT TO FILL OUT THESE FORMS ... AIRLINES DO NOT HAVE ANY TO GIVE YOU. The forms are going to ask you some questions... here is what you will need to put down:

1) Purpose of visit: Tourist

  ***I’m not sure about the address as of right now, I know it is the Best Western but that is all I know. I will bet it to you before you leave I promise!!!

*Keep everything you get in customs!!  I cannot remember if you have to have it when you leave so just keep EVERYTHING.  When you get your baggage claim info when you check in, keep it because they might check to see if your bag matches that info.  Bottom line take care of your own bags!!!

*Wear your TORCH SHIRT when you travel to Costa Rica!!

*We do not exchange money in Costa Rica just about everywhere we go will take American money, but will give you back Colon (Costa Rican Money) #notsureaboutspelling #yesijustusedahashtag.

*Housing assignments will be made before we get to Costa Rica

** Media fast: we are asking EVERYONE to adhere to the media fast.  Media fast means no use of cell phones, computers, IPads, etc. except during designated times.  The media fast helps keep people plugged into the trip and not friends and family back home.  We will have media days when you can use your phones and computers (we even have laptops to use if you didn't bring one). 

***The bug spray CACTUS JUICE does pretty well against the bugs in Honduras if you're looking for a good insect repellent to take along.  MAKE SURE TO BRING BUG SPRAY!!! 

1. Make sure everyone in your group knows that there is a 50 pound weight limit on bags. ***Before you leave check your airline to verify weight, and fees!!!!

2. Please stress the dress code with your groups (both males and females): no sleeveless shirts, no short shorts, no spandex (as the most exterior layer), no low collars on shirts, closed toed shoes, etc. [If you have questions about what is appropriate and what isn't, contact Margaret Reeves]

I can't wait to see those I haven't seen in a while and meet the new ones coming!!!!  

In Him,
Brandy B