• Initial questions regarding dates, setting up your team, the process of building a home
• Invoice and payments including refunds
• Change in team members
• Change in how many homes you will be building
• Change in dates
• Making sure team members have completed an online registration
• Help on using our registration system

• Food, housing, transportation
• Special requests while on the campus
• Recipient Family related questions
• Anything regarding the team schedule/agenda

We have two styles of housing on campus:

1. 1. Family style where each room has a combination of two queen beds, twin bed or bunk bed
   2. Dorms style which sleeps 6-8 people in bunk beds

The accommodation on each campus depends on the package you have chosen:

• • San Antonio Del Mar
    1. Standard : Dorm
    2. Standard Plus : Dorm or Family
    3. Deluxe : Family

• • Ensenada
    1. Standard : Dorm
    2. Standard Plus : Hotel
    3. Deluxe : Hotel

• All rooms have their own bathrooms.
• We do try to accommodate families based on available housing but there are no guarantees.
• Dorm rooms will be assigned by gender.
• Both campuses and all our build sites are alcohol-free, smoke-free and drug-free.
• The cost of the hotel is an extra cost to the team. The fees will not be reduced as accommodation is only a small part of the team fees. We can book your hotel for you, but teams will need to settle their own hotel bills directly with the hotel.

• Your safety is a top priority.
• Each of our campuses have 24-hour security on the grounds.
• Our staff follow the required health regulations when preparing food.
• We are subscribed to announcements from the State Department and the Customs and Border Protection Agency so that we can quickly and effectively adjust to any real change in the US policy in the region.
• We are in close contact with the Consulate who will let us know in advance of any developments with regard to safety.
• We have the latest Travel Update on our website.

• Group based — Everything we do is done in groups. People are never sent alone to do anything here.
• Staff Participation — Each group has at least one YWAM staff member with them at all times.
• Local knowledge — We know the area well and avoid unsafe areas. We also work together with local pastors and community leaders.
• Communication — YWAM staff members have cell phones so we are able to communicate with one another as needed while working.
• Hours of operation — Our work primarily takes place during daylight hours. We employ night watchmen at both our campuses.

The tap water is not safe to drink.

However, bottled water is provided on the build site and at our campus. The food, prepared by our staff, follows standard health regulations.

The beaches in Mexico are beautiful, but there can be strong rip currents, and swimmers may find themselves being pulled out. Experienced swimmers are able to deal with this, but those not used to the ocean may panic and not know what to do. Since there are usually no lifeguards, swimming is a risk that each individual assumes.

We also recommend that no swimming in the ocean should occur a minimum of three days after any rainfall. Sewage overflow into the ocean is common in Mexico during rainy times.

• ALL team members (no matter what age) require a passport that is valid for at least 6 months after the date of entry into Mexico.
• As you will be crossing an international border to get into Mexico, you may be required to pass through Customs and obtain a Mexican Tourist Card/Visa.
• Your Team Contact will send you a link to complete the visa online as well as more information on how to complete it.

We suggest your packing be restricted to one medium-sized suitcase and one carry-on bag only. Please note that these are only suggestions.

Personal Items

• toiletries (shampoo, toothbrush, etc.)
• camera
• moist towelettes or wipes
• sunblock, a hat, and sunglasses
• work gloves
• We provide bedding so you can leave your sleeping bag at home

Suggested Clothing

• work clothes (if wearing shorts, modest length)
• work shirts
• work shoes (closed-toed shoes required)
• casual clothing for dinners
• light jacket or sweater (it feels chilly in the evenings to most people)

Be prepared to get your clothes very dirty or paint stained at the work site!

Click here to see a sample itinerary for the weekend.

We recommend looking online for the forecast of the days you will be here. As both of our campuses are located near the ocean, on average it is warm during the day and chilly at night. It rarely rains, but rain can occur during the winter months of December – February.

• Each of our campuses in Mexico have WiFi available.
• When you arrive, you will see the Guest Network and your YWAM Host will have the password available.
• Some people have cell phone plans that provide data coverage in Mexico. You will want to verify this because it can be expensive to run data in Mexico if your plan does not extend there.

Safety Roles for Each Participant

• Adults
  • One parent is required to teach the Safety Guidelines to all your children and work alongside any child under 14.
  • Set an example for all — it is expected and “ok” for you to intercede tactfully when you see others of any age working in an unsafe manner.

• Youth 16–18 Years Old
  • Know all safety rules.
  • Only operate power tools when parents give approval, when you have been specifically assigned to and trained on, and ONLY when you are under adult supervision.

• Youth 12–15 Years Old
  • Know all safety rules.
  • DO NOT OPERATE ANY POWER CUTTING TOOLS (drill okay).
  • Work alongside at least one parent or assigned adult at all times.

• Youth Under 12 Years Old
  • Know all safety rules.
  • DO NOT OPERATE ANY POWER TOOLS.
  • DO NOT GET ON THE ROOF.
  • Work alongside one of your parents at all times.

Safety Commandments

• Operate only power tools you have been specifically assigned to, or trained to use.
• Use safe lifting/carrying techniques:
  • Lift with your knees, not your back.
  • When carrying long or awkward objects, have a helper assist you and carry the object by the ends to avoid accidents.

Power Tool Safety

• Never wear gloves, loose jewelry, clothing, or long, loose hair while operating power tools — they may get caught in the power tools and pull you into danger.
• Always wear safety glasses.
• Know what is on the other side of what you are cutting or drilling — if you can’t see, check and assign someone to monitor the other side.
• Use only the “Sawsall” reciprocating cutter to cut out the windows of upright walls — the circular saw poses too much danger when used to cut out windows.
• Stop using any power tool that is missing guards, is dull, or has frayed electrical parts.

Chop Saw Safety

• TRAINED ADULTS ONLY.
• Never cross your hands in front of a moving blade.
• Wait until the blade comes to a stop before moving your hands or the work piece.
• Support both ends of the work piece in case it unexpectedly shifts after cutting it.
• Wear safety glasses.
• Do not wear gloves, loose jewelry, loose hair, or loose clothing.

“Skill Saw” (Circular Saw) and “Sawsall” (Reciprocating Saw) Safety

• TRAINED ADULTS ONLY.
• Never cut objects laying on the ground — saw may snag on the ground and “run away” from you.
• Use only sharp blades.
• Never cut something you cannot have monitored on the opposite side.
• Wear safety glasses.
• Do not wear gloves, loose jewelry, loose hair, or loose clothing.

No. We provide all the materials and tools required for the build.

At the build site, there will be clean porta-potties and hand sanitizer for your team to use.

• The family you are building for will be allocated two to three weeks before your arrival and their profile will be posted on our web site and on your registration dashboard.
• We have an extensive process to select the families we build for. They must meet the following criteria:
  • Have rights to their land: either own, or be making payments towards it
  • Have children under the age of 18
  • Earn less than $100 USD per week
• Families who meet the above and have an immediate need for shelter are given the highest priority.
• A family with extenuating circumstances, i.e. medical condition, may also be considered.

During the second day of the home build, we take the family along with a few of the team members to go shopping. This trip is usually for groceries and other items that the family needs. We ask the team members if they would be willing to give money toward this gift. Whatever money comes in from the team members is the amount the family will have.

This is optional, but a vast majority of the teams want to give towards this special time.

• We have a variety of extra items that teams can purchase as an additional way to help out the family.
• There are no expectations either by the family or by YWAM.
• We prefer a team pays cash during the build for these add-ons but they can also be added to the invoice.
• Your Team Contact can give you ideas of which extras may be helpful to the family
• Some add-ons may need to be delivered after the build depending on when it is ordered.

Payment #1 : Securing Your Build Date
30 days from registration, a $1000 deposit per house being built is due

Payment #2 : Reserve Team Housing
60 days before your arrival, a $75 non-refundable deposit per person is due to secure your housing.

Payment #3 : Final Payment
The total balance of all fees for the group is due 30 days prior to your arrival. This will be your final payment. We rely on teams to make this final payment 30 days before because we have several costs before a team arrives. Some of the costs include food, the lumber package, the concrete slab poured, hardware, and other expenses that we incur before the team arrives. We thank you in advance for having your invoice paid 30 days before your arrival.

United States

1. Online:
   • Payments can be made directly through your HOH Dashboard
2. Checks:
   • Please make payable to:
     YWAM San Diego/Baja
   • Include the team name on the memo line
   • Mail checks to:

YWAM San Diego/Baja
P.O. Box 5417
Chula Vista, CA • 91912
USA

Canada

1. Checks
   • Please make payable to:
     YWAM San Diego/Baja
   • Include the team name on the memo line
   • Mail checks to:

Youth With A Mission Society – Mexico
P.O. Box 1574
Cochrane, AB • T4C 1B5
Canada

Outside the US and Canada

• If you are outside of the US and Canada, please contact the Registrar for Wire Transfer details.

• A “charitable trip letter” is available within your HOH Dashboard for each participant to file with their taxes along with any expenses related to your charitable trip. The letter documents the dates of participation.
• We suggest each person consults their own tax advisor for any specific advice when filing a deduction for this trip. The IRS publication about Charitable Trips can be read here (refer to pages 4 and 5 for information related to travel deductions).

• No! Please don’t!
• We are unable to process funds raised through Facebook fundraisers.
• Facebook does not let us know who funds are from.
• Facebook does not include specific options we require, such as a team designation.
• You are welcome to use the built-in fundraising function on our system or other fundraising platforms like FunRaise. Please contact the Registrar for more details on this.

• Any individual team member’s deposit and/or fees will be fully refundable up to 30 days prior to their arrival, after which the $75 deposit will be non-refundable.
• No refunds can be issued 30 days before a team’s arrival.
• Refunds will only be processed after the build.
• Any refund requested due to an emergency outside of the refundable time period will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Please contact the Registrar regarding such cases.
• We can only make refunds to the donor. Before making the refund, the tax receipt will either need to be returned to us or we will need a written statement to say it will not be used as a tax deduction.