SIMS Mexico weekend mission outreach

Your weekend activities begin with this orientation meeting. The time you spend preparing and organizing over the next few days will make the trip a success.

The following information will be helpful for you to enjoy your weekend to the fullest:

Purpose: To provide both participants and recipients with service opportunities for spiritual growth and cross-cultural interaction within a primary health care setting.

Cost: $45.00 per LLU student or $80.00 per LLU student and spouse, or $55 for non-LLU student. This covers transportation, food, and lodging. This is non-refundable and must be paid in full with CASH ONLY (no checks), by the Wednesday evening of trip orientation; late payments are not acceptable.

Bring:

Identification: For U.S. citizens: a passport or birth certificate with driver's license. For non-U.S. citizens: a passport and visa or resident alien card (REMEMBER: you MUST have a multiple-entry visa to reenter the U.S.)
Clothes: Wear modest church clothes on the trip down. Summer and Spring are similar to temperatures in Southern California, but bring a sweater/jacket for the evenings. Late fall and winter, can be very cold so bring lots of warm clothes. Wear scrubs if you have them, while student physicians should bring lab coats.
Instruments: Medical students should bring otoscopes, stethoscopes, blood pressure cuffs, etc. Dental students must bring their hand pieces (hi/lo speed) and other teeth cleaning instruments.
Sleeping bag and pillow: You may bring a foam pad as you may be sleeping on the floor.
Toiletries: Plan on not taking a shower.
Musical instruments: For devotionals or Saturday night
Bible
Spanish/English dictionary
Writing utensils
Mosquito repellant (during warmer months)
Flashlight/Headlamp
Water bottle (purified drinking water is available for the trip down and while working)

Accommodation: Usually church building, so bring sleeping bag, pillow, and sleeping pad.

Prepare: A 2-5 minute health education/disease prevention presentation. This trip is more than just distributing medications and pulling teeth; we'd like to prevent some of these problems. Plan to give your presentation sometime during clinic hours on Sunday. Visual aids are a great idea, and we'll get someone to translate for you if necessary. If you need any help coming up with a topic or idea, please feel free to ask one of the SIMS staff members.

Thank you SO MUCH for participating in this weekend mission outreach! We hope this experience proves to be a real blessing to you and an educational experience one as well!

Delegation of tasks

Trip coordinator

Make sure all participants, food, and supplies are accounted for when leaving and returning.
Start-up and shut-down site and equipment at the beginning and end of the trip.
Organize activities on Saturday night to prepare newcomers for taking physical exams, medical histories, and vital signs.
Be available to deal with emergencies, answer questions, etc.
Post and record needs on the "Inventory needs list."
Record trip expenses and activities (keep all receipts, please) in the appropriate folder.

Driver (must be an LLU employee)

Fill in the "van use trip record" at the beginning and end of the trip.
Make sure registration is in the glove compartment of the van and is back in after the trip.
Empty the vans completely upon return (this includes picking up any trash).

Food

Buy necessary food supplies for trip (ask coordinator).
Make sure SIMS food contribution gets to potluck/lunch hosts.
Assist local cooks as necessary with meals and meal organization.
Set out breakfast items if necessary and make noon snacks available on Sunday.
Note supply needs (cups, bowls, spoons, etc.) on the "Inventory needs list."

Front desk

Speak at least intermediate level Spanish.
Determine whether patient is at the clinic for medical or dental reasons.
Find previous patient files or start new ones.
Update/organize files as time permits.
Note front desk supply needs on the "Inventory needs list."

Translators

Assist during church and kids programs as necessary.
Accompany preceptors and students during dental/physical exams.

Equipment Coordinator

Help fit all equipment and personal luggage into vans.
Make sure nothing is left in Mexico at the clinic or any other place where our belongings are unpacked.
Help take things back into the SIMS storage upon arrival to LLU.

Worship Coordinator

Organize a group devotional time on Saturday night and before clinic on Sunday morning.
Pull resources and talents- music, skits, Bible games, testimonies, etc. from the group.

Health Education Coordinator

Meet with and help participants plan health education presentations/activities.
Make sure all participants have a chance to give their presentations.

Medications/Supplies

Pack/load containers into van, unload at site, and return containers/used supplies to SIMS.
Organize meds in pharmacy on site.
Record meds/supplies needed by preceptors and pharmacy on the "Inventory needs list."

If you have a job that is completed before the end of the trip, you are expected to fill in with other responsibilities. Teamwork is key here. Also, if you would like to rotate during the weekend with various tasks, feel free to ask someone to switch with you or join them. Do not just abandon your duties.

Weekend schedule

Note: Times are approximate and will depend much on site, season, and patient load.

Saturday:

6:00 a.m. (ENSENADA) Meet at the parking lot below the SIMS office

9:00 a.m. Stop before the Mexico border to get gas (Last stop on US side)

11:00 a.m. Arrive at site for church. Please respect that church may be in session when we arrive. Unload from the van very quietly and quickly find a seat in the church.

11:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. Worship with church.

12:30 - 1:30 p.m. Enjoy authentic Mexican food at potluck or in people's homes!

1:30 - 6:00 p.m. Preparation for Sociedad de Jovenes (Kids' vespers program, about 1-1.5 hrs), hang out time with students/faculty participants, music, hiking to the rocks or La Bufadora, pass out flyers advertising clinic. ( The afternoon is VERY flexible and depends on site and weekend.

6:00 p.m. Dinner

7:00 - 9:00 p.m. review and prepare for clinic, R & R

9:00 p.m. Tone it down--we have an early start tomorrow morning!

Sunday:

6:00 - 7:45 a.m. Get up, personal devotional time, breakfast, final clinic set up time

7:45 a.m. Group worship time--the real source of our energy

8:00 a.m. (Ensenada) Leave for clinic, set up and see patients, take turns getting a snack around noon, return to church

2:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Clean up and pack van--yep, all of us!

2:30 - 3:00 p.m. Late lunch

3:30 p.m. Leave for LLU

9:00 - 9:30 p.m. Arrive back at the parking lot behind SIMS

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