It is always exciting to receive church groups from the United States . We would love to share our ministry with you. Over the last ten years we have hosted many short term mission trips. We welcome you to contact us about this unique and fulfilling opportunity. Mission trips are a blessing to everyone involved and will prove to be an unforgettable life changing experience. Some of the activities which groups have participated in have been Vacation Bible School , English classes, and work projects such as painting and building a park. Many of the activities depend on the dynamics of the groups itself and any special skills of the members. More detailed travel information can be found below.

 

 

MVM Mission Trip Travel Information

All of us at MVM are looking forward to your upcoming visit. In order to prepare you a little bit more for your visit we would like to give you a few suggestions so that you will know what to expect and what to bring. Hopefully, this will help you in your planning and preparation and make your experience here even more fulfilling and enriching. The following is a lot of information, but we think you will find it very useful!


Location

The MVM campus is located in the state of Mexico about 2-3 hours west of Mexico City by car or 80 kms. We are located in the mountains at an altitude of about 9,600 ft. So we do caution vigorous activity until you have become accustomed to the high altitude. The sun, although you might not realize it, is very intense. We would advise a hat, sunscreen, and lots of water to protect you from severe sunburn and heat exhaustion.

Climate

The climate at the MVM campus is characterized by warm days (65-75 F) but chilling nights and mornings (35-45 F). So be prepared for all types of weather. Frost is very common from November through March. We would recommend layering clothes during the day and bringing a sleeping bag, although we do have extra blankets here for your use. Sweats are also nice to bring for sleeping if you are prone to getting cold at night. If you arrive during the months of May-October be prepared for rain. Rooms are made of concrete and there is no heating system.

Customs/Language

Shaking hands upon arrival and departure is a very strong custom among the Mazahuas. A person may feel ignored and offended if not greeted with a handshake. Here are some common greetings:
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Buenos Dias	Good Morning
Buenas Tardes	Good Day
Buenas Noches	Good Evening/Night
Mucho Gusto	Nice to meet you
Hasta Luego	See you later
Adios	Good Bye
Que Le Vaya Bien	May Everything go well
Que Dios Le Bendiga	May God Bless you

Mazahua is the indigenous language spoken in this region although Spanish is the predominant language, especially among the younger people. Most people can understand and speak some Mazahua, but it is becoming less widely spoken.

Religion

We minister in an area which is divided among Catholics and Evangelicals. Most of our ministry is carried out among the Evangelicals who prohibit the consumption of alcoholic beverages and smoking, therefore we ask that you recognize and respect this and refrain from smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages during your time here as you may be endangering ties which have taken 15 years for us to develop. No Alcohol or Smoking, Please!!! Most of the people we minister to belong to Pentecostal churches. Their services are characterized by lots of singing, clapping, and praying. Do no be surprised if you are asked to share a song or greeting. Always be prepared. Skirts, below the knee, are a must (for women)!! Because of the climate we recommend that women also bring nylons.

Dress

We would appreciate it if you would take into consideration the culture here and dress conservatively and casually. Culturally, shorts are considered inappropriate, although you may want to pack a pair just in case you have a chance to visit a beach or water park. As mentioned before, layering your clothes is a good idea. Bring a sweater and jacket. It is ok to wear jeans. A good pair of walking shoes is also advisable. Pack Light!

Food and Water

As to food and water we suggest lots of common sense and Pepto Bismol. Potable water is not safe t