DEADLINES March 31 Mission Trip Applications due online $250 non-refundable deposit due May 16 Balance Due

HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS Vista Real Hotel, Guatemala City, Guatemala

GUATEMALA COUNTRY and CULTURE A country of striking features and a strong indigenous culture, Guatemala's natural beauty and powerful identity stand in stark contrast to its bloody past and troubled present.Mountainous, heavily forested and dotted with Mayan ruins, lakes, volcanoes, orchids and exotic birds, Guatemala is one of the most beautiful countries in Central America. Its indigenous population, the Maya, make up about half of the population. Mayan languages are spoken alongside Spanish, the official tongue. Many Guatemalans are of mixed Amerindian-Hispanic origin. Guatemala's beauty and strength of identity have not been accompanied by cohesion and prosperity. In 1996 it emerged from a 36-year-long civil war which pitted leftist, mostly Mayan insurgents against the army, which - backed by the US - waged a vicious campaign to eliminate the guerrillas. More than 200,000 people - most of them civilians - were killed or disappeared.Despite an official finding that 93% of all atrocities carried out during the war had been committed by the security forces, moves to bring those responsible to account started only after a long delay. Guatemalans live in one of the most inequitable societies in the region. Poverty is particularly widespread in the countryside and among indigenous communities. Illiteracy, infant mortality and malnutrition are among the highest in the region, life expectancy is among the lowest and, in common with many of its neighbours, the country is plagued by organised crime and violent street gangs. It is a major corridor for smuggling drugs from South America to the United States. Despite talks and international mediation, a long-running territorial dispute with neigbouring Belize remains unresolved. Guatemala lays claim to thousands of square kilometres of land. Capital: • Guatemala City Size/Area: • 42,042 sq miles Population • 14.7 million Time Zone • GMT Language(s) • Spanish; indigenous languages Religion • Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Maya-Catholic fusion Currency • Quetzal (Q) Voltage • 115V-125V Type of Government • Representative democracy Current Leader • Oscar Berger Perdomo Compulsory Education • 6 years Literacy • 70.6% Holidays: • Semana Santa (Holy Week - the week before Easter) • Chichicastenango in December Eating • Tortillas and beans are typical foods. • Tortillas are sometimes used to scoop up the food, and Guatemalans may eat more with their hands than with utensils. • They keep their hands above the table during the meal. • Eating habits are different between urban and rural populations. • Coffee and sweet breads are typical afternoon treats. The People General Attitudes: • “No tenga pena” (don’t worry) Personal Appearance: • People in cities dress similar to Western-style clothing. • The Mayan people are known for their brightly colored yarn-based woven textiles; • many villages (about 500) have their own distinctive pattern, making it possible to identify a social position and hometown. Greetings: • When people meet for the first time, they typically shake hands. Women may kiss each other on each cheek. Gestures: • Pointing with the finger or hand is usually inappropriate as it can be misinterpreted as vulgar. • To point, purse your lips in the direction of whatever you’re drawing attention to.

TRIP ITINERARY Trip details are still pending and will be available soon. Continue to check back to the trip manual for upcoming details about your trip.

TRAVEL WARNINGS For up-to-date travel warnings, please click here to visit the U.S. Department of State website.

IMMUNIZATIONS Some immunizations may be required. We recommend that you call your personal doctor and let him or her know the dates and regions of your travel. He or she will be able to give you the needed immunizations based on your personal medical history and your travel itinerary. You can also consult the Center for Disease Control (CDC) website for additional information regarding travelers’ health. If you need to paste the link into your web browser, the link is: http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/destinationIndia.aspx Your local “County Health and Human Services” department may also have the necessary immunizations, or you can research to see if your community has a medical clinic geared towards traveler’s health. If you live in the Dallas area, a good resource is the North Texas Travel Medicine Center. You can reach them by phone at 214-247-4444. If you need to paste the link into your web browser, the link is: http://www.tripvac.com

RAISING SUPPORT Tips and Frequently Asked Questions • People who make financial contributions for volunteers traveling on a mission trip will receive a receipt for their donation. As a volunteer who is paying your own way on a mission trip, a significant portion of your cost may be tax-deductible. Please consult your personal tax advisor with respect to tax deductions. • Keep track of your donations for your personal records: list the donor name, mailing address and amount received. Our Missions office will also keep an account of your donations so that we can double-check records, in case anyone mails a donation directly to us on your behalf, or if you have any questions, etc. • Remember to send each donor a personal thank-you note and trip update upon return • We accept trip payments in the form of credit cards and checks. Checks Checks should be made payable to “Orphan Outreach” If you receive a check payable in your name, you must sign the check over to Orphan Outreach by signing your name AND writing, “For deposit only to Orphan Outreach.” This allows us to send a tax receipt to your trip supporter. Mail the collected checks in an envelope with a note that states your name and mission trip code. Mail the checks to: Orphan Outreach ATTN: MISSIONS 7616 LBJ Freeway, Suite 560 Dallas, TX 75251 Credit Cards You can make a payment towards your trip ONLINE. Simply click here to go to our “Make a Donation” page and click the link to make a trip payment. If one of your trip sponsor’s wants to use a credit card to make a donation towards your trip, simply direct them to the “Make A Donation” page on the Orphan Outreach website and they can select the button to sponsor a trip participant ONLINE. ** Please Note: Orphan Outreach is charged a 3% fee on all credit card donations. A 3% convenience charge will be added to all credit card payments. Cash DO NOT send cash through the mail. Instead, send a money order for the total cash amount that you have received. Include an itemized list of each donor name, mailing address and amount given so that tax deductible receipts may be issued. If you write a personal check on behalf of donors that send cash, you will receive a receipt but we will not be able to send a receipt to your donors. Fundraising Ideas: • Tell everyone you know what you are doing and how they can help • Write personal support letters explaining your mission and fundraising goal • Speak to your church, businesses or groups that may have a special interest in your trip • Offer to do yard work, housework, errands or other chores for donations • Host a craft sale or bake sale • Start a money jar • Host a garage sale for your neighborhood or church with donated items • Host a fundraising dinner for friends and share about the needs of the orphan children • Host a dinner at your church and charge admission. Share about the needs of the orphan children and culture in which you will be serving. • Work at a sporting event concession

PACKING INFORMATION • Passport • Paper ticket or E-ticket • Bible and devotional reading • Money for souvenirs (please take clean, new large-faced bills) • Money belt (money, passport/visa, and ticket will be kept on you at all times) • Phone numbers, addresses, email addresses of family and friends • Camera, film, batteries, chargers • Small packets of tissue • Antibacterial hand cleanser and wipes • Travel alarm clock • Prescription drugs for entire length of trip (place in carry-on luggage) • Over the counter medicine (cold & cough, upset stomach, pain relief, Tylenol PM) • Toiletries (shampoo, soap, toothbrush & paste, personal hygiene items) • Everyday clothing • Comfortable pair of shoes • Eyeglasses/Contact Lenses (with extras for emergency) • Snacks that withstand travel and heat • Small flashlight with batteries • Currency Converter cheat sheet (www.oanda.com) • Safety pens/travel sewing kit for emergencies • Book/magazines for airplane • Locks for luggage (at the hotel); luggage cannot be locked through airport security NOTE: no adapter/converter is needed as Guatemala uses the same voltage and outlet plugs as USA Everyday clothing: • khakis, jeans, t-shirts and sweatshirts are fine for the orphanages • Layering clothing is best • Pack one change of clothing in carry-on luggage Humanitarian Aid Items to Collect and Pack: • Backpacks • Candy to pass out to the children • Small toys for the children IMPORTANT: • We need large quantities of the same item so all the children receive something the same (ex. 50 small race cars, 50 bottles of nail polish, 50 yo-yos, etc) • Please bag items in zip lock bags and mark the bag with the quantity (ex 100 pencils) Baggage Allowance Each person is allowed 2 checked bags (not exceeding 50 lbs); please use 1 bag for personal luggage and the other bag for humanitarian aid You are allowed 1 piece of carry-on luggage and 1 personal item (such as a small purse, camera bag or laptop bag)

INSURANCE Orphan Outreach purchases secondary insurance for each trip participant traveling with us on a mission trip. The cost of the secondary insurance is included in your land cost. Information completed in your application (such as listing your designated beneficiary) is used by our missions office to purchase the insurance. Your trip leader is trained to know what to do in case of emergency and will carry the needed documents during your trip. Adams & Associates International has developed a plan for volunteers on an international short-term mission trip while on active service with Orphan Outreach. The insurance purchased for the short-term mission trip is a secondary insurance that, for example, covers lost or stolen baggage all the way to emergency medical evacuation. In case of an incident, the trip participant will need to pay charges then get reimbursed through Adams & Associates after filling out the proper claim form after the mission trip. Please see below for a brief summary of the coverage which outlines some of the features of the policy. INSURANCE BENEFITS FOR Orphan Outreach A&AI Travel InsuranceAmerican International Group, in cooperation with Adams & Associates International® (A&AI), has developed a package of benefits for you while you are overseas and while in route to and from your assignment. (The Property Insurance is underwritten by Chubb).The coverage provides a basic level of Personal Accident Protection, Permanent Total Disability and Property Insurance and is not intended to replace any personal insurance that you may currently have. SUMMARY OF COVERAGES - PERSONS AGES 13 TO AGE 69 Accidental Death and Dismemberment — Principal Sum: $100,000 Disability Income, per month for 1st through 100th months, Accident: $1,000 per month for 101st through 200th months, Accident: $500 per month for 4th through 54th months, Sickness: $250 Medical Expense, $100 deductible Note: $2500 of this benefit can be used to meet eligible medical expense incurred in the US. Medical, Legal, Passport and Baggage Assistance see AIG International Services Summary (formerly AIG Assist) Emergency Medical Transportation $75,000 Repatriation of Mortal Remains $7,500 Family Coordination $15,000 Property & Baggage Insurance, $100 deductible, per family unit (Chubb) $2,500 SUMMARY OF COVERAGES - PERSONS AGE 70 & OVER, AND, CHILDREN Accidental Death and Dismemberment — Principal Sum: $10,000 Medical Expense $10,000 Note: $2500 of this benefit can be used to meet eligible medical expense incurred in the US. Medical, Legal, Passport and Baggage Assistance see AIG International Services Summary (formerly AIG Assist) Emergency Medical Transportation $75,000 Repatriation of Mortal Remains $7,500 Family Coordination $15,000 Property & Baggage Insurance, $100 deductible, per family unit (Chubb) The Property Benefit does not apply to children. $2,500 * In case of emergency, obtain required documentation of the incident during your trip. * Note the two emergency numbers (your trip leader will carry these numbers with him or her and will follow the emergency policies and procedures): 1-800-626-2427 (Call collect outside of the U.S.) 713-267-2525

PASSPORTS [Copies of Passports due to Orphan Outreach by March 31, 2008] The Passport Services Office provides information and services to American citizens about how to obtain, replace or change a passport. A passport is an internationally recognized travel document that verifies the identity and nationality of the bearer. A valid U.S. passport is required to enter and leave most foreign countries. Only the U.S. Department of State has the authority to grant, issue or verify United States passports. New Application for a U.S. Passport To obtain a passport for the first time, you need to go in person to one of over 9,000 passport acceptance facilities located throughout the United States with two photographs of yourself, proof of U.S. citizenship, and a valid form of photo identification such as a driver’s license. Acceptance facilities include many Federal, state and probate courts, post offices, some public libraries and a number of county and municipal offices. There are also 13 regional passport agencies, and 1 Gateway City Agency, which serve customers who are traveling within 2 weeks (14 days), or who need foreign visas for travel. Appointments are required in such cases. You’ll need to apply in person if you are applying for a U.S. passport for the first time: if your expired U.S. passport is not in your possession; if your previous U.S. passport has expired and was issued more than 15 years ago; if your previous U.S. passport was issued when you were under age 16; or if your currently valid U.S. passport has been lost or stolen. For more information on getting a new passport, please visit the U.S. Department of State website or visit the link "How to get a passport". Renewal of a U.S. Passport You can renew by mail if: Your most recent passport is available to submit and it is not damaged; you received the passport within the past 15 years; you were over age 16 when it was issued; you still have the same name, or can legally document your name change. You can get a passport renewal application form by downloading at the U.S. Department of State website. If your passport has been, altered or damaged, you cannot apply by mail. You must apply in person. For more information on how to renew a passport, please visit How to renew a passport page.

MISSIONS BOOKS AND DEVOTIONALS Transforming Ventures: A Spiritual Guide for Volunteers in Mission [Ives, Jane.] Let the Nations Be Glad [Piper, John]

TRAVEL RESOURCES Weather • Dry season (November-April) • Rainy season (May-October) Visit www.weather.com for the weather conditions while you are in Guatemala. Currency Exchange Rate Visit www.oanda.com for the latest currency exchange rate in Guatemala. Bible Verses translations Visit www.unbound.biola.edu for Bible Verse translations. Country, Culture, History and Language Visit the following links for more information about Guatemala: www.latinworld.com www.studyspanish.com www.languagehelpers.com www.worldfactbook.com/country/Guatemala/2006 www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/destinations/central-america/guatemala www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guatemala

Orphan Outreach is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization. Donations and contributions are tax-deductible as allowed by law.