Total Cost:  +/- $1,200 per rider (see last page for details)

Purpose:  pray for the people of Mexico, specifically in the spiritual “heart of darkness” in central Mexico, network with local motorcyclists to build evangelistic relationships

Distance:  approximately 3,000 miles total round trip from Oklahoma

Route: OKC, DFW, Austin, San Antonio, Laredo, Nuevo Laredo, Monterrey, Saltillo, Matehuala, San Luis Potosí, Guanajuato, León (also considering an alternate route along the gulf coast inside Mexico)

Passport Required: yes (VISA will be acquired at US/Mexican border)

Travel Insurance Required: yes (group insurance will be obtained by Jim Griffin through Adams and Associates International)

Mexican Vehicle Insurance Required:  yes (can be obtained individually through San Xavier agency in Arizona use this web site to get a quote: http://www.mexican-autoinsurance.com/quote-req.html)

Monday 11 Oct – Travel from OKC to San Antonio

Tuesday 12 Oct – Travel from San Antonio to Laredo, register vehicles and obtain VISAS, continue to Saltillo

Wednesday 13 Oct – Travel from Saltillo to León

Thursday 14 Oct – Day trip to Lagos de Moreno and San Juan de Los Lagos, prayer ride and walk the towns

Friday 15 Oct – Day trip to San Miguel de Allende, prayer ride and walk the town

Saturday 16 Oct – Day trip to Guanajuato, prayer ride and walk the town

Sunday 17 Oct – attend worship in León, rest for ride home

Monday 18 Oct – Travel from León to Saltillo

Tuesday 19 Oct – Travel from Saltillo to border, process vehicles, continue to San Antonio or beyond

Wednesday 20 Oct – Travel to Oklahoma

As a participant on this trip you will join hundreds of other believers who have labored in the harvest in central Mexico.  For several years, Oklahoma Baptists were in a formal partnership with this part of Mexico, and sent many teams to pray, distribute gospel literature, host events, and do whatever it takes to initiate and nurture new church starts.  Many Oklahoma churches have continued their work since the formal partnership came to an end.

Prayer, our primary purpose on this trip, is foundational and essential to church planting.  We will pray as we ride the roads and walk the streets, interceding on behalf of people who are held captive by a system of religious beliefs that offers no hope other than at the end of one’s life their good deeds outweigh their bad deeds so they will be acceptable to God.  We know the truth – that none are worthy of forgiveness or salvation, that it is only by God’s grace and mercy that we can have a personal relationship with Him through Jesus Christ.  We go to deliver that life-giving message, and to literally set captives free.

Please begin praying early and often about this trip.  Pray for the Mexican people with whom you will share personally the life-changing Gospel message.  Pray for your Mexican Baptist brothers and sisters who are working in an environment hostile to the truth.  Pray for the missionaries.  Most of all, pray that the spiritual ground you till will be fertile and the seeds you plant will bear much fruit.

Experience has proven that you will be more effective if folks back home are praying for you before you leave and while you are in Mexico.  Some short-term missionaries recruit personal prayer partners.  These are people who covenant to pray faithfully for you while you are in Mexico.  They should pray for physical, emotional and spiritual protection and provision.  They should pray earnestly and consistently.

In central Mexico, October tends to be dry and warm, cool in the evenings.  There will be plenty of bugs along the highways.   Most of the roads between the border and León are near interstate quality; some stretches will be under construction.  There are several toll stops along the route.  Terrain from Nuevo Laredo to Monterrey is equivalent to south Texas – flat, dry, lowlands covered with scrub brush/mesquite.  From Monterrey to Saltillo – just a short drive – the elevation will go up by several thousand feet.  South of Saltillo is a mountain pass that tops 8,000 feet.  Beyond the pass is high desert – 6,000 to 6,500 feet elevation - very dry and can be very warm.  Hydration and sun protection are important.  There are fuel stops at regular, close intervals even though there are few towns of any size between Saltillo and San Luis Potosí.  Cold drinks and snack food will are available at the fuel stops.  Some stops will have full-service restaurants.  Traffic is light to moderate along most of the route.

León is a modern city of 2 million with everything available.  Traffic is heavy in the city, and extra caution is necessary while riding as a group.

The area is known as the spiritual “heart of darkness” of Latin America, and is also referred to as the 10/40 Window of Latin America.  Syncretized Catholicism is the predominant belief system.   “White witches” are common, and the people live under the influence of superstition.  They are much more spiritual than North Americans, but their spirituality is misguided.  Spiritual barriers are difficult to break down so that the ground can be prepared and gospel seeds sewn.  Prayer is the key to breaking down those barriers.  Our primary focus will be to attack spiritual strongholds through effective, fervent, targeted, strategic prayer.

Elevation sickness is common, during which you may feel dizzy, out of breath and generally tired.  Tell your missionary or team leader, drink lots of water, take it easy and rest when you need to.

Generally, the following are items that you will want to bring:

·         comfortable walking shoes

·         loose-fitting, light-colored layered clothing

·         hats or caps, especially for the ‘hair-impaired’ or sun-sensitive

·         sunscreen and lip balm

·         diarrhea medicine (use with care)

·         upset stomach medicine (Pepto-Bismol tablets are ideal)

·         constipation medicine

Your US debit and credit cards can be used at ATMs to obtain Mexican Pesos.  Remember to note your PIN. You can also exchange US Dollars for Mexican Pesos at banks and change houses.  You cannot cash personal checks in Mexico.  It is best not to bring travelers checks as they are difficult to change because they are easily counterfeited.  Small denomination cash and debit cards work best.

Tobacco use can be considered a poor witness, especially by our national brothers and sisters in Christ.  If you must smoke or use smokeless tobacco, please do so discreetly and as infrequently as possible.  If there is any question as to the appropriateness of tobacco use in a specific situation or setting, please consult the team leader for guidance.

Alcohol use is not appropriate at any time on this trip.

Cross pendants are usually worn only by Catholics in Mexico, and can cause some confusion for national believers.  They are best not worn.

·         Lodging will be in modern hotels, some to US standards, some not quite.  South of the border I’m working hard to ensure protected parking so that motorcycles and a support vehicle will be secure at night.

·         Food en route and on site will be at restaurants.  North of the border you’ll be accustomed to.  South of the border maybe not so much, but still very appetizing.  Many American chains are prevalent throughout Mexico – Pizza Hut, Subway, KFC, McDonalds, etc.   We’ll eat at some places you will recognize.  You’ll also have some new experiences, one of which will be authentic Mexican food – not Tex-Mex like most of us are accustomed to.

Assumptions:

o   3 days en route each direction, 4 days in central Mexico (headquartered in León)

·         First night in San Antonio TX

·         Second night in Saltillo, Nuevo León, Mexico

·         Third through sixth nights in León, Guanajuato, Mexico

·         Seventh night in Saltillo, Nuevo León, Mexico

·         Eighth night somewhere in Texas

o   3,000 miles total driven

o   $3 per gallon average fuel cost

o   Average motorcycle gets 40mpg; support vehicle gets 15mpg

Ø  Fuel                                                       $225

Ø  Food                                                      $200

Ø  Hotel                                                     $280

Ø  Mexican VISA fee                            $25

Ø  Vehicle Registration                        $30

Ø  Mexican Vehicle Insurance          $95 - $175  (depends on value of vehicle)

Ø  Personal Travel Insurance            $40

Ø  Tolls in Mexico                                  $100

Ø  Miscellaneous                                   $100