What to Expect

Working together each day. Being patient with room and work assignments, and with other people. Not wasting food, water, etc. Carefully using and keeping track of tools and equipment. Making friends, neighbors, and Christians in San Felipe, BCN. Devotionals, singing, and praying morning, evening, and as needed. It is a rustic desert setting—there will be dirt, sand, sunburns, scrapes, and sore muscles. Please pay careful attention to the list below so you will have what you need.

For local info and weather, see: http://www.sanfelipe.com.mx/

What to Bring Besides Your Passport

• Old clothes & shoes (that protect feet) – t-shirts, sturdy shorts, jeans (see what not to bring)

• 2 pairs of work gloves (labeled with name)

• Hat (you might want; sweatband, bandana to cover neck)

• Sunglasses (cheap)

• Swimsuit, flip flops, beach towel

• Sunscreen

• Lip balm w/sunscreen

• Sleeping bag; cot, or air mattress

• Fitted twin sheet to put over mattress

• Mark all bags with name in large print

• Personal water bottle (labeled with name using permanent marker)

• Pillow, towels, washcloth

• Personal toiletries

• Bible

• Flashlight, batteries

• Snack food for travel days

• Money for gas, motel, meals while traveling, and souvenirs (opt)

• Hard-working, cheerful attitude

• Travel tip: Pack necessities for the first night in a small bag for the motel; may have to leave your luggage bag in a vehicle or trailer.

What Not to Bring

Revealing or immodest clothing—no strapless, low necklines, bare midriffs, low-rise pants, short shorts (4 inch inseam, please), tank tops that don’t reasonably cover shoulders and armpits, etc. No inappropriate graphics on t-shirts. We are representing a church and want to make a good impression.

• Firearms, alcohol, drugs, etc.

• Food in cabins/tents (ants!!)

• Large amounts of cash

• Jewelry, cameras—own risk

• Electronics in cars, cabins, tents—laptops, games, etc.; anything too expensive to risk being stolen or destroyed by heat, sand, etc. — own risk

Days Inn by Wyndham Banning

Address: 2320 W Ramsey St. Banning, CA 92220

Phone #: 951-267-9118

We are still required to complete, print, and carry an FMM form with us.

The site you’ll go to is crossborderxpress.com

The form asks some basic questions and for passport/pass card information.

Follow the directions, fill out the form, and print it out. You’ll also get a confirmation sent to your email. I suggest printing it out in color. Print the confirmation out also. You will not be paying any tourist tax because we won’t be staying longer than 6 days.

Here is some information you’ll need to know to fill in the form:

• Means of entry: by land

• Point of entry: Mexicali II

• Date Arrive: 22/03/2026

• Departure Date: 27/03/2026

Trip information:

• Reason: other

• Specify: Religious Ministers

• State: Baja California

• Address in Mexico: San Felipe, BC, Mexico

All other sections of the form should be straightforward and easy to understand.

Everyone driving a vehicle on the trip must purchase their own Mexican Auto Insurance liability coverage. Covering your vehicle with Comp & Collision may also be a good idea; contact your insurance agent for assistance. The company we have used for years, Lorenz Insurance in Calexico, has policy applications online at www.mexusinsurance.com (be sure to type the “us” part, or you will get another company) — they can email or fax your policy to you. There are many others, even Costco; consult your insurance agent for advice. Be sure to print your policy before the trip, especially the information and phone numbers to use in case of an accident.

If you want collision/fire/theft coverage for your vehicle (and trailer, if applicable), be sure to have VIN, make, model, and tag numbers handy, and be prepared to enter the Blue Book value (or estimated depreciated value of trailer) on the form. For trailers, bring the registration or proof of ownership with you on the trip in case anyone needs to see it.

If you are entering and leaving Mexico with the rest of the group, you will need to enter the following information with your application for insurance:

Date and time entering Mexico: SUNDAY, MARCH 22, AT 12:00 NOON

Date and time departing Mexico: FRIDAY, MARCH 27 AT 12:00 NOON  (This means leaving San Felipe at 9:00 am or earlier.)

If you want to stay later on Friday, you will need to pay for an additional full day, as this policy applies to 24-hour periods. If you have a problem and need to extend coverage, you should be able to call the agency and purchase additional coverage. Some people have had to do this, and the policy was sent to their email, which works well, especially if you have a mobile phone and can access it. If you are in doubt as to what time you want to leave San Felipe, it might be worth it just to enter your latest expected departure time and pay for the extra day.

You may have coverage through your own auto insurance. You may have to pay a small fee, but it's worth checking out.