Rubio del estado Tachira, Venezuela

February 2007

Contact Wayne Cramer

847-201-8311

847-489-8703

wayne.cramer@sbcglobal.net

How much does it cost and how do I pay?

 The cost of the trip is presented as a highest value of $2,000.00.  This includes all travel, room and board, materials, administration, and travel insurance.  The actual cost may be lower and will be adjusted as we get closer to the date of the trip.

 Here’s the breakdown of due dates:

 $100.00 (deposit) due by September 9, 2006

$400.00 due by October 7, 2006

$500.00 due by November 11, 2006

Note: These are hard figures required to pay for airline reservations.

$500.00 due by December 16, 2006

$500.00 due by January 20, 2007

Note: these last figures may change as the total cost of the trip may go down.

 Contributions for your trip can be sent directly to:

Andean Aid

P.O. Box 190

Antioch, IL 60002

All contributions are tax deductible and we will track individual accounts for the trip.

 What is the itinerary?

 We will leave Chicago O’Hare at 7:30 PM on continental Friday, February 2, 2007.  The flight arrives in Houston at 9:51 PM where there is a two hour layover.  We then leave Houston at 11:55 PM and arrive in Caracas at 6:46 AM.  Our connecting flight to the Andes leaves at 12:30 PM for Santo Domingo del Tachira airport arriving at 1:35 PM.  A bus or car ride will get us to Rubio at 3:00 PM to meet our host families and get settled in for the evening.

 Returning we will leave Santo Domingo del Tachira airport at 1:55 PM on Saturday, February 17, 2006 arriving in Caracas at 3:00 PM for an overnight at a hotel.  We’ll leave Caracas at 10:00 AM arriving back at O’Hare at 6:22 PM (after a layover and customs check in at Houston).

 What is the mission of the mission?

 Our goal is to build basic block homes for women raising their families alone.  We will be traveling as tourists (turistas) and we are a construction team.  As with any cross-cultural mission flexibility is the keyword.  Our hosts may ask us to do some things outside the scope of our mission and we will make a decision then whether to divert our efforts.

 A second objective is to build relationships and encourage and support the local church in the Rubio area.  We will most likely be asked to participate in a variety of events.  A local language school, operated by a Christian, which teaches English has asked that we have a dinner with the students to give them practice with actual English speakers.  Local churches will expect us to worship with them on Sunday and mid-week services.  It will be a busy time.

 What do I need to prepare for the trip?

 You will need a passport that is not expiring within six months from the date of the trip.  In other words, if your passport expires between February 2007 and August 2007 you will need t6o update your passport.  You will also need a yellow fever inoculation.  This can be obtained from a travel health clinic or some hospitals.  Make sure that your tetanus shot is up to date.  There is no problem with malaria in this part of Venezuela.

 Because everyone is busy and we are widely separated geographically most of our preparation will take place via e-mail.  We will also use our travel time to Venezuela to cover last minute details.

 What do I need to take with me?

 I’ll send out a concise packing list well before the trip.  Basically you will need several sets of work clothes and several sets of “nice” clothes for church and events.  The nice clothes can be Dockers and short sleeve collared shirts.  Take cotton clothes.  You are allowed two suitcases weighing no more than 50 pounds and a carry on as well as camera or computer.  We may take excess baggage for items supporting the ministry in Rubio.  You may be asked to save room for some of these objects in your luggage.

What is the climate in Rubio? (political and weather)

Rubio is at an altitude of 3600 feet in the tropical Andes Mountains.  This means that there are high peaks but covered with tropical vegetation.  Coffee is a major crop in the area.  The coldest it will get in February is about 65 degrees F.  The daytime temperature rises to about 90 degrees F.  Because it is so near the equator, the sun seems to hang directly overhead for much of the day.

 Rubio is also about twenty miles from the Colombian border.  Some of the problems in Colombia spill over into Venezuela.  The State Department has an outstanding travel advisory against traveling closer than fifty miles from the Colombian border.  This advisory was in effect when I lived there for a year.  I will receive information frequently from our hosts and the mayor’s office to avoid any problems.

 How will I communicate?

 A smile crosses all borders.  Some of our hosts speak some English.  You will be living in pairs in a Venezuelan home for two weeks – essentially becoming part of their family.  This may be challenging for you but God will see you through.  My guess is that they will be like family the rest of your life.  If you know some Spanish give it a try.  Believe me, it will be greatly appreciated.  This will be an outstanding opportunity to learn some Spanish.

 What are the cultural taboos?

 I can’t possibly list them all but I’ll give you a few now and we’ll cover more later:

-         Don’t point!

-         Don’t call a papaya a papaya – in Venezuela it’s a lechosa.  The word papaya has a filthy meaning.

-         Don’t call a young woman señora.

-         Don’t wait in line to be served – the second coming will arrive and you’ll still be in line.

-         Don’t tip (propina) in a restaurant – it’s in the bill (la cuenta).

-         Don’t tip cab drivers.

-         Don’t offer to help clear the table or help with dishes at your host home.

 What about team worship and study?

 We will have devotional and sharing time each day.  Since we’ll be staying in different homes we may have to adjust to the situation such as siesta time at the job site.