FAQs:

TRIP DATE:

June 24 – June 29 (Many people are arriving June 23^rd  and staying after the 29^th to vacation)

FLIGHTS:

The service takes place in Guayaquil, Ecuador so the Guayaquil International Airport (GYE) is the ideal airport to fly into.  If you plan to travel to Quito after the service days, it may be a good idea to fly home from Quito.  It is a 7.5-hour drive or a domestic flight to get back to Guayaquil.

*Note: In the past an exit tax has been required for each traveller that is paid separately from your flight ticket. According to EcuadorTravel.info, that fee is $25. 

IMMUNIZATIONS:

The easiest way to get all the vaccines you need is to go to your health department and tell them you are traveling to Ecuador.  Unless you plan to go to the jungle, you do not need Yellow Fever or Malaria vaccines.  Hepititis A and Typhoid are recommended because those diseases are spread through contaminated food/water.  The water in Ecuador is still not purified countrywide.  In restaurants and hotels, you will most likely be fine…but beware of holes in the wall, street vendors, and well-meaning home-cooked meals.  Click on this link to the CDC website for more info.

SERVICE PROJECTS:

1. Upgrades/repairs to a local school (Adding ceiling and fans to classrooms, painting school, adding cover over courtyard)

2.     Repairs to FAHUM’s Community/Tutoring Center

3.     Dental Treatment for children & future missionaries

4.     Dental Hygiene Education/Waiting Room Craft

5.     Home upgrades for 2 elderly widows

HOTEL DETAILS:

FRI 6/23        Guayaquil Temple (If we serve there on Saturday, we can stay on the grounds for a few dollars.  Men & women separated into dorms)

· Temple is 2.3 miles away from the airport, a short taxi ride 10 minutes tops. 

•       Temple Address - Calle 6ta y Avenida Rodrigo Chávez González Principado de las Lomas Urdesa Norte, Guayaquil

•        

SAT 6/24 – THUR     6/29  Courtyard Marriott, Guayaquil

·      Avenida Francisco de Orellana 236, Guayquil

Located in Francisco de Orellana Av, a new commercial area, just five minutes from the airport and within walking distance to fine restaurants, shopping malls and business buildings.

Ø  Go to this link to reserve your rooms at a discounted rate ASAP!

TRIP SCHEDULE: (to be finalized)

FRI 6/23 (PM) or SAT 6/24 (AM)  – Arrive at Temple or Marriott Hotel

(You are responsible for securing transportation from airport to temple/hotel *see above)

SAT 6/24 -  Baptisms for the dead (early afternoon)

                        Fireside (evening)

SUN 6/25 – Attend ward of your choice

Fireside and Adopt-a-Missionary (evening)

Mandatory meeting for all (after fireside)

MON 6/26 - THURS 6/29 – Service Days

FRI 6/30 -     Vacation!  Everyone goes their separate ways to tour the country or travel home (most stay the weekend to tour Cuenca or Quito areas)

MONEY:

Personally, we bring a credit card, a debit (there are ATMs to get cash), and some cash, just to be safe.  Ecuador currency is the dollar so no need to exchange.  Tip: split your cards and $ up among husband/wife in case of loss or theft. Keep a record of card numbers and photo copies of passports tucked away just in case.

STAYING HEALTHY:

Water is still not purified countrywide so you’ll need to be careful so you don’t get sick.  In the nicer restaurants and hotels you are fine to just order off the menu.  Be more cautious in holes in the wall and off the streets.  Rule of thumb: boil it, peel it, bake it, or forget it! If it comes in a sealed wrapper, it’s fine. If it’s scooped from a 5 gallon bucket, hmmm….

STAYING IN CONTACT ON THE TRIP:

In Ecuador communicating:

Option #1: Bring an unlocked phone with a SIM card slot and buy a pre-paid SIM card in Ecuador.

Option #2: Buy a cheap phone and DIM card with minutes in Ecuador

Option #3: Contact your cell phone carrier about a 1-month international plan

Contacting the U.S.

Int'l plan or turn off data & use your phone in wifi like an iPod

DRIVING DISTANCES:

Guayaquil to Cuenca 3.5 hrs

Guayaquil to Quito 7.5 hrs

POTENTIAL TOURING LOCATIONS:

Ø  Cuenca, European city in the Andes.  Highly recommend if you’ve never been.  The drive from Guayaquil to Cuenca takes you through Cajas National Park, a journey through several landscapes.

Ø  Quito, foothills of the Andes and capital of Ecuador.  Near Otavalo’s traditional Saturday market (must see).

Ø  Baños, waterfall and lush greenery

Ø  Puyo and the Orient, up close and personal with the jungle and sleeping in a cabana at Flor de Canela Lodge

VACATION HOTEL SUGGESTIONS:

Please everyone add to this list

Otavalo (near Quito) - La Posada del Quinde, walking distance form Saturday market

Cuenca - Alejandrina Hotel

Puyo – Flor de Canela lodge

DON’T FORGET:

•          Passport (must not expire within 6 months of return flight)

•          Temple Recommend

•          Youth Temple Recommend

STAYING IN THE KNOW:

Ø  Facebook page – MBMS Humanitarian Ecuador Trip 2017

Ø  Return of the Gringos blog

Ø  Reply to informational emails

It’s going to be great!  Please share questions, comments, concerns!

Saludos!

ECUADOR 2017 is here 

We are a few short months from an amazing trip. 

Please fill out sign up form below so that we can get a proper head count

https://goo.gl/forms/WzsVPtydgjCGyd8r1

ECUADOR TRIP DATE ANNOUNCED!

June 23-30, 2017

If you haven't confirmed with Abe yet, get on the attendee list by emailing him at abecubano@gmail.com

Planning is in full swing.  A scouting team will be heading to Ecuador in September to assess where we can do the most good.  More info to come. Until then...start saving and MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

A little light reading..

If you want to get excited (as if you aren't already), read the article published on lds.org about our previous trip.

https://www.lds.org/church/news/former-missionaries-return-to-ecuador-to-serve-twenty-years-later?lang=eng

Baggage Policy on COPA Airlines

**24 kg = 50.7 lbs.

Restricted periods

The following regulations apply to boxes, items that exceed size or weight limitations or are in excess of the baggage allowance during the periods indicated below:

July 1 – Aug. 31 Dec. 1 – Jan. 31	Copa Airlines will not transport pieces not covered by the allowed baggage policy, perishable food, overweight or oversized baggage, registered cases in the hold, packages or packaging of irregular shape.

July 1 – Aug. 31
Dec. 1 – Jan. 31

Copa Airlines will not transport pieces not covered by the allowed baggage policy, perishable food, overweight or oversized baggage, registered cases in the hold, packages or packaging of irregular shape.

See https://www.copaair.com/sites/cc/en/informacion-de-viaje/pages/condiciones-generales-de-equipaje.aspx for more info

Travel Insurance

For those who are interested in travel insurance, here's a link to one we have used before.  

http://www.gringosabroad.com/travelinsurance

Quick story:  Janae came to visit us and within minutes of stepping away from the car, everything in the car was stolen--ALL HER LUGGAGE!.  Thanks to travel insurance she was able to recoup her losses with only a little out of pocket.  Just something to think about...

We are not requiring it, and if you want it it is your responsibility to get it and pay for it.  But we wanted to take the research out of it and make it easy for you.  :)

Vaccinations

Hopefully you already have your passports in hand and you can now focus on vaccinations.  The best way to be properly covered for a trip to South America is to visit the CDC website on Ecuador http://www.cdc.gov/ and to ask your local health department what you will need.  

Some things I've learned:
Typhoid vaccine - Guards you against Typhoid Fever that can be spread through contaminated food or water.  There are 2 options, an injection or a series of pills.  Both need to be done 2 weeks BEFORE you leave.  More details at  http://www.cdc.gov/nczved/divisions/dfbmd/diseases/typhoid_fever/

Sadly, the water in Ecuador is not yet safe to drink so you need to be careful. Buy bottled water, avoid risky food and drink and remember:  "Boil it, cook it, peel it, or forget it."

Yellow Fever Vaccine - Yellow fever is found in tropical areas in South America and many airlines will require you to have the vaccine before boarding the plane if you are traveling to at-risk areas (such as the Orient.)  Call your airlines and check out this link http://www.cdc.gov/yellowfever/  to be sure.  Twice we have been denied getting on a flight for not having it so they are very serious about it.  You must bring the yellow fever card as proof (not a copy or picture of it) if it is required.

ASAP Take your family and vaccination cards to the health department and ask them what you are missing.  With the nurse you can decide what your family needs depending on your travel itinerary.  (Note: I have been able to get some vaccinations from our doctor's office, but always end up at the health department for typhoid and yellow fever.)