Special thanks for so many wonderful Blessings,

Here was the itinerary as originally planned 

Depart for Manila October 16-17 (Arriving Oct 17-18)

Mission trip Officially starts October 18

*Day 1-2 depending which day you arrive

Oct.17-18 Relax, swim, sightsee, shop and eat. (on your own) Everything is in walking distance 1-5 minutes

Stay at The Elan Hotel Greenhills ($70-80 per night for 2pp includes breakfast)

*Day 1 –Wednesday  Oct.18  Dumpsite Project 

6:30-8 Breakfast

8am Depart for Rizal Dump site project 1+ hour drive

Stop along the way at a local store for water and treats

Visit with 75 families including many children on the dump site (hiking uphill involved)

Serve lunch to everyone

Lunch for AAI at local church (outside)

Return to hotel 3-4pm

Free night before we leave for SOTH

*Day 2 Thursday Oct.19 Depart for Shepherd of the Hills 

8am Depart for Shepherd of the Hills (SOTH)

11:20 Lunh in Olongapo (Max’s Resto besid  Newstar Shopping Center)

1:00 – 3:30 – Shopping at Newstar

4:00 pm – Depart for SOTH

5:00 pm Welcome party from the children and introduction of SOTH

7:00 PM  Dinner

10PM – Goodnight – Sleep

*Day 3 –Friday  October 20

7:00 am Breakfast

8:00 am – 9:30 AM – Market 

10 am – 11:30 – Camp Orientation / Groupings, Flag Designing

12 noon – Lunch

1:30pm – 5 pm – Station Race

7PM – Dinner

8:30 pm – Team Practice ( Yell/stomp)

10 pm Goodnight sleep

Day 4 – Saturday October 21

7:00 AM Breakfast

8:30 – Travel to Beach ({unta de Uian or Canoe)

9AM – 12:00 – Team Performance – (Yell.Stomp), swimming- volleyball

Noon – Beach Lunch

2:00 PM – 4:PM Animal Relay – swimming- volleyball

5:00 PM Back to SOTH

8:00 – 10 PM Awards, Bonfire (Elijah play by SOTH)

*Day 5 – Sunday October 22 

7:00 am Breakfast

8:30 – Sunday Church Service

10AM – Noon – Dental

Noon – Lunch

1PM – 3PM Dental

3PM to 6PM – Hiking or distribution of gifts.

7 PM Dinner

8:00 PM Farewell Program includes singing and dancing!!  The best night.

*Day 6 –  Monday October 23 

Early morning river walk

Breakfast – Good byes to everyone

9:30 am Leave for Manila

Arrive in Manila 3-5pm Hotel Elan Greenhills

Free night (Dinner not included)

*Day 8 – Tuesday 

Depart for home (arrive the same day as we depart)

For more information, please contact:

Cheryl Robinson AAI Regional Director

517-599-4095

hdchey@netscape.net, Cheryl.robinson@airlineamb.org

April Trip – 2016 Here is a video made by a youth Ambassador Kyle VanDerVelden about the April trip

and Cheryl’s touching thank you letter!

I want to say thank you for making this trip to the Philippines so wonderful.  I hope you all had a good time and made lots of lasting memories.  This is a very special trip for me, and I’m glad you all wanted to share it.  The children are so awesome and will always remember us.  Every time we go back they always ask about the previous Aunties and Uncles.
  I want to thank everyone for all the wonderful donations that you brought.  The kids really seemed to love their new things.  The Abatex project was so thankful for everything, they have never received so much before.  Of course the peanut butter was a big hit as usual.  Plus all the baking items.
  When we visit we always do an activity, this time we did several since we had such a large group.  They asked and I said yes.  They never get a chance to do many outings unless someone sponsors them so this was a huge treat for them.
    I appreciate everyone’s enthusiasm with the children….this is what it’s all about.   This trip was the largest group so far and I think it went very well. 

Thanks to you all for making it so special.
All my love to you,
God Bless and thank you again,
Cheryl

Mission trip for S.Africa
If you would like to experience the joys and love of some wonderful children in Johannesburg S.Africa then please join us on our second mission trip.  We will be helping at a Daycare center for children who are too young to go to school.  While their parents are looking for work or working for very low wages the children have the chance to attend this Daycare free of charge.  It was started by a wonderful lady; Maria who gives her life to helping children.  She also has an orphanage where we will go and help with what is needed, and enjoy a fun party the last night with them.  Something as small as ice cream is a big treat… So we’ll make sure that they will have a few treats from us.

You can secure your spot for $100, or pay the balance of the Mission:  Click Here 
This is non refundable and will be used as a donation if you can’t join the trip.
The remainder of the money will be needed 2 weeks before we depart.

Dates of the trip are:
July 26-July 29
Staying at a guest house with full amenities
Helping the children : After our breakfast leaving at 9-10 am until before dinner.
Our day will include many activities, projects and helping where it’s needed.  Full itinerary will be available soon.

Cost:$575 includes everything from transportation, food, lodging (shared), all the activities and the last night party at the orphanage with the children.  Also included is a donation to help with the feeding program.
Extra ($60) fee if you would like a single room.

July 30-Aug. 1
Safari for 3 days and 2 nights with everything included, transportation food and game drives.  Adult beverages and tipping extra.
Cost for Safari is $550

Please feel free to call or email me about any questions you may have.
Thank you in advance,
Cheryl Robinson
517-599-4095
Cheryl.robinson@airlineamb.org
Hdchey@netscape.net
26-29 helping children at the day care center and orphanage
July 30-Aug.1  3 Day Safari (as a group or you can arrange your own)

Click Here for Safari Details 

 

We welcome you to join us on a Central American mission to bring aid to needy people of Guatemala.  The Dreamer Center for Community Development works hand in hand to improve the living conditions of the poorest families in Guatemala. God’s Child Project in Antigua along with Mayan Families in Lake Atitlan area in Panajachel Guatemala.

Among our projects to visit are the Dreamer Center for Community Development, enjoy an informal picnic with the children and their families. Volunteer in their center.

Enjoy cuddling and helping to take care of the babies at their new Baby Hospital. Along with a ribbon cutting ceremony.

Meet the Mayan people of Guatemala and their most precious ancient customs while enjoying the most beautiful Lake Atitlan in the South, nestled between volcano’s and mountains.

God’s Child Project www.godschildproject.org is a non-profit charity based in Antigua Guatemala.  And Mayan Families is a non-profit based organization based in Panajachel. More information is available at www.mayanfamilies.org.  

Here is a video highlighting our projects there

 To Participate in a Mission:

• Please fill in this registration form.  It asks you to make a $200 donation to the mission.
• You must be also an Airline Ambassador Member.
• If necessary, please renew your membership or join Airline Ambassadors in our Membership Section.
• Each participant will be required to sign a Release Form prior to the trip. Please download your Release Form and return it to us.

Marie Rivard is the mission leader for this mission and see this letter from her:

Welcome to each of you and thanks for your interest in helping children and families in Guatemala!

We will each pay for our own costs but we ask that each participant make a donation of $200 (use the form linked above)
Each mission participant will pay a tax deductible $200 in advance to Airline Ambassadors which covers the following;

Transportation from Guatemala City to Panajachel on March 27^th and from Pana to Antigua on March 30th and from Antigua to the Hilton Garden Inn Guatemala City on March 31^st, the last day.

Transportation costs to Mayan Families projects while in Panajachel, services of translators and Mayan Families staff on visits to Mayan Families projects.

Donations for Industrial Washing machine for Casa Jackson.

Appliances for the The Scheel Center.

Food basket for student’s family at the San Antonio Preschool.

 Guatemala Mission Itinerary 

Day 1 Sunday, March 26th 

Fly to Guatemala & meet all participants at airport. If people arrive early they may take the shuttle onto the Hilton Garden Inn. Rooms are in my name, Marie Rivard.

 Day 2 Monday, March 27th 

Breakfast at Hotel. Pick up at 9-9:30 am to drive to Panajachel, on Lake Atitlan, arrive in Panajachel around 1:00pm.

Hotel Posada de los Volcanes Lake Atitlan Check In.

www.posadadelosvolcanes.com and have a late lunch DT Pana At Deli Lama.

Tour of Mayan Families facility, Preschool and Sewing Center on site.

Go back to Hotel Prepare donations.

101 Hygiene Kits for the Elderly Center.

And prepare for 46 students at the San Antonio Preschool.

Dinner DT Panajachel

Relax and see the sunset on Lake Atitlan at Sunsets Café.

 Day 3 Tuesday, March 28^th

Breakfast at Hotel

Travel to San Jorge where Elderly Center is. Hand out 70 Hygiene Kits and help pass out lunch meals to the Elderly. There are another 31 Elders at another Center in San Jorge, we would like to include them also. Mayan families will distribute them.

This is the only meal they get daily. They receive it Monday through Friday. Many have been abandoned by their families because they cannot afford to feed them.

They are now feeding orphans at the Center. I can’t wait to meet them.

Spend time with the Elders and the Orphan’s.

Dinner in Panajachel

Day 4 Wednesday, March 29^th

Breakfast at hotel

Ride to San Antonio Nutrition Center and Preschool

Deliver donations. Set up the Angel of Hope.

Distribute Angels of Hope T-Shirts to all children.

Do a Teeth Brushing class.

Visit a Preschooler’s home and deliver a food basket!

30 days worth of food for a family.

This Preschool will be supported as an on-going sustainable project with AAI.

We will support them early in the year with January missions to distribute school backpacks, school supplies and hopefully sponsorships.

On-going building project to help serve more children through time. And on future missions we can choose the most needy of families to donate the food baskets.

Feel free to donate an extra food basket to a needy family. $40

Day 5 Thursday, March 30th

Breakfast at Hotel

9-9:30am Travel to Antigua … 2 hours

When we arrive in Antigua, we will check into

Casa Buena Vista Hotel www.casabuenavista.com

Late Lunch at Cacao Museo in Centro Park Square.

We will walk to The Dreamer Center, “La Asociacion Nuestros Ahijados”.

Four blocks down the Road To San Felipe!

Tour facility and projects. Tour of Casa Jackson Baby Hospital for mal-nourished babies. See Industrial Washer.

We may go to the store and purchase small appliance if not already done.

Play with and Help with the babies.

There were two other participants, Summer and her son Brock, Flight Attendant with AA, they could not make our dates so they will go ahead of time (March 17th-21st) to distribute 6 – 50 lb. bags of baby formula.

This is an on-going program AAI will support. We are hoping to support supplements for a Casa Jackson feeding program with FMSC Manna Packs and Potato W Super Nutritious Food for starving children by sending containers of food supplements to La Asociacion Nuestros Ahijados and Mayan Families to share in their projects.

We have been invited to Dinner with “The Dreamer Center” to celebrate the Casa Jackson opening.  

 Day 6 Friday, March 31th

Pick up at 9:30am for ride to The Scheel Center, (School for street children)

Deliver guitar and recorder.

Distribute appliances, activities and games with the children, help serve lunch.

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at La Asociacion Nuestros Ahijados

Around 6pm, we will go back to Guatemala City and stay at the Hilton Garden Inn.

Day 5 Saturday, April 1st

Breakfast at Hotel, Fly home.

Please let me know if you have any other questions or special needs.

Please click on attached links where you can read information on the non-profits and projects we are visiting.

Trip Costs

Hotel Costs:

Hotel costs are paid individually by each mission participant:

With the exception of the Hilton Garden Inn: Guatemala City, Guatemala

I am employed by the Hilton Mpls, MN.

I get a special rate. The rates are different for each room. They range in price from $45 to $110. I am splitting the total room fee by 7 participants on March 26^th, which will be $40 each.

March 31^st I will split the rate by 6 so that will be $45 each.

Thank You I appreciate that!

And both of those nights we will have to share a room with another participant. Susan and her daughter will share a room. Lori and myself will share a room and so it is up to Karen, Mimi or Beth to share a room.

I have booked 4 rooms the first night and 3 rooms the last night.

All rooms booked are double beds.

This is the only time we will have to share a room on this mission.

I do try to make it as in expensive as possible for everyone!

 Hotel Posadas de los Valcanos – 3 nights X $45 (single room) includes tax, resort fees and breakfast $135 (credit cards not accepted at this Hotel so please bring cash)

Hotel Casa Buena Vista – 1 nights X $60 (single room) includes tax, resort fee and breakfast.

$80 (double room) includes tax, resort fee and breakfast.

Takes credit cards and cash.

Hotels will include 1 bottle of water per day.

At the projects in Antigua you may fill up your bottles from their filtered water bubblers.

*Optional add-on packages for area sightseeing available through Mayan Families.

 Additional Costs during trip:  $200 Mandatory Tax deductible donation ( made by clicking this LINK)

Each mission participant will pay $200 in advance to be used for :

Transportation from Guatemala City to Panajachel on March 27^th and from Pana to Antigua on March 30th and from Antigua to the Hilton Garden Inn Guatemala City on March 31^st, the last day.

Transportation costs to various Mayan Families projects while in Panajachel, services of translators and Mayan Families staff on visits to Mayan Families projects.

Donations for Industrial Washing machine for Casa Jackson.

Appliances for the The Scheel Center.

Food basket for student’s family at the San Antonio Preschool.

Donations to bring: 

Please bring two large checked bags of aid.

Each participant should bring:

For the Elderly Center

15 draw string cloth bags

15 Bars of Soap

15 Wash Clothes

15 Hand Towels

15 combs, large and small

15 Tooth paste

I have 300 tooth brushes

1 bag of hard candy

You can get a lot of this stuff at the dollar store.

If you happen to run across small cloth bags to help make Hygiene Kits, please let me know.

 For the San Antonio Polapo Preschool

All School supplies for a pre-school.

Pencils

Note books.

Crayons

Colored pencils

Erasers

Sharpener

Small blunt scissors

I’m putting a hold on school backpacks until the January mission.

But still need school supplies for the Pre-school.

 Funds:

In the event you have issues using the ATM, we recommend you bring $300 – $400 in US currency in addition to your Donation. Or whatever amount you are comfortable carrying. Be advised most merchants will not accept bills that are marked or ripped, especially $20 bills. We also recommend you bring some $1 bills which are good for tips. Dollars will work in some restaurants/stores, but in volume you will want to convert your dollars to Quetzales, which you can get at ATMs or at the hotel (usually not as good an exchange rate). Bringing 2 ATM cards could alleviate a situation where one doesn’t work. We recommend you bring a money belt to carry your cash and passport.

As of 3/12, the exchange rate is $1 US = 7.63 Guatemalan Quetzals

Weather and What to Wear:

The weather in March-April ranges from low to mid 70s in the daytime and nighttime temps in the mid to lower 50s. March is the dry season, so we shouldn’t expect rain showers.  Layer your clothes works best…..jeans or pants with T shirts, sweater & jacket.  The Mayan people dress conservatively, especially in Pana, so we ask that volunteers respect that and avoid shorts or anything inappropriate.

2 pairs of comfortable walking shoes.

Both Hotels are simple and comfortable.

 Transportation:

Please use seat belts all the time if the Van carries them. Walking around town: Please be careful walking in the streets, drivers have the right of way, please be alert to yield to all cars.

 Altitude: Please be aware that the altitude is 1,562 m (5,125 ft) above sea level.

Time: The time in Guatemala is the same as Central Time in the U.S.

 Food & Beverages:

Meals will be half as expensive as they are in the US. You are responsible for all your own meals, with the exception of Breakfast at the Hotels, which is always delicious.

I will introduce you to the most famous and best restaurants in Pana and Antigua. They have safe and great food, with the Authentic Guatemalan food being the best.

We can eat lunch at Cacao Museo Café in Antigua, and one of the most original Italia Restorante’s I have ever been to.

And the Original Frida’s as in “Frida Kahlo”.

Do Not Drink the Water! Plan to purchase bottled water not just for drinking but also for brushing your teeth. We order beverages “sin hielo,”  – without ice. All the restaurants we will visit are safe for tourists. A general rule is to avoid eating fruits without a peel or uncooked vegetables (i.e. salads).

If you have any concerns about the food, you can look the restaurants up on Trip Advisor. Some have menus posted online. Overall, the food is simple, fresh and delicious.

Please feel free to share and offer our driver food snacks. (Manuel) Coffee, muffins, from breakfast! He will want coffee, he is poor and he has sick family members. I will tip him and ask him what the ages of his children are now and will keep something out so I can give him something on the way back from Pana.

Plan to bring some snacks for the long drive to Pana and to have during the week when hunger strikes and we’re not around food. There will be small “tiendas” or stores where you can buy packaged items to bring with you on our outings during the day. It’s also nice to have little candies or items to give to vendors or children on the street trying to sell you things.

MF workers make very little money.  Any time you can include them in a meal, do it.  You could also bring small boxes of candy..I like to bring See’s Candy chocolate & caramel suckers and give them to the MF folks that help us. I bring down boxes of sugar wafers to give to the street kids/ladies (Amazon Bisco Sugar Wafers…or Target). Get the kind that are individually wrapped! They’re cheap & don’t take up much room in luggage.  These are great for when you don’t want to buy anything or don’t have the time for these poor street kids or ladies, and it makes them a little happy.  MF workers/drivers love these too! Thanks for joining our adventure!

I know you will have a great time.