Pack as lightly as possible; you’ll be happy that you did. Using a suitcase on wheels is extremely wise. We do have access to porters at both the MEX Airport in Mexico City and at the bus station in Puebla.
- Money belt or wallet that ties around your neck and hangs under your shirt (buy at a luggage store).
- Adaptor for 3-pronged laptop power cord. Hotel electrical outlets accommodate only a two-prong power cord.
- Special medications and copies of prescriptions (just in case prescriptions should need to be refilled while in Mexico.).
- Spare contact lenses (or spare eye glasses).
- Work clothes, i.e., shorts, jeans, T-shirts, old tennis shoes, hat, bandannas, work gloves, knee pads, sunscreen (muy importante).
- Remember…No shorts when outside the walls of La Familia. When is Puebla, shorts are more acceptable, especially during the summer months, but SHORT SHORTS are NEVER acceptable.
- Light jacket. Temperatures in the winter can vary from the low 30s to the low 40s at night, but warms up to around 75 – 80 during the day. Evening temperatures are typically in the 50s in the summer.
- Golf shirts, casual long sleeved shirts or informal slacks for dinner. Jeans are totally acceptable at dinner in Tecamachalco or Puebla.
- Informal church clothing if you plan to attend church services in Puebla or elsewhere while in Mexico.
- A roll of toilet paper for emergencies. Restrooms in Mexico are notorious for not having any toilet paper.
- Spanish/English dictionary or electronic translator could come in handy. If you go electronic, buy a Franklin brand at Radio Shack. They are much faster than a paperback dicionario.
- Snack foods you can’t live without…on the bus ride, especially. In the Mexican culture, meals are approximately as follows: Breakfast: 8:30 AM;. Lunch: 2:30 PM Dinner: We are on our own for dinner, so each group will decide what time to eat.
- Toiletries. You can buy just about anything in Mexico, but you don’t want to have to spend too much time looking for special toiletries or patent medicines. Rarely does anyone from any of the groups get sick in Mexico, but just in case you should get a bug, bring along Pepto Bismol and Immodium AD or any other medicines you may use.
- Camera with extra batteries.
- Notebook, pen or pencil.
- Bringing along a bi-lingual Bible will be helpful in following the scripture read in the worship service.
- Cash. Travelers Checks can be difficult to cash, even at a bank. Make sure you bring cash to exchange for pesos at the Mexico City Airport Airport when you arrive. Visa and MasterCard are accepted in many shops in Puebla. But only pesos are accepted in markets, by street vendors, etc. ATM machines are plentiful, but often have long lines waiting to use them.
- A couple of bottles of water. You can buy bottled water when you get to Mexico, but you might get thirsty before you can get to a store. Bottled water is supplied by the hotel for your room and La Familia has bottled water to refill your empty bottles.
- Spending money: Ask your group coordinator for advice. How much will also depend on how many souvenirs you plan to buy.
- If you cannot live without black pepper, bring some with you. In Mexico, restaurants don’t typically have black pepper on the table.
Wash Cloths: Bring one if you need one. Hotels do not furnish wash cloths in Mexico.