2026 Mexico Missions trip Participants
This Page is for people going on our Mexico Missions Trip:
Schedule:
Tuesday, May 26th: Madison’s track-1 group (road-trippers) are departing from the Church promptly at 11:00 AM
Please eat lunch before or bring food with you to eat in the van
We will meet up with the other group on our way to Kearney, NE where we will sleep at a Church
Wednesday, May 27th: Driving to Grants, NM
Thursday, May 28th: Driving to 1Mission Basecamp in Puerto Penasco Mexico
We will pick up the track-2 participants (flyers) at 11:30AM in Phoenix
We will briefly (1.5-2 hours) hike Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument before we cross the border
We will stop for gas and snacks just before we cross the border
We will drive (without stopping) the 1-hour trip from the border to Basecamp and arrive before sunset)
Friday - Sunday (Work days)
Sunday -when we are done working - We’ll go back to Basecamp to clean up, then drive to the beach. We will return to Basecamp before sunset
There are vendors and market shops on the beach, where you can buy snacks and trinkets
Monday, June 1st: Recreation Day #1
We will depart Basecamp at sunset
We will drop off track-2 participants (flyers) in Phoenix to return
We will go to Slide Rock State Park in Sedona, AZ (hiking, swimming, & cliff jumping)
We will drive to Mather Campground on the south rim of the Grand Canyon and try to set up camp before sunset
Tuesday, June 2nd: Recreation Day #2
We will hike into the Grand Canyon on the South Kaibab Trail in the morning
Afternoon is free time (options will be provided)
We’ll drive to Desert View Watchtower for sunset
Wednesday, June 3rd: Drive to Glenwood Springs, Colorado
Thursday, June 4th: Drive home
Packing List
Pack in a medium-sized bag (soft-sided if at all possible). Be very conscious of the space used in our trailers.
Required
PASSPORT (crucially important)
Your bible
Sleeping bag/equipment
3 nights sleeping on church floors
2 nights sleeping in a tent on a dirt-ground campsite
4 nights sleeping in a bunk-house with twin mattresses
A sleeping mat or cot would be a good idea
It is okay to bring an inflatable mattress; there may not be enough room for you to use an inflatable mattress in the tents at the Grand Canyon
Pillow
3-days-worth of work-clothes
Shoes must be closed-toe
NO SHORTS on the jobsite
Shirts must have sleeves
Must bring a hat
Work gloves
6. Recreational clothes
4.5 days of driving
1.5 days of recreation/hiking
Many opportunities to swim
7. Toiletries
Toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, soap/bodywash, shampoo, , and other personal hygiene items
Sunscreen! (you will* need it)
2 towels
Shower shoes (flip flops or water shoes)
Money
Track-1 Participants will be paying for the following:
5 lunches (fast food)
2 suppers (fast food)
2 breakfasts (gas stations)
PLUS all snacks and drinks on the road
We estimate that $225 of spending money would be sufficient to send with your student to cover these needs comfortably
(joel’s tip here: check out “greenlight” debit cards - they’re great!)
Recomended
Travel pillow
Blanket for the van
Phone, charger, headphones, battery pack (these are really handy)
Swimming goggles
Adults: bring a camping chair (this should get us to the right #)
Safety
Please see this 2024 article by a journalist in Arizona about whether or not it is safe to travel to Puerto Penasco, Mexico
November 23rd Trip Presentation Slides
1Mission - Work - Basecamp
1Mission is a great organization that does a whole range of community work for God’s Kingdom in Puerto Penasco in addition to building houses. The families that we will build for have volunteered hundreds of hours in 1Mission’s community projects to be eligible for a new house. here is their website. I’ve taken 3 groups down with 1Mission, they have been fantastic to us. When you get there you will really have a sense for how committed 1Mission’s staff are to the great commission and to serving their community.
1Mission provides all of the tools and supplies we will need for construction.
in Mexico, we will sleep at 1Mission’s “Basecamp” which is a compound a few miles north of Puerto Penasco they have big bunkhouses for both men and women, and you could also stay in a tent if you wish. They sometimes host 300 people on their base camp at a time, but our trip is late in their building season so it will not be that crowded. The last time we were there this time of year with 1Mission, there were about 40 other people there with us.
the bunkhouses and Basecamp have warm showers and plumbing, they are very comfortable
Basecamp has a pool!
the food at basecamp is… Mexican food! it is AWESOME - they have staff that oversees food prep and many volunteers who are logging hours for a new house who prepare the food. it is SO GOOD! We have never had any trouble with getting ill from eating anything at 1Mission.
1Mission has a bilingual foreman who meets with you at the compound each morning and drives out with you to the Jobsite, remains with you through the day, and drives back to the compound with you when you’re done working.
Recreation
(Both Tracks) On Thursday, May 28th, the day that we cross the border into Mexico, we’ll plan to stop at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. Huge cacti, beautiful landscape, all in a 1-mile loop trail. This stop is dependent on the time we’re making after phoenix, as we will do our very best to arrive at 1Mission Basecamp before sundown to avoid nighttime traveling in Mexico
(Both Tracks) On Sunday, May 31st, the last day of construction, we’ll stop at the public beach which is at the resort-area of Puerto Penasco for a little ocean swimming as long as daylight allows. There are some trinket shops here which is the closest we’ll get to a “market” The picture that you see here is our 2018 group arriving at this beach.
On Monday, June 1st (after we cross the border that morning), we’ll spend the afternoon into early evening at Slide Rock State Park in Sedona, AZ. This is a really fun swimming spot where the river forms a natural waterslide that is quite long. there are cliff-jumping opportunities there. The highest cliff to jump from is 25 feet. if you watch the video of our 2018 or 2022 trip above you can see us taking the plunge
We’ll arrive at Mather Campground on the south rim of the Grand Canyon on the evening of June 2nd, spend the day exploring there on June 3rd, and depart from there on the morning of June 4th. We have reserved several adjacent group campsites there. We’ll stay in tents. Our plans for the day include hiking the south Kaibab trail (into the canyon - many switchbacks) to Ooh Aah point - which basically anyone can do, and giving the option to continue to Cedar Ridge which is a little more of a test of one’s fitness, and then drive to Desert View Watchtower for the evening & sundown.
Combined Daily Itinerary
Tuesday, May 26 - depart Iowa, and arrive at Countryside Christian Church (Kearney, NE) to eat supper and sleep.
Wednesday, May 27 - drive from Kearney to Gallup NM
Thursday, May 28 - drive to Phoenix, switch vans (if renting), and Drive to Puerto Penasco, Mexico (we’ll stop at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument on the way there)
Friday, May 29 - workday #1
Saturday, May 30 - workday #2
Sunday, May 31 - worship at a local Church in Puerto Penasco before work starts, then workday #3 - end the day at the beach (Gulf of California)
Monday, June 1 - Drive from Puerto Penasco (stop in Phoenix) to Slide Rock State Park, AZ for recreation, then on to Mather Campground on the south rim of the Grand Canyon to sleep
Tuesday, June 2 - Grand Canyon day, South Kaibab trail (to Ooh Aah Point and even Cedar Ridge if you’re ambitious) and Desert View Watchtower
Wednesday, June 3 - drive to Glenwood Springs, CO (with a quick stop at Monument Valley in Utah to take pictures)
Thursday, June 4- drive home
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a Passport?
YES! and if you’re applying after Feb 15, 2026, I would strongly suggest paying for an “expedited” passport application
Does my cellphone work in Mexico
Probably. Check with your carrier. Verizon and US Cellular phones that we have taken there in the past have worked well
Can I bring children?
Yes - in fact, children under 12 can go at a discounted rate - because their 1Mission program costs are lower. small children should not plan on participating with track-1 (really long van rides) as it would probably be too much car time for them.
Is it safe?
Yes. Puerto Penasco is a popular vacation/beach town for Phoenix and Tucson residents. The highway we travel in Mexico has a unique security status as designated by the Mexican government to ensure safe travel. 1Mission does a great job of taking care of us when in Puerto Penasco. No one who has traveled in the first three trips felt unsafe at any point while in Mexico.
Ask a question about the trip here: (will be emailed to Joel Nielsen, Pastor at Madison Church of Christ)