2009 Trip Information

 Belize Softball Missions Trip 2009

 Dates: March 14 – March 22, 2009

Purpose:

 To, through the sport of softball, be able to bring the Gospel to people who otherwise would not have the opportunity to hear about Christ. This is a unique opportunity to play a game we enjoy, as well as sharing Jesus with others through developing relationships with native Belizeans. 

Tentative Schedule: *subject to change

Cost of the Trip: $1500.00

This includes:

Airfare from Memphis to Belize City

                Hotel accommodations including Breakfast and Dinner as well as laundry

Transportation (van rental)

 Does Not Include:

Lunch Daily (approx. $6 per day)

This is basically an all inclusive trip except for lunch. On Saturday, you will have an opportunity to take a tour, this is your cost.  I would plan on around $100-$200 spending money, but that is to your discretion. There are ATM’s available in the town we are staying in.

There is also a $38.50USD departure fee tax to leave the country. Sometimes this is included in the price of the ticket, sometimes it is not, depending on the type of tickets we get.

Transportation cost

 Airfare:  We have budgeted $750 per ticket.

 Van Rental: The cost per passenger vans per week is $1000 for the week. The cost of gas there is about 3 times what it is here. 

Fund Raising

We will go over fundraising during our meeting on December 3^rd  (at Colonial Hills, after church)

 Support from your local church:

Along with helping you personally, your local church can help us with raising money for specific projects. One of the goals for this year is being able to supply each individual student with a pencil bag with school supplies along with 20 full scholarships for children’s yearly schools supplies. Churches can also decide to sponsor a van rental, scholarship a child, or provide equipment.

 Accommodations:

During the week, we are staying at the Cahal Pech Resort Hotel (“Resort” is not what you think!) in the Cayo Distict of Belize. Check out www.cahalpech.com 

When we travel to San Pedro Island on Saturday Morning, we will be staying at The Sunbreeze Hotel on San Pedro Island. www.sunbreeze.net  

Uniforms: 

International Sports Outreach will supply game jerseys. As a mission team member, you will receive 2 t shirts, one polo shirt, and one team hat.  If you are planning to play, EVERYONE will have to buy baseball pants if you don’t already own them, preferably 2 pair, grey no stripe. They will get washed by the hotel. You will also need to pair of blue shorts (inexpensive sports shorts from sports authority, wal mart, target, etc.) to wear during the clinics and a pair of neat khaki short to wear with your polo on the nights you are not playing. Every player also needs a royal blue belt and navy blue socks. 

Passports: 

Belize requires a valid U.S. passport to enter the country. If you are not in possession of a passports you need to start the process NOW. 

Practice: (players only)

They play FAST PITCH. We are going to need people to commit to practice. We are all going to have to learn how to hit again and some of us are going to have to learn how to pitch. We will start practicing in January (8 weeks), one day a week, at ConXion in Hernando. These practices will happen on Friday night. We CANNOT go down there and play bad, we have to be prepared. For players practices are mandatory!

Team Meeting: (all mission team members)

We will have 4 team meetings; 12/3, 1/9, 2/6, 3/6. These are mandatory meetings. During these meetings we will get information to you that you need to know, pick up payments, and spend some time together. We will go over clinic training with everybody. It will also be a time for us to share what God us doing through this in our live and the lives of those around us. 

Payment Schedule:

All payments should be made payable to: International Sports Outreach

All Deposits are NON-REFUNDABLE

 Trip Committee:

Logistics and Planning                                            Mark Tatko                                             901-359-7459

Questions                                                                Mike Thaxton                                          901-461-9992

Uniforms                                                                 Bryan Pettigrew                                      901-494-6741

Clinic Instruction                                                     Cary Mcrae                                             901-268-7053