Q: What exactly will I be doing as a CpC intern? |
 A:
As a CpC rep, you will have many responsibilities. First and foremost,
each week you will lead a team across the border into Juarez, Mexico.
Once you're there, you will be responsible for leading the team during
a 3-4 day construction process, teaching the members how to build
a home for a family and supervising their progress; answering any
questions they may have along the way. You will also lead the teams
to the Mexican market and around the city of Juarez. You will stay
with your team the entire time they are in Mexico, sleeping and eating
with them in the Mexican churches. You will also facilitate and lead
in daily prayer at the worksite, discuss with your team about the
history and philosophies of CpC (we will give you this information),
and give your personal testimony. |
| Q: Are there any requirements to apply for an
internship? |
A: Yes. They include:
A. Have participated in a previous Casas por Cristo mission trip.
This is mandatory.
B. Must be 20 years old by June 1st of desired year of internship
C. Available from approximately May 10th-August 10th, 2008 for
a summer internship. Available from approximately February 3rd-May
3rd, 2008 for a spring internship.
D. Provide own transportation to and from El Paso, and meal money
for the weekends and when not working with teams.
E. Application must be mailed by February 25th, 2008 for summer
internship. For a spring internship, applications must be received
by December 17th, 2007.
|
| Q: I don't meet all the requirements. Can I still
apply? |
| A: All applicants must
have been on a previous mission trip with CpC. The level of responsibility
required of each intern is great. It is imperative that an applicant
have been on a trip to have even a small idea of what to expect from
our ministry and his/her time as an intern. We are different from
Habitat for Humanity and even other house-building ministries in many
ways, and the understanding an applicant gains from even one experience
of building with us will help him/her know if the demands of this
internship are reasonable.
Maturity comes with age, and the responsibility of leading a team
in Mexico is great. While in the past there have been some exceptions
to the age requirement, we do not make a rule of this.
Our internships have set dates that revolve around our busy seasons.
Interns must be available for all three months of his/her
internship, including the weekends. |
| Q: I've never been on a trip with Cpc. How do
I fulfill this requirement before I apply? |
| A: We cannot add individuals
to teams who are already coming; however, we do offer a program called
"Team Casas" that brings individuals together from all over the country
to build a house together. We offer this trip three times each year:
Over President's Day week, over the 4th of July week, and the week
of October 6th, 2008. The team crosses on Monday morning and comes
back Thursday afternoon. The cost is $400, which covers your portion
of the building materials, van rental and gas for Mexico, food in
Mexico, and donation to the Mexican church. You are also responsible
for transportation costs to El Paso and food/lodging on Sunday night.
A $50 deposit is required to hold your space in the team. If the minimum
12 people do not register for the trip, we have to cancel the trip.
The registration is available on this website at http://www.casasporcristo.org/BuildAHomeProjects.asp.
If you have additional questions, please contact Amy Lowrey at 1-800-819-8014
ext 16. |
| Q: I'm not a construction worker; will I get any
training to learn how to build a house? |
| A: YES! You will arrive
in El Paso 4 weeks before you lead a team by yourself. Your first
two weeks here, you will be in Mexico learning how to build the houses
with your fellow interns. One week, you will learn how to build the
"double" (or big house). The second week, you will learn
how to build the "single" (or little house). The third week,
you will be paired with another intern, and the two of you will work
with a CpC staff member for more individualized training. This is
also the time you can begin to test your skills as a leader on your
own. The fourth week, you will be paired with another intern, without
a CpC staff member. We are only a radio call away if you need us though!
The fifth week is your first week on your own as a site leader. All
of us here at CpC are more than happy to do weekend "study sessions"
if you are still unsure about building. Rest assured, you can and
will learn how to build and lead in the construction of these homes! |
| Q: Are there only house-building interns? |
| A: In the spring, we currently
only offer internships for building interns. During the summer, we
presently have one office internship available. The number of office
internships may grow as our summers get busier. The office intern
will not build in Mexico, but will instead work in our El Paso office,
helping in both the Finance and Operations departments. Housing, transportation,
and utilities will also be provided for, and the same scholarship
will be awarded at the end of the summer. The office intern may need
to raise more monetary support for food during the week, because you
will not be fed by a team.
We also have an outreach intern position that is available only
in the summer. This intern helps teams coordinate extra outreach
possibilities that happen in conjunction with home building. These
often include public movie nights, community cook-outs, soccer camps,
etc. Like the office intern, you will live in El Paso, but will
cross into Juarez on most days. A vehicle, housing, and gas are
also provided, but you may need to raise additional support for
food, as you will not be fed by teams. The outreach intern must
be relatively fluent in Spanish in order to communicate with the
Mexican people and pastors. Additionally, the outreach intern will
be asked to help on the CpC property/around the office during slower
times of the summer. |
| Q: I've already been an intern once. Can I be
an intern again? |
A: All previous interns
who want to intern again will need to fill out a returning intern
application, which is available on this website. We do love to have
interns return to us, so please apply early!!
|
| Q: Is Juarez a big city? How will I learn my way
around? |
 A:
Juarez is a very big city, and honestly, it can be a little intimidating
trying to find your way around. During your training weeks and on
the weekends in between, you will be given time to drive around Juarez
with other interns: the best way to learn is to just be behind the
wheel! Also, you will be given maps to the most accessed parts of
the city and maps to each of the homes you build. |
| Q: Is Juarez safe? |
| A: We answer questions
concerning safety in Juarez all the time. Like all large cities, there
is crime in Juarez. However, there are steps you can take to protect
yourself and your team members while you are there. First, you will
never be traveling in Juarez alone. Even if you are just crossing
to look for your building site for the next week, you will be expected
to take other interns or staff with you. We do our work in Christian
communities. We stay at Christian churches, work with Christian teams,
and keep our doors locked at all times. Crime tends to take place
around certain areas and for certain reasons (like drugs). We are
not associated with those areas of the city, nor are we across the
border to conduct business in anything that would involve crime. Small
incidents of theft are the most crime we have experienced across the
border. Taking the right precautions (not carrying anything valuable
on you, keeping your doors locked, keeping your eyes open to your
surroundings) is necessary. |
| Q: Where will I live? |
 A:
During the week, while you're training and while you're with your
teams, you will stay in Juarez at a local church. During the weekend,
you will have housing in El Paso that is provided and paid for by
CpC. |
| Q: How will I get around? Do I need to bring my
own vehicle? |
| A: You do not need to bring
your own vehicle. You will have a truck provided by CpC for your use
while you're building and during the weekends. Gas will also be provided.
However, you will be expected to drive safely, and any extensive damage
may be charged to you or taken out of your scholarship. Furthermore,
you will not be allowed to drive your vehicle outside of the El Paso/Juarez
area. You are welcome to bring your own truck if you'd like, and we
will pay for the gas and insurance for Mexico. Be aware, however,
that conditions in Mexico are rough, and there will be plenty of wear
and tear on your vehicle. |
| Q: What happens if I have a wreck while I'm in
Mexico? |
| A: It's happened to all
of us, so the best rule of thumb is to not panic. You will have insurance
that covers you both in the United States and in Mexico. If you have
an accident in Mexico, you will need to report it before leaving and
returning to the US. More information concerning this will be given
during your orientation. |
| Q: Do I need my own health and vehicle insurance? |
| A: You DO
need to have proof of health insurance before starting your internship
with CpC. If you do not currently have health insurance, there are
plenty of short term health insurance agencies you can work through
for your three months of service with CpC. Once you are hired, we
will provide you with contact information for these agencies. You
DO NOT need your own vehicle insurance.
That will be provided for you. |
| Q: What should I bring with me? |
| A: Once you are hired as
an intern, you will be provided with a packing list that should cover
every essential item you will need during your internship. Of course,
you may have other items you want, and that's fine too! |
| Q: Do I need to bring money? |
| A: You will need to bring
some. While Casas does cover most of your expenses (housing, transportation,
utilities), you will be responsible for your transportation to and
from El Paso. You will also need some money for groceries on the weekends
(during the week, your team will feed you) and any other incidental
expenses. It is recommended that you bring a minimum of $500 for the
summer. Once you are hired as an intern, you will get more information
about how to raise this support. |
| Q: What costs am I responsible for? |
A: You are responsible
for:
Transportation to and from El Paso
Food on the weekend and when you are not building
Incidental, personal expenses
In addition, you may be responsible for the cost of:
Damage to your vehicle
Damaged or lost radios.
Lost or broken tools that were not previously reported to the
Resource Dept.
|
| Q: Do I need to bring my own tools? |
| A: All interns are required
to bring a few of their own tools. You will need a hammer, utility
knife, tape measure, carpenter's pencil, and tool belt or nail belt.
You may bring other personal tools if you wish (such as a miter saw
or cordless power tools), but it is not necessary. All other tools
will be in a CpC provided tool kit. |
| Q: Do I need a passport? |
| A: Currently, you must
have a birth certificate and state ID to cross
back into the US. The government continues to change the date when
passports will be required. It would be easier for interns to have
passports (or passport cards, which allow you to cross into Mexico/Canada
only, but cost half the price of a full passport), so getting one
is highly recommended; however, they are not currently mandatory.
|
| Q: How long will I need to be down there? |
| A: Terms of service are
generally 3 months. Summer interns are to be in El Paso by May 10th,
2008 and will leave August 10th/11th 2008. Spring Interns need to
be in El Paso by February 3rd, 2008 and will leave roughly May 3rd,
2008. These dates are not set in stone, but any changes need to be
cleared with the Intern Manager in advance. |
| Q: Can I leave El Paso before my time is up? |
| A: It is recommended that
you be able to commit to a full three months of service with Casas
Por Cristo. With our busy summer season, it is hard to know when you'll
be needed, even on your weekends off. However, there can be exceptions
to this rule made in certain circumstances, but these must be discussed
with the Intern Manager prior to accepting
your internship position. |
| Q: Can I have visitors while I'm in El Paso? |
| A: Outside visitors during your internship
are discouraged. Ministry is a 24/7 position, and you can be called on at any time to serve
your teams or the ministry. You should expect to be building in Mexico every week of your internship,
and using your weekends to recoup and rest. Furthermore, living arrangements are tight, and visitors
disrupt other interns during their times off. Please do not make plans to have visitors while you
are an intern. You are more than welcome to call your friends and family on the weekends and
email them from our offices.
Also, we cannot allow interns to have friends/family join them on their builds in Mexico. Not only
does this disrupt a team who has made specific plans for their week in Mexico, but it also takes the intern's
focus away from the team they're leading and their responsibilities. As an intern, your focus needs to be
solely for your teams and Mexican families, making sure that you facilitate the best mission experience possible.
If you have family or friends who want to visit, please encourage them to put a team together and come and
build with us (or with the Team Casas build over the week of July 4th). If they come in their own team, they can
request to have you lead their build.
|
| Q: How do I get to El Paso/Juarez? |
| A: You are responsible
for your own transportation to El Paso. Most interns choose to fly,
and there will be someone to pick you up from the airport and to take
you back at the end of your term. Of course, you may also elect to
drive or take a bus. |
| Q: Will I lead a team every week? |
| A: Not necessarily. We
may have a week during the summer when team registrations are lower.
In this case, you may not be scheduled to build, but will instead
have a week in El Paso. You will be expected on these days to still
come to work and help with office and/or property duties as assigned.
However, please come prepared for the possibility of building every
week of your internship. |
| Q: Will I always lead teams by myself? |
 A:
Not necessarily. You will be paired with another intern while you
are still in training, and if there are weeks during the summer when
our registration is a little lower than others, you may be paired
with another intern, as long as this is okay with both of you. Any
requests for pairing up with another intern need to be cleared with
the Scheduling Manager. |
| Q: Am I responsible for leading team devotions? |
| A: No. It is the responsibility
of each team to prepare their own devotions. However, you are expected
to attend your teams' devotional times and participate in them. You
will facilitate prayer at the worksite, discuss with the group the
history of Casas, and give your own testimony to each team. |
| Q: Do I have to be extroverted to be a good team
leader? |
| A: No, but it does help.
If you are not a naturally extroverted person, that's okay. We have
had many successful interns who were more introverted and quiet. However,
communication is the key to a successful week of building, and it's
important for your teams. Once hired, you will receive a guide to
help you become a better team leader, and this information is helpful
for everyone, both extroverts and introverts. Our current staff is
made up of many different personalities and leadership styles, and
you will have many opportunities to watch these different personalities
lead you during your training weeks. If you are quieter, you may want
to watch your leaders even closer and ask for more opportunities to
practice team leading while you're paired with a staff member. |
| Q: How will I be compensated? |
| A: Each summer intern will receive a
$1,000 scholarship at the end of the summer. If you serve with us for 2+ years, you
will receive a $1,500 scholarship. Interns who are hired into RA positions will receive
$500 more than their initial scholarship (If you are a new intern hired as an RA, you
will receive $1,500. If you are a returning intern, you will receive $2000). Spring
interns are paid $100 for each week of service.
|
| Q: What if I don't go to college or I have graduated?
Where does my scholarship go? |
| A: If you are not in college,
you have two options for your scholarship. You can elect to give it
to another charity or organization. You may also have the scholarship
paid to you. Taxes will be deducted if the scholarship is paid to
you. |
| Q: What happens if I get sick or hurt while I'm
in Mexico? |
| A: If you get sick, a replacement
builder will be found, and you will be brought back across the border
to rest and go to the doctor. If you get hurt while in Mexico, you
will also immediately be brought back across the border to a hospital
in El Paso. You will have a radio with you at all times, and there
will always be someone available to answer your call. |
| Q: If I'm in Mexico, and my
family at home has an emergency, how will they get a hold of me? |
| A: If your family needs
to get in touch with you because of an emergency, they should call
our office first. If it is during office hours, someone at the office
will be able to take their call, and then radio you. If it is after
office hours, our voicemail message will have an emergency contact
number they can call. That emergency contact will then be able to
get a hold of you by radio. We do request that these calls be reserved
for emergency situations only. Your family will be
able to easily contact you on your cell phone or home phone when you
are not in Mexico. |
| Q: Are there expectations for me outside of team
building? |
A: There are some expectations,
and these will be covered more comprehensively in your intern packet
and orientation. Briefly, other expectations for you during your
internship include, but are not limited to:
Leading the construction of homes
Staying with your team and leading them through Juarez
Attending Intern meetings and Bible study
Following the Intern Code of Conduct
Being prompt and prepared for your teams and service at the office
Attending church and participating in personal Bible study
Performing duties as assigned on weekdays you are in El Paso
|
| Q: Is there a code of conduct? |
 A:
Yes. As a missionary with CpC, you will be working with hundreds of
people both in the US and across the border. In order to have a better
foundation on which to base our actions in the midst of so many different
people with so many different philosophies, we have adapted a code
of conduct for all staff and interns. If you would like to know more
about what this code of conduct involves, please do not hesitate to
call the intern manager at 1-800-819-8014 ext 24. |
| Q: What do I do when I'm not
building? |
| A: When you are not building,
you will have time to rest and relax. There are some scheduled events
during your internship which are fun and helpful, especially if you're
having a harder time feeling connected to your new situation as a
summer missionary. You will also be expected to attend a weekly intern
meeting, weekly intern Bible study, attend church during the weekend,
and scout your worksite for the upcoming week. If it is a weekday,
and you have already finished building with your team, you will be
expected to help the ministry on our property or in our offices.
Please understand in advance that an internship with CpC is very
rewarding, but it is also very demanding of your time. Between building
during the week and meetings &
events on the weekends, you will be busy. If you are a person who needs a
lot of alone time, please plan to make every effort to schedule your time accordingly. |
| Q: Am I expected to go to church?
Where will I go? |
| A: You are expected to
attend church on the weekends. It's very important that while you're
busy giving to the Lord in a very demanding way that you have a time
for spiritual refreshment and teaching. You are welcome to come to
church with staff members, or you may get together with other interns
and pick a church for yourself. |
| Q: What is the schedule for
the summer? |
| A: In brief, summer interns
will spend 4 weeks in training, 8 weeks of building alone (or occasionally
with a partner), and one week to wind down and attend a 2 day intern
retreat. A more specified schedule will be sent once you are hired.
|
| Q: What is the schedule for
the spring? |
| A: Spring interns will
spend much of February in training, but training will be on a more
individual basis because we have fewer interns during this time of
year. Expect to spend most of March and April building in Juarez,
with the possibility of a week or two in El Paso during our slower
building weeks. |
| Q: What does the schedule look
like for the first few days after I arrive? |
 A:
When you arrive in El Paso, you will be picked up at the airport by
someone from CpC (or if you're driving, a CpC staff member will meet
you at our office). You will be taken to your housing in El Paso to
unpack and get settled. Depending on how early you arrive, you will
have time to make last minute trips to the store and take care of
any business. Staff will be available over the weekend of May 10th/11th
to answer any questions you have and to help you get settled. On May
12th, you will meet with 4-5 CpC staff members, and you will cross
the border into Juarez to begin your first week of training. |
| Q: What does the schedule look
like when I'm building with a team? |
A: This outline is brief
and may be different depending on your team. More details will be
given during your training. Remember too that once you cross the border,
you will stay at a church in Mexico with your team for the week.
Monday:
Meet your team in El Paso (usually between 6:00-8:00 am)
Cross the border and pick up your tool kit
Take team to their host church to drop off luggage
Arrive at your site: prepared for and pour your foundation
Tuesday:
Build and stand walls
Sheath the outside of the house
Run electrical wire
Begin chicken wire
Wednesday:
Roofing
Finish chicken wire
Hang windows, doors, soffit, and trim
Thursday:
Insulation and drywall
Stucco
Friday:
Dedication
Take your team to the market
Cross back into the US (usually by 3:00pm)
|
| Q: Do I have to speak Spanish? |
A: Building and Office
interns do not need to know Spanish, but it is recommended that if
you do not know Spanish, that you at least start learning basic words
and phrases before you arrive. Once hired, each intern will receive
a handbook that includes a section on Spanish. There is one half page
of very common, basic Spanish words and phrases that every intern
is required to know prior to arriving in El
Paso. This very basic Spanish are words you will use every
week in Mexico and will make your experience better. A Spanish/English
dictionary will be helpful. You will also be provided with a dictionary
of construction terms to help you on your worksite.
***Outreach Interns must be relatively fluent in Spanish*** |
| Q: What is the weather like
down there, and how do I prepare for it? |
| A: The weather in west
Texas in the summer is HOT. Midday temperatures in June and July are
generally over 100 degrees. The nights are very comfortable. It is
highly recommended that you bring a fan (or purchase one when you
arrive) and bring cool clothes (sleeveless shirts, midriffs, shorts
and sandals of any kind are not permitted
while you're building. You can wear shorts and sandals when you're
not building). The best defense against the heat is drinking plenty
of water, at least a gallon or more per day. An insulated thermos
or water bottle is required. |
| Q: Will I be able to check my
email or get telephone calls? |
| A: Yes. Interns have computers
designated to them, and you will be able to check your email at the
office during your time off. Our offices have wireless internet available,
so feel free to bring your laptops as well. You will also have a landline
telephone in your housing in El Paso. This telephone will not have
long distance calling available, so you will need to use your cell
phone or a phone card to make long distance calls. |
| Q: Will my cell phone work across
the border? |
| A: Sometimes, you will
be able to catch a US tower from Juarez, especially when you are close
to the border. Depending on your cell phone company, you may still
be charged international fees, even if your phone has picked up a
US tower. Call your cell phone provider to determine if you will be
charged for using your phone across the border. If your phone is roaming,
you will be charged international rates, which are generally $.69
or more per minute.
Cell phones in Mexico are to be used on personal, weekend time only.
Do not expect to use your cell phone while you're leading a team. |
| Q: I'm just unsure. Is there
someone I can talk to? |
 A:
Of course. This is a big decision, and one that you shouldn't make
lightly. Please feel free to call Janette Miller, our Intern Manager,
at any time at 1-800-819-8014 ext. 24 or email her at jmiller@casasporcristo.org.
She'll be able to answer any of your questions and address any of
your concerns. |
| |
