YWAM Ensenada 2026
Flight Information
Everything you need to know before, during, and after your travel day.
⚠️
REAL ID Required (18+) — Passengers 18 and older need a state-issued REAL ID-compliant license or ID to fly domestically. Starting February 1, 2026, those without a REAL ID may pay a $45 fee to use TSA ConfirmID as an alternative.
Learn more at tsa.gov
⏰
Arrive 2 hours before departure. We will gather by campus outside at the Southwest Airlines gate. Please stay with your group until we board.
🚗
Parents: Please plan to pick up your student from the airport on time when we arrive home on June 23rd. More details to follow.
9:30 AM
SAN
San Diego, CA
2:50 PM
SAN
San Diego, CA
🧳 Southwest Carry-On Guidelines
- Carry-on bag: Max size 24" x 16" x 10" (including handles and wheels) — fits in overhead bin
- Personal item: Max size 18.5" x 8.5" x 13.5" (backpack, purse, laptop bag) — fits under seat
- Liquids (3-1-1 Rule): Liquids, gels, and aerosols must be in containers of 3.4 oz (100ml) or less, all fitting in 1 quart-sized clear zip-top bag, 1 bag per passenger
- Oversized or overweight bags may need to be checked — Southwest allows 2 free checked bags per person
- Label your bags with your name and contact information
Homes of Hope — Build Dates: June 18–20
Meet the Families
These are the two families you will be building homes for. Take a moment to pray for them before you go.
💧 WaterYes
⚡ ElectricityNo
🏡 Land Cost$12,122 USD
💰 Amount Owed$8,970 USD
📅 Monthly Payment$122 USD
| Name | Role | Age | Job | Monthly Income |
|---|
| Cruz David | Dad | 31 | Factory Worker | $775 USD |
| Laura | Mom | 27 | Stay-at-Home | — |
| David | Son | 9 | Student | — |
Cruz and Laura are both from Ensenada and connected through a mutual friend on Facebook. After living in Cruz's mother's home, they worked hard to purchase land in Colonia Choyal — but were nearly defrauded by someone falsely claiming to own the land. After a legal battle with the government, they finally secured their land two years ago. Due to the financial strain of the legal process, they built their current home using donated second-hand wood and a plastic-covered roof that still leaks in the rain. Cruz and Laura's greatest wish is that their son David grows up to become the professional soccer player he dreams of being.
💧 WaterNo
⚡ ElectricityYes
🏡 Land Cost$6,060 USD
✅ Land StatusPaid Off
| Name | Role | Age | Job | Monthly Income |
|---|
| Fernando | Dad | 44 | Can Factory | $775 USD |
| Maria | Mom | 41 | House Cleaning | $437 USD |
| Fernando Jr. | Son | 18 | — | — |
| Emanuel | Son | 13 | Student | — |
Fernando and Maria grew up as neighbors in La Paz, Baja California, and began dating at 15. They moved to Ensenada seeking better job opportunities for their sons' futures — Fernando works at an aluminum can factory and Maria cleans houses independently. They purchased land and built a home from discounted wood with a cardboard roof that leaks in the rain, making winters bitterly cold. Currently, the family faces extra financial strain because their youngest son Emanuel has damage to his eyes and may need surgery. Through it all, the family trusts that God will provide.
June 16–23, 2026
Trip Schedule
A general overview of what the week looks like. Subject to change based on YWAM's on-the-ground decisions.
✈️ Day 1 — Tuesday, June 16
- Fly SJC → SAN (Flight #1017, departs 8:05 AM)
- Cross border into Ensenada
- Arrival & base orientation
- Opening introduction to Mission Adventures
📖 Day 2 — Wednesday, June 17
- Training day on base
- Deeper look at trip theme verse
- Testimony & evangelism training
- Worship & prayer
🏗️ Days 3–5 — June 18–20
- Morning devotionals
- House builds for Alcaraz Melendez & Miranda Barrera families
- Evening: Gospel teaching, team night, prayer & worship response night
🌎 Days 6–7 — June 21–22
- Morning devotionals
- Outreach at local ministries (orphanages, soup kitchens, rehab centers)
- Evangelism downtown
- Commissioning night & closing debrief
🏠 Day 8 — Tuesday, June 23
- Morning devotional
- Depart Ensenada for San Diego
- Fly SAN → SJC (Flight #3539, departs 2:50 PM)
- Arrive SJC 4:15 PM — please pick up on time!
🕌 Ministry Sites
- Hope Zone (children's education)
- Take Heart (Red Light district outreach)
- Soup kitchens: Torre de Salvacion, Corazon Lleno
- Orphanages: Wayne & Claire, Reino de los Niños, Cañon Buena Vista
- Rehab centers: Volver a Nacer, Vida Cristiana Renovadora
- Casa Esperanza (women & children's refuge)
Be Prepared
Packing List
Pack practically. Dress modestly. Mexican culture is conservative — please be respectful in your clothing choices.
👗
Dress Code Reminder: No yoga pants, leggings, or tights. Shoulders must be covered (no tank tops). Low-cut shirts are not appropriate. Shorts must reach fingertip length.
👕 Clothing
- Comfortable pants or modest shorts (fingertip length, no high-thigh holes)
- T-shirts and long-sleeved shirts (no crop tops — shirt must reach pants line)
- Light jacket or hoodie (weather changes significantly in one day)
- Closed-toe shoes / casual shoes
- Church outfit: Guys — smart jeans/pants (no holes, rips, or frays), button-down or polo. Girls — smart jeans/pants (no holes, rips, or frays) or skirt/dress longer than knee-length (knees must be covered), non-sleeveless top
🎒 Essentials
- Passport (required for border crossing)
- Bible & notebook with pen
- Spending money in small bills (optional)
- Day bag / backpack
- Reusable water bottle
- Toiletries
- Sunscreen & sunglasses / hat
⚕️ Health & Safety Tips
- Do not drink the tap water — drinking water is provided on base
- Bring any prescription medications in original labeled containers
- Pack electrolytes or hydration packets — it can be warm
- Bring a small personal first aid kit if needed
- Do not pet stray animals
- Do not swim in the ocean (contamination in the bay)
🏗️ Build Site Tips
- Wear clothes you don't mind getting dirty or paint on
- Closed-toe shoes are required at the build site
- Bring work gloves if you have them
- Apply sunscreen before heading out each day
- Bring a layer — mornings can be cool even in June
For a Safe & Respectful Experience
Rules & Safety
These guidelines exist to protect you and respect the community we are serving. Please take them seriously.
🏠 On Base
- Quiet hours: 10:00 PM – 7:00 AM
- No boys in girls rooms and vice versa
- Do not go in the kitchen or construction zones
- Do not play on children's toys or in construction areas
- Do not use the white bathroom towels at the beach
- No profane language
🌊 Out in the Community
- Never leave base alone — minimum group of three, and a leader must know your whereabouts
- Return to base by 10:00 PM
- Do not swim in the ocean — contamination in Ensenada Bay, YWAM cannot take liability
- Do not pet stray animals
- Dress modestly at all outreach and build sites
- Be culturally sensitive with any clothing that has wording
🍽️ Cultural Etiquette
- Always try the food offered to you — cooking is how people show gratitude
- Be friendly and relational — Mexican culture is built on community
- Watch your facial reactions when things are different from home
- Ask questions and seek to understand the culture
- Treat everyone with dignity and respect
🚨 Emergency Contacts
- Josh or Corrin Michaelis: (209) 541-8796 (US number)
- Hospital Velmar: 646-173-45-07
- Hospital Santa Rosa de Lima: 646-177-29-24
- A clinic is located just two blocks from the YWAM base
- Several hospitals within 10 minutes of base
- Follow us on Instagram: @ma.ensenada
Galatians 5:13b — "Serve one another in love."
Prayer Points
Pray for Ensenada before you go. The city has over half a million people — many who came from other Mexican states searching for a better life.
🙏 Pray for the City
- That every person in Ensenada would hear about Christ and have an opportunity to know Him
- For the families living in extreme poverty — for provision and hope
- For new ministry connections and opportunities to reach more of the city
- That the children's homes, which are government-overseen but not financially supported, would receive the help they need
🏗️ Pray for the Build
- For the Alcaraz Melendez family — that their new home brings safety, warmth, and hope
- For the Miranda Barrera family — especially for young Emanuel's eyesight and future surgery needs
- That the build would be a bridge of relationship, not just construction
- For safety on the work site for every team member
👥 Pray for the Team
- For the YWAM Ensenada staff — that they hear from God and grow in wisdom as they lead us
- For unity, humility, and joy on our team throughout the week
- That ministry times would be fruitful and Spirit-led
- That what happens in Ensenada doesn't stay in Ensenada — that it changes how we live when we return home
