Yes, please visit our Safety with Amor page to view Amor’s official statement about our procedures.
In close partnership with local pastors, we are currently not bringing participants to Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Additionally, all Amor Trip groups serving in Tijuana, Mexico, will be escorted across the border to the Amor camp, along with will be able to “opt-in” to be escorted to and from the Amor worksites daily, but it is not mandatory at this time. Also, work days will end before dark (visit the Safety with Amor page to learn the specific times for each of Amor’s ministry locations). In Baja, Amor’s vehicle check-in/check-out system is in effect to ensure every Amor Trip participant and vehicle return to the Amor camp each night. There will always be an experienced Amor Team Member at every Amor camp each night and camp caretakers to monitor the Amor camp gate and patrol the area 24/7.
In case of an emergency, the following steps will be taken:
U.S. travel warning’s definition has recently changed, please visit the U.S. Department of State website for specifics on travel warnings and other travel information in regards to Mexico.
Amor’s recent safety updates and procedures are due, in part, to the concerns of Amor Trip participants and parents rather than any directly negative experiences on Amor Trips.
According to reports from our Pastors and the government officials that Amor consults, the greatest risk of exposure to violence is due to personal involvement with illegal drug activities.
There is no increased risk for children than there is for any other individual.
Amor’s Team Members, along with input from our local Mexican Pastors, and government officials continually review any intelligence received. Because Amor’s Team Members serve in Mexico on a daily basis, they are the first to determine whether their personal sense of security has been compromised. Until reports indicate that the violence in Mexico is beyond the control of its government, Amor will continue to serve those most in need—the poor and the local church.
We use San Ysidro and Otay, which are the two main borders. The border your group uses will depend on vehicles you bring and the discretion of Amor.
Year round, Amor operates in Tijuana, using our eastern Tijuana campsite. We also operate year round in Puerto Peñasco. Prior to COVID-19, we operated in Tecate and Rosarito in select weeks throughout the year. As of right now, we are not operating our campsites in Tecate or Rosarito. Any group serving with us in Tijuana will be camping in our main eastern Tijuana campsite. Upon request, you can receive GPS points for our camps.
Full-time Amor camp caretakers patrol the area in and around camp and keep the gate secure 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Additionally, in all our camps in Baja and Puerto Peñasco, Amor’s vehicle check-in/check-out system is being used to ensure every Amor participant and vehicle returns to the Amor camp each night. Lastly, there will always be an experienced Amor Team Member at the Amor camp all night long.
Yes. Everyone always needs to stay on their worksite and within eyesight of their group. We require that you do not invite children or other community members onto the worksite, if they are not from the family.
Due to the border becoming more strict on the food that cross into Mexico, this will be inevitable for groups that want to cook their own food in Mexico. We always ask that coordinate with Amor prior to your trip to ensure that we have staff available to help escort you to a store, if you would like. All trips should be done with at least two people and done in the daylight hours. Any trips outside of the Amor campsite or worksite require a completed Outside Release Form.
Groups choosing to do anything outside of Amor’s campsite or worksite will need to receive permission from your Amor staff and complete the Outside Release Form. All travel must be done during daylight hours.
All travel must be done during daylights hours and all groups are required to be in camp by sundown. If your group decides to get tacos during daylight hours, you will need to receive permission from your Amor staff and complete the Outside Release Form. If your group is serving in Baja California, the Amor camp will seasonally have tacos for purchase in the evenings. You can also get an authentic Mexican food experience by signing up for La Cocina.