March 1-9, 2013
$1,400.00 

Mission

For many years now, OCF Real Break teams have traveled to the Hogar Rafael Ayau Orphanage in Guatemala City, Guatemala live with, care for, and love the many children who live there. The Hogar Rafael Ayau is a safe haven for children who are victims of broken homes. Serving at the Hogar is an experience that will have a strong spiritual and personal impact on your life.  Here, teams are able to witness first hand how children of all ages come together in Christ to heal their personal wounds and form a beautiful family. 

The 2013 Real Break Guatemala will be a very special one as this team will be the first to serve the Hogar in their new location in San Miguel, Guatemala. It is quite the change from the orphanage’s original home in the middle of noisy and crime-ridden Guatemala City.  The team will participate in work projects to aid the continued construction of the orphanage. 

Yes, college students can be assured that their week spent at the Hogar will be filled with hard work beautifying the orphanage, but more importantly they will see how Christ fills each one of the children with His grace and mercy.  Having time to spend with the children is one of the greatest blessings of the trip.  Here, you can play sports, do crafts, or just sit and talk.  The children always adore the Real Break team members that join them in their home, and they show this through their unfailing love, openness, and joy.   

Information about the Hogar Rafael AYAU

Located in Guatemala City, The Hogar Rafael Ayau is a home for orphans. In the year 1857, Don Rafael Ayau built the first orphanage in Guatemala City, known as "The Home of Mercy".  Because of broken homes, crime, war, unemployment, poverty, domestic violence, prostitution, alcohol and drug abuse, hundreds of poor children could not be well taken care of by their parents. Many lived in the streets to survive.  For the sake of these homeless children, one man's dream became a reality!

But during the early 1970s, the Guatemalan government expropriated the orphanage and named it "Hogar Rafael Ayau", in honor of its founder. In the year 1996, under the administration of President Álvaro Arzú and the First Lady Patricia Arzú, Hogar Rafael Ayau was given back to private stewardship, to the Orthodox Church, and a new chapter in it's history was written.

His Eminence, Metropolitan Antonio Chedraoui Archbishop of the Antiochian Orthodox Church of Mexico, Central America, Venezuela and the Caribbean, officially received the neglected orphanage from the Guatemalan authorities.  On August 9th of 1996, the feast day of St. Herman of Alaska, His Eminence, Metropolitan Antonios entrusted to Mother Abbess Inés and the Nuns of the Orthodox Monastery Lavra Mambré the administration and financial responsibilities of the Hogar.

On October 13th, 1997, after more than one year of general repairs and renovations of the eight dilapidated buildings of the Hogar, and spending half a million US dollars, from private donors alone, the Hogar reopened its doors once again to welcome 115 children!!!

FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO: http://www.hogarafaelayau.org

Trip Registration

There are limited spaces for each destination. To secure your spot, register online at www.ocf.net with a $150 deposit. Final payment will be due by January 30, 2013.  However, if you opt to set-up a credit card hold, final payment is not due until 2 weeks after the end of your trip.  To set up the hold please call 661-412-2267 by January 30, 2013 to securely process this information.

Trip Cost - $1,400.00

The cost includes the international flight to Guatemala, transportation during the trip, any necessary airport or entry/exit fees, travel insurance, lodging, meals, and materials; however, it does not include the domestic flight to and from Miami, FL (MIA).  You are strongly encouraged to book your domestic flight as soon as you receive confirmation that your Real Break trip is Active - There are enough participants for the trip to happen.

If you fundraise over the trip cost, you are eligible to receive a reimbursement of the cost of your domestic flight up to the overage amount fundraised. Please refer to the 2013 Real Break Information Packet at www.ocf.net for more details.

SUPPORT THE MISSION – YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Most groups we serve rely on donations to continue their ministry, as does OCF. Support your mission and OCF by fundraising more than your trip cost! Excess funds will be given to support the work of the Hogar Rafael Ayau with a small portion used to cover OCF’s operation costs.

Refund/Cancellation Policy

Please refer to the Real Break Information Packet at www.ocf.net for detailed information regarding refunds and cancellations.

Travel Arrangements

Your international flight to and from Guatemala will be booked by OCF so that the team will fly together. Each participant will be responsible for making their own domestic travel arrangements, updating this information online in their registration, and e-mailing this information to realbreak@ocf.net. The international flight to Guatemala will leave Miami (MIA) at 7:05 PM on March 1, 2013 and will return to Miami (MIA) at 4:15 PM on March 9, 2013. 

Please book your flight to Miami (MIA) on March 1, 2013 before 4 PM and out of Miami (MIA) on March 9, 2013 after 7 PM.

The team will spend the first night in a secure hotel in Guatemala City then be picked up by the Hogar Rafael staff Saturday morning.

Proceed to the American Airlines counter, where the team will assemble.  If your domestic flight does not arrive in time to catch the international flight, OCF will aid you as much as possible but will not be responsible for your flight arrangements.

We recommend that you register with the state department before you leave at https://step.state.gov/step/

Entry and Exit Requirements

A valid US passport is required to enter and depart Guatemala. Certificates of naturalization, birth certificates, driver’s licenses, and photocopies are not considered acceptable alternative travel documents.  Non US citizens must check Visa requirements for entering and exiting Guatemala. 

Living Conditions

The team will be staying at the Hogar Rafael Ayau.  You will need to bring sheets and towels which you can consider donating to the orphanage after the trip. The Hogar will provide pillows and blankets. The team will also be eating their meals at the Hogar during the trip. 

Immunizations

There are no immunizations required by the U.S. or the Guatemalan governments. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that ALL travelers (regardless of destination) be up to date on the following normal childhood immunizations:

• measles/mumps/rubella (MMR Vaccine),
• diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus (DTP Vaccine),
• influenza
• chicken pox (or varicella), and
• polio

In addition, Hepatitis A is recommended for travel to Guatemala. These shots are available through a family physician or a public health clinic (generally, clinics are much less expensive). These shots are a one-time immunization and if you plan to do future traveling it is worth it to get them now. Many other travel destinations require the same immunizations. Begin getting your shots several months before your departure.  If you have any further questions consult the website for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov).

Emergencies

In case of emergency during your trip, please call 800.919.1OCF (1623) or you may call the Hogar Rafael Ayau offices at 011.502.2232.8916 or 011.502.2232.8917. Also, your trip leader will be providing you with his phone number in case you have problems with your domestic flight.

Required Forms

Download these forms from the Real Break Guatemala Page @ www.ocf.net

Please send the following documents as soon as they are ready by email (realbreak@ocf.net), by fax # 760-943-1210 or mail to:

Orthodox Christian Fellowship
c/o: Real Break Guatemala
679 Encinitas Blvd. #201 | Encinitas, CA 92024

• Photocopy of your passport
• Hogar Application; please include immunizations and copy of health insurance card
• Enclosed clergy reference form completed by your parish priest or spiritual father
• Background Check Consent Form

These documents are required by the Hogar in order to participate in the mission!

What to Bring?

• A positive attitude
• US Passport
• Work clothes (we suggest jeans and t-shirts)
• Work shoes/sneakers (no sandals or open-toed shoes while working)
• Sunscreen and sunglasses
• Warm clothes for evening and night (light jacket/sweater/heavy sweatshirt highly recommended)
• Comfortable sneakers
• Sunday church clothes -- nothing too dressy is required but for the guys, a button shirt and slacks and for girls, a shirt covering the shoulders and skirts or dresses.
• Camera
• Sufficient clothing (no opportunity for laundry)
• Flip-flop sandals for showers
• Personal toiletries
•  Bible/Spiritual Reading
• Bug repellent
• Notebook, pen, etc.
• Water bottle to keep refilling
• Towel & washcloth - the Hogar asks that you bring a new set to leave as a donation
• Twin sheets and pillowcase - again, bring a new set to leave as a donation
• At least 1 extra set of clothes in your carry-on just in case your suitcase gets lost for the first day or two.

 What NOT to Bring?

• Alcoholic Beverages and/or Tobacco
• Illegal Drugs (prescription/over-the-counter drugs must be kept in their original containers)
• MP3 Players, etc.
• Blow dryer, curling irons

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Note: All Real Break Guatemala Trip Participants must download and read the complete Trip Information Packet that includes special instructions from the staff of the The Hogar Rafael Ayau. You will also find  the required missionary application for Hogar Rafael Ayau,  Priest recommendation form and the Authorization for Backround Check Form.   

Download Real Break Guatemala - Trip Information Packet PDF Format) 

HRA Missionary Application Form  (MS Word Format)

HRA Priest Reference Form MS Word Format)

Backround Check Consent Form  (PDF Format)

Download 2013 Real Break Participant Information Packet    (PDF Format)

View 2013 Real Break Fundraising Essentials