Packing for Your Short Term Mission Trip

You’re going on a short-term mission trip. You've done all the prep work: training classes, raising your funds, prayer, and maybe you've even learned a few sentences in a foreign language. Finally, it’s time to pack. Here are some helpful hints:

First, start with prayer. You will be amazed at what the Lord lays on your heart to pack or leave behind. When I was preparing to go to Honduras, the Lord said to pack plastic coffee mugs. I thought that was silly, couldn't be the Lord, so I didn't. When we got to the missionary's house where we were staying, they needed coffee mugs.

Next, find out what to wear where you are ministering by talking to your team leader or the host missionary. What is considered proper attire? What is considered inappropriate attire? You do not want to offend the people you are trying to win to the Lord by wearing clothes they feel are provocative. In Uganda, it was only appropriate to wear shorts or jeans on shopping day. The rest of the time women needed to be in skirts or dresses. However, in Peru, shorts and jeans were not a problem unless you were in the church service.

Also, while you are talking to your leader or host, ask about the weather during the time of your visit. For example, in Uganda there are two seasons: hot and wet. If it's the raining season, you need to pack a poncho, umbrella, and a light jacket or hoodie for the evenings but if it’s not, none of those things will be needed at all.

It's always a good idea to pack clothes you want to leave behind to be given to the poor. I'm not saying your raggedy worse clothes either. Always give your best to the ministry and God will reward you. One lady I know bought all new dresses at the end of the summer to wear in Africa. She wore them while there and left all the new dresses for the African Pastor's wives before she returned home. What a blessing for these women to get new dresses.

It's also important to decide what not to bring. There really isn't a need for flashy jewelry, expensive electronics, or many other items. Remember its 'ministry and work for the Lord' time not 'vacation' time. This will be the hardest, greatest, most exhausting, most exhilarating time of your life. If you are worrying about your gaming device being stolen, you will miss what God’s doing in your life or the life of someone you are ministering to.

For your comfort: On the plane your feet may swell because you are sitting for such a long time. Bring some socks or house shoes to protect your feet and take off your shoes. I buy a new pair of house shoes for each trip and wear them throughout the whole travel time, even the airport terminal. 

Carry on: Always pack your medicines, electronics, and at least one change of clothes (more if there’s room). Add a few snacks, small liquid hand sanitizer, a book or other entertainment too. Travel documents, passport, money, should be kept close to you at all times. I use a purse that has multiple zippered pockets and crosses over my body so it’s more secure to hold my documents. A body cross over purse is harder to snatch. Men wear your wallet in the front pocket to avoid pick pockets. Also, if you take a credit card, place it in a metal or other type of container that cannot be scanned. Available at any shop that sells wallets.

When traveling with cash, find out what denomination gets the best exchange rate in the country you are visiting. In Russia, they wanted crisp new $20 bills but in Uganda they wanted crisp new $100 dollar bills. Get the wrong kind of cash and you may not be able to use it at all.

Do check the airline you are traveling on to see about restrictions on what you can and cannot take. Most airlines won’t allow you to take any large liquids on the plane unless they are secured in your check in bag. Not even water. Don’t buy a bottled drink until you are sitting down waiting for your plane and then drink it all and throw away the bottle before you try to board. One airliner would not let you board with a lap top until you turned it on in front of them and proved it was a real lap top. My friend almost lost her lap top because the battery had run down. Luckily it turned on one more time and she was allowed to take in on the plane.

Finally, packing for the return trip: be sure and surround you precious souvenirs with all the clothes you are bringing back and pack them in the middle of your check on bag. I usually pack my carry on in my large check on suitcase, then my souvenirs in my dirty clothes in the carry on and around the carry on. Then my hands are free and I only have to keep up with my purse all the way home. No hassles! Hope these tips help you pack for your life changing trip to the Nations!