Packing for the Short-Term Missions Trip

Short-term missions trips are a great way to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ! They're also guaranteed to get you out of your "comfort zone" and into radical dependency on God for all your needs. Although there are many places to go and witness in your country of origin, there are also many places to travel overseas with the Gospel. In fact, many have reported a greater acceptance of Jesus in non-western cultures. This is perhaps due to the fact that we have so much in our culture to distract us from the Truth.

There are many considerations when packing for a short-term missions trip. What country will you be visiting? What is its climate usually like for the time of your trip? What are the customs of the country regarding dress (both "street" and "church" clothing)? Remember that many countries, even third-world nations, are far more conservative than Westerners. You should be dressing as a representative of Christ. You are not on this trip for you... you're going for Him.

You must also consider airline, customs, and security requirements. These may vary from country to country. Most airlines let you take one checked bag up to a certain weight, and one carry-on bag with rather strict size requirements. You may also carry a purse or belt pouch/fanny pack. Currently, security will allow you to pack liquid/gel items such as shampoo in your carry-on up to three ounces; all of the containers you carry must be in ONE quart-size plastic zip-loc bag. You may pack more in your checked baggage. Most countries have strict import/export laws. Be very aware of this and learn the rules before you go on your short-term missions trip. That fresh fruit you want to bring as a snack may get you in trouble. Same goes for the lovely jewelry you bought overseas that just happens to be made from sea turtle shell!! Not only will it be confiscated at customs, you may be slapped with a heavy fine as well!! Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, you should be very aware of religious laws in other countries. It's possible that you'll be treated differently by customs because you're a missionary (in some countries it's not wise to tell them; chances are you'll have a tourist visa and can simply say you're a tourist). You may face restrictions on your food, your Bible and Christian materials, and on pictures/books you bring in. For instance, a picture of your girl on the beach in a bikini will get you in hot water in most Muslim nations. Know before you go!

Be sure to check out the vaccination requirements and CDC recommendations for the country you'll be travelling to. Some countries REQUIRE you to have proof of vaccinations we don't normally get in the West, like yellow fever. Keep proof of these vaccinations with your passport. You may also need to be taking anti-malarial drugs (which usually start before you go). Check with your doctor to see if you should be taking Cipro or a similar broad- spectrum antibiotic as a preventative on your trip. When considering all of this, remember that your access to a doctor will be very limited!!

Before you leave, make two clear black and white copies each of your passport, driver's license, vaccination records, and other travel documents. Don't use color copies... it's illegal!! It's best to reduce them 50& and put everything on one sheet. Give one set to your trip leader, and the other set to a relative at home. If your passport is lost, you can prove your identity to the American Embassy and get it replaced.

Your purse/fanny pack should contain everything that is "essential" in an emergency while on your short term missions trip. Your passport, picture ID, plane ticket, and any immigration paperwork should be in your fanny pack, along with some kleenex or toilet paper, a blister-pack each of pain reliever, antacid, and bendadryl, a couple of safety pins, and your money. You might want to put most of your money inside your clothing in a money belt. Ladies may wish to keep "touchup" makeup with them, but check what you're bringing with security. It may need to go in the zip-lock bag that you'll have in your carry-on. If you're carrying a digital camera, cell phone, or walkie-talkie you should keep that in your belt pack as well.

Your carry-on bag should be either a pilot's case style suitcase or a large backpack. If you carry on a suitcase, be sure to ask your group's leader if you might also need a backpack. If so, simply roll it up and stow it at the bottom of your suitcase. If possible, your carry-on should be of the type that straps onto your large, wheeled suitcase. You might be able to accomplish that with a luggage strap, if it's not designed that way. The last thing a short-term missions leader wants to see is stragglers when you're trying to get across the airport to catch the next flight!!

Your carry-on should contain all items you could not live without if the airline should lose your luggage. Include one and a half complete outfits. This is because you need both "street" clothes and "church" clothes, but also need to cut down on bulk. If you pack a double-duty shirt, a pair of "street" pants or shorts, and a skirt or pair of pants suitable for church, and underclothes you'll be all right until you can replace your clothing. You may need to pack dress shoes as well (depending on how "dressy" your travel shoes are!

Your carry-on should also have 3-ounce (or less) containers of shampoo, toothpaste, body wash (better than bar soap), and the like. Stow these in a SINGLE quart-sized zip lock bag. Place a bottle of hand sanitizer in this bag, but use it liberally starting when you board the plane. Pack a trial container of bug spray and sunscreen in this bag too. If you take medications, bring them in the original bottle!! These should be kept in a separate ziplock bag. You may need to check them with the security officer before boarding the plane. If you take prescription narcotics it may be necessary to bring a signed letter from your doctor as well. Carry enough medication for your trip plus a few extra days in case of emergency. If your medication is so essential you could die without it, have your group leader carry a small supply of them just in case yours get lost!! Ladies should carry personal hygiene items in their carry-ons, because these cannot be replaced in some locations (or you won't like the replacement!) Consider bringing a roll of toilet paper as well! If you wear glasses or contacts, it's best to bring an extra pair. You may need to pack your saline solution in your checked baggage depending on the size of the bottle.

Keep necessary items like your Bible, journal, light books, camera, sketch pad, pens, small flashlight, travel alarm clock, etc. in your carry-on. (But leave the Nintendo games at home!) You may also want to bring a foreign-language phrase book so you can study up before you get there! Keep a light snack in your carry-on (nothing remotely liquid, though). For safety reasons, you should not bring any snack containing nuts in the airplane cabin (some people really are that allergic!). Pack those in your checked bag. Granola bars are a good in-air snack. Carry some hard candy or chewing gum on the plane as well. You may also want to bring one of those 99-cent disposable plastic windbreakers. They don't take up much room but they can be a lifesaver in a downpour!

This sounds like a lot of supplies to pack into a small space, but if you choose what you need for your short-term missions trip wisely, it will be an enjoyable and productive experience!

Information on what should go in your checked luggage when on a short term missions trip will be in a future article.