Hey Expeditions team,

This Spring semester is going to be an incredible one where you’re going to see God do great things in you, and in the people of East Africa. It will be hard at times, but know that it’s all worth it. Get excited!

As you already know, the African Expeditions trip is our most diverse and unpredictable one as you will be moving around a bit. Because of that I don’t have super specific ministry details to give except that you will be building relationships between the Church body and local community. You’ll be spreading the Gospel through evangelism, discipleship and meeting the physical and spiritual needs of the community. Ministry can look like door to door evangelism/house visits, hospital and prison visits, crusades, preaching, teaching, kids ministry and various other small projects.

A cultural rule is that you should always extend your hand to greet people you meet.

Languages spoken are English, Swahili, and Luganda.

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Packing:

- Backpack (We suggest an internal frame pack. REI has great ones.)

- Sleeping bag and pillow

- Sleeping pad (ThermaRest is a good brand.)

- A free standing tent (A 2-person tent is great because it will fit you and your pack in it.)

- Day Pack - This is a regular sized school pack. Inside, you can put some of your electronics

and books. Keep your valuables in your daypack when you travel. When you are in-country you will probably take this pack with you on short-hikes, trips into town, and on ministry outings.

- Passport

- Copies of your passport packed in various places

- Proof of Yellow Fever inoculation

- All necessary medications with refills

- Clothes appropriate for outdoor activities and one semi casual outfit (jeans and nice shirt)

- Ministry clothes. **Ladies: skirts at least below your knee; Guys: khaki dress pants and collared shirt. If you preach at church, you’ll probably need to wear a tie as well.

- Water bottle – unbreakable.  Nalgene bottles work best.

- Towel and shower stuff.  Pack towels are recommended. They are small to pack and dry very quickly.

- Basic first aid including mosquito spray, medicine for stomach issues, headaches, allergies (including seasonal), bug bites, band-aids, anti-bacterial wipes and ointment, sunscreen.

- Personal hygiene items.

- Baby Wipes

- Headlamp (flashlights are fine too…but headlamps are AWESOME because you get to have both hands free. Hands-free is good for going to the bathroom outside at night, reading while your teammates are sleeping, and even for dance parties!)

- Mess Kit (A basic camping-type bowl and utensils)

- Bible, journal and pens.

- Spending money for possibly eating out or spending fun time with your team and souvenirs

- Camera and batteries

- Rain Jacket or poncho

- Lightweight jacket/sweatshirt

- A Hat or head covering to protect you from the sun.

- Running/hiking shoes.

- Sporty sandals (This is not required but is a good idea. Check out brands like Chaco and Teva.)

- Outlet Adaptor (You need an adaptor, not a converter. You probably only need a converter if you're bringing something high powered like a blow dryer…which, you shouldn’t bring. You can get an international adaptor at Wal-mart or Target.)

Consider packing your clothes in stuff sacks, packing cubes, or even heavy-duty Ziploc bags. This will help with organization in your back and protect your clothes from spills and foul smells gathered from around the East Africa.

Dress Code:

When you go to minister in another country, you expect it to be a different world.  Clothing can carry many messages about who you are, what you are doing, and what you believe.   It’s good to have some of the clothes that make you happy (a favorite shirt, a great pair of jeans) but don’t bring anything that you can’t bear to lose or see stained.  Below are some good general guidelines.

• You are expected to maintain a clean, modest appearance that represents AIM and local missionaries well.
• Bring something modest to sleep in.
• No short, tight, or clinging clothing is permitted.
• Sleeveless shirts and tank tops that are 2” wide are permitted on girls. No sleeveless shirt of any form is permitted for guys.
• If you can’t raise your arms above your head without showing your stomach, leave it at home.
• Shorts must come to the top of the knee. Capris and Goucho pants are great options!
• Skirts and dresses should be below the knee.
• Bring a full coverage swim suit and think modest. Be prepared to wear shorts and a shirt over your swimsuit. Guys, normal swim trunks should be fine.
• Men need long pants in most situations.

A few ministry sensitivities you need to be aware of are: No earrings or piercings for men at all as this sends a very wrong message to the locals (for example, that such a person is gay, which is culturally resisted). No "Nike" brand clothing (mostly in Kenya.) Men should dress moderately casual at all times (t-shirts, long pants, shirts – polo or collared). Ladies should dress modestly and dresses or skirts need to pass the knee. There is not a problem with ladies with earrings, piercings or tattoos. Men may want to cover tattoos especially on their arms during ministry time. Keep in mind that you may need to adjust the dress code depending on your location and cultural norms. Your ministry host will let you know.

Check out some stories from last summer participants that were on the Expeditions trip by visiting their blog here!

As always, if you have any questions about anything listed here, please let me know!

Stacy Povian

Email: thepassport@adventures.org

Phone:  770-983-1060 x 321