Packing List for AMB Swaziland 2008
Revised May 29, 2008
Important skill to learn = Flexibility.
Be willing to go-with-the-flow when things change and you must adapt. 🙂
For your personal suitcase or bag:
1. Sleeping bag and a travel pillow.
• We ask you to you bring a crushable sleeping bag that can fit into a compression sack and be packed inside your own personal suitcase.
2. All necessary medications with refills.
• If you use an inhaler, bring an extra one. Please have your pharmacy and doctors number with you personally at all times in case of emergency and we need to speak with them. You will not be able to get refills in-country. *You will not need malaria medication
3. Backpack for your personal use every day.
4. Extra backpack if needed to tote craft supplies and possibly leave with someone who needs it in-country.
5. Hat, even on cooler days the sun can be blaring
6. Unbreakable water bottle
• These can be purchased at outdoors stores, and are a necessity. We will not be using cups in most locations, or at training camp-your water bottle will be your constant companion.
7. Baby wipes for your body, face wipes for your face.
• We will be staying in some places without showers, plus you will not have time to get a shower every day. Baby wipes are a great relief from the grime!
8. Personal hygiene items (deodorant, soaps, toothbrush and paste).
• Many of these are hard to find in other countries. Also, bring your own pair of toenail clippers.
9. Your drama outfit.
• Ladies: Two solid black XL men’s t-shirts, and solid black skirt.
• Guys, White or khaki pants, Two solid white XL men’s t- shirts, black pants, Two solid black XL men’s t-shirts.
***Both girls and guys will be bending over a lot. We do not want to see your skin, even at training camp when you are learning them. Please bring and wear “safety shirts”, such as a very long undershirt that can be tucked into your shorts or skirt.
10. Bible, lots of pens (people always lose these!), notebook for your personal scribblings, Journey given to you by AIM, your personal journal
11. Instant hand sanitizer (big and travel size)
12. Headlamp with extra batteries. If you don’t have one, you can bring a flashlight, but we strongly recommend a headlamp for the more remote locations.
13. Walkman or discman. These may only be used at times declared by your leaders and CANNOT be used at any other time. Some of you use them in your devotion times to worship. Yes, I know that walkmans or discmans are Old School. You can bring an ipod but in most locations YOU CANNOT CHARGE IT. Even if we have electricity, it is sketchy and we will not allow you to suck the life out of it with your ipods. So please do NOT ask to plug in your ipod! Bring an ipod battery pack if you bring an ipod. They make very small ipod battery chargers these days that run on 1 AA battery. I have one and it works great.
14. Stationary or note cards to write Thank-you letters or encouragement notes to people we meet
15. Host gifts
• These will be given out at the end of your trip. Your team will buy a basket and put together the stuff you brought, along with your financial donations, to give your host pastor or pastors. Please bring one small gift for a man, one for a woman, and one for a child. Great gifts are ball caps from your school or home state, candy made in your area, neat writing pens, Christian books or resources (some of the pastors speak English well), Christian t-shirts, etc.
Please make sure that the gifts you bring are things that you would personally like to receive.
These must be carried in YOUR bag.
16. One huge plastic jar of peanut butter.
• This will be lunch for most of two months! Also, if you like jelly, bring a plastic squirt bottle of that as well. Pack it in two Ziplocs in case it leaks! Do not bring anything in a glass jar or container-it will break! ***if you have a real allergy to peanuts, then it should be listed on your medical release form and signed by your doctor, and you should personally notify your leader of this before you come to training camp.
17. Spice packets
• You will be able to buy rice and noodles in-country when you’re in the city, but please bring spices so you can have a taste of home! Bring your favorites like stuff to make spaghetti, mac and cheese (you can even bring boxes of Kraft if you want), Mexican rice, etc. If you are bringing something like mac and cheese, please bring either just the sauce to make it, or bring enough to feed a team of 20 people.
18.Gatorade or Crystal Light or some kind of drink mix.
• This is a huge coveted item on our trips, as most of us do not drink enough water at home and will want the taste.
19. Shower shoes (a must)
20. Clothes: The dress code for your team is very strict, due to the cultural expectations of the country you are going to be ministering in. There will no variation from this, and we ask that you do not try to compromise this dress code in any way. Many people have the attitude that “we are going to a third-world country; I’m going to wear my ugliest, worn-out clothes. It doesn’t matter how I look”.
But you are representing Jesus Christ to the people of your country, and we want to do all things with excellence in order to bring glory to His name. Please do not bring clothes that are stained, torn, or have holes in them. Do not bring clothes with American logos and advertisements. Something simple like Old Navy is ok, but remember that what you wear is a physical representation of who you are.
Both guys and girls, do not bring clothing that is tight, too small, or form-fitting in any way. Do not bring pants that are low-cut. If you can bend over and touch your toes without showing any skin in the back, then your shirt and pants are ok. If you can raise your hands all the way above your head and not show your stomach, then your shirt is ok. Shirts should not have scoop necks or low v-necks. THIS GOES FOR TRAINING CAMP AS WELL.
Whatever size you wear at home, you should bring a size larger for this trip. We do not want to see your back or your stomach.
Clothes packing tips:
• When packing for a mission trip, most people become frustrated with the lack of room available in their suitcase! Please do not over pack when it comes to clothing. You can wash your outfit and wear the same one over and over. Bring the bare minimum when it comes to clothes so that you will have room for other things.
• You will be hand-washing your clothes with a bar of soap in a bucket. Bring clothes that can be hand-washed.
• Before packing, you need to check the web to learn about the climate in your country. In Swaziland for sure, it will be winter and you will need both warm-weather and cool-weather clothes. If it is going to be winter in your country, please bring one sweatshirt or jacket, long underwear, and a warm cap.
• Tight-roll your clothes in your suitcase. Don’t worry about wrinkles, just roll them up like a sausage and lay them beside each other in the bottom of your bag.
Girls: skirts that come to your midcalf and tshirts will be your everyday wear. Please do not bring shirts that have small sleeves-you can wear short sleeves, but they must be full length, no cap sleeves. No sleeveless shirts. You will be able to wear pants or capris on some off-day adventures, but do not always count on it.
Guys: The guys can wear shorts at times. If you’re doing ministry I would suggest wearing something like nice Khakis whether they are shorts or pants. They can wear nice jeans when they are doing ministry as well. For church they should wear something nicer, like khakis or cords or something that is not jeans with a nice shirt. Preferably like a polo or a button down, something that has a collar. They don’t need to wear ties.
Girls and Guys: you may bring one comfortable outfit of your choice to “bum around the house in” during our group teaching times, team meetings, etc.
21. Ziplocs.
• You need to bring two big gallon-size boxes of Ziplocs, plus one smaller box. We will keep the bugs and rats out of our food by putting everything into Ziplocs!
22. Towel and washcloth (a fast-drying towel will be best and keep mold out of your suitcase)
23. One pair of really good walking/hiking shoes or boots, and one extra pair of comfortable shoes (tennis shoes).
• Sandals are ok in some locations, not ok in other locations. You must wear close-toed shoes at times during training camp.
-In Swazi, you may wear flip flops and sandals at times, but there will definitely be times when good walking shoes will be required.
24. Extra spending money, and some kind of hidden pouch to keep your money in and close to your body so you won’t get pick pocketed.
ABOUT EXTRA MONEY:
By extra, we mean anything that is not covered by the cost of your trip. This is stated in your manual, but we want to reemphasize it for you.
You will need extra money for:
• Your own personal snacks, candy, soft drinks, power bars, or anything weird you like to eat that will not be bought with team money. Team money will buy three meals a day (one of which is bread for our peanut butter), but will not buy a ton of junk food.
• Toothpaste, deodorant, underwear when you run out, things you forgot from home.
• Off–day experiences. For most Ambassador trips, the team will have one day off from “active” ministry. Of course, we are never really “off” when it comes to sharing our faith! All off day activities will be done as a group, and will be planned by your team leader. ***All participants are expected to pay for their own off-day activity. This means that if you choose to spend the day away from your base, you will be responsible for the meals that you eat out. Peanut butter and bread will always be available, so you may choose to pack that and take it with you for lunch.
• Your own doctor visits and medications, should you need to see a doctor. Even if you have insurance, in most cases, you will have to pay up front and get reimbursed by your insurance company when you get back to the states.
• Offerings. Your team will take up offerings at each of your major ministry sights. You will need to be sensitive to the voice of the Lord here, and give as God directs. He will let you know what you are to give. Please don’t determine this by how much money that will leave you for shopping!
25. Your own plate, bowl, plastic or metal mug (for chai and coffee), and silverware. Bring something unique to who you are, so that your stuff can be easily identified!
26. Black or Navy bandana to be used at training camp. You may also bring other “festive” bandanas to use in Swaziland. There are numerous uses of them: wearing them, using them for props in dramas, make-shift washcloth, blanket for a mouse, and various other uses. 🙂
27. Easy recipes that can feed a team of 21. Think basic ingredients that you can get anywhere in the world. Every person will be helping cook.
28. Swimsuit. Be smart and choose modestly. For girls, one piece please; board shorts are a popular choice to wear over swimsuits.
29. Proper raingear
30. If you have allergies or are asthmatic, bring meds and prepare for that. There’s something crazy in the air here that’s got many people sneezing and suffering from seasonal allergies. Come prepared.
31. Sweatshirt for chilly weather. Here in GA we might have a few chilly nights. Bring appropriate clothing for this. It’s hard to concentrate when your teeth are chattering.
-Also, we’re going to Swaziland during their winter. It gets cold at night (40-50 degrees F) and sometimes in the day too. Everyone will need to pack a few light winter items – like hoodies, light jackets, etc.They key is to dress in layers.The winter can be a bit chaotic. One minute it can be really niceout and warm, and then in 10 to 20 minutesit can be freezing cold. I know it’s hard to believe because we’re going to Africa…but it will be cold, especially during the mornings and evenings. Don’t think just because you’re going to Africa that you’re going to roast in the sun. Please come prepared for cold!
post comments here with questions or email me. 🙂
