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PACKING CHECKLIST
Packing Tips
Important: You must be able to carry your own luggage.
It is heaps easier to have one decent size bag or bagpack than lots of little bags. Check on the weight limit allowed by your particular airline - they vary.
Clearly mark each piece of luggage so it is easily tracked in case of any loss. Your luggage should be lightweight and sturdy. Packing lightly is for your own convenience as you will need to carry your luggage at times. You don't necessarily need a backpack. A travel pack is fine, even suit cases or boxes, but you must be able to carry them and when full they need to be within the allowable weight limits.
Pre-Packing info
- A ‘Day Pack' is essential to carry your water, camera and paper work.
- Take a picture of what you put in your pack and a picture of your luggage, in case it all goes on a little holiday of its own.
- Copy your itinerary, insurance details, front page of passport, Yellow Fever stamp (if required), emergency details and leave with friends or family and take a copy for yourself and one to the team leader.
- It is possible to add some space to your bag by using the plastic vacuum bags that allow you to push out the air and make things squashier.
Things not to take
- Don't pack anything the airlines do not want you to, e.g. knives, flammables.
- Don't take anything that it is illegal to carry eg drugs.
- Only take appropriate clothing - when you are on a mission trip that is not clothing that is see-through, low cut, hit cut or tight fitting.
Packing Checklist
Important Documents
- Passport
- Your vaccination record
- Emergency telephone numbers (at home and at your destination)
- Plane ticket
- Travelers Cheques and/or Credit Cards if you decide to take them, copy of serial numbers from the Travelers cheques.
- Have a photocopy of all your cards, passport and travel documents with you - and leave one with a family member or trusted friend at home
- Cash: how much to take depends on where you are going and your personal budget but for a couple of weeks in a third world country $200US should do.
- Insurance information - the Mission Travel suggestion (because it would be illegal for us to make it a rule) is "If you can't afford travel insurance you can't afford to get on the plane!" Please encourage all short-term mission participants to take out adequate travel insurance!
First Aid Supplies
- Make sure medicine is in original packaging.
- Bring with you any of your own medicine with appropriate documentation from your doctor explaining what it is and that you have a prescription for it.
- Gastro tablets (e.g. Imodium)
- Anti vomit tablets (e.g. Stemitel)
- Malaria tablets
- Headache tablets
- Detol spray or antibacterial hand cleanser are great. Aquium is a good hand wash, a packet of ‘Wet Ones' often comes in handy.
- You may want to take some ‘surgical gloves' - now in supermarkets.
Clothing suggestions
- A general rule is 4 tops, 4 bottoms, 2 pairs of shoes, but it's up to you. After all, you have to carry it.
- Underwear
- A light jumper
- Shoes and socks
- Hat. It is going to be hot or cold take the one you need.
- Plastic bag for dirty washing
- Money belt
- Long sleeve shirts to protect you from the mozzies or the cold.
- Pajamas
- Sandals - and thongs for the showers.
- One or two dress shirts to wear to church (for the guys)
- Conservative dress or skirt and top to wear to church (for girls)
Miscellaneous - list will vary depending on your destination
- Sun screen. The kind with insect repellent is the best
- Insect repellent that is NOT a spray.
- Mosquito net.
- Bible, pens, note pad, journal, testimony,
- Small calculator is a good idea (for the bargaining at markets and to help with money exchange)
- A good book to read on the plane or while you are waiting (some people might want more than one book - or you can share amongst the group.)
- Padlocks on all zippers on your bag. It is easier to buy locks with the rolling codes but if you have key locks then put keys for your padlocks in 2 different spots in case you loose one set.
- Money belt for documents and money
- Camera and film. You probably won't be able to download your digital photos so make sure you have enough space on the card.
- If anyone has access to a Polaroid camera take it - then you can leave some photo's with the locals.
- Video cameras are great too - check that the battery lasts a decent length of time.
- Small torch
- Small gifts that are obviously from Australia eg a packet of those 50c kangaroos or koalas are always good, T Towels with an Australian pattern.
- Snack food for travelling - if you need that kind of thing.
- Something that cheers you up when you're feeling down. Chocolate is a good one or photos of loved ones etc.
- Something to keep you amused when you are waiting for rides and things eg a hacky sack
- Bathroom items: Soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, (apparently deodorant attracts the mozzies, make your own decision).
- Towel (and a face washer is also useful if you need to have ‘bucket baths')
- Good ideas for ministry
- Journal
- Sleeping sheet and a sleeping bag (if required).
- a packet of ‘Wet Ones' is often helpful to keep your hands and face clean when water is scarce or you feel a bit grimy when you are travelling.
A good idea is to put a change of clothing in your carry- on bag in case your luggage decides to have its own adventure.
Issues to consider before deciding exactly what clothing to take with you
Check with your leader about clothing and remember to dress appropriately for the community you are visiting. This might mean you dress much more conservatively than you would at home. While you may think the clothing restrictions ‘silly' following them is important. The clothing restrictions in some countries may vary from the city areas to the rural areas eg women might be able to wear jeans in the city but not in rural areas.
Sandals - it may not be possible to wear them into temples or church.
Clothes to wear in church or in ministry contexts - do men always wear long pants in church, should women wear skirts/dresses in church?
Pajamas - make sure your pajamas are one's that can be "seen in public" (think about modesty, think about that midnight dash to the pit toilet up the hill, think about standing on the footpath outside your five star hotel when the fire alarm goes off in the middle of the night.)
Swim wear - should you wear shorts and T-shirt when swimming or is what you would wear at home is okay?
For men - in some countries only children wear shorts and men always wear long pants. Make sure you know what is acceptable and stick to it.
For women - ensure you understand what areas of the body need to be treated with greater modesty. In some societies the area from your knees to your waist needs to be kept covered at all times (you may need to wear a petty coat or a slip - ask your mother if you have never heard of these items of clothing, the general idea is that your skirt not be ‘see-through'). In other countries showing your tummy or wearing tight jeans or tight T-shirts is unacceptable. Make sure you know what is acceptable and stick to it.
More personally check if your:
Tongue/nose/eyebrow ring is going to help you to fit right in or be seen as outrageous.
Dreadlocks are acceptable or not.
Beard is considered '‘good or bad'‘ in the country you are visiting
