Tips
for Trips
*We want to start out by welcoming all
short-term and long-term visitors to serve with us here in Kampala,
Uganda. We recommend a 10-day trip
due to the time difference (jet lag) and expense in traveling. As Friday Night Church continues to
grow we want visitors to experience all the exciting ministry opportunities in
our community. Please start by
praying about coming to visit us and partnering with us in ministry. As Ugandans frequently say here…”You’re
Welcome!”
1. Get
Organized
*Meet
with your group regularly to start planning and praying for your trip.
*Pick a
leader from your group to be your person in charge of papers, scheduling,
tickets, and relaying information to and from the missionaries.
*Involve
your church in necessary steps of organization (travel dates), raising support,
gathering supplies, and returning to share about your trip.
*You will need:
1. a passport-so please allow 6-8 weeks for this process
2. immunizations (talk with your doctor or local health department
to find what shots you will need.
We recommend Tetanus, Typhoid Fever, Yellow Fever, Hepatitis A,
Meningitis –last 2 being optional, also it’s good to get a booster of MMR, and
DTAP)
3. malaria
medication- we recommend Vibramycin (Doxycycle Hyc)
4. any other supplies
you are requested to bring to Uganda-please allow enough time for your church
or small group to help you purchase and pack.
**Please
allow enough time for these preparations.
A. Trip
Costs
*Round
Trip Airfare: depends on time of year, average cost: $1,800 per person.
*In
country costs: $750 (based on 10 day stay)
*covers
guest house fees, food (2 meals a day), transportation
*Project
Costs: If there are any requested projects your group will be doing while here
(example: medical clinic supplies, building a structure, VBS) please be
prepared as a group to cover those costs.
*Personal
Spending Money (souvenirs, extra food, etc.)
*Please
bring 2006 American bills and newer (in either $50 or $100 dollar bills-with
$100 being preferred at the exchange) or you will get a lesser exchange
rate.
B. Travel
Arrangements
* Groups
will book their own flights with first approving dates with the missionaries at
FNC.
*We will
arrange the transportation to and from the airport and while you are here in
Uganda-please be sure to let us know a few days in advance how many pieces of
large luggage or tubs to expect to have the appropriate sized trucks meet you
at the airport.
*Travel
Documents: While in flight to
Uganda (on second flight) you will be given your visa to fill out. The visa form asks for the following
information: name, US address, passport and flight numbers, purpose of travel
(please put visiting friends), and address while in Uganda:
Todd
Gilliland
PO
BOX 75632
Kampala,
Uganda, Africa
256.079.323.1980
*You will
also need to pay the Customs Officer in Uganda $50 per person (in US Dollars)
to enter the country.
2. Once
You Arrive-Accommodations
*While in Uganda, you will be staying at a guest house in Bukoto
called…882 Terrace, it is a very nice place within walking distance to Friday
Night Church. We ask that you be
careful to always walk with a partner and be mindful you are not in the
US. Traffic is obviously different
as well as boda boda’s, which are motorcycles, and taxi’s (white vans) are very
much everywhere.
*The
guest house will provide beds, mosquito nets, sheets, pillows, towels and breakfast.
A. You
will need to bring:
- personal
toiletries
-OFF for
night
-anti-itch
cream for bug bites
-allergy
pills/inhalers-it is very dusty so be prepared for allergy issues
-anti-diarrheal-Lomotil
is prescription strength otherwise any over the counter drugs will work fine
-Tylenol/Ibuprofen
for headaches/backaches-travel and jet lag brings a few of these!
-Melatonin
(natural sleep aid, or preferred brand such as Tylenol pm)
- Sunscreen
is important also since we are in Africa and so close to the equator…it’s hot
all year long!
-snacks are
fine to bring for each day, make sure they are well sealed and will not melt
(granola bars, trail mix, breakfast bars, fruit snacks)
-Reusable/Refillable
Water bottle is essential…the guest house and FNC will provide clean drinking
water, so do not pack extra water or filters!
-Clothing:
Please be aware that women need to dress in appropriately modest clothing,
including nothing above the knee and nothing too low-cut or tight. Jeans or capris, along with dresses or
skirts are perfectly fine. Please
no shorts even at the compound.
Also please understand that Ugandans typically will wear longer skirts
or a dress. Guys are the lucky
ones-you can wear any longer shorts, pants or jeans. Please dress nice for Sunday church (no suits or fancy
dresses) but look nice. Just be
warned, you will get dirty, not just a little dirt, but more dirt and dust then
you thought ever was possible to stick to your sweaty nasty skin. That’s my only warning…don’t bring
designer shoes or clothes and think the dirt will ever wash out…haha…ok DONE
you are warned!
B. Ministry
While Here in Uganda
*We have 8 vital ministries at Friday Night Church as of March of 2014
1. The
Fireplace-1st Friday of the month gathering focused on outreach and
connection starts at 7:30pm
2.
The Marksmen (men’s ministry)-every Wednesday at 7pm
3.
Pillars & Ornaments (women’s ministry)-every Tuesday at 5pm
4. Joy Club
International (kid’s ministry-ages 2-11)-every Wednesday from 3-7pm
5. World
Changers (Junior High & Senior High ministry-ages 12-18)-every Friday night
at 5pm
6. One on
One (basketball ministry-kids of all ages)-every Saturday morning at 10am
7. Saturday
Night Hang Out Movie/Game Night (once a month)
8. FNC Academy
8. FNC Academy
*Please pray
about how you could involve yourself in these ministries and what role you
could have as you are here. But
please remember, we are here every day with the Ugandans training and discipling
new leaders; we never want to come off that we have all the answers or that
their way of doing things is inferior so please be sensitive especially in
ministry areas to be a partner with us and be a good listener.
*Ministry
Needs/Supplies: As we are here, we
constantly need things but are trying to rely on what supplies are here that we
can buy to support the Ugandan market.
We will let your group know of supplies that are needed within a couple
months of when you arrive.
*Please
don’t forget your own Bible and journal.
This trip will be an eye-opening trip for you personally and also as a
group so please do not overlook that simple but the most important tool for the
mission field.
*Also
please refrain from too much technology-remember this is a mission trip and we
want to encourage you to “unplug” from what you are used to. Be aware that technology often gets
stolen as well…just ask our Missions Partner-Ben!
C. Language
*Most people here speak some English although
it can be broken so you should be able to communicate with everyone. There are some that only know Luganda,
so I wanted to include a list of common words that will help you in your
everyday meetings with people in our community. You can also google Luganda and find a few other websites
that can help.
English Luganda
Hi Ki
Kati
How are you? Oli
otya?
I am ok Gyendi
Have a nice day Siiba
bulungi
Farewell Weebale
Please Mwattu
Thank You Weebale
Your Welcome Kale
Excuse Me Owange
Pardon Wangi
I’m sorry N
Sonyiwa
Look! Laba
Listen Wulira
*It is considered polite to show respect to
older people regardless of their station in life…
Sir Ssebo
Madam Nnyabo
*Money is in shillings (2500 equals $1.00)-we
will help you exchange your American money once you arrive and settle into your
rooms.
3. Once
you Return Home
*Please report back to your mission’s team
and or church bodies to share about your experiences. We cannot do that part for you and depend on you to share
what God is doing here in Uganda through the work at Friday Night Church. We also want to encourage you to invite
others and lead another short-term trip yourself. Thank you for coming to visit us and share in spreading the
gospel to this corner of the world.
4. Trip
Leader Tips
1. Make 2 copies of each person’s
passports-leave 1 copy with a responsible person in the States and bring one
set of copies with you during the travel in your carry on bag.
2. You will receive a tourist visa on the
plane coming into Uganda-do not worry about this process beforehand. You will all need $50 in US currency to
enter into Uganda-please keep this money close once you get to Uganda.
3. We recommend packing clothes/shoes that
you might consider giving away while here in Uganda. This is not at all required but we will help in distributing
these items to people we know if you desire. Also if you can pack most of your personal items in your
carry on, it leaves all the tubs/bags for supplies.
4. Please line up one contact person that
both parties can contact in case of emergencies and let us know email and phone
numbers of the person prior to your departure.
5. Talk with your group about what to expect
when arriving-culture shock, language difficulties, ministry differences, food,
smells, etc.
6. Culture shock: Talk about this with a leader whether in your group or one
of us here in the field. It is
very normal to feel overwhelmed emotionally with all that your senses will be
taking in, but please talk about it!
While we see all the poverty, health needs, hungry people we need to
stay focused on the spiritual needs.
Please ask us before just giving items or other material goods to
someone you meet so you are not taken advantage of-let us help you in that way.
7. Do not be afraid to be out in the
community, but please be smart.
Try to eat local, buy local, and get to know the local people. Don’t be afraid to be laughed at-that’s
part of the fun of being in another culture. Do not be afraid to share about JESUS!!!
8. Be sensitive to fellow missionaries and
that we will still be here after you leave.
9. Have realistic expectations of ministry
goals while here. Be prepared to
do physical, menial work if needed.
10. Time goes by different here, and
traveling will make you tired at strange times; be prepared for a nap or for
days to go by fast!
11. Be organized but also flexible in case of
delays, visitors, invitations, or weather.
12. Be gracious and tactful concerning fellow
team members, missionaries, and volunteers at FNC.
13. Be willing to work together as a team,
whether it is raising support, here on the field, or sharing with your church
after returning.
14. Be sure to say thank you to those who
support you but know that not all believers will support you and that’s
ok. Try not to let this change
relationships, but respect their choices and philosophy in giving and missions.
15. We require that as a group you read the
book “When Helping Hurts”…please talk with us about this so we can point out a
few specific chapters to focus in on.
16. Come…we are ready for you and there is
lots of work to accomplish together!
No comments:
Post a Comment