I just returned from Haiti on my very first mission trip. It was an incredible experience, but no one could have ever prepared me for what I was about to encounter. Sure I read about life in Haiti, and our youth pastor told us what to expect, but actually experiencing it for myself was a completely different story. When I first felt called to go on this mission trip I was so excited. It is something I have been wanting to do since I was a little girl, but I never felt like it was God's timing. Finally, I got to go. I sent out support letters and was overwhelmed by the response. What a relief to know months before I left that my trip was covered and I was ready to go. Everything was sunshine and rainbows... that is until about a week before the trip. All of a sudden panic set in. What if I got sick? What if my body wasn't physically fit enough to handle the heat and the work we would be doing? What if my passport was stolen while I was there? What if I didn't like the food and I starved? The week before we left I was struck by overwhelming fear that I could not shake. I think it a lot to do with the unknown. I had never been on a mission trip before and I didn't know what to expect. I knew I couldn't get out of it. I had many people who had supported me and there was no way out. So I packed my luggage. One carry on and one backpack or purse.
TIP #1: Choose what you pack wisely. I think I did okay in this area. It can be a challenge though, depending where you go. There typically wasn't laundry service unless you want to wash you clothes in the sink or bathtub. Also, everyone in our group planned on leaving as many clothes as possible to be distributed to the people in the Haitian community. Since we were going to be there for a week, I packed 7 pairs of shorts or capris and 7 tops. Rolling them up in my suitcase took up less space than traditional folding. I unboxed 21 granola bars and packed those because I had no idea what Haitian food was going to be like and I didn't want to go hungry. I also packed a battery operated fan (which I determined later did not work well at all), and basic toiletries, sunscreen, and mosquito repellent. Make sure to keep all of your liquids in a Ziploc bag in easy reach. You will probably have to remove them from your bag when you go through airport security. What I did not pack is makeup.
Trust me, there's no reason to do that. You're just going to sweat it off anyway, I promise. In my backpack I packed my Bible, books to read, cards to play, my wallet, my identification, and vitamins. I totally recommend that you take vitamins with you; they really helped me get through the trip with enough energy and nutrients.
Tip #2- Keep all vital supplies in your carry on and backpack. So many of my friends have been separated from their luggage for days on mission trips. They were without clothes, shoes, and other important belongings. Also, when you check your bag and go to baggage claim to get it, you are betting that someone does not take your bag before you get to it. That has happened multiple times too. Just to be safe, have all of your necessities on you in your carry on luggage.
Tip # 3- Fill a large suitcase with candy, jump ropes, and small toys to distribute to the children you will be encountering. I would even suggest that as many people as possible on your trip check a bag like this. Our group hosted an event for children and there were so many supplies that we wish we had brought to give to the kids. We had some things to distribute, but we could have done a lot more.
Tip #4- Complete all paperwork and medical requirements early. Do NOT wait until the last minute to get your passport or gather your required documentation. Waiting until the last minute to get your passport could mean you do not get your passport in time or you could have to pay a hefty sum in addition to the already costly expense of a passport to expedite it. As soon as you know that you are going on a mission trip, look up what you will need to have your passport application processed. You can google it or you can click here to se a list of requirements and fill out your passport application. You will need a passport picture, which you can get at your local drug store's photo department. Also, I thought I had to go down to the main passport office in Atlanta, which takes hours. This is really only necessary if you have waited until the very last minute to get your passport. And I mean the very last minute. You can also head over to your local county clerk's office and it takes about 15 minutes if you already have the paperwork filled out and printed.
Also, as soon as you know that you going on a mission trip, find out what immunizations are recommended or required for travel to the country in which you are going. The CDC has a list of immunization recommendations based on the country. You definitely want to check out what is needed and determine how much it will cost you as soon as possible. It can cost a few hundred dollars to get all of the immunizations and you will need to account for that in your fundraising.
Tip #5- Look at purchasing an International Plan for you mobile phone. It is almost impossible to spend an entire week (or longer) in another country without using a single byte of data. Know what your cell phone provider charges for international rates without an international plan and also with an international plan. My international plan was $10 per day for unlimited calls, texts, and data. I was one of the adult leaders on a youth group trip, so I went with this option knowing that teens may need to check in with their parents. Also, I just didn't want have to worry that I might have an app running in the background and be incurring fees for international usage without knowing it. I would suggest that at least a couple of people in your group have an international plan that can be used by others in your group. When someone in the group uses the phone, they offer up a dollar or two to help cover the cost of the international plan. In this way, it is like you are sharing the international plan and it makes it cheaper for everyone.
After all of the administrative tasks have been handled, immunizations have been administered, and my bags were packed, it was time to head to the airport. I had to get up at 3:00 in the morning to meet my group at the church by 4:00.... Ehrmagherd that was so early! It was necessary, though, because we needed to arrive at the airport two hours in advance for an international flight. We made it though security. I am used to taking off my shoes, and keeping my liquids in a Ziploc bag, but security personnel was asking that we remove all snacks from our bag. What!? And this was not for international flights only. This was everyone leaving from Atlanta going to Des Moines, New York, or Haiti. I had 21 granola bars tucked away in the bottom of my luggage. There was no way I was getting them out. A student we were traveling with had 40 bags of Hot Cheetohs. No joke. Not quite sure why they were checking snacks, but just be prepared in case. I did not get my granola bars out and I passed through security just fine. We boarded the plane, flew to Fort Lauderdale for a layover (thank goodness for Uno), and then we were on our way to Haiti. When we got off the plane in Fort Lauderdale our youth pastor asked everyone to check and make sure they had their passport. We all laughed,thinking, "Who could have lost their passport already?" Well.... one student almost left his on the plane. Ask everyone to check for their passport every time they board or exit a plane. It could save you a major headache. As the plane pulled into the gate in Haiti, my stomach was in knots. This was it. The moment I had been waiting for for 33 years.
This post was just about preparing to go to Haiti. Continue to part 2 which describes the week spent in Haiti.
