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 - 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 (Doxycycline)
4. Any other supplies you are requested to bring to Uganda.  Often times teams are asked to bring school supplies, clothing, shoes, etc.  Please allow enough time for your church or small group to help you purchase and pack.

**Please allow enough time for these preparations.

 

1. 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 final leg of your itinerary) 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.  It's best if each person has a $50 bill for this purpose.

 

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 FNC Academy.  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.

1. You will need to bring:

• Personal toiletries
• Insect repellant (for evening)
• 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

• School is in session Monday through Friday 7am - 3pm.  Visitors are welcome in the classrooms and you may be called on to assist.  During breaks, feel free to socialize and interact with the students.
• After school, many of the students hang out at the compound.  Teams also spend time making home visits.  If you sponsor one or more students, we will make arrangements to introduce you to your student(s) and spend some time with their family (if possible).

• 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!

C. Ministry While Here in Uganda

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.

• It is considered polite to show respect to older people regardless of their station in life…
• Money is in shillings (see exchange rate below),  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 FNC Academy.  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 passport.  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!