Suggested Packing List for Medical Mission Outreach:
Small notebook (in carry-on or waist pack)
Camera
Film for camera (if not digital): suggest about 1 roll per day (200 ASA film is most practical)
Insect repellent – such as Ultrathon®, Cutter Advanced®, Repel Lemon Eucalyptus®, or Off! Botanicals®
Hand-sanitizer or antibacterial “baby-wipes” (include small bottle for your waist pouch, but not on the plane!)
Sweaters and jackets (cool weather)
3 extra passport-style photos (keep these with you in case of need for extra documents in country) Note: you can sometimes purchase these inexpensively at places like CVS pharmacies, etc.)
Travel alarm clock
2 bottles of water in your checked suitcase
Bible
Pens/pencils
Extra pair of glasses & case (in case of breakage)
Sunglasses
Small mirror (you are sharing a room with someone)
Small flashlight & batteries
Extra batteries (of whatever size you need)
A few travel-sized rolls of toilet paper (such as they sell at Wal-Mart, etc.)
Toothpaste
Toothbrush (and cap or cover)
Dental floss
Shampoo
Razor
Deodorant
Small bar of soap (in case you want more than hotel offers)
#30 SPF (or above) sun block
Hairspray
Personal hygiene supplies
1 small towel & washcloth (Thin hand-towels work well, dry much faster than bath-sized towels, and take up less space)
Socks
Underwear
Small pillow (optional, in case hotel pillow is inadequate for you)
Sleeping garments
Tennis shoes
Rain poncho & small umbrella
Plug adapter and transformer for any electrical items you want to use (see www.voltagevalet.com/country)
Shoes for clinic work and church (It may be too cool for sandals)
Imodium-AD (Make sure you have enough for 2-3 days, just in case)
ANY PRESCRIPTION OR OVER-THE-COUNTER MEDICINES YOU TAKE REGULARLY OR EVEN OCCASIONALLY
Extra Zip-lock bags for packing, storing opened snack foods, etc.
A few snack foods for yourself (Suggestions: nuts, raisins, pop tarts, trail mix, breakfast/granola bars, crackers)
Small back-pack or tote bag (to carry supplies to/from ministry sites, etc.)
Small luggage locks to keep your luggage locked in the hotel (recommended)
Clothes
Remember that the weather will likely be chilly, as in late winter. Consult www.accuweather.com for details if you desire. We may not have heat in the clinic building, so you’ll need to dress warm.
MEN
slacks, shirts, one tie for church. Scrubs are fine for clinic. Otherwise t-shirts and jeans are fine for the clinic, no shorts please.
WOMEN
skirts (below-the-knee or long), loose-fitting slacks, modest scrub suits are okay, blouses (modest neckline, no tank tops), skirt/blouse or dress for church.
NOTE: Please bring only clothing that fits within these guidelines, so as to maintain safety and avoid offense. It’s most important that we not distract the people from the message we want to convey, and we want to respect cultural and church standards.
Optional
Small utility knife (NOT in your person or carry-on!!)
Nail-grooming set
Picture of your family to show friends
Hat
Small items for children’s work: flash-card stories, puppets, balloons, games, Frisbees, etc.
If you’d like to bring something for nationals, you could pick up 1-2 Evangecubes from a Christian bookstore
Medical
Stethoscope (please bring your own)
Nurses/doctors: BP cuff (if you have one)
Bandage scissors (if you have a pr.)
For those examining patients - pocket otoscope/opthalmoscope (please let me know IN ADVANCE if you don’t have one)
DO NOT BRING…
Expensive jewelry or watches
Money
Suggest $200-250 in cash (for souvenirs, snacks, etc.)Make this in $10-50 bills, plus a few smaller bills for U.S. airports
Traveler’s checks are ok in some places, but are usually more difficult to cash except in airports
1-2 credit card(s) is a nice thing to bring along, if you have one (Visa or Mastercard) – see notes below
Checking debit cards are usable at some ATM’s in airports
Suggestions for Packing
WAIST POUCH (“fanny pack”)
Plane ticket, passport, breathmints/gum, ¼ of money, pen, small notebook (or in carry-on), any medicines you need on the trip, important e-mail addresses, photo I.D. (besides passport), glasses/sunglasses, 1 credit card, keys to any luggage locks, hand sanitizer wipes, health insurance card, photo I.D. (besides passport)
Photocopy of your nursing/medical license—keep this with you for clinics
MONEY BELT (use this for added security, and for documents you don’t need often)
1 credit card (if you carry 2), ¾ of your money
Photocopy of your important documents (Make a copy of the first few pages of your passport. Also photocopy your credit cards, adding emergency contact numbers in case of loss of cards. If you bring any blank checks, record your check numbers on the bottom of these photocopies, so you also have a record of these.) Leave another copy of these documents with someone reliable at home.
Phone card (if you use one – please make sure it is a valid international card to be used FROM another country to call the US and not visa versa)
While traveling, keep ALL your documents and money on your person, NOT in your carry-on or checked luggage.
Men: Carry your wallet in your FRONT pocket while in cities, if not at other times.
Carry-On (Note: Please pay attention to any changes in security precautions. You may check the airline’s website for specific information.)
Small travel clock
1-2 days’ clothing (in case luggage is lost, flights are delayed, etc.)
Snack bars for trip (for layovers and/or scanty plane rations)
N.T. or small Bible
Small travel lock (in case you have to check in your carry-on at the door of one of the planes)
Smaller bag containing items you want on the plane (in case you have to check in your carry-on at the plane door) – not necessary, but can be very convenient
Medicine you take regularly (at least ½ of it), and a few emergency meds (Tylenol, Band-Aids, etc.)
Small notebook
1/3 of your snacks (in case of luggage loss)
Camera/film (Usually there are less X-rays to carry-on than to checked luggage. Depending on the airport, you may need to take your film out before you run your carry-on through security screening. You can ask at the airport.)
Reading material for trip/airport waits
Partial roll of T.P. with tube removed, flattened—OR small travel roll of T.P. (airports in some countries are without it)
Personal toiletry items (toothbrush, razor, deodorant)
Thin jacket or sweater
2nd set of keys to any luggage locks (1st set is in waist pack)
SECURITY INFO: Please check the latest security information through the airline’s website. It is likely that any liquids in your carry-on will need to be in bottles 3 oz or less in size, and all of these in the same ONE QUART Zip-lock bag (larger bags will not be accepted, unless rules change before we depart)
Helpful Hints
Unless things change, you are permitted TWO checked bags from the U.S, each weighing 50#. One for personal items, the other is to be reserved for supplies! (Just bring the empty one with you to the airport, we will fill it there.)
Make sure at the airport that you check your bags in the Atlanta airport with our group!
Use Zip-lock bags to organize, also to protect items from moisture.
Double or triple Zip-lock ANY liquid items in your bags (hairspray, shampoo, etc.).
Double or triple Zip-lock any sweet items, such as candy, etc., because ants like them. Air-tight plastic containers also work well.
Do not pack any aerosols in your luggage.
Remember to NOT put any sharp objects in your carry-on.
Use small-sized travel toiletries to save weight and space.
Large soft-sided luggage is very practical. You may want one of your checked bags to be a large 28-32” duffel on wheels, as these work very well. Try to use luggage that you can handle yourself in the airports, if at all possible.
And certainly don’t forget to bring a prayerful heart, a willing spirit, an attitude of flexibility,an eagerness to serve, and healthy enthusiasm. YOU’RE ABOUT TO BE BLESSED!
