Short Term Mission Trip: How to Pack

Wondering how to pack for a short term mission trip? Deciding what to pack for a short term mission trip can be a daunting task, especially if it’s your first time traveling to a foreign country. What should you bring, and what should you leave behind?

Luggage

The first rule of thumb when traveling is to pack only what you can carry. When my husband and I went on our first mission trip with Cornerstone World Missions, we each checked two suitcases. One was filled with personal items such as clothing and toiletries and the other with supplies and treats for the children at CWM’s Children’s Home. It’s important to note any size or weight restrictions on luggage that the airlines you are using might carry. You don’t want to pay exorbitant overage fees or leave behind any important belongings because you exceeded the limit. In most cases, your suitcase cannot weigh more than 50 lbs., so be sure to check it and re-check it before you go.

Additionally, we each took a carry-on backpack filled with personal items that we might want while traveling or that we felt should be kept close to our persons. In my backpack, I carried water and snacks, as well as my Bible, camera, flashlight, glasses, iPod, notebook and pen, phone charger, medications, neck pillow and toothbrush. I also kept a sweatshirt and a change of clothes on hand. If for some reason our luggage was lost, at least I would have the basics!

We also each carried a concealed fanny pack of sorts to hold our most essential personal belongings, like our passports, visas, cell phone and credit cards. Before you leave, it’s important to label your luggage with your name and contact information and put some kind of distinctive marks on it, like bright ribbons or tape. This will ensure that you don’t misplace your luggage, or make it easier to find if you do.

Clothing

Take with you 3-4 days’ worth of clothing and plan on washing your clothes when you arrive. There are a few things to consider when choosing which clothes to bring.

Think about the weather. Is it going to be hot? Bring lightweight, breathable clothing and a hat or headscarf. Will it be the rainy season when you go? Pack a poncho. If it’s going to be cooler, wear layers. But, even if you know it will be warm, it’s still not a bad idea to pack a sweatshirt because sometimes it’s chilly on the plane or in the evenings.

Consider the culture. What kind of dress is appropriate where you are going? You don’t want to offend the people that you are trying to reach by the way you dress, so respect their cultural standards of modesty.

Be discreet. If you are taking the gospel to country hostile to Christians, leave the Christian T-shirts, jewelry, hats, etc. at home! Otherwise, you’re creating a dangerous situation for yourself and your native hosts.

Finally, leave your valuables behind. Not only could they get ruined or lost, but they also might make you a target for people who don’t have the best intentions. You also don’t want to put a stumbling block before those to whom you are ministering by flaunting your financial status. The safest thing to do is to dress like the locals and leave the jewelry and fine clothing at home.

Shoes

Your choice of footwear will likely depend on where you are going and what you will be doing. Our particular short-term mission required closed-toed shoes that would be suitable for walking several miles on uneven streets. Our shoes also needed to slip on and off easily because it was considered polite in that culture to remove your shoes before entering a dwelling or business. We also brought along a pair of flip flops for the shower.

Food + Drinks

It can be a shock to the system when you travel to a culture that is so different from your own. That’s one reason why you should bring snacks. Even if everyone’s speaking and acting differently, at least you can eat peanut butter! Another reason is that even though you are likely to have access to regular meals, it’s helpful to have snacks for days when you know you will be doing a lot of traveling. Long days on the road can be exhausting, and having a snack on hand can provide a boost right when you need it. What kind of food should you pack? Non-perishable items like protein bars, trail mix, nuts, dried fruit, instant oatmeal, and nut butters make excellent snacking choices. Just be sure to leave the chocolatey bars at home – they might be delicious, but they sure make a mess when they melt!

What about drinks? You won’t have room for bottled beverages in your pack, but there are some things you can do to bring the tastes of home to the mission field. If you love a hot beverage in the morning, save room in your bag for some instant coffee or tea bags. Flavored drink powders are also an option. They can be a nice way to add taste and nutrition to the gallons of bottled water you will be drinking during your stay.

Toiletries

You know the basic toiletries that you will need to bring: toothpaste, a toothbrush, floss, a hairbrush, hair ties, shampoo and conditioner, soap, shaving cream, a razor, and deodorant. But don’t forget about hand sanitizer, bug spray, sunscreen! You’ll also want to bring wet wipes and tissues for those days when you don’t have access to a shower, or when you need to clean your hands before a meal. One unexpected item that we were advised to bring was toilet paper! Not every culture uses it, so it’s not a bad idea to come prepared.

Medications

Bring all of your prescription medications when you pack for a short term mission trip. Also consider bringing the following over-the-counter supplies in case of illness, injury, or discomfort: pain reliever/fever reducer, cough medicine, cough drops, antibacterial ointment, bandages, anti-itch cream, anti-diarrheal medicine, antacids, stool softener, probiotics, sleep aids, and prophylactic antibiotics. It’s important to have these supplies on hand because it may be inconvenient or impossible to obtain them on the mission field.

Important Documents

Always carry your passport and visa on your person at all times. Tuck a copy of both in your suitcases and carry-on in case your official documents get lost or stolen at some point during the trip. Should the unthinkable happen, it will at least be a little easier to rectify the situation.

Miscellaneous Items to Pack for a Short Term Mission Trip

Packing plastic sandwich bags can be helpful for breaking down large quantities of supplies into smaller, more manageable packets. For instance, you might want to take wet wipes or tissues with you for a day trip, but you might not want to carry a whole box! Alternatively, you may need to take some medication on the go. Plastic bags allow you to take just what you need, rather than taking the whole bottle, or even several bottles, of pills. Like plastic bags, safety pins are another item with myriads of potential uses. Be sure to pack a few of those along as well.

There are several electronic gadgets to consider bringing with you. I recommend packing a flashlight or headlamp. Midnight bathroom trips are much more enjoyable when you can see where you’re going and know where the spiders are! Pack an alarm clock if you know that you will be operating on a schedule. This way you can be on time to your engagements. Depending on where you go, you might need electrical adaptors to operate your electronics. Finally, be sure to bring extra batteries for those items that require them!

Now you know the basics of how and what to pack for a short term mission trip. Keep in mind that this short list is not exhaustive or tailored to your particular mission. Since each short term mission is different, use your judgment to decide what additions or subtractions make sense. Happy packing!

Interested in participating in a short term mission trip?

Cornerstone World Missions occasionally offers short term mission trips for individuals and churches. Please contact us to find out what opportunities for missions are currently available.