1. Blend In and leave a light footprint. PMT and staff travel in small groups in order to fit into the culture as best as possible.

2. Take notes: Have someone take notes of key conversations. This does not need to be extensive, but it is nice to have a record of things discussed so the whole team can benefit from the information. PMTs should make it a goal to send these brief notes to the Luke Society staff upon return.

3. Take photos/videos: It is great to take pictures. Feel free to share them with the staff as well. Some may be used to promote their ministry on the website or social media. Be sure to use good judgement when taking and sharing photos.

4. Hold a business meeting: It is good to request this meeting before the trip occurs so there is time for it. It is easy for a ministry director to overlook the importance of this time, so be sure to make it a priority. Use the business meeting to reflect on the ministry strengths and list any concerns. Ask questions you may have. It is also good to go over the financials and gain a deeper understanding of how the ministry director lists different items.

 Backpack/carry-on (major airlines allow 7kg=15lbs)

 Roller suitcase (major airlines allow 20kg=44lbs) It is often advantageous to carry-on your suitcase.

Clothing

 Pants

 Shirts

 Socks

 Belt

 Underwear

 Sleeping clothes

 Rain Jacket or umbrella

 Swimming suit

 Sunglasses

 Hat—for sun or cold

Shoes

 Dress shoes or Hiking Shoes

 Sandals or Flip flops

Personal Items

 Deodorant

 Razor and shaving cream or electric razor

 Hair product

 Sunscreen

 Mosquito spray

 Toothpaste + toothbrush

 Hand sanitizer

 Medication

 Shampoo, soap

 Clorox wipes

 Medical masks

Medications

 Personal medication

 Over the counter-Pepto-bismol, Ibuprofen, Tylenol, Imodium, motion sickness

 Anti-Malaria (check CDC website and ask director if necessary)

 Antibiotics-Cipro or Zithromax-to take if necessary for traveler’s diarrhea

For travel

 Passport

 Visa needed?

 Yellow Fever Card or COVID-19 Vaccine Card

 Insurance card

 Credit Card

 Cash

 Director’s phone number for WhatsApp

 Schedule of flights, hotel where staying, agenda for visit, financials for ministry

Other

 Bible

 Writing/notebook and pen

 Book to read

 Headphones or earbuds

 International Electricity Adapter

 Alarm clock

 Lap top, ipad or phone (and power cord)

 Water bottle

 Snacks

 Silk sak for sleeping [if outside or dirty location]

 Plastic bags for dirty shoes + dirty clothes

 Flashlight or headlamp

1. Avoid drinking tap water. Drink bottled water or bottled drinks only.

2. Be careful eating raw vegetables or fruit without peels which may have been washed with unfiltered water. Lettuce is especially prone to hide bacteria in the folds.

3. Be aware of hand-outs. Your Christian concern for and interest in the residents of the country and your willingness to share your experience and expertise with them is of value, but handing out pockets full of candy, for example, may act counter to their dental teaching and cause a crowd to gather around the “rich Americans.” Ask the ministry director what things would be appropriate to bring and what method to use for distribution.

4. Avoid drinking alcoholic beverages and smoking. Many Christians in the developing world find these practices unacceptable for a Christian and may consider them a sin.

5. Try not to solve issues with money. There are many factors to consider regarding funding, some questions to think through are:

6. What might giving these funds do to the local economy

   What might happen to other local competition (will giving harm other businesses?)

   Is giving these funds the best way to help this ministry with self-sustainability

   Where will the money come from to repair or replace the item purchased?

Use discretion in gift giving, remembering that the main point of a site visit is encouragement and information gathering.

Bringing Gifts: While bringing gifts can be a huge blessing to the ministry director, keep the following in mind:

1. Gifts are not required.

2. Gifts sometimes can leave the ministry director feeling obligated to give a return gift — often from limited resources.

3. Gifts sometimes can change the relationship between a PMT and ministry director as the director sees the PMT as a financial resource more than for prayer and encouragement.

Bringing Medical Supplies: It is generally best to allow the ministry director to purchase medical supplies in their own country because:

1. This allows equipment to be fixed in country.

2. Saves on transportation costs.

3. Saves on customs fees or dock fees

4. This avoids creating dependency.

There are times when it makes sense to bring medical equipment.

1. Be sure that expectations are understood.

2. Be sure that the item will be helpful and not something that needs to be discarded and that the medications are not expired.

3. Click here for link to bulk medical purchase.

Make sure you know what vaccinations are required for the country to which you are traveling. A number of Luke Society ministries operate in areas where malaria is present. Know whether or not you should be taking malaria prophylaxis. Click here to learn about current CDC recommendations and requirements.

It can take work to not let a language barrier interfere with your ministry director relationship. If you do have a language barrier:

1. Utilize Google Translate for e-mails and WhatsApp messages

2. Work to coordinate visits with your Regional Coordinator as they often act as a translator

3. If the regional coordinator is not available, work to set up a translator ahead of time through the ministry director. Directors often have friends who are willing to be hired as a translator.

4. Work to set up a translator from your church or community to assist with video call.

5. Don’t be discouraged. It will take more time, but a great relationship will still be formed.

• The documentary, “Poverty Inc.” is an excellent primer in working within poverty situations. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E93f9SO5Mr0&rco=1

• Read: “When Helping Hurts” by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert. This books give a great overview of how sometimes what we see as helping is actually hurting.

• Read “Toxic Charity.” By Robert D. Lupton. A short book with practical examples of how to help communities in unique ways.