If you’re thinking about going on an international mission trip, chances are you’re focused on what you’ll do once you arrive — teaching, working, caring for children, etc. And that’s great! You should be focused on those things — after all, Christian mission trips are purposeful, and you need to be thinking about what your purpose is in going.
But preparation for your trip is important, too, because if you forget about paperwork or neglect to get a certain immunization, you may not be able to go at all.
Read on to find out some great tips for traveling internationally!
Health & Medical Concerns
Talk to your doctor and insurance carrier. Ensure that you have all of the vaccinations for the specific country you’re visiting, and that you have a full supply of any prescription medications you’ll need.
You should also ask your medical insurance provider if your policy covers you overseas for emergencies. If it doesn’t, and you feel like you should have extra coverage, you may want to consider supplemental insurance.
Safety
It’s wise to bring photocopies of your passport. If your passport gets stolen or lost, a photocopy can ensure that you still get back into the country, or at least help you prove your citizenship.
Along the same lines, leave a copy of your passport at home or with a trusted friend or family member. Another good idea is to make an electronic copy and store it in your email account.
Additionally, you should register with your embassy. If a problem arises in the country you are visiting, your registration will help your government contact you and get you somewhere safe.
Money
Do your research on the monetary conversion before you go! Doing the math before you travel is essential to get a sense of the conversion rate.
You should also make sure your credit card will work in the country you’re visiting. Call your credit card company before you leave and alert them to the fact that you are traveling internationally. Otherwise, if you use your card abroad, there’s a good chance they’ll think it’s been stolen and freeze it.
Instead of changing money at a conversion center, go to a bank or ATM in the country you’re visiting. The conversion will be exact, and you won’t pay as many fees at the ATM or the bank as you will at a conversion center.
Electronics
Unless you want to fry your cell phone or computer, make sure you bring a charger and voltage adapter. Different countries have different size plugs and voltage, and you can’t just bring your regular chargers and expect to plug them in. It’s a little more complicated than that!
If you do plan to use your phone, activate its global capabilities. Yes, you will be charged for this, but it is much less expensive than the roaming charges you’ll get otherwise.
Thinking About a Christian Mission Trip?
If you’re feeling a tug on your heart to join us on our next journey to Havana, Cuba, we’d love to have you along! Get in touch with us today!
