Christian Mission Aid

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Important considerations:

Information and Suggestions:

1.        On your trip, you may have a team leader who has been to Kenya and can help you with any questions or problems you may have. Don't be afraid to ask them questions! For safety reasons, your team leader may carry all passports and airline tickets during your stay in Kenya.

 2.         The cost of the trip covers airfare, travel in Kenya, hotels, meals, & tips.  You will only need to bring spending money for souvenirs, gifts, phone calls to home and other needs, such as toiletries you may forget.  You may also want to contribute toward a special tip for our driver(s). 

3.         Former trip members have found that $100-400 for spending money is adequate, depending on personal spending style.  This can be brought in cash or in travelers checks, however travelers checks may be more difficult to cash. If you have a VISA Debit Card or Master Card Debit Card, you can usually obtain Kenyan Shillings (at the best rates) at several ATM machines in Nairobi. We recommend you take a VISA or a Master card, just in case. (For safety purposes, leave all other cards at home.)

Purchases over $400 are subject to US Customs duty.  You will be asked to account for all souvenirs purchased when re-entering the States.  Keeping a list of the cost of each purchase as you go along will make this transaction smooth. It is wise to make your purchases after you have been in the country for a while and after consulting with your team leader and other missionaries as to how to negotiate prices.  When bargaining for the best price, smile, smile and smile some more!  Shopping time is often planned in Nairobi at the end of your stay. Do not exchange US currency on the streets.

Don't forget to keep an account of the cost of each souvenir you purchase.  You will be asked to list general items as well as the total of items purchased on a US Customs form when re-entering the States.

4.         Click on this link for the current conversion rate from US dollars to Kenyan Shillings.
Note: Be sure to check "Expanded List" in order to show "Kenyan Shillings".

5.         Temperature is reported in degrees Celsius in Kenya.  When you hear that the temperature in Sudan will often reach 40 degrees- that is Celsius- which is 104 degrees Fahrenheit! To help you get some idea of the conversion, consider that:   

6.         Be sensitive to restrictions on the subject matter of photos that your team leader will suggest.  For example, you must ask permission before you take any pictures of individual Africans.  You may not take pictures of government buildings or the airport - to do so could be a serious legal offence.

7.         Standard Precautions for Overseas Travel:  Eat only thoroughly cooked food, peel your own fruit, drink either boiled water, chlorine or iodine treated water, bottled water, carbonated water, or bottled carbonated soft drinks.  Wear shoes while outdoors at all times.  Avoid contact with insects, particularly mosquitoes, biting flies, gnats, and midges.  Do not handle any animals.

8.         Please check your health and life insurance policy to see if accident/illness coverage is provided while you are out of the country.

9.         Christian Mission Aid is not responsible for frequent flyer mileage program credits- this is your sole responsibility. Depending on the international airline we fly with on this trip, they may have a reciprocal arrangement with an American airline.  (For example, KLM has an arrangement with Northwest Airlines.)  You'll need to check this out with the American airline before departure to make sure you have everything you need for proper credit.  You are the only one who can claim the mileage, and it will be worth looking into!

10.        We ask that you not give gifts to workers on the work site until the end of your stay.  This is very important.  We have found that giving gifts too soon can cause problems with the workers and attracts too much attention to us.  Please seek guidance from your team leader before giving any gifts.  Gifts that you might want to leave with the workers are baseball caps, gloves, work aprons, T-shirts, etc.  All tools that you wish to leave should be given to your team leader at the end of your trip.  This will insure that the tools will be doing the Lord's work after you've gone.

11.        Street kids are reaching epidemic proportions in Kenya's major cities.  Please do not give them money, as it may be used for purchasing harmful items.  Unfortunately, many of the children steal to make their living. It's best not to wear jewelry or carry large amounts of cash when visiting these cities.  If you feel compelled to do something, buy them a drink or chips and give them a Bible tract.  If you purchase peanuts from them, a common item they sell, do not eat.

12.        The most important things you can do for your trip and the ministry you will be involved with is to ask your family and friends to pray for you daily, and to prepare yourself for changes along the way--they will happen.  You may want to start a prayer group now, lifting up the ministry and your part in this project.           

Please remember to be flexible in all things while on this trip. Leading a trip can be a difficult task; the team leader will need everyone's willingness to be flexible and to follow directions carefully.  As Christ's ambassadors, you and your team will leave a lasting impact on the missionaries and Africans you will meet.  The reason you are going is to serve our Lord, and we are confident you will accomplish much for His church in Africa.

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