• Travel lightly—what you pack, you carry!  Check one 46 lbs. bag.  Carry onboard a modest sized back pack. No other personal bags.
• Limit the amount of valuables you take. Leave most and best jewelry
  at home. Don’t take best watch.
• Clean out your wallet.  Take only necessary identification.  Credit
  cards only for Paris airport souvenirs, not Niger.
• Carry several dollars, in ones and fives, for small incidentals as you travel.
• (optional) Keep phone numbers in safe place. Phone numbers you may need:  1) in-country contact; 2) American Embassy; 3) credit card co. if you bring a card.
• Men, the IMB recommends you carry your wallet in your front pocket
  to avoid pick-pockets.  Applicable mostly in large city crowds.
• Mark your luggage with a special visible identification making it easy to spot on the baggage claim conveyor belt.  Our team also uses rainbow colored belts.
• Don’t leave bags or packs.  In local culture, being unattended signifies it is unimportant to you and is for the community to share.  An African child would be considered foolish not to attempt to take what he needed from an unattended bag.  When you leave a vehicle to visit a village, backpacks often stay in car. Water, toilet paper, hand cleaner, etc. is carried in pockets, fanny packs, or back packs.
• Be courteous and Christ-like. Americans have the reputation of being loud and obnoxious especially when traveling as a group. Even if excitement is high, remember who you represent and how you are perceived.
• Make at least three photocopies of your passport and yellow card. Carry a copy in a separate place in your luggage.  Give copies to Terri and the team leader.
• Make sure family members back home know they will receive a call from the phone chain to say the team has arrived safely.  Expect a call around the third or fourth day of our trip.  It takes two days to reach Niamey, Niger.  That evening or the next day we will attempt to relay our safe arrival via email if electricity is available.

PACKING TIPS

• Most cultures do not have a daily change of clothes, so you need not
  make a “fashion statement.”  Be comfortable.  Go light.
• In the backpack you carry on the plane, pack one change of clothing, any medicine, and necessary toiletries like contact lens supplies. Sometimes your suitcase will not arrive with you. You’ll be glad you were prepared.
• Don’t pack items in your carry-on bags that are security sensitive
  (like pocket knives, scissors, tweezers etc.)
• If you buy new shoes—break them in long before the trip.
• Pack any medications you need using the original bottles so airport authorities will understand.
• Liquids in checked baggage should be in sealed zip-lock bags in case of leakage (inspectors do not always reseal bottles tightly).  Effective 11/06, new rules for carry on baggage: Passengers may only carry small quantities (max. 100 ml/ 3oz. per container) of liquids such as water and other drinks, gels, pastes, lotions, toothpaste, shaving cream, hair gel, lip gloss, facial creams, mascara, liquid lip balms and aerosols in what they carry into the plane cabin.
  These are the rules for liquids in your cabin luggage:
  1.      Liquids and gels in containers of no more than 100 millilitres/ 3 oz.
  2.      These containers must be carried in a transparent plastic bag.
  3.      There is a limit of one transparent plastic bag per person.
  4.      The transparent plastic bag may not be greater than 1 litre/quart.
  5.      The transparent plastic bag must be re-sealable.
  There are two exceptions: baby food or medicines needed during the flight.
  ·       The single transparent plastic bag should hold all containers and be easily sealable. You are also required to separately present your coat, jacket and larger electrical equipment, such as laptops, when passing through security control. Water purchased in a U.S. airport will not go through Paris security. When passing through security, you will be required to present all liquids separately. Purchases in duty free at the airport: At Paris, the retailer must place your liquid purchases in a bag. This will be sealed and must remain so until the end of your trip. This bag must be accompanied by a proof of purchase that will be checked when you transfer at the screening inspection point.
  More information on what is permissible in baggage is available at:
  http://www.airsafe.com (under baggage issues)
  http://www.dot.gov/affairs/tsa0702.htm

  STREET-SMART TIPS
  DO’S                                       DON’TS
  1. Carry passport under shirt. 1. Don’t exchange money on the street.
  2. Use money belt.    2. Don’t wear flashy jewelry even if it’s costume.
  3. Always go out with a friend. 3. Don’t put all your money in one place.
  4. Keep taxi doors locked. 4. Don’t promise, even to write, if you can’t follow through with your promise.
  5. Look in all directions before crossing street. You do not have the right of way!                                                     5. Don’t carry wallet in a back pocket in city.
  6. Put ID tags on all bags.  6. Don’t open wallet in open or in front of people.
  7. Know how to get back before you leave. If going to bathroom in field, note trees and granaries to get back to the right part of village. 7. Don’t carry a purse.

  SECURITY GUIDELINES
  You may be working in areas where traditional missionary work is not,
  or has not been, welcome.  Wherever you work, avoid compromising the
  security of local believers and/or international workers who are there
  long-term:
  ·       In the states, never identify people or places overseas by name especially online. Such information could end up in a newspaper or the Internet causing problems for those who live and work in security-sensitive areas.
  ·       Never use words which will raise red flags to listening ears. Avoid
  words like missionary, missions, mission work, evangelism, and IMB.
  ·       Never identify yourself with your church, denomination or the IMB.
  Do not wear hats, tags or any clothing with such logo or identification.
  ·       Never leave written information in your room which could identify
  local Christian leaders and/or international workers. Remember, hotel
  maids may have a dual role of cleaning and reporting to the government.
  ·       Never assume you can talk freely on the phone or write freely in letters and emails. Speak as if the phones are “bugged” and write as if your letters and emails are public domain. Communication by foreigners is routinely monitored in many countries. This is a good habit though Niger is too poor to monitor much.
  ·       Do follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. Use caution with regard to
  security as you follow the promptings and opportunities He provides.
  ·       Do share your faith and sometimes the plan of salvation. This is
  especially appropriate in personal, one-on-one and small group
  settings.  The team leader and local missionaries can help determining
  appropriateness.  Some of our translators (Saidou) are Muslim and cannot
  give counsel about evangelism.