Preparing for Missions

Once you’ve decided to come and serve God’s children in Africa, please take time to fill out the application so we can better prepare for your time in Africa. Once approved, you should begin preparing for your mission trip. Please see the 3 sections below, namely: How to Prepare, Communal Life in the Mission, and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

How to Prepare

1. Prayer: Pray daily for your mission trip. Ask the Lord to prepare your heart to serve Him according to His heart. Ask Him to go before you to prepare the hearts of those you will be serving. Ask others to pray for you also.

2. Spiritual Growth: If you’re not already doing so, start spending a lot of time daily with the Lord in prayer, quiet time and bible reading (talk to your spiritual guide for a program if necessary). You cannot give what you do not have. You want to be full of God’s love so you can overflow.

3. Travel Preparation: When you travel abroad, you may be required to take certain vaccinations or pills. Visit your local governmental clinic, and they will tell you what you need for each country.

4. Visa: Please ensure you have the required travel documents. It is recommended that you obtain your visa before you leave. If you are unable to, it is possible for some passports to get a visa at the airport (estimated cost: USD $50). Ensure you have visas for all the countries you intend to visit on your trip. Check the website for the Embassy of the country you are visiting for more specific information on how to obtain a visa.

5. Sponsorships: Approach individuals, church members or organizations to try to collect items on our donation list to bring with you. The mission can provide an official letter for your use upon request.

6. Fundraising: Work with your church to fundraise money for you or your group. Sending out donation letters to friends, family and co-workers will assist you when trying to raise the necessary funds to come to Africa. Follow the following link for fundraising ideas: http://www.globalaction.nu/trips_fundRaisingIdeas.php

Communal Life in the Mission

“Serving in the mission in Africa has given me the opportunity to grow exponentially in my spiritual life. I pray that I continue to grow in His love and never stop decreasing so that He has room to keep increasing within me.” ~Visitor from Canada

As members of the body of Christ, we must be in communion with one another and with God. As part of our involvement in the mission, there is a communal spiritual life that we all share together. In the mornings each person completes their quiet time alone in prayer and bible reading. Following the quiet time, we come together for Agpeya prayer (hourly prayers) and a bible sharing. During the day, each missionary participates in his/her assigned service. Service may include fellowship meetings, house to house visitations, Sunday school, youth meetings, drama and choir practices, couples' meetings, mama meetings, servants' meetings, spiritual day activities, orphans' day, street kids' visitations, manual work and more. Upon return from the service, everyone takes personal time to refresh spiritually and physically. In the evening, the group gathers again for spiritual revival. We share once more in Agpeya prayers, bible sharing, midnight praises, and discussing how the Lord has worked in the service that day. The night concludes by discussing the service schedule for the following day and sharing in a prayer meeting for the service, for the people we are serving and for one another.

“This Christ-centered schedule is one that helps you realize the importance of having Christ as your number one priority and makes you wonder how you ever lived life otherwise. It helps you realize what's important in life.” ~Visitor from London

We look forward to having you among us to share in the service and fellowship we share in Christ Jesus.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I bring?
- Personal Reading: Bible, Agpeya, journal, spiritual books
- Clothing: Dress should be modest at all times. In the rural areas, long trousers for boys, and long skirts (or “shetangas”) for girls are required. Light jacket for cool evenings, comfortable shoes for walking, head covering or bandannas for girls
- Helpful items: flashlight, power converter or multipurpose plug for electric appliances, tunics for Deacons, towel and toiletries, sunblock (only for people with very sensitive skin)

Who will pick me up from the airport?
The mission will arrange for someone to pick you up at the airport. Please be sure to notify us well before your arrival date with all your travel details including time and date of arrival, flight number, name of airport and airline, and duration of stay.

Will I be expected to make arrangements for accommodation and meals?
The Coptic Mission will be happy to make arrangements for your housing and meals at all the mission bases (unless otherwise notified).

How much money should I bring and in what form?
It is advisable not to carry too much cash with you. An appropriate amount would be USD $200 per month, unless you intend on going on safari. Traveler’s checks are not the best method. If you have an ATM card (MasterCard, Visa or major credit card) you will be able to use it to pull out any extra money you may need.

Will I be expected to pay for my stay?
In order to assist the mission with the expenses of your stay, you are welcome to make a donation to cover the cost of your stay. However, financial constraints should not deter your plans to come serve at the mission.

Can I get groceries and other basic necessities there?
There are supermarkets and convenience stores in most towns with many of the items you might require. In the rural areas, you may only be able to acquire basic items.

Is it safe to eat the food? Yes. We have our own cooks at every site who are trained to wash and prepare food very cleanly to cater for the “Western stomach”. If you intend to buy fruits and vegetables, ensure they are washed well before they are consumed. Tap water is not good for drinking. Visitors should always drink the filtered water, which we have at every site. When outside, you are advised to purchase bottled water.

What if I get sick?
In case you are unwell, don’t worry, we have our own hospital or clinic at almost every site with professional staff for testing and treatment. The hospital staff is available 24 hours a day.

What is the weather like?
The weather is pleasant year round, warm during the day and cool during the early mornings and evenings. In some areas it rains often during the summer months.

Is it safe?
Yes. Every one of our compounds is a fenced, self-contained compound, which has a watchman, and is very safe at any time of the day (even at 2:00 in the morning). There’s also no danger when you are outside during the day; Africans are very friendly to foreigners. But it is advisable for your safety not to be outside the compound after sunset.

How can I communicate with my family back home?
When you have been approved to come, we will provide you with a telephone number of someone your family can call to check on your safe arrival. There is also internet access at all sites now (except Tanzania). If you bring a mobile phone which is unlocked, you can buy a Sim card for USD $2, and then your family can call you on that mobile (incoming calls are free). You can also buy an international calling card from here, and use it from a landline (but rates are high).

Any other guidelines?
In order to optimize your experience, we would like to share with you some basic guidelines. Keep in mind that we use the same grounds as a number of other facilities including the Coptic Church, the Coptic Hospital and the Hope Center. We request that you respect the premises by ensuring that your behavior is appropriate at all times. Smoking and drinking are prohibited on the compound. Appropriate attire must be worn at all times, so as not to be a stumbling block to anyone.

If you have any further questions, please contact us via the E-mail Contact Form. Thank You.

Karibu (Welcome!)