Suggested packing list

The following cannot be over-emphasized: Pack as little as you can—less is best. Taking less will avoid your feeling out-of-place culturally while surrounded by new friends who have so little. Less luggage also means more freedom and the ability to take more supplies and donations.

Please be prepared with all that you need when you arrive. Don’t ask your hosts to take time to run by the store in Honduras so that you can buy a personal item. Pack what you need to get through one or two days in your carry-on bag, in case your luggage gets lost. Include prescription medications, reading glasses, and other essentials.

General items:

The contents of this page were most recently updated on Thursday January 22, 2009

Clothes. Comfortable, modest work clothes and 1-2 outfits for church. Many find that natural fibers are cooler, and synthetics like polyester & spandex are very hot.

	*Shorts*: Shorts for women are not appropriate on the worksite. Women do NOT wear shorts at any time in Honduras. Capris are acceptable. Long, to the knee, shorts may be worn by men on the worksite. Shorts should not be worn by anyone to a church service. Shorts may be worn at night in the hotel.
	For church, plan on dressing *simply*. Simple skirts and tops for women are common. Hose and heels are not necessary. Coats and ties for men are neither common nor necessary. Short-sleeve collared shirts (knit is fine), for men, and pants.
	Sleeveless tops are fine, just no thin or spaghetti straps.
	Scrubs work well for daily wear at a medical clinic.
	Consider leaving as many of your personal clothes and shoes as you can in Honduras at the end of your mission trip. Many UMVIMers shop at Goodwill/Salvation Army for the trip with this in mind! Please leave any donated clothing (both clean and dirty clothes are welcome) with the local pastor or UMVIM team coordinators to distribute.

Items to pack for the entire team to use:

	One first aid kit for the entire UMVIM team. (It would be a welcome donation to the local pastor at the conclusion of your trip.)
	Mission teams have found that a canister of Gatorade/Sports Drink in powder form is easy to carry to Honduras. It can be mixed with purified water (which is provided), and is valuable for team members working in the heat.
	Duct tape. One roll can help in many ways!
	A couple permanent markers. Lots of uses.
	An entire package of earplugs to share around the team.
	Check your Ministry Site (click on “Mission Teams” on your site’s page) for other items to bring for the entire team.

Tips for packing:

More than one team has reported that a new airport scanner destroyed their film in a checked suitcase. Best to carry cameras and film in your carry-on.

In addition to the regular identification tags, mark each piece of checked luggage for the entire team with a unique pattern of colored duct tape, or matching colored ribbons, or matching bright tags, so that any team member can recognize and retrieve any piece of luggage from the team. This speeds up the long process upon arrival in Honduras .

NOTE: Airlines are adjusting (lowering) the maximum weight allowed for a piece of checked luggage. Teams are not able to bring heavy bags like they used to in the past. Call your airline about the current international and domestic weight allowances.

For teams carrying donations of medicines, please create an inventory list of all that you are bringing and the expiration date of each. E-mail this list to the UMVIM coordinator and place a copy of the entire list in each piece of luggage that has inside any item on the list.

Do not pack anything in cardboard boxes. Plastic tubs are fine to use but are more likely not to arrive with the rest of your luggage. Consider using second-hand suitcases for donations and medicines.

The contents of this page were most recently updated on Thursday January 22, 2009