Hey Expeditions team!
It’s finally time to give you a few more details about your trip! This Summer is going to be incredible. You’re going to see God do great things in you, and in the people of East Africa. It will be hard at times, but know that it’s all worth it. Get excited!
In order to accommodate our awesome ministry hosts, the Expeditions team will be split in two groups. I’ll be posting your teams soon. Both teams will travel country-to-country all together.
Ministry is going to be very diverse. Sometimes you’ll be in larger cities or towns, and other times you’ll be in small, rural villages. At times you could be sleeping outside in your tent, in a hostel, or with families from church. Be prepared for anything!
General ministry you could be involved in:
· House to house evangelism
· Hospital/school/prison visits
· Children ministry (orphans, street children, etc.)
· Teaching/encouraging/discipling ministers and fellow Christians
· Church planting
· Sharing the gospel at crusades
· Teaching and worshipping at local churches
· Construction or manual labor, if there is a need
Men should dress moderately casual at all times (t-shirts, long pants, shirts – polo or collared). Ladies should dress modestly and will most be in dresses or skirts for ministry. They need to pass the knee. Bring at least one or two long skirts. No tight dresses or tight pants of any kind. Due to the warm climate, many people wear lighter, more casual clothes. Shorts should not be worn outside the obvious tourist destinations, as no adult Eastern African would wear shorts.
You may be asked to cover tattoos and piercings during ministry, especially the men.
Cultural Norms and Sensitivities
Greeting: A firm handshake is the most common form of greeting. During introductions, men should wait for women to extend their hands. Kenyans tend to avoid eye conduct during formal introductions as a sign of respect. Kenyans are extremely polite; foreigners should return this courtesy in kindness in order to gain respect. Conversation should be initiated with some sort of greeting. Shaking hands is the most common form of greeting. It is uncommon to use first names of people when they are not well known. Some local women, particularly in Uganda, kneel when greeting men in their homes.
Hand Gestures: Never use the left hand for greetings, giving gifts or eating. Objects should be received with the right hand. It is considered rude to directly point at someone.
Do not give out any money or clothes etc to anybody. Should it be necessary, do so through the church or your host pastor.
Friendliness: You won’t fail to realize very quickly how friendly the people are. They will speak to you and make you feel very welcome. Small children may be a bit surprised or even afraid if you are white. They may even sometimes cry and run away. However, some children will run up to you and hug you. Holding hands between same sex is okay. Adult men sometimes hold hands with good friends, which is a normal practice in Ugandan society and is considered a sign of close friendship. Public displays of affection between members of the opposite sex is also considered inappropriate.
Pictures: Foreigners should ask for permission before taking pictures of people. Photographing military, government installations, and personnel is prohibited. Visitors should also refrain from photographing the airport and any other locations that may be considered sensitive. In order to avoid any misunderstandings, visitors should always ask permission before taking photographs.
Tipping: In Kenya, tipping in restaurants is expected; 10 percent is the norm. In Uganda, at local hotels and restaurants, tipping is not very common. However, tips of 10 percent are expected at tourist-oriented establishments. It is customary to tip guides and drivers.
Alcohol: East African Christians do not drink alcohol or smoke. We ask you to be overly careful/sensitive if you have a different stance. You may NOT drink or smoke at all on this trip, as that will negatively impact your influence.
Food: If you are coming to Africa, don’t expect to eat a burger, sausage, egg, or fries every day. Please be adventurous, and try some traditional African dishes.
Religion: East Africa has a fairly conservative Christian/Muslim based society. Many go to church/mosque regularly and consider religion an important part of a moral society. As such, travelers should never criticize religion in presence of an East African. Shoes may need to be taken off upon entering a sacred place.
