Uganda Training Manual
(For first time short term missionaries)
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Training Manual
Uganda 2013-2014
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God’s Ordinary Army
By Dr. Lewis Wilson, Church Planter
“I can’t believe God used ME,” bubbled Donna over the long-distance line —awe and
amazement accenting the last word. Recounting her recent short-term mission experience
uncorked an overflowing wellspring of pure sparkling excitement. Joy saturated her words as
we reminisced about our ministry together in Cali, Columbia.
Donna signed on for a summer mission trip after hearing a presentation at her church in
suburban St. Louis. Heart touched, she sensed God’s timing. A week’s vacation remained,
which she had to use or lose. Her husband, off work recovering from arm surgery, could
manage their four school-aged children—even one handed. But, she wondered, could God use
her as a missionary?
As our week in Cali unfolded, Donna blossomed. Her winsome smile opened doors to
hearts and homes. A willing audience responded to her transparent testimony and gospel
presentation. Free of gadgets, gimmicks or deep theological arguments, she simply put the
gospel on the bottom shelf, within easy reach. The Holy Spirit did the rest.
A questioning rookie when she left St. Louis, Donna returned a confident campaigner.
God used her in a significant way to lead more than two dozen to faith in Christ and impact the
lives of countless others.
God is raising up an army of Donnas—front-line, Gospel-sharing, soul-winning trench
warriors willing to sign on for a hitch as short-term missionaries. Deployed throughout the
world, they are filling in, bolstering the thinning ranks of career missionaries.
Make no mistake; dedicated, full-time missionaries remain high priority items in
desperate demand. Unfortunately, statistics show a consistently slowing down of the pipeline to
the foreign mission field, both financially and in manpower.
Therein lies a conundrum—an increasing world population,
approaching 8 billion, and fewer voices to share the gospel. Could it be
that short-term missionaries march as God’s new wave of infantry to
accomplish the Great Commission?
Length of enlistment varies as much as job description. Some
define short-term missions as cross-cultural service overseas from one
week to two years or more. More precisely, it involves a willing servant
of any age who temporarily steps out of a career path to serve the
global cause of Jesus Christ.
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For Donna, an obstetrical office nurse, it was using one week’s vacation, leaving home
and hearth to serve with national Christians in evangelizing the barrios of Cali, Columbia.
Others go for longer. Some use their professional experience, student years, or military service
in other cultures as opportunities for Christian witness.
God is looking for raw recruits—Christians of every stripe with servant hearts to fill the
ranks of His all-volunteer army. Qualifications? Mature personal faith, motivated to serve and
learn, committed to work in Christian community, and most importantly, a passion for the lost.
One thing is certain—reaching out to others changes you within. No longer will you be
satisfied just lazily drifting down the stream of life. New, exciting possibilities for ministry await.
God wants to use you in the most astonishing ways.
As Donna and I prepared to hang up, she remarked, “I Wonder what it would be like
living in an African village for a while?”
You are not going on vacation.
You are going out of the country. You have taken
vacation time off from a job.
You will be experiencing a different culture, meeting a
different people, eating different food, and hearing a
different language. But you are not going on vacation.
We are not going to build a church building.
Yes, we will be starting a church, but a church in the
sense of a body of believers. But this is not a construction
project.
Instead, you are going on a campaign.
We have the privilege of participating in a Spiritual battle.
Jesus has already won the war!!!! But, there will continue
to be skirmishes until He returns.
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Prayer Is the Answer
The methods we will use on the campaign are very simple, deceptively simple in
fact. Do not allow the simplicity of these methods to lull you into
complacency. There is much, much, much preparation to be done.
The most important part of this preparation can be summed up in one word:
PRAYER
This Training Manual focuses on prayer. It will help you pack, but if you forget something, you
can buy, borrow or do without it. Yes, it will tell you about what you will be doing on the
campaign. But those efforts during the campaign are greatly affected by the prayer before the
campaign.
We are instruments in the hand of God. Our goal in preparing the Training Manual and Prayer
Journal is to help you focus on Prayer as you plan and prepare for the campaign.
Make a commitment right now to seek His guidance every day. Ask God to show you how He
wants to use you before, during and after the trip.
Don’t Make Promises
Don’t make any promises. During the campaign, you probably will
be tempted to promise things to your new friends. Help with buying a
car. Help with expenses of their church. Help with their personal
needs, such as food or clothing or other things. Help in coming to the
United States. Perhaps something as simple as sending them pictures.
Don’t make any promises. You will probably get to know your
translator quite well and he or she may feel comfortable sharing some
of their burdens with you. It may be very easy for you to meet that
need, however, remember why God has sent us there: to share the
good news of Jesus Christ with lost people and encourage our brothers and sisters in Christ. If
someone shares a burden with you pray with them that God will show them the answer to their
problem.
Don’t make any promises. Even something as simple as sending them a letter is not okay.
We can’t guarantee that the letter will get to them and even if it did it could give them a false
hope or send them the wrong message. Please don’t give out addresses or email addresses.
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Prayer Needs
The most important thing you need before you go on this trip is prayer. Use the following list or
create your own to pray over and to distribute to your prayer partners.
The Lord:
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Awe of God
Reliance on His Power
Filling of the Holy Spirit
The Laborers:
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God to raise up laborers
Communication with nationals
Boldness
New leadership for new churches
Unity among team members
Spiritual, emotional & physical health
Spiritual growth on the campaign
Effective translators
Protection for those at home
The Lost:
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Open doors
Effective communication
Many decisions for Christ
Decisions by heads of families
The Logistics:
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Travel
Lodging
Documentation/Passports/Visas/Etc.
Note: We will purchase our Uganda Visa after we arrive at the airport in Entebbe; the
cost is about $50.00
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If There Were a “Typical” Day
The goal of your church-planting campaign is to serve the Ugandan Church, largely through
saturation hut-to-hut-evangelism and afternoon evangelistic services.
We are not conquering invaders! We are more like slaves—servants of the local church as they
seek to win their country for Christ. Please remember this in all you do. We have come to
serve, not take over.
On these campaigns there are no “typical” days! Every day is different, and days are different
for each team. However, if there were a “typical” day, it would look something like this:
Each morning at 7:30 we eat breakfast together as a team. Immediately following breakfast we
enjoy a time of devotionals, singing, worship and prayer. This is an important time for us to
focus ourselves on the day ahead that God has planned. After a quick bathroom break we
gather again to find out the days assignments. Some mini teams may be going to visit schools,
some may be going to visit prisons, etc.
At about 9:00 the vans will come to pick up the teams. The teams that are not going to schools
or prisons will be taken to the village where the new church has been built.
Equipped with your Bible, testimony, tracts, Granola bars, back pack, toilet paper and insect
repellent, you and one or more Christian nationals will go hut-to-hut sharing the good news of
Jesus Christ. After a person has placed their faith in Jesus as their Lord and Savior, your
translator will carefully record their name and address so that they may be properly discipled
after we have departed. Be sure to invite them to the afternoon evangelistic service, and
suggest that they bring their unsaved family and friends.
At a designated time we will all meet back at the church site to have lunch and take a break
before the afternoon crusade. After lunch you’ll have time to write in your journal, read, rest or
play with the local children who have gathered to see the “foreigners”. The crusade will begin at
about 3:00 or 3:30. The crusade consists of lots of music and dancing, testimony sharing, a
presentation of the Gospel and some preaching. During the crusade, if the location permits,
some of the team members can take the children into the church building for singing, skits,
stories… This gives their parents a better chance to hear the gospel and gives us a chance to
share God’s love with the kids.
Before the end of the crusade we leave to go back to the hotel. After a quick washing up, it’s
time for dinner. After dinner we end our day giving praise and worship to One who loves us
more than we can imagine and thank Him for allowing us to be a part of His plan.
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Survival Tips
Survival Tips
Survival Tips
Don’t drink the water, unless it has been boiled (coffee or tea). Drink bottled water and bottled
drinks. Be careful of ice, it probably has not been purified.
Do not brush your teeth or rinse your toothbrush with tap water. Use bottled water.
If you can peel it, you can eat it. If it isn’t peeled, don’t eat any fresh fruit or lettuce. Politely turn
down salads, sandwiches with lettuce and other foods where the ingredients have not been
boiled or peeled.
Many people take a couple of tablets or spoonfuls of Pepto Bismol for a couple of days before
the campaign, each morning during the campaign, and for a couple of days after the campaign.
The coating of the stomach seems to help ward off some stomach bugs.
Take granola bars or other snacks in your backpack to tide you over between meals. Trail mix
is also good and can be shared.
$200 cash is the average amount that participants take with them on a campaign. This money
is for needs during the trip and buying souvenirs on the day off.
Do not leave any money or valuables lying around! Take something in which you can safely
carry your passport, tourist visa (if applicable), airline ticket, and other valuables with you each
day in the field.
Get to bed early! You will want to sit up and share with others what you saw God do each day.
Resist the temptation. As the week wears on, you will be glad you got as much sleep as
possible.
We will make phone calls back to the United States when we have the opportunity. Sometimes
the network in Uganda is down. Please inform your friends and family that no news is good
news and you will tell them all about the trip when you get home. Prayer will keep you close.
Do not eat any food that has been offered to you by the people in the village. Even if it looks
harmless, it could make you very sick.
Make sure to put sun block and insect repellant on every morning. Reapply insect repellant in
the evening. The best way to avoid contracting malaria is to not get bit by mosquitoes.
Let your roommate or team leader know what medications you are taking.
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What You Will Need to Pack
Clothing
(Men and Women)
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Casual clothes for free days and travel days
Light sweater/ light jacket
Walking shoes or tennis shoes
6-8 changes of clothes
sleepwear
underwear, plenty of socks
hat / sun visor / sun glasses
(Women)
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Below the knee length skirts or jumpers
Comfortable blouses or t-shirts
Wind pants or capris in the hotel (No jeans or shorts)
Bicycle shorts are comfortable to wear under skirts and jumpers
(Men)
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Khakis, jeans or cargo pants
Plain shirts
Belts
Button shirt and tie for Sunday service
Old sport coat (blazer), and pair of old dress shoes for Preaching
Toiletries
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Wash cloth
Shaving cream / Razor
Shampoo, bath soap, deodorant, tooth brush and toothpaste
Moistened hand wipes / Hand sanitizing gel
Sun screen
Insect Repellent!
Bandages
Kleenex
Toilet paper
Glasses
Contact lenses/Solution
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Medicines
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Aspirin
Pepto-bismol
Cough drops
Eye drops
Imodium D tablets (For diarrhea)
Chapstick
“Tools”
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Bible
Prayer Journal
Clip board
Pens and pencils
Backpack
Family photos
Small flash light
Reading material
Alarm clock
Sewing kit
Camera and Film
Translator gifts
Snacks
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Gum/Candy
Peanut butter/cheese crackers
Granola bars/Trail mix or nuts
Sweet-N-Low/Crystal Light/Gatorade
Before Leaving (as they apply)
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Stop papers
Stop mail
All appliances off
Medical releases
Itinerary to others
Additional thoughts
Don’t buy a new wardrobe for the campaign. New clothes will make you stand out even more
than you are going to anyway
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Make sure that you bring very comfortable, closed toe shoes that are broken in. You will be
wearing them for 10-12 hours a day.
If you cannot carry it by yourself, don’t take it.
The airlines will allow a maximum of 2 bags per person. The combined width, height and length
of each suitcase must be less than 62 inches. Each bag may not exceed 50 pounds. If you get
anywhere close to that weight, you are taking too much!!
In addition, you are allowed one carry-on bag, which must fit under the seat in front of you
(Carry-on maximum weight: 22 lb.; maximum dimensions: 22in x 14in x 9in)
3-1-1 for carry-ons = 3 ounce bottle or less; 1 quart-sized, clear, plastic, zip-top bag; 1 bag per
passenger placed in screening bin. (One-quart bag per person limits the total liquid volume each
traveler can bring. 3 oz. container size is a security measure.)
Don’t take anything you would hate to lose or couldn’t give away if you had to.
Take all the film you think you will need. Take an extra set of batteries for your camera and any
other things you take. Guard you camera at all times. Remember; be tactful and respectful of
people and the culture in your desire to take memorable and meaningful photos or video.
Leave your jewelry at home. In some areas, jewelry is taboo with Christians. In most areas, it
confirms the stereotype of the rich American. In all areas, it can be distracting and get lost or
stolen.
Big pockets in a woman’s jumper or a man’s shirt are very helpful.
Women should not wear shorts or pants on evangelism days.
Take along some pictures of your family to show your new friends. Be sensitive to the
background in the picture, though, because what we take for granted at home probably will look
like a palace to the nationals.
Please do not bring weapons, knives, sharp scissors, etc. These items are unnecessary.
A small pocketknife packed in your checked luggage is okay.
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Suggested Gift List
(This is important!)
You will make friends with your translators as you spend time with them during the campaign
and will want to give them a small token of appreciation when you leave. Below are some
suggested gifts that are appropriate.
Team T-shirt
Flavored teas
Christian Book
Candle lighters
Pens
Vegetable/flower seeds
Dictionary
Note pad/stationary
Hand lotion
Body Spray
Scented Soap
Family photo
A Safe Trip Abroad – Travel Notices
Safety begins when you pack. To avoid being a target, dress conservatively. A flashy wardrobe
may mark you as a tourist, and it is not appropriate dress for the campaign ministry anyway.
Avoid the appearance of affluence since it causes you to stand out and can be a stumbling
block to our international friends who may have far fewer material goods in life.
Carry the minimum amount of valuables necessary for your trip and plan for places to conceal
them. Your passport, visa, cash and credit cards (if you choose to carry any) should be carried
in a pouch or money belt under your clothing.
To avoid problems when passing through customs, keep medicines in their original, labeled
containers.
Pack an extra photocopy of your passport information page to make a replacement of your
passport easier in case it is lost or stolen.
Put your name, address, and telephone numbers inside and outside each piece of luggage.
Using covered luggage tags avoids casual observation of your identity or nationality.
Don’t bring anything you would hate to lose. Leave at home expensive or expensive-looking
jewelry or watches and all unnecessary credit cards.
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Leave a copy of your itinerary and flight information with family or friends at home in case they
need to contact you in an emergency.
Precautions
Always stay with your assigned team. Your team leaders must know where you are at all times.
Do not launch out in a spirit of adventure or independence without telling your leader where you
intend to go. We are happy for you to enjoy special times with national friends as possible;
however, team leaders must know where their team members are at all times.
Use the same common sense traveling overseas that you would at home. Be especially
cautious in, or avoid areas where you are likely to be victimized. Use the buddy system;
traveling with another person will greatly minimize your risk.
Be aware that pickpockets in crowds can be men, women, or even children operating alone or in
groups. They may use any ploy to divert your attention or pick your pockets, purse, or carrying
bag.
Always lock things in your suitcase while you are away. Do not leave money or other valuables
while you are out – carry them in your money belt.
Only use transportation that is designated by the campaign leaders. Do not accept rides from
strangers. When traveling in cars, keep the doors locked and any carry bags away from the
windows. Keep all body parts inside the van.
Avoid exposing any amount of cash. Be discreet in counting money for any transaction. Deal
only with authorized agents when exchanging U.S. dollars for the local currency. The team
leader will oversee currency exchanges for the team members.
In the use of photography and video, always be respectful of those you may be
photographing. Remember the dignity of all people as human beings made in the image of
God. Asking permission to take a photo is always the best policy.
Travel Advisory
The Department of State issues travel advisories concerning serious health or security
conditions that may affect U.S. citizens. Current advisories are available at the 13 regional
passport agencies in the U.S. and from the Citizens Emergency Center, Room 4811,
Department of State, Washington, DC 20520, (202) 647-5225.
For Your Health
Consult your doctor and make sure your immunizations are up to date. Tell your doctor which
country you will be traveling to and ask him his recommendations. A helpful place for additional
information is http://www.ugandamission.net/health/immunizations.html
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Protect yourself against insect bites, especially mosquitoes. Bring strong mosquito repellent
(DEET) and always wear it. Avoid wearing perfume and cologne. Dark colored clothing
attracts mosquitoes.
How Can I Communicate?
It is obvious to everyone on a campaign that “we aren’t in Kansas any more, Toto.” What is not
so obvious, however, is what we need to do to get our point across – across language barriers,
across cultural barriers, across spiritual barriers.
As you pray and prepare for the presentations you may have the opportunity to give, think about
the following:
Use the KISS system. Keep It Simple and Short.
Keep. Be consistent. Just because you are bored with your presentation remember that you
are talking to someone who has never heard it.
It. What are you going to do? Who is the audience? Is the crowd all believers? Encourage
them with discipleship. Non-believers? Share your testimony and the gospel.
It. What can team members do if they aren’t preaching?
While the crusade is going on it is often helpful if some of the team members take the children
into the church and teach them some songs, share a Bible story or perform a puppet show.
This gives their parents a chance to hear the teaching and the children get ministered to as well.
Simple. If you are giving an evangelistic message, stick to a simple story which focuses on
clearly presenting the Gospel of Christ:
*Nicodemus in John 3
*Woman at the well in John 4
*Philippian Jailer in Acts 16
*Zacchaeus in Luke 19
*Your testimony, refer to appropriate Scripture
Simple. If you are giving a discipleship-type message, keep it simple and straightforward. You
might want to use:
*Abiding in the Vine in John 15
*Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13
*Jesus washing feet in John 13
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*Parable of the wise and foolish builders in Matthew 7
*Good Samaritan in Luke 10
Simple. Avoid slang. It is difficult if not impossible to translate, even by a great translator.
Simple. Remember English is not your translator’s first language. Speak slowly, not just more
loudly. Avoid theological jargon (“saved”, “born again”, etc.) Pause after each sentence. But
don’t stop every few words. Get a complete idea out so the translator knows where you are
going.
Short. Remember, your speaking time will be more than doubled as it is translated. Don’t give
a bunch of details. Stick to your main points. Give only enough detail to make your points.
Coming Off the Mountain
Our prayer for you is that this campaign will be a “Hallelujah!” type of mountain top experience
for you. We pray that God will use this campaign to stretch you, to teach you, to show you His
awesome power.
We are creatures of our culture. We also are captives of our culture. We look at the Bible and
what God expects of us through American glasses. Seeing another culture up close helps us to
see things in our culture that we normally take for granted.
As you return home, remember that those at home will not have had this experience. Be careful
not to develop a feeling of superiority. It is difficult to communicate spiritual lessons that you
learned on the campaign if you have a prideful attitude.
Do not be surprised when other people do not want to take the time to listen to your stories.
While they may express interest in your trip, time did not stand still for them while you were
gone, they will have things they want to tell you as well.
Do not be surprised when you go through post-campaign blahs. This feeling may include
restlessness—a desire to return to the campaign area as soon as possible. You may feel tired.
You may be more emotional than usual. It may include a great deal of dissatisfaction with the
way things are at home. You may feel confusion over conflicting feelings and attitudes that you
have developed.
Realize that it will take some time to sort things out. In fact, the more life-changing the
campaign, the more you will experience these feelings.
Prayer is just as important now as it was before and during the campaign. Ask our loving Father
to show you how He wants to use what He taught you on the campaign back at home.
Report to you prayer and financial partners. Let them know how vital they were to the success
of the campaign.
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Beware of negative comments. If you encountered problems, be careful of how and when you
tell others about those problems. Remember, you may be molding your listeners’ concepts of
world missions by what you say! Be fair and balanced.
Watering a new church is just as important as planting. God has used you to plant a new
church. Now He wants you to water it with prayer.
Nevers --- This seems a bit legalistic, but there is good counsel here.
Never travel at night.
Never go anywhere, including the toilet, without a flashlight, toilet
paper, passport, and shot record. You cannot leave the country
without your passport.
Never leave America without photocopying your passport, particularly
the page with your picture and vital information. Give one copy to your
team leader and another copy to someone in the U.S. you can call
upon in case of emergencies. Also make an extra copy of your shot record and leave it in
America.
Never drink anything in Uganda except coffee, tea, and bottled beverages.
Never wear sun glasses when you are speaking to others.
Never go anywhere without two bottles of water and a hat to keep the sun off your head and out
of your eyes.
Never forget to take your malaria medicine.
Never be late for any meeting—well, try at least.
Never take pictures of naked Africans.
Never display any money to non team members.
Never leave anything of value in a locked or unlocked room.
Never give medical advice unless you are trained. Never receive a shot in Uganda or Kenya
without providing your own needle and syringe.
Never wear short pants. Note: Women never wear pants or short dresses (Long pants are OK
on days we travel). No one should wear a t-shirt with an American flag on it or anything that
would be offensive to Christ. (Yes, I love our flag, but it identifies you as a rich American and
makes you a target for thieves, et. al.)
Never smoke. And please, do not bring any rap music or DVD’s that are PG-13, R, etc. The
Ugandans have enough problems, and some of our movies would scare them.
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Never take flash pictures during an evangelistic presentation. Never take pictures of naked
children, women with exposed breasts, or Muslims.
Never take communion where you drink from a common cup.
Never make promises or even indicate “maybe” unless you are 100% committed to following
through.
Never follow a stranger down a path, even if they say it is a short distance to their home or
compound.
Never suggest that you might take someone to the U.S.
Never suggest that you have romantic feelings toward a Ugandan or Kenyan.
Never give advice regarding polygamous marriages in the church or brewing alcohol. Refer
these matters to the local pastors.
Never assure someone that they are a Christian. That is God’s job. Please do share the
Gospel with them including God’s promises to believers.
Never present the Gospel solely as something people need to make them feel good, overcome
emptiness, despair, depression, sadness, poverty, etc. The Gospel offers forgiveness and
righteousness to sinners.
Never go into Uganda or Kenya without insurance and an exit strategy in case of emergency.
Never take anything on a mission trip that you are not prepared to lose.
Never seat yourself in a van up by the driver unless the national team leader suggests that to
you.
Never ride on top of a van.
Never use your cell phone in Uganda, Kenya, or Europe unless you are a millionaire. Use
phone cards.
Never overestimate what is being accomplished in your trip; give yourself some time to digest
what is happening.
Never as a member of the team, on your own, call home and report some emergency. You can
panic people unnecessarily.
Never eat without washing your hands with something like Purell. A word to the wise: Africans
often do not use toilet paper—think about it and you will remember to wash your hands often.
Never leave the U.S. without contact information.
Never wear a gold watch or gold jewelry.
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Never ride with the windows all the way down through a crowded street.
Never give a complete Bible to a child. Some pastors do not have good Bibles.
Never take sharp items, including small knives, on an aircraft.
Never allow part of your group to sleep in an unguarded compound. People will kidnap you with
the hope of getting the equivalent of a few dollars. When you sleep on the ground or in a
stranger’s bed, you may receive many bug bites, pin worms, intestinal worms, etc.
Never pet or pick up a cat, dog or other animal.
Never be in a place where you are unprepared to preach the Gospel.
Never put all your money in just one place.
Never give away most of your tracts, food, snacks, Bibles, toiletries, books, etc. during the first
part of your trip.
Never undermine the work of the full time missionaries.
Never take long showers without knowing the source of the water. You may discover that some
poor Ugandan is climbing a 25 foot ladder with a bucket of water so you can have a gravity fed
shower. Remember to use bottled water to brush your teeth. (Note: the shorter your hair, the
easier it is to maintain in Uganda; you might consider a haircut before you go. Of course, if you
are bald, like me, you are blessed.)
Never get to the airport with a bag over 50 pounds. The goal is to get to the airport with two
bags that will be checked and weigh around 49 lbs. each. You are also allowed a 40 lb. bag on
the plane and a backpack/computer/or handbag.
Never check a bag unless it has your name and address on it in two places.
Never plug in your computer, shaver, radio, etc. unless you know it takes 220.
Never put a bunch of chili peppers in your mouth that have been sitting out on a table all day.
You are probably eating maggots, and other delicacies.
Never in your testimony talk about your nice cars, home, trucks, food, etc. back in the U.S.
Never leave the U.S. without having people who are specifically praying for you each day.
Remember that you have been called by the Lord to enter a spiritual battle.
Never go on a mission trip unless you are prepared to suffer, to be persecuted, or to die.
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