While in Uganda, I observed some cultural idiosyncrasies that I took note of and thought it would be useful for me to pass them on to others.

I have thought and put together some recommendations on what to wear and what not to wear for your next mission trip. One thing to keep in mind is that using scented perfumes, including scented shampoos and lotions, can attract mosquitoes and other insects that can cause malaria. You don’t want to wear heavily scented items just to be safe.

There are many cultural differences in foreign countries that we are not always aware of here in the United States. I was going on a “Boda Boda” (more commonly known as a motorcycle) in Uganda, Africa, where I was told to make sure I wear a small bag because if my bag is too big, someone might think I’m very rich and try to steal my bag. bag!

They also told me that women should wear long skirts and not pants. This was based in part on our individual quest base, however this was a more accepted form of dress for women. Someone mentioned to me that it’s not considered “girly” for a woman to ride a bike! This seemed a bit strange to me due to our cultural differences here in the United States. From what I understand, this is a bit demeaning for women in Ugandan culture to ride a bike.

You’ll also want to make sure you pack the lightest clothing possible, based on the weather at your chosen destination. This will help you avoid baggage fees due to your luggage being too heavy to check in at the airport. Universally, a fifty-pound baggage limit is standard, so packing too much can cost you extra money.

As a woman, I am finding that dressing modestly is very important. Many people have differences of opinion regarding this topic. However, to keep it simple, dressing modestly will cause fewer problems than dressing more revealingly.

I was surprised that the people of Uganda are dressed very well. The word I learned was a very British sounding word used to imply that a person looks very stylish. If a Ugandan says: “You are very smart today!” (Smart pronounced “Smaat”)

This means that you look very elegant and well-groomed! I loved hearing this from them!

It still makes me smile to think about it.

If you are visiting an African country for your mission trip, you can expect people to not dress badly, no matter how much money they have. For church, you’ll want to dress in well-pressed clothes, looking neat and clean. This will help you feel comfortable and feel like you fit in with the way others dress, especially in Uganda.

So what do you do with all your gold and silver necklaces? What about your wedding ring for that matter? Well, you leave all the valuable jewelry at home! Flashy jewelry and flashy hairstyles will need to be de-encrusted. You’ll want to downsize some of the “Bling” so to speak. Special care must be taken to avoid any unnecessary or problematic attention being drawn to you.

In fact, the attention should be focused on the Lord and not on us, so if possible we want to divert some of the attention away from ourselves. I suggest buying wooden jewelry to replace your gold and silver or precious jewelry. Many jewelry and trinkets can be purchased while you are in the foreign country you are visiting. This can also be an economic boost to the economy of the country you are visiting! This is just another reason to leave expensive jewelry at home.

Ok, now for the shoes!!! You’ll want to make sure your shoes are appropriate for the nature of your trip. If you are going to a very hot place, you may want to pack some sandals or buy them there. In addition, sneakers are very valuable in airports for their comfort when walking long distances.

I hope this information has been helpful in planning your next mission trip! Do not hesitate to visit our website where you can learn about the benefits of missionary airfare for your next missionary trip.

safe travels,

Tabitha Lovell, International Travel Specialist