What do I need to do in order to prepare for Uganda?

Alright, this time I am going to talk about the different types of preparations that it takes for traveling to Uganda. Hopefully this helps out some for those that are thinking of going to Uganda, or just ones that are thinking of going anywhere in the needgreating field. This post is all about getting ready for Uganda, but it applies elsewhere.

Mine is good until 2016

1) Get your passport checked! If you cant go out of the country because your passport is expired, then you cant do anything! The last thing you want is to have to cancel tickets because you didnt know your passport was no good. It takes a few months to get a new passport, so make sure you check this long before you get a date for leaving.

2) Now you need to make sure that you have enough $money$, and find out how much it takes to stay in Uganda. It is a cruel world that depends on money, but in this system of things it is an evil we must use. For myself, I have a place for $220 a month (everything included) in the best part of Fort Portal, and then the food is also cheap, about the same as rent for a month. Internet costs $20 a month. Jobs pay up to nothing in Uganda, and they are hard to find as is, so its best to have money in pocket and live off of that. However, some brothers have internet jobs that allow them to make just enough to move to Fort Portal.
By the way, currently $.082=2,000 shillings. (the currency for Uganda is called Shillings)Yeah, so 45,000shillings is not really that much, even though it sounds like a lot. Anyways, as regards money, there are always a lot of unexpected fees and expenses, so always, always give yourself a lot of buffer when you are budgeting.

Pick your favorite color, little Timmy!

3) There are shots that you need to get at this point. Yellow fever and Hepatitis are two big ones, but you can find out the specifics by visiting a health center or making a few calls to the hospital or such. They have lists of the different things that you need in the different parts of the world. Sometimes there are places that can offer discounts for the reason that you are leaving, such as the ministry. Sometimes they even clear you of charges for the shots, but other times getting shots can be pricey. ($100 a shot sometimes) You have to do your own research. Especially with Hepatitis, there are different variables that you should ask about and decide for yourself what you are willing to take and what you are willing to leave out. Also ask them about when you start the shots (as sometimes it might be as soon as a month, or so I am told) As for Malaria, I was told that the pills you need are cheaper in Uganda and easy to get.

4) Now, lets move on to another area of the planning process, the visa. Lets say you arrive in Uganda. You can then purchase a tourist visa for about $50, and ask them to write it for 3 months. Then, after 3 months you can easily extend it for another $50 right in Fort Portal. Super easy, super cheap. I like the way that sounds.

5) What to wear? For field service, they wear short sleeved button up shirts (meeting shirts) and no tie. (AWESOME) The pants are normal, nice looking slacks that can take a lot of walking. I would not suggest an actual suit, as that might not take the punishment that the terrain would dish out. Breathable, too. Thats nice to consider. There is a lot of red clay, so lighter colored pants would show this very well. The shirt should be breathable as well, and not silky or delicate. Something that can take a little mud and dirt, but still looks nice. Shoes should be fit for walking, and some brothers have even used tennis shoes or other types of walking shoes. For the meetings, ties are used, but suit jackets are not too common. I was told that I didnt even need to bring a suit jacket if I didnt want to. To be honest, having a shirt that is not full of holes and frayed will make you better off than most of the people there anyways, so it is not something that you should worry about as regards 'fashion'. I was also suggested not to make it 'flashy'. Simple, clean, etc, etc.
For casual, dont worry too much about impressing them. Shorts are nice for relaxing, a sweater or something like it for night time, comfy shirts, etc etc.

6) Climate! According to the brothers that have served in Fort Portal for 3 1/2 years, the hottest it gets is about 82 degrees. Dry heat. So that means that you WILL sweat, but once you get into the shade, you will cool off. (Heads up, being a third world country, they do not have deodorant. BOTH you and them will stink) At night it gets to the low-mid 60s, so something like a sweater would be nice. When it rains, it pours. I am told that the climate is a nice, balanced blend of most elements, excluding extreme colds. (Shout out to my Alaskan kindred!)

7) Short bit about culture. Uganda is filled with people who are generally very, very nice. As a white person (or anything but black) you will stand out to the extreme. You will be the center of attention, and people will be very interested. That is something to get used to. Belief and interest in the bible is also very, very common, as most everyone has a belief in one way or another. The difference is that they are very logical and humble in their beliefs, and can easily see the faults with the false religious teachings(many times on their own). They may have been raised believing that Jesus is God, but once shown the bible's answer, they will laugh at their old beliefs and see the truth of God's word. They truly, honestly, and humbly yearn to learn more about the truth, and will go to great efforts to do so. For instance, when you get a call on the initial visit, many times you can expect them at the next meeting. Bible studies are like leaves on a tree because of the genuine interest that is found in their hearts.

Alright, I will continue to update different things that I have learned about getting ready for Uganda and such. Hopefully this will give us a good idea of what it is like to prepare for Uganda, Fort Portal area.

~Trevor B