Missionary packing list

When you decide to become a foreign missionary, don’t leave home without:

• being 100% sure that the Author of the universe has called you to this life. It’ll be far too easy to give up if you think you’re here of your own accord.

Swimming with Junmar on an outing to Mantigue Island

• a watch. Cheap enough that you don’t mind giving it away to the first person who asks you for it, but hardy enough that it will survive anything (and waterproof is a must, especially for island missionaries).

• your Bible. You’ll be going nowhere fast without the living Word of God, so don’t even consider leaving it behind.

Throwing a birthday party with some of our new friends!

• Chacos (or Keens, if you like that sort of thing). If I’m only gonna own one pair of shoes, I’m really glad this is it. In this case, good quality is worth it.

• a sturdy water bottle. Again, if you’re an island missionary, it'd better hold at least one liter.

Meeting children at the St. Augustine Cathedral in Cagayan de Oro

• a notebook. You should probably carry this on your person at all times, since it serves as a prayer journal as well as a place to record the names of everyone you meet and common phrases in your new language.

Having a restful day of prayer in the mountains outside Malaybalay

• an awesome team! You’ll need holy missionary friends to challenge you when you’re growing lukewarm and to remind you that there’s nothing that prayer and a carton of ice cream can’t fix.

There’s a whole host of other items you should probably have on hand, but these are the bare necessities. And I realize every day how grateful I am to have them.