FAQ Sheet for Short Term Ministry Teams to RAU

Reaching Africa’s Unreached (R.A.U.) FAQ Sheet for Short Term Ministry Teams

www.reachingafricasunreached.org

Thank you for your interest and participation in the ministry of RAU! As our primary ministry focus is training indigenous pastors and leaders, planting self-governing, self-propagating, and self-supporting churches, and spreading the gospel among people groups in the West Nile Sub-region of Northern Uganda, South Sudan, and the Republic of Sudan, we have created this fact sheet in hopes of better preparing you for coming alongside our ministry. Please carefully read and think through Reaching Africa’s Unreached Mission/Vision Statements and Statement of Faith.

We have been living in this region since 2013 and have learned so much (and are still learning) about how best we can serve the communities in our region. In light of that, we have developed a reading list and video links which we believe will serve you in your preparation process without which it is possible to do damage when, actually, there is a deep desire to help. Here is that list:

Required reading/watching for those ministering with Reaching Africa’s Unreached (RAU). This needs to be done BEFORE arriving to RAU. These resources will help prepare you for ministry with RAU. Thank you! (There is a longer list of suggested books and videos at the end that are worth your time.)

*Reaching Africa’s Unreached Mission/Vision Statements and Statement of Faith

*Bible: Africa Study Bible (NLT Anglicized) for ministry use. English is a second language for most Ugandans and Sudanese. Education in Uganda from primary to University is done in (British) English. This Bible also has many culturally helpful notes from African pastors and theologians. It has a good section also with African Church history. A very valuable tool for ministry!

*Article: Let the Nations Be Glad!: The Supremacy of God in Missions A thumbnail sketch from CRU of John Piper’s classic book (see below in suggested reading) on missions.

*Article: “A Plea for Gospel Sanity in Missions” by Aubrey Sequeira

*Article: “God Calls Me to Give. But to Everyone? A missionary’s framework for generosity.” by Anthony Sytsma

*38 Minute ABWE Video interview: “When Helping Hurts”: With Brian Fikkert”

*Video: What “Every Christian Needs To Know About Islam!” Reaching Africa’s Unreached does a lot of ministry with Muslims. This video is an important encouragement and help in this ministry. In this insightful video, renowned Christian apologist David Wood delves into the fundamentals of Islam, providing a comprehensive understanding for Christians. “What Every Christian Needs To Know About Islam” covers key beliefs, practices, and historical contexts of Islam, addressing common misconceptions and fostering interfaith dialogue. Perfect for those seeking to enrich their knowledge and engage meaningfully with Muslim friends and neighbors.

*Book: Holding the Rope: Short-Term Missions, Long-Term Impact by Clint Archer. This book fleshes out Reaching Africa’s Unreached views on “short term“ ministry teams.

*Book: Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God by J. I Packer. This classic book lays out well the call to proclaim the gospel to ALL with the understanding that salvation IS of the Lord.

*AFRICA STATEMENT ON PROSPERITY GOSPEL AND WORD OF FAITH THEOLOGY:“… A cursory glance at local churches on the African continent reveals that this teaching has crept into many congregations and become their functional doctrine…”

———————–

*Reaching Africa’s Unreached is in partnership with ABWE. ABWE has safety measures for Short Term Ministry outreaches through their Launch Point process which requires: 1) A background check , 2) Complete a module on Safety/Security 3) Complete a module on Child Safety.

Your names, ages and emails will be submitted to ABWE which will then provide instructions on how to complete these 3 steps. This cost is $100 a person.

————————–

Things to pack for your time in Uganda

Clothing: If your trip is between the months of March and November (Wet Season), you may want to pack a light jacket or even a light-weight rain-jacket, and hat for sun protection, sun glasses (equatorial sun is more intense!)
Men: Trousers and short-sleeve shirts (may wear shorts around RAU campus, but not in Moyo town)
Women: Long or mid-calf skirts and blouses (no spaghetti straps), pants with shirts/blouses are acceptable, as long as the shirt covers your bottom. Culturally, the lower half of the body is treated with greater modesty, however, upper body modesty is still important
Shoes: Easily removable, sturdy sandals (Ex. Chaco’s or comparable Sketcher’s sandals are perfect), hiking shoes may be helpful if there is going to be an excursion into the Metu Mountains, and flip flops for around the house at RAU
Hygiene: Body wash, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, flushable wipes (helpful when nature calls out in the bush–but please don’t flush them at RAU), toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss, hand sanitizer, standard travel first aid kit, feminine hygiene products (not many options available in Moyo, so it’s best to pack what you will need) sun screen, mosquito repellent (you’ll want 4%-40% DEET) **Solar power at RAU CANNOT accommodate blow dryers, curling irons, or flat irons. All power is 240**
Bedding and towels are available at RAU, however, those items are nice to have in abundance, and so if you are willing to bring a set of each that can be left here, that would be a blessing!
Money: There will be several opportunities to purchase gifts/crafts to take home with you. We suggest bringing $200-$300 for personal/emergency spending. The cash you bring should be in new $100/$50 bills, as older or defective bills may not be accepted for exchange. The group at large may want to bring a larger amount of cash for travel emergencies since you may be in a place where access to ATMs and banks is scarce. Please DO NOT use credit or debit cards in Uganda
Medications: You can find the suggested vaccinations/medications for this region at https://www.passporthealthusa.com/destination-advice/uganda/. Please note, Yellow Fever vaccine is required to enter into Uganda. An immunization record is required for your visa and will be checked upon your arrival in Entebbe. Be sure you begin an antimalarial (Malarone or doxycycline are a couple of the common anti-malaria’s prescribed) prior to traveling to Uganda. Malaria is especially prevalent in our area. “The WHO African Region carries a disproportionately high share of the global malaria burden. In 2017, the region was home to 92% of malaria cases and 93% of malaria deaths.” You may contact your doctor to get a prescription for Traveler’s diarrhea antibiotics and anti-malarial’s. Please be sure to have a sufficient amount of your personal prescriptions or OTC meds as they may not be available here.
You can apply for your visa at the Ugandan Embassy online site here: https://www.ivisa.com/uganda-visa-application . You may or may not need an invitation letter from us or another Ugandan ministry to obtain your visa.
Register your stay in Uganda with the American Embassy here: https://ug.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/
USA Embassy: https://ug.usembassy.gov/embassy/
BYOASB: Bring your own Africa Study Bible (NLT Anglicized) to use and a pen and notebook/journal
Electronics: Phone, charger (multi-country adapters are available at Wal-Mart or other electronic stores or can be ordered through Amazon). Our plugs/sockets are different than American or European. See: https://www.power-plugs-sockets.com/uganda/ . Lap tops and tablets are OK to bring, but please be mindful; these are highly sought-after items and may be stolen. All power at RAU is 220.

Travel Notes

From our experience, KLM is the most comfortable airline for the second leg of the journey. Other options include Brussels Air and United Arab Emirates. Upon arriving in Entebbe, we recommend staying at Carpe Diem in Entebbe which has a shuttle service that will pick you up and take you back to the airport in the morning for your MAF flight to Moyo. Refer to contact information below. You can pay for rooms in dollars.
Extra luggage can be left at Carpe Diem (see their contact below) and will be picked up by a friend of RAU and dropped off at the bus station for transport to Moyo. MAF allows 15 kilos and after that they charge extra for every kilo.
MAF: Travel to and from Moyo is now available through MAF Uganda on any week day as long as you book enough in advance and they have flights to Moyo or through Moyo. They can carry 1-12 passengers Monday-Friday. It is now our preferred way to travel to and from Moyo! The easiest way to make arrangements and book with them is to register with them. The current cost is $205 one way. A chartered flight is also possible.
Also, we can arrange an 8-10 passenger van which can drive you/your party/luggage to RAU from Carpe Diem for $400+- one way. The drive is around 9 hours depending on road conditions on dirt roads closer to RAU. If chosen, we strongly recommend this drive to be done only during the day.

Helpful Tidbits for Cross-Cultural Engagement

Be very cautious in giving your contacts (phone or Facebook)
If you receive requests for money or other assistance while here or online, please inform the requestor that you will first discuss the need with Jacob and Carol Lee and your leaders.
Women readily nurse in public with no cover, even during worship services
Dive into the culture as much as possible while you are here. Ask questions, observe people’s interactions. People here really appreciate any attempt to learn their culture and language and this helps with gospel witnessing (1 Corinthians 9: 19-23).
**Please be mindful of how your interactions may affect those who live and work here long-term.**
Please be aware that we are just a few kilometers from South Sudan which is in the midst of a civil war. Because of this, under no circumstances should anyone venture down to the border, especially alone. Please speak with Jacob prior to taking any walks in the direction of the border as this could have severe consequences for yourself and RAU. Twenty four hours a day RAU has well armed/well trained Ugandan police on the compound.
Photographing: Do not take pictures of military or governmental installations or officials (including police). Please be aware of what you are photographing and always ask, if possible, for permission to take pictures of your surroundings. Most people in Uganda are okay with being photographed as long as you ask permission. However, people may ask you for money if you want to take their photo. Bottom line: Always ask before snapping a picture/video of anyone or anything!

While at RAU…

Meals and basic amenities such electricity, Wi-Fi (speed not guaranteed…the more people online the slower), running water (cold), coffee, and toilet paper are provided. Any other comforts (i.e. snacks) you may want to bring with you or buy in Moyo town (limited options). Meals and stays outside of RAU campus is at your own expense. In some ministry events it requires us eating at restaurants and staying in hotels.
Due to the acoustics of RAU’s housing be warned that sounds (all manner of sounds, ha!) travel from one end of the house to the other. If having a conversation after 10 pm, please remember your team mates who may be trying to rest!
At present, we do not have a hot water heater, so showers are cold. However, water may be heated on the stove top for a warm cup bath. When you are bathing please turn water off and on when washing and rinsing as water is a limited resource.
As we have two armed guards at night who patrol the premises, please do not wander around at night hours without identifying yourself to them. We also have one armed guard during the day.
There are venomous snakes in the garden areas, so please watch where you step and be mindful that snakes can be found in trees and on branches. It is strongly recommended you have a good flashlight with you.
Our only source of electricity is solar; therefore, when you are not in rooms please ensure the lights/fans/other electrical devices are turned off. If an outlet is not being used, please ensure the switches are also turned off. All power is 240 so step downs to 110 are needed. Most computers and phones have ones in their cords but please check before using. Any device with a heating element (such as a blow dryer or curling iron) cannot be used as the solar system cannot handle that much pull.
The water is directly from a well, so it is safe to drink from the taps. Only drink and brush teeth with bottled water elsewhere.
A monetary gift to RAU either in Ugandan Shillings or dollars (cash-new without any tears, even small, or markings in $50’s/$100’s) is always appreciated to defer costs of your stay and ministry as well as for RAU’s mission.

Contacts:

RAU Contacts: Jacob: jacobleerau@gmail.com ; Carol: carol295@gmail.com ; Zorah: zora.onet@gmail.com; Eric (Arua): +256 782 485448

Carpe Diem (Entebbe): +256 793 396832; www.carpediemuganda.com

MAF Uganda: +256 312 359 623 (International); 0312 359 623 (within Uganda) uga.bookings@mafint.org; uga.bookings@mafint.org

Eagle Air: +256 772 777338; reservations@eagleair-ug.com ; admin@eagleair-ug.com

Golden Courts (Arua):+256 0787 034837; http://goldencourtshotel.com/

—————————————————————-

Reaching Africa's Unreached

FAQ Sheet for Short Term Ministry Teams to RAU

Reaching Africa’s Unreached (R.A.U.) FAQ Sheet for Short Term Ministry Teams

Required reading/watching for those ministering with Reaching Africa’s Unreached (RAU). This needs to be done BEFORE arriving to RAU. These resources will help prepare you for ministry with RAU. Thank you! (There is a longer list of suggested books and videos at the end that are worth your time.)

Please be mindful of how your interactions may affect those who live and work here long-term.

Suggested Reading list and videos:

Reaching Africa’s Unreached (R.A.U.) FAQ Sheet for Short Term Ministry Teams

Required reading/watching for those ministering with Reaching Africa’s Unreached (RAU). This needs to be done BEFORE arriving to RAU. These resources will help prepare you for ministry with RAU. Thank you! (There is a longer list of suggested books and videos at the end that are worth your time.)

**Please be mindful of how your interactions may affect those who live and work here long-term.**

Suggested Reading list and videos:

Share this:

Please be mindful of how your interactions may affect those who live and work here long-term.