PREPARE TO GO

Each location has different packing specifications and Items you must bring. Find your trip location below to see what you need!

Travelers may bring one carry-on and one personal item on their flights overseas. We recommend a standard-sized backpack as your personal item, as oversized backpacks may be counted as a carry-on. Smaller items such as a purse, satchel, or belt bag are also suitable if they fit within airline size guidelines.

For most trips, each team member is allowed ONE checked bag. If you are serving for 8-weeks, you are permitted TWO checked bags if necessary; however, we encourage only one for all trips!

PACKING LISTS

Above all, don’t forget the importance of prayer. If the primary hesitation in stepping forward is finances, don’t limit what God can do! Continue coming to Him daily in submission to His Word, trusting His provision and His care to lead you exactly where He is calling you!

Below are resources designed to help you begin and finish your support raising journey with strength and confidence!

FUNDRAISING RESOURCES

Support Raising Video Lessons

Support Raising Letters

After coming up with a list of potential supporters, send a support letter letting them know what you will be doing and telling them that you need their financial and prayer support. We highly recommend personalizing your letters with a handwritten note and sending them via mail to show your intentionality.

Below is a link to downloadable support letter templates you can use for your trip! Click the link below to find yours!

Open Link
Click the three dots
Find “Share & Export.”
Click “Make a Copy”

Fundraising Letters

OTHER HELPFUL METHODS & RESOURCES

We recommend the following books to help you with your support raising!
- The God Ask (https://a.co/d/0dWIDwWr
With technology constantly advancing, it’s easy to rely solely on text or other forms of non-verbal communication. However, inviting someone to partner with you through a phone call or face-to-face conversation can often be far more meaningful. Taking the time to meet personally communicates respect and shows how much you value both the individual and the mission you’re pursuing.
These conversations also create space to answer questions, share your heart, and explain the purpose behind the work—whether it’s your call to Africa or the broader mission itself. And finally, they open the door to something just as important as financial support: prayer. Even when someone isn’t able to give financially, inviting them to pray is a powerful gift and an opportunity to grow your team of prayer partners as you step into what God has called you to do.
We’ve created a Fundraising Plan Estimator to help you organize and navigate your support raising journey. This Google Sheet will automatically copy to your account when selected. Fundraising can feel overwhelming at first, but breaking it down into clear, achievable goals makes the process much more manageable.
All dates within the Fundraising Plan Estimator are fully adjustable to match your specific trip timeline. Most participants sign up for a trip about seven months in advance, but you can customize the estimator to fit your own schedule.
Africa Freedom Mission has two primary funding milestones for all trips:
- $1,800 must be raised before FHI will book your international airfare.
  Airfare is typically booked in February/March for summer teams and September/October for winter teams.
- 100% of trip funding is due two weeks prior to your departure date.
***Please note: Africa Freedom Mission is responsible for purchasing all international airline tickets. Team members are not permitted to shop for or purchase their own international airfare. Any airfare purchased outside of AFM will not be reimbursed.***
Here are a couple of fundraising ideas that past team members have found helpful:
- Selling Shirts
  For those who are creative and organized, selling custom shirts can be a great fundraising option. Africa Freedom Mission does not partner directly in this effort, so managing design, orders, and sales would be your responsibility. Many team members have had success using social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook, as well as sharing at their local church.
- Adopt-A-Box
  Another effective way team members have raised support quickly is through an Adopt-A-Box campaign. You can use online tools that manage the process for you or create one on your own. The idea is simple: create a grid of boxes and invite people to “adopt” a box by donating the amount listed and committing to pray for you during your trip to Africa.
We recommend regularly updating and reposting your Adopt-A-Box grid on social media until all boxes are filled. Typically, a 60-square grid can cover the cost of airfare with AFM, while a 90-square grid can cover the cost of a standard two-week trip. Feel free to download and use the images below for your social media campaigns.

Frequently Asked Questions

All countries you enter will require you to have a visa for that specific country. Each country we serve in has specific visa requirements for entry. To see specific country visa info, you can click the button below.
MINISTRY SUPPLIES + LUGGAGE:
- If needed, team members may be asked to carry ministry supplies. While some participants choose to travel with only a backpack and carry-on, one small checked bag is permitted and recommended for 2-week trips. Every team member is allotted one checked bag and one carry-on, regardless of the trip you are on. 8-Week Teams are allowed to bring 2 checked bags if needed.
  Please note that all checked bag fees for the domestic portion of travel are the responsibility of the team member.
MINISTRY PARTNER GIFTS:
- Ministry partners should not contact team members directly regarding supplies or financial needs. If you are contacted, please direct them to Africa Freedom Mission so coordination can take place.
- To ensure integrity and accountability, all gifts, sponsorships, or financial support given while in-country must be coordinated with FHI leadership. If you become aware of a need or feel led to give, please speak with FHI staff first for guidance on the appropriate way to proceed.
  All financial gifts must be approved by and aligned with FHI leadership and our ministry partners before being given.
While we understand the desire to share photos and updates with family and friends, we also believe it’s important to remain fully present and engaged during your time in Africa. To support this, we’ve established the following guidelines for cell phone and camera use:
- During ministry hours, phones should only be used at the discretion of team leadership. When you are at the home base of wherever you are staying you can use your phones!
- We do not permit ANY team member to take photos during ministry times, nor bring a professional camera to ministry (this excludes FHI Media Team Members). This rule is in place to honor our ministry partners and those we minister to.
- International calls and texting should be limited to designated free time. Our hope is that team members prioritize engaging with one another rather than being on their phones.
You’ve invested significant time, prayer, and resources to serve on this trip. We encourage you to unplug from home as much as possible so you can fully experience what the Lord has for you during your time in Africa.
FHI works closely with our ministry partners to ensure that both our service and our generosity strengthen, rather than hinder, their long-term ministry efforts. To help prepare you for this approach, we recommend reading one or more of the following books, which reflect many of the principles we seek to incorporate with our teams.
Additional pre-field training will be provided, but these resources offer a strong foundation as you prepare for your trip.