Outreach Trips: Packing 2 Weeks into 1 Bag

The Packing Struggle
I never would have thought that I could fit two weeks worth of essentials into my tiny carry-on, yet, here I was boarding without a checked-in bag and only my small carry-on. Who would’ve thought that I could pack so effectively for an outreach trip?

I have always loved going on missions or outreach trips but packing is my least favorite activity. Perhaps it is because I am a girl who thinks that every pretty item is essential or perhaps it is because I am the worst procrastinator, but packing has never been fun. So when I went to Puerto Rico on my first missions trip and found out how much it cost to bring an additional bag I was astounded!

How to Pack with Efficiency and Necessity

It was obvious that I needed a solution and fast, how could I fit two weeks worth of food, performance makeup, clothes, and miscellaneous items into a carry-on? This was not as difficult as it may seem. While weight and strategy are everything when it comes to this cheapskate way of traveling, it is also important to remember your essentials.

Before you begin trying to cram everything into that tiny bag make sure to make a list of the absolute essential items for your trip; everything that is not essential can be added later after you packed the important items. Remember that each airline is different so make to understand your airline’s rules beforehand.

While Puerto Rico is not too different from the United States, my Argentina trip was another matter. When it was Summer in the United States, it was Winter in Cordoba, Argentina. This meant packing bulky clothes to prepare for cold weather and snow. For most outreach trips there are the understood essentials such as the following:

1. Vitamins – typically outreaches are done in underdeveloped and less fortunate countries so it is essential to bring vitamins to make up for any changes in your diet or lack of certain nutrients.
2. Prunes or a diuretic – while it may seem gross, being overseas and in strange lands means that your digestive system won’t be as reliable as normal
3. A filtered, reusable bottle – not all cities have clean water and an empty bottle is acceptable in most airlines
4. A smaller backpack – while it may seem obvious, bringing a separate string backpack is helpful for dividing your feminine essentials and shower items when you unpack
5. Detergent – most places that you’ll be will require washing your own clothes in a sink so it is essential to bring travel size detergent

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6. The typical items that one would pack – these include clothing, personal items, tennis shoes, your phone, etc.
7. Powdered gatorade – you will get tired of water and hydration is a must.

It is also important to know about your destination and the itinerary before you go there. For instance, when I went to Argentina I was told that since it was the middle of Winter there would be a lack of protein in the food we would be given. So I ended up packing miniature Slim Jims, fruit snacks, and popcorn (okay that was because I couldn’t live without my kettle korn).

Bringing Money

One important thing to remember (if you are a U.S citizen) is that American dollars are way more valuable than a peso. Before you convert your American dollars into pesos make sure that you are getting the right conversion and that you keep some of your personal cash at hand. I was able to purchase a bracelet for my sister that was priced at $15 in pesos for only $1 because I gave American money. The market is always the best place to get trinkets for low prices so don’t waste your time on the street vendors.

The Truth

Each outreach trip is different and sometimes one bag just isn’t enough. While this isn’t ideal, it is understandable. Just make sure that you did everything you could to pack as effectively as you could. One trick that worked for me was rolling my clothing tightly and using rubber bands to keep them small and compact. I am definitely not a packing expert, but if I was able to pack so much into one small bag then I know you definitely can!

We want to hear from you! What are some of your packing tricks and/or horror stories? What have you learned when it comes to outreach trips?