Note: This page can be downloaded in pdf format: Practical Issues.pdf

Passports: up to date with copies of main title imprint page sent to our travel office.

Schedule: including profiles and possible training and prayer times, proposed itinerary and any other deadlines, finance, medical clearances and or special medical records.

Packing: Local contact often help with suggestions for packing, so it’s necessary to ask the Prayer Journey co-ordinator from CityHarvest Travel for this information. Plan not to over pack for your trip. You most likely will have to carry your own luggage on and off transport that you may not be familiar with. We recommend taking only one piece of luggage so make sure that everything will fit. On most Prayer Journeys each day involves some form of travelling and it is not good to be carrying any excess luggage. Plan also to have  one carry-on piece of luggage like an over the shoulder pack or a full back pack for those personal items.

Comfort: Pack clothing appropriate to the climate where the Prayer Journey will spend the most of its time. Make sure to take a comfortable pair of walking shoes and that they are broken in before leaving home. It’s always good to work on being relaxed in dress code and yet appropriately dressed for the culture being visited.

Modesty: Dress codes do exist for both women and men in some cultures that Prayer Journey’s will be visiting, Therefore it’s important to honour these traditions and cultural expectations in order not to be an offence or to draw unnecessary attention to yourself or others on the team. Ask our travel coordinator for this information. For women on team it’s important that no shorts, short dresses, no low cut tops or sleeveless items be worn in a public place. Sometimes it’s okay to wear such items in your own room to relax in, but never outside the privacy of this domain. So follow the advice of your Prayer Journey team leader. It should also be noted that in some places even long pants are not acceptable for women. Men should also check if the wearing of shorts is appropriate in public in some cultures.

Health and Immunization: It’s important that you are fit to conduct Prayer Journey’s as they can involve a lot of walking, so be in good physical shape. Go to your local GP for a check up before hand and also ask them what other immunization requirements might apply for the nation you are visiting.

You will also be eating foods that are new or different and maybe not that friendly to your digestive system. So if you have eating special requirements it is important that you let the City Harvest co-ordinator or travel consultant know when you first apply to join the team. We don’t want to get into a position where we might offend our hosts. It’s always good to have a supply of Imodium (or similar) on hand for the unexpected stomach problem. It is also necessary to keep up a good intake of water, always purchase sealed bottled water, most countries these days have this in abundance. Never drink or wash your teeth from a tap.

Make sure that you take short breaks throughout each day to regroup, refresh and to help maintain good stamina. You will need this to be effective in prayer and for the overall health and balance of the team.

Ps Ben F. Gray
CityHarvest International Senior minister.
Australian Prayer Network founder & apostolic oversight. 

Last updated: September 20th 2007