NIGERIANCHURCHPLANTING

PROJECT HANDBOOK

November 2009

Thank you for considering participating in the NigerianChurch Planting Partnership!

This syllabus will provide answers to some basic questions that you will likely have as you prepare to go with one of our church’s teams on a mission trip to Nigeria. At the time of this writing, Mandeville’s First Baptist has sent five teams to Nigeria so the content of this syllabus comes as a result of experiences from these trips.

As you prepare to go to Nigeria, please do not underestimate the role of prayer – both you personally and the team of prayer partners you should enlist. You should also prepare the mission trip by making yourself available to God in whatever role He may assign once you are in Nigeria.

Preparing to Go

  1. Prayer – Your decision to come should be a matter of prayer. If God is leading you to come you will be blessed and will bless others. After deciding to come your preparation should include plenty of time in prayer both individually and as a group if you are coming with a team. You should also enlist prayer partners who will promise to pray for you every day while you are here. You are urged to keep a journal of your entire trip to be able to look back and remember what God did in your life and what you observed God doing among the people in Nigeria.
  1. Costs – The cost of a trip to Nigeria continues to increase as the price of transportation continues to increase. The most recent trip cost approximately $2,100 per person. This amount includes the cost of roundtrip airfare, food and lodging while in Nigeria, transportation while in Nigeria, your visa, and health insurance. For members of the Mandeville’s FirstBaptistChurch, we require $____ and this amount must be paid in full 8 weeks prior to the departure date. Those who are not members of MFBC are required to pay the full cost of the trip.

In addition to these costs, individuals must have a current passport and must have all immunizations required (see below). Your passport and your international immunization record must be secured and presented to the church office 6 weeks prior to the departure date so that your visa can be obtained.

  1. Passport – To obtain a passport for the first time, you need to go in person to one ofover a “passport acceptance facility.” In Mandeville, you can go to the U.S. Post Office. Take with you two passport photographs of yourself (Walgreen’s or CVS provide this service), proof of U.S. citizenship (birth certificate), and a valid form of photo identification such as a driver’s license. You should receive your passport in four to six weeks, so be sure to act early. Your plane ticket and visa cannot be ordered without a passport.

If you already hold a passport, make sure that it will not expire within 6 months of your trip and that you have one blank page so that your visa can be added.

The non-refundable passport fee is $100. The renewal fee for a passport is $75, provided that the passport book is not damaged.

  1. Visa – We will obtain your visa. When you submit your passport to the church office, you will also submit a photograph of yourself (a passport photograph) which will be attached to the visa application.

We obtain a “letter of invitation” from Nigeria so that we can apply for your visa.

Once the passport and visa are obtained, make two photocopies of the picture page of the passport, the visa page, and a copy of the letter of invitation. Leave one photocopy at home, and bring one in a separate place from your passport.

  1. Immunizations – The only immunization required to come to Nigeria is yellow fever. You can make an appointment at the TravelCenter at OchsnerMedicalCenter (504-842-4000). Your physician advise you about other vaccinations including typhoid (oral or injection), meningococcal, hepatitis A and B. Your tetanus should also be up to date.

When you travel, you must bring your yellow international shot record. You may prefer to staple this in the back of your passport so you don’t lose it.

  1. Schedule – We have found that a 9-day schedule works well for our purposes.

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Day 1 – Thursday

  • Travel

Day 2 – Friday

  • Arrival in Jos, early afternoon local time
  • Preparation for bush – pack up camping supplies, buy water and groceries

Day 3 – Saturday

  • Travel to bush

Days 4-7 – Sunday-Wednesday

  • Work with church in field
  • Return to Jos on Wednesday
  • Prepare for trip to U.S.

Day 8 – Thursday

  • Last minute rst trip to bush
  • Camp 3 nights
  • Work with church

Day 9 – Friday

  • Travel to U.S.
  • Arrive in New Orleans late afternoon

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  1. Packing – On our most recent flights, we were allowed 2 checked bags and 1 carry on bag. However, on future trips the airline may charge for checked bags. This will limit the amount of luggage we will take. When the flight arrangements are made, we will update you on any changes to the number and weight limits of checked bags.

You may be asked by your team leader to pack additional supplies or materials. These may include camping supplies, food, and/or items that we will be carrying to our missionaries in Nigeria.

CurrentTSA regulations state that the luggage should be left unlocked. Luggage is subject to inspection. Pack anything liquid in double Ziploc bags. Extra Ziploc bags are always helpful to keep things clean like your camera.

The following rules apply to all liquids, gels, and aerosols carried through security checkpoints.

  • All liquids, gels and aerosols must be in three-ounce or smaller containers. Larger containers that are half-full or toothpaste tubes rolled up are not allowed. Each container must be three ounces or smaller.
  • All liquids, gels and aerosols must be placed in a single, quart-size, Ziploc bag. Gallon size bags or bags that are not zip-top such as fold-over sandwich bags are not allowed. Each traveler can use only one, quart-size, zip-top, clear plastic bag.
  • Each traveler must remove their quart-sized plastic, zip-top bag from their carry-on and place it in a bin or on the conveyor belt for X-ray screening. X-raying separately will allow TSA security officers to more easily examine the declared items.

Packing List – Use this list to help you with your packing. As you pack, keep in mind that you will be camping 4 days/3 nights at a time. (A washer is available in Jos.)

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Paperwork

-Passport, visa, immunization record

-Credit card

-Cash (for souvenirs – Your trip leader will help you with exchange rate.)

-Plane ticket

-Itinerary with name

-Visa application (copy in each piece of luggage)

-Copy of travel health insurance

-Bible, notebook or legal pad, journal book

Medication

-Prescriptions (must be in prescription container)

-Vitamins

-Heat rash cream

-Pain/fever relief

-Imodium/Pepto Bismol

-Benadryl/Tylenol PM

Clothing

-Underwear

-Socks

-Shoes/boots

-Hat/cap

-Clothing suitable for wilderness camping

-Long-sleeve shirt/light jacket

-Flip flops

Camping gear (Bring whatever gear you wish. Tents are provided in Nigeria, and there are a limited number of sleeping bags available.)

-Sleeping bag/bedroll

-Sleeping pad

-Pillow

-Backpack

-Flashlight

-Matches

Toiletries

-Razor/shave cream

-Toothbrush/toothpaste

-Shampoo

-Soap

-Comb/brush

-Sun Screen

-Insect repellant

-ChapStick/lip balm

-Sanitation gel

-Contact lens supplies

Snacks

-Snack bars

-Gum

-Nuts, raisins, beef jerky

Miscellaneous

-Camera, batteries, power cable

-Extra pair of glasses

-Sun glasses

-Ziploc bags (to keep camera clean and to keep clothing dry in the bush)

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  1. Communication

We have a cell phone in Nigeria. You will be able to use that phone to call home. You will be able to purchase phone cards in Nigeria.

We will also have limited access to email while we are in Jos.

The Trip

  1. Departure

Your departure from LouisArmstrongAirport in New Orleans will likely be a late afternoon flight to Memphis, Detroit, or Minneapolis. From one of these airports, you will make a connection to Amsterdam and from there to Abuja, Nigeria. We have found it best to try to sleep on the trans-Atlantic flight. If possible, it is probably best not to sleep on the Amsterdam to Abuja flight since you will arrive at the Baptist Guest House in Abuja around 10 p.m. local time.

  1. Arriving in Nigeria

Remember this one sentence when arriving at the airport in Abuja: “Keep smiling and be patient.”

You will be given an entry card to fill out on the plane. Use this address on that form:

Baptist Mission

18 Old Bukuru Road

Jos, PlateauState

The form will ask the reason for your visit. Do not put missionary or mission trip. You are coming on a tourist visa so you may put tourist or visiting friends.

Upon arrival you will follow the crowd coming to an area where you will first find the immigration desk. There is a line for foreign passports. Upon reaching the desk present your passport. They will look at your visa and stamp your entry. At no time should anyone outside this desk “help” you with your passport.

After you pass this desk you will claim your luggage and pass through customs. Luggage “helpers” will appear and want to help carry your bags on little carts. You will probably be able to discourage them if you persist. However, if you need help, let them help. Don’t discuss payment with them. Just tell them your driver will pay. This is true and we will tip them and settle up later.

Customs officials may search through everything you have or they may let you pass without opening anything. This is the part where you just keep smiling and be patient. No one should ask you for money and they will eventually let you pass.

After passing customs you will be stopped one last time to show your luggage claim tickets. Be sure you have these and don’t lose them or you will have your first experience with wahalla (trouble; problems).

You will be lodging Monday evening at the Baptist Guest House in Abuja. On Tuesday morning, you will travel approximately 3½ hours to Jos.

  1. Accommodations

You will be staying either in the Baptist Guest House or in the Baptist Student Hostel. You will be provided with filtered water along with the normal luxuries of a bed and indoor bathroom.

  1. Language

The official language of Nigeria is English. This is British English with a West African flair, but you will manage with it in no time. The language widely spoken in the north of Nigeria is Hausa (house-aah).

Greetings are very important in Nigeria. We greet first and then talk. Your preparation in the U.S. should include some training in the greetings.

General rules about the vowels in Hausa:

“a” sounds like “ah” as in “father”

“e” sounds like “eh” as in “egg”

“i” sounds like “ee” as in “tiki hut”

“o” sounds like “oh” as in “hobo”

“u” sounds like “oo”

“ai” sounds like “eye”

“ei” as in “eight”

Hausa Greetings

Good Morning – Ina kwana?

Response: Very well - Lafiya

How is your tiredness? – Ina gajiya?

Response: There is no tiredness - Ba gajiya

Yaya aiki? – How is your work?

Response: Lafiya or Na gode – I am thankful

Yaya sanyi? – How is the cold weather?

Response: Lafiya

Yaya iyali? – How is your family?

Response: Lafiya

Good evening – Ina wuni?

Response: Lafiya

A string of greetings like these are exchanged each time people meet. Anything that starts with yaya can be answered lafiya. Lafiya kalau also means very very well. Learning the greetings makes a big impression.

Allah kai mu. May God carry us.

(Any blessing that starts with Allah… is answered – Amin)

Wahalla – trouble or problems

Bature – white people or people from America even if you’re not white

Allah – God

Yesu – Jesus

Chechi or iklesiya – church

Ni Krista ne. – I am a Christian.

Litaffi Mai Tsarki – Bible

Za mu yi addua. – We will pray.

Sunana ______. My name is ______.

Ban gane ba. I don’t understand.

Ba na ji Hausa. I don’t hear Hausa.

Na ji turanchi. I hear English.

Na zo daga ______. I came from ______.

Daya – 1Shidda - 6

Biyu – 2Bakwai - 7

Uku – 3Takwas - 8

Hudu – 4Tara - 9

Biyar – 5Goma – 10

Na gode (go day) – Thank you

I want to go to ______. Ina son je _____.

  1. Nigerian Customs

Men do not normally touch women in public. Women should, therefore, not extend their hand to shake unless a man extends his first. (Some men who have been educated in the US will shake hands with women.) Even married couples do not touch each other in public. Men do occasionally hold hands with men though if they are friends – so men be prepared. Single women will be proposed to repeatedly. A polite response is “I am promised” (if you are) or “I am not ready to marry.”

Not really a custom, but a very big no-no is that you should not at any time take pictures of any government buildings or any government officials like the police.

  1. Money Matters

You will need to bring cash with you to Nigeria, because traveler’s checks are not usually accepted. Since your trip leader will handle the trip expenses while you are Nigeria, you will only need money for souvenirs. The most anyone has spent for souvenirs in past trips is about $35. Since generally only $50 or $100 bills are exchanged for Nigerian currency, you may wish to arrange with your travel leader to get a smaller amount of naira for your shopping.

  1. Dress

The climate is warm to hot. Jos is mountainous and therefore cooler, but our people group lives off the plateau. Dry season is from October to April. Rainy season is from April to October. The hottest time of year is March and April. During dry season there is a lot of dust which blocks the sun at times, so the nights can be cooler. Rainy season is pleasant – from 70 to 100 degrees.

Bring a sweater, thin jacket, or long sleeve shirt. Bring shoes that are comfortable to walk in for long distances.

Because the area is heavily Muslim, we dress to avoid offending. Women should not normally wear pants or shorts. They also should not wear sleeveless tops. Dresses or skirts should be well below the knee. Men normally do not wear shorts or sleeveless tops. There are exceptions to this while at the BaptistMissionCenter or on campus at the MK school. Also if on a work detail men may be seen in shorts. Women in trousers have become a much more common sight in recent years, but not among Muslims.

The important thing is that our dress not put up barriers to our witness. Women should bring a bandana or other head scarf to wear to church and at other times. These rules for dress also apply to teenagers both boys and girls.

Military or camouflage gear should not be worn while in Nigeria.

  1. Food

When staying in Jos, you will be served familiar foods. You may also eat at a restaurant in town or cooked food in a village depending on our activities. As long as the food in a village is hot, it is safe for you to eat.

Most people will be happy if they bring some snacks that they really like to have on hand such as granola bars, raisins, or whatever.Keep in mind that there is no refrigeration in the bush, so choose snacks that will not melt. And because you will be working as a team, you should offer to share your snacks with other team members.

  1. Health Issues

Malaria– It is very important that you begin a preventive medication for malaria 2 weeks before coming to Nigeria and continue taking that for three weeks after leaving.

Our missionaries in Nigeria take chloroquine phosphate (500 mg. twice weekly). This works very well and is readily available in Nigeria. Our church may have a small supply as well.

Your physician may prescribe Doxycycline (100 mg. daily for adults) or Larium (Mefloquine) once weekly. You should be aware that some people have side affects from Larium. Another new medication is available called Malarone. While it is more expensive, it may be considered because it is very effective with few side affects.

You must take some form of medical preventive.Malaria is carried by mosquitoes. Preventing a bite is the best protection. Bring some bug spray and don’t stand around outside when the mosquitoes are out. Malaria infection is detected by a simple blood smear test. It can be easily treated. Missionaries who get malaria often treat themselves after it is confirmed that they have it. If you have a concern about malaria, ask!

Drink clean water – Drinking clean water will help you avoid typhoid (which you can still get even if you have had the injections), giardia, amoeba, and other stomach disturbances. Do not drink from the tap. Do not accept ice cubes in a restaurant. Carry filtered water with you anytime you go out.