It’s not always easy to download things once you are out of the country- a lot of apps require passcodes being texted to your phone number (which is an issue if you don’t get an international plan) or just being in the States. So if you’re getting ready to leave for the World Race, here’s 11 apps to take with you on your 11n11!
- Venmo & PayPal: Splitting checks at restaurants, paying for Ubers, or fundraising for new shoes for all those orphans you’re working with… these two apps come in handy whenever you need to pay someone back, or you need money from the States. I recommend getting both.
- Whatsapp: America is a bit behind on this form of communication, but the rest of the world uses it ALOT. As a team leader I have had ministry hosts and staff members use it as their main source of communication with me- especially in Africa. It’s free but you’ll want to set it up at home with your American number first.
- Uber and Grab: If you’re going to Asia you’ll want to make sure you have Grab as Uber is illegal in some countries. Uber and Grab are safer than taxis in most countries and you’ll find yourself using these apps a lot to get around.
- Google Docs & Drive: You won’t always want to wait till you have WiFi to do your Journey Markers. Making these documents available offline once you hit WiFi can be a real time saver later.
- Google Translate: You’d be surprised just how much the Gospel can be shared through this app. We recommend downloading the languages as well- so you can evangelize even when you don’t have WiFi.
- TouchNote: A great way to thank new and old supporters alike or just keep your friends and family in the loop. You may not always be able to find post cards in the countries you’re in, and local postage can be expensive and unreliable. Create your own postcards with your own photos, write your personalized messages and let TouchNote take care of the sending!
- XE currency: Just flew from Myanmar to Thailand and now Cambodia?- no problem. This app makes figuring out how much you’re actually spending super simple. You can also add more than one currency at a time, and this will keep you updated with the most current currency rates as long as you connect to WiFi once in awhile.
- Been: This one’s just for fun, and you can download it overseas. It keeps track of all the places you’ve visited and will even tell you what percentage of the world you’ve seen!
- Shazam: For those moments when you hear a song and you just have to have it! This app will let you record the song and identify it.
- Rewards apps for airlines: You will be flying a lot on the Race. Don’t miss out on miles- sign up for rewards programs with United, American, and Delta and check at the counter during check in’s to see if you can get miles.
- YouVersion or some kind of Bible App: You may not always want to bring your bulky Bible with you out on ministry, but Bible apps are great for sharing the Gospel or looking things up on the fly!
