One of the biggest questions in your mind is probably “What do I bring?” First… start with the packing list in the handbook. This is really the best guide and we have spent time putting it together. In addition, here are a couple of documents with suggestions from backpackers and previous racers.
Backpack:
A large backpack is ideal. You’ll have to carry all your stuff wherever you go. You might want to ask for one for a birthday or Christmas gift. You might also want a small carry on bag to keep valuables with you as you travel. Some Racers have chosen backpacks that can double as rolling duffel bags. This can be a good option if you can find one available for the right price.
Tent:
Each team will need a minimum of one tent for females and one for males. Team assignments will be made during or after training. Previous Racers recommend having your own personal tent. It will add weight and it will take up room. However, having a space that is only yours is very valuable at points along the trip. Remember also that a tent must fit you and your belongings comfortably. Remember this when considering how many people can fit in your tent.
We also recommend mosquito netting.
Physical Training
Get a medical check-up first to get your doctor’s okay, then practice walking with a backpack with 10 lbs, gradually increasing the weight to 60 lbs. [add 10 lbs per week] and working out to the point where you can easily climb several flights of stairs and walk a long distance without being winded.
Squats – practice without support!
I would recommend bringing a laptop especially if you are going to journal and do your blogs on it (Groups do share a lot but sometimes it gets really complicated when there are only a couple of laptops out there, especially towards the end of the trip). It saves you so much time to do your blogs on the computer and have the pics ready and on a flash drive when you get to the Internet cafe. I would assume we would have wireless maybe 5% of the time next year. A lot of times those spots are in connection cities or airports. (only a caution and I rebuke the enemy in Jesus name on this subject. 4 out of our 7 computers were stolen this year). You will need an external hard drive or flash discs, Cds or something to back up your stuff. When someone loses their computer with all of their pics on it, we need to learn from that.
Passport. You are going to almost need a completely empty passport. One suggestion is that you sometimes monitor where they stamp your pages because sometimes they just stamp anywhere on an empty page. When you need a visa they need a completely empty page. Some countries only stamp little stamps. Try and guide them. Anyways the moral of the story you need plenty of pages. You are a world traveler now.
(we recommend sending your passport to have extra pages sewn in)
Malaria Meds. I have malarone. I was told to get that one because of nightmares and going crazy on the others. I did have some side effects on malarone though. I got very sluggish and had some difficulties with my stomach/diarrhea. Needless to say they all are not cool. We were very lucky this year and only had to take them one month. Being a missionary is sometimes not the easiest. I am sure you saw that when you saw the umpteen needles injected into your arm. LOL.
Tent. I do recommend that each person has a two person tent. The only thing wrong with that is that some campgrounds charge per tent and per person so that causes a little problem with the funds. I have my own two person tent which really is a one person. If people want to tent together and help with space, I would really recommend no more than a three person tent. Teams need to talk on this issue.
Things you need.
Headlamp,
Your own cutlery (plate/bowl) spoon/knife/fork
We need to have everyone talk on books as well. There really shouldn’t be more than one copy of required reading books per team. They take up space and weight. Teams talk to each other on what books you are bringing. They get passed around like crazy.
