Travel Tips for the Mission Field (and Other Occasions)
If you need to use public transportation, keep in mind mask mandates are still in effect (which is one reason why I haven’t traveled as much this year). During recent trips, I brought along a bag of Tootsie Pops. As long as one is “actively eating,” masks can be off your face. You can suck on lollipops for several minutes at a time. Another benefit is a mask cannot cover the stick coming out of your mouth. That allows extra moments to breathe easier.
Here are some more tips for these public transportation options…
1) Planes - Flying is a more attractive choice when going longer distances. However, security lines became longer after 9/11 as well as the list of things passengers cannot bring on an airliner. Check the TSA website if you’re uncertain about what you’re allowed to transport in your luggage.
Speaking of luggage, one of my biggest pet peeves is baggage fees. Nowadays, almost every American airline charges $30 or more to check a suitcase. Some such as Spirit, Frontier, and Allegiant also charge for carry-on bags. One exception to all this nickel-and-diming is Southwest Airlines. They allow passengers to check up to two suitcases for free if they don’t exceed their size and weight limitations. You can also bring a carry-on bag plus a personal item (such as a laptop) that will fit under the seat. Another nice thing about Southwest is they won’t charge an extra fee if you need to change your schedule. Airlines sometimes have compensation available if your flight is delayed or cancelled.
To avoid your luggage exceeding weight limits, always weigh them at home before heading to the airport. You may want to leave a few pounds to spare in case your airline tries fudging their scales or if you acquire extra things at your destination.
2) Trains - It’s unfortunate train travel here isn’t widely available like in Europe. Not every major American city has an Amtrak station. Surprisingly train fares in the U. S. are often higher than airfares.
Amtrak has other drawbacks. They are often not on time plus their café food is quite expensive. Eating in the dining car can be a pleasurable experience. But if you want to save money, bring along your own food, especially for longer trips. Stopovers on Amtrak are few and provide little (if any) time to leave the train to eat elsewhere or explore a city.
One thing I like about Amtrak is they have a more generous baggage policy. Except in selected cities, passengers are allowed to check two bags for free (two more can be checked for $20 each) plus bring two carry-ons and two personal items. So if you need to transport a bunch of stuff to your destination, Amtrak might be your best option.
3) Buses - Those of you who frequently use Greyhound can probably recall times you said, “I’m never riding the bus again!” Long bus rides can wear a person out. Fortunately, Greyhound buses are equipped with Wi-Fi (with limited bandwidth) and power outlets. Still, I try to avoid overnight trips whenever possible. Usually, I don’t sleep well in moving vehicles.
Be aware that Greyhound buses have overhead bins smaller than those on trains and planes. Many carry-on bags won’t fit in there. Therefore, I’ve used a gym bag and packed some of my stuff into a backpack that fits inside. Then after boarding the bus, I remove the backpack before placing that and the gym bag above my seat. That way, more stuff will fit in there without getting slapped with an extra baggage fee.
Like the airlines, Greyhound has become more restrictive regarding luggage. They now allow just one free checked bag under 50 pounds and one carry-on under 25 pounds. Two extra bags may be checked for $20 each. Megabus has a similar policy but requires passengers to buy another ticket if they travel with an extra suitcase. Although Megabus fares are often cheaper than Greyhound, passengers sometimes have to wait outside before boarding. That can be uncomfortable in cold weather or if it’s raining.
4) Craigslist - People offering rides or looking for them post ads in their “rideshare” section. During the mid-2010s, I traveled from western Iowa to Minneapolis three times via Craigslist rides. The drivers charged me less than if I had taken the bus. (While in Germany, I used a similar service called Mitfahrzentrale.) Before agreeing to ride with someone you don’t know, find out in advance if they smoke, have room for your luggage, how many pitstops they allow, and if they will drop you off at a specific destination.
For any trip, it is wise to pack lightly and avoid bringing things that aren’t needed. Once I flew from Minneapolis to Chicago with other evangelists for a weekend outreach. The pastor organizing the trip asked us to use only a carry-on bag so we wouldn’t have to wait for stuff in the baggage claim area. Because it was summertime, I got along fine using a backpack containing necessary toiletries and very light clothing. Another benefit to using just a carry-on bag is that it lessens the possibility of lost luggage.
When leaving your home country, you may need to bring a voltage adapter kit if you plan to use electronic devices. During my time in Germany, I accidentally used a battery charger from home but forgot to connect the voltage converter in-between the plug-in adapters. My battery charger became permanently damaged.
One of the worst situations you can face is going to the bathroom somewhere and discovering no toilet paper available. That has happened to me a few times. I’m now prepared for such emergencies and always pack a roll of toilet paper in my luggage.
Regardless of how you travel, look for opportunities to share the gospel with fellow passengers. Sightseeing can be fun but shouldn’t be a distraction from the real reason God may be sending you somewhere.
“Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.” - 2 Timothy 4:2
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