Ministry Dress Code
Girls need to have long skirts with a non revealing shirt.
Guys need to have nice khaki pants or nice jeans (no holes, rips, or ragged edges) with a nice polo shirt or a button down shirt. For Church services you are NOT ALLOWED to wear jeans and you MUST wear a button down shirt.
Swazis are very clean people and they take pride in their appearance, especially for Sunday church. We have had many teams in the past who come looking very tourist, wearing t-shirts and torn jeans and we are trying to stay away from that look. We have even had some Swazis in the past ask if Americans wash themselves regularly. So please bring nice clothes and look presentable while ministering to the Swazis, we don’t want them thinking we are dirty.
**You can wear knee length shorts and t-shirts on your off days and while around the house.
Please email us at [email protected] if you have any more specific questions.
So quick question on that… Are we wearing skirts everyday except on our days off?
Is it still chilly there is september? Do we need long sleeves?
What about shoes?
What about PJ’s?
Also I was wondering if long shirts means mid-calf to ankle length only, is knee-length okay?
And where are we sleeping cause I know it said tent possibly?
and can we wear shorts to training camp?
I have heard that it is chilly in the morning… It is actually going to be spring/summer while we are there. I also hear that it is rainy season… stink!
*ok, what about electricity? should i leave my straitener at home? haha! i am serious though
Brooke- In my experience Africa can be quite chilly at times. I would suggest bringing a few things to keep you warm.
Erica- Chacos are great shoes but they can be a bit expensive. I would imagine that you will be doing a good deal of walking so I would get some shoes that are comfy and that will last. I just bought some durable Sanuk flip-flops (which are sooo comfy) so that may be something to look into as well.
As far as PJ’s anything comfy but something modest so you can wear it around ya know?! =)
Thanks. Also, I was wondering about the weather but see several girls have already addressed that question?
As far as electrical beauty products goes, lol, I personally wasn’t going to bring any of them. But, I guess if everyone else is then I’ll jump on the bandwagon.
I E-MAILED THE OFFICE AND THIS IS WHAT I GOT IN REPLY.
“I will do my best to answer your questions! However, I want you to know that because trips are always somewhat unpredictable, my answers may not be completely accurate.
I think it is always best to bring some layers with you. It could be cool or breezy at night, so its never a bad idea. However, 1 long sleeve shirt and 1 sweatshirt or jacket would be enough. As for electricity and shower situations, I have no idea what you’ll face. Even in a home or living situation with electricity, it may not be reliable. I would absolutely discourage anything like electric alarm clocks, hairdryers or curling irons. If you do have some electricity available, you’ll have to share it with the whole team, so don’t count on it! As for showers, I know you’ll have an opportunity to get clean, but I don’t know what that will look like. You may have running water; you may only have bucket showers. Unfortunately, I don’t have much more information. But this is adventure! ”
So…computers or no computers?
well you all defintely have a lot of questions, and brooke emailed me asking to give advice (ill try). i think the best thing i can tell all of you is keep it simple,and bring clothes you feel comfortable in and like wearing. its inevitable that we all are going to overpack, but i guaruntee you will quickly realize how little you need. we will probably be wearing skirts most days, and knee length is fine. knee length shorts are also good. bring whatever you want to sleep in, but i suggest comfy shorts to hang out in. as far as “warm clothes”, bring a sweatshirt and maybe a long sleeve shirt if you get cold easily.
now for hair dryers/straighteners….not necessary, but i know sometimes its nice to have. if you really want to bring it and have room for it, go for it; just know you might not be able to use it (and if you are it will probably by only a few times).
i hope that provides some answers and ill try to answer any more questions if you want
Thanks so much pamela that was a big help.
I have one more question that goes along with Lauras about the computers. I know were supposed to blog while were over there so do we need to bring a lap top if we have one or not. sorry and thank you again for being so helpful!
That helped so much Pamela! Now I feel like I know a little more of what and how to pack. I appreciate it a lot!
Hello my friends! I hope you all are doing well! Quick question, I have just about finished packing and I feel like I have a lot. I have two suitcases and a carry-on, anyone else have that much? Also, what are you guys bringing to wear for church? I’m assuming we can wear our skirts but what kind of tops? You guys are all awesome! I’m praying for you all!
Pamela thank you so much!!
And Carly I’m bringing one big suitcase a carry-on then like a messenger bag. For Church, I’m going to wear skirts and then some nice but plain tops,and a few light spring sweaters, nothing complicated but still nice.
What kind of shoes are you guys taking and how many pairs? And a weird question. Does anyone else have a nose ring? Im wondering if I can keep it or need to take it out
Oh, and does anyone care if I just dont match for 3 months?
hey girls,
shoes- sandals (definitely) and like running shoes. and if you have room and want to bring like flats or something then go for it.
again i will say, keep it simple. i traveled for 11 months with one travel backpack (which included my tent, sleeping bag, and sleeping mat), and it only weighed an average of 35lbs…and I survived.
here is a sample list of what clothes i will probably pack:
: 2-3 skirts
: 2 pairs of knee length shorts
: 1 pair athletic/lounge around shorts
: 7-8 t-shirts
: 1 sweater, 1 sweatshirt
: pajamas (tshirt and shorts)
(if you get cold easily, bring pants)
I hope this helps in some way!!!
All of these questions/answers are really helpful! Thanks so much! Just one thing…will we need to bring sleeping bags or bed sheets? And just to clarify, will we be able to wear knee-length skirts during ministry? Or only ankle-length? Thanks again!
I don’t own any sandals, so i’m bring two pair of flip flops(friend told me thats what she wore why she was there and it was fine). 2 pairs of tennis shoes, and flats.
And Laura from what I’ve been told as long as you don’t show your knees any length is fine for you skirts.
oo and are we still suposta be bringing black t-shirts for drama like it says in the handbook???
Thank you! I’m still wondering about bringing my computer or not…Who’s excited!?
you can e-mail the office, or one of our leaders and ask them. and i’m totally excited!!
Oh no guys…I think I’m WAY overpacking, but i know i need all that heavy stuff! I want to be clean and you need shampoo for that!
Hey guys, so I was looking up the previous missions teams’ posts on Swaziland Specific Dress Code and it was said that at training camp they said skirts must be mid-calf or longer, the longer the better. Their post is at http://09sw0529rl1.myadventures.org/?filename=dress-code
And also I don’t know if we’re staying in the same house their team of girls did, but one of the comments said they have a washer and dryer.
hey girls,
so i am in the health care field and so im a little crazy about meds haha, and my parents just got back from a month in africa, anyways back to this whole meds thing, i have packed more then enough stuff for “just in case” and such…i have anti-diareal pills, anti-nausea pills (over the counter and script) allgery stuff, cold stuff and lots of other stuff bandaids you name it i got it! i also am packing waayy too many clothes and i know it but i have to be prepared, so im bringing jeans and capris, a long dress and a longer skirt. and lots of t shirts. my shoes are tennis shoes and crocs (which are made in colorado near my home town) and a pair of flip flops. with all of this stuff i still feel like im missing something if any of ya’ll can think of anything please let me know 🙂
Girls, I am so excited! One short week from today and we will be meeting!
Last night I actually got to meet a couple that were missionaries there for 3 years, and the husband grew up there! they told me so much about the culture and how everything is done.
*If you talk loud, they will know you are an American. You have to practically whisper to not be considered loud!
*Tons of people wear t-shirts with their skirts.
*Everything is done with your right hand.
*Don’t be surprised if you see someone hiding behind a bush or something… They are using the facilities. LOL! I thought that was kinda funny
*Don’t look men in the eyes or people you don’t know. look just above or below them.
*Only hug women and little children. No men especially, and no boys like 8 and above.
*Don’t walk out after dark.
There is more but I hope this helps! Oh, we should have places to purchase any needed items or whatever and they said on one of our days off we should totally go to a game park!
**Mollie, you sound prepared! Nothin for me to stress about if i accidentally forget anything 🙂
So I got some pretty helfpful advice I thought I’d share.. The pharmacist I was speaking to said there are three things I should bring to Africa.
A z-pack -which is (I guess) broad spectrum antibiotics)…
then over the counter stuff being:
Emergen-C (cuz most everyone gets travelers diarrhea and it can throw off your electrolyte balances and emergen-c is the best for helping with that) and
Extra strength pepto bismol. (it comes in capsules and there are 40 in each bottle. He said take those four times a day for ten days and you’ll kill anything that may be making your lower GI sick. 🙂
But hopefully none of will get sick anyways!