There are many things to consider when preparing for cross-cultural missions, both spiritually and practically. We hope to provide you with as much information as possible to aid you in your preparations to come to Kenya, but as a rule it is very important that you work with your home church, sending organization (if applicable) in preparing for your jouney. Consult your government’s travel site for updated information about travel pertaining to your home country. Also, call your banks and credit card provider to find out what you need to know about money abroad, ensure all of your critical documents are up-to-date (passport, will, licences etc) and be aware of the culture you are journeying into.
We encourage anyone coming to serve at PACE to prayerfully study what it means to serve in a cross-cultural context. The way in which we serve is an extension of our culture, and so it is hard to serve someone if you don’t understand them. We recommend the books Cross Cultural Servanthood by Dr. Duane Elmer and The Friendship Gap by Tim Stafford to get your started. We also recommend taking a course on spiritual gifts such as Network and a course on world missions such as Perspectives. Learn as much as you can about Kenyan culture, and learning even the basics of Kiswahili before you come will benefit you greatly. Use the links to the left to navigate, or go back to the previous section by clicking the “Go back” link.
Visitor Visa
• You should enter the country with the Visitor/Tourist Visa which you should get via the e-visa portal at https://fns.immigration.go.ke/ Extended Volunteer Stays
• Those that are coming for more than the two-week visitation, you must be prepared to pay $150 for each month or portion thereof that you plan to stay in Kenya.
• That $150 per month is for a Special Pass as a religious worker. Within the first two weeks of your stay, we will take you to Immigration to apply for and pay for the Special Pass.
Please visit the following websites for information about hospitals in Kenya as well as the health considerations you need to make before comming to Kenya. Check with your doctor for inforation on the vaccines you currently have. You may need to visit a travel health clinic in your area to obtain the appropriate vaccines.
•http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/destinationKenya.aspx
•http://www.travmed.com/guide/country.php?c=Kenya
Generally, the following vaccinations are recommended:
• Routine immunizations – measles, tetanus, and polio vaccines should be updated.
• Yellow fever
• Hepatitis A & B: Recommended for all travelers
• Meningitis
• Polio
• Typhoid: Recommended for all travelers
• Rabies: recommended for long term missionaries due to wild dogs in our rural area
A high quality, well equipped private hosptial is located in Nyahururu and can provide for nearly all of your medical needs while you are in Kenya. Serious health concerns will be referred to Kenyatta hospital or Nairobi hospital in Nairobi. If you are on any medication, be sure to bring more than enough for the duration of your stay. Kenya has affordable UK brands for most over the counter medication such as ibuprophen, acetomenaphine, allergy medication. Kenya has also recently made high quality malaria medication easy to access and affordable for all.
You may also need to purchase international health insurance before coming to Kenya. Check with your insurance provider to see if you are covered internationally and for your mamximum covered length of stay. In Canada, TIC insurance provides affordable travel health insurance for those who do not have it. In the US, visit this website for information: /http://www.missionaryhealth.net Contact your preferred travel agent for more options. Your best bet is to shop around before making a descision, since every company offers different rates and services.
Make sure that you keep your personal documentations such as your last will and testemant up to date in case of an emergency.
Make sure that you register with your country’s embassy in Kenya – if possible, before you leave your home country. Some countries allow you to do this online, while others may require you to call your country’s embassy in Kenya when you arrive. Check with your nearest state/provincial government representative for detailed and current information about this. Also please visit our section on VISAS.