We are so happy you are considering a trip to Kigoma. Our ministry has been built on involvement of friends, supporters, and interested people. Since our earliest days of being missionaries we have always had guest facilities. We have been blessed to have had hundreds of guests over the years.

Currently we have 3 guest houses and a 4th under construction. They are built to American standards. Three of them we call the “Hampton Inn” and one “Budget 8”. We are ready for you.

We have learned much about having guests. One thing we learned is that it should be a spiritual experience. Pray about making the trip. Ask the Lord to confirm to you His will concerning the trip and that the trip will be used by Him in your life. And then use your experience to influence and help others. We want the trip to be more than an African adventure or Safari. Let this mission trip draw you closer to the Lord Jesus. Being spiritually prepared is everything.

Many times people are worried that they don’t know if they can make a meaningful contribution to the ministry. Our ministry is large and has many facets. We have never had a guest that could not be plugged into the work in a meaningful way. If you have willing hands and a willing heart, you will be significantly used. We ask our guests to write a one page bio to introduce themselves and we use that as a springboard to make your experience meaningful.

We look forward to having you visit and work with us. An important first step is to get on our calendar. We must confirm your dates. Ordinarily it take more than six months to prepare to make the trip out to visit JOY. Making sure the dates will work is the vital first step, as we have other guests booking trips, travel, and furloughs.

The rest of this guide will give you tons of specifics. We hope the info will be helpful. Don’t let the amount of details scare you away. We present this info to make things easier for you.

Here are some general principles and hints for you. We usually do not have a rigid plan for visitors. We will attempt to find out your interests, skills, and experience and fit you into some aspect of the work where you can make a contribution. The work in Africa is constantly changing and expanding. New projects are being started and existing projects are being expanded. We are convinced that every willing person can make a meaningful contribution to God’s work. How can you plan to be an effective volunteer and a good guest? Here are some suggestions:

Be a learner: You will be seeing new things, meeting new people, and trying to understand cultural differences. You may be puzzled or offended by some things. An open mind and spirit will prepare you to receive the maximum benefit from your mission trip. Feel free to discuss anything and everything with your missionary hosts. They will be happy to interact with you.

Be flexible: You will need to adapt your skills and talents to a new and different situation. A willing spirit is all that you need. You will need to fit into the work of the mission and the needs of the moment. Don’t expect everything to be planned in advance for you. Come expecting to join the mission family for the time you are there and just ‘fit in’. Local culture must be considered, for example, you may find that attitudes toward the issue of ‘time’ are quite different in Africa than in the U.S.A. Flexibility will smooth the way for effectiveness.

Be prepared: Make sure you can take care of your own unique needs. Such things as medicines and other special items may not be available. Don’t put all your medicines in one bag and some that can packed in your carry on. Communications can be difficult. Especially as you travel. Leave all your credit card information with a responsible person in the USA so if your wallet is stolen you can make one telephone call and get everything put on hold.

Be realistic: Africa is not the USA. You will have a good measure of down time. Bring along that book you have been meaning to read. Be prepared to fill some hours of your time on your own. The missionaries will need to tend to work that is unrelated to your trip. Be understanding of the fact that while this is a very special trip for you, it is just life for the missionaries.

Know what you can realistically expect: You will have a clean bed, good food, and a healthful environment. Your missionary hosts will work hard to make sure you are enjoying yourself. If an emergency arises, the full efforts of Joy in the Harvest will be at your disposal. Expect God to be at work in your life in a special way during this trip. Be prepared to have your heart broken with what you see and experience.

Realize you are more than a tourist: You are representing Christ the King. Come prepared to share with an African congregation a 3 to 5 minute testimony about what Christ means to you. We are glad you are coming! We will pray and work for this trip to be a wonderful experience in your life. May God bless you as you seek to learn, serve, and worship in Africa.