Frequently Asked Questions
What part of this ministry can I serve if I come to Nigeria? That is really up to you and the Lord's leading. Most people have a sense of an area they are drawn to--by their own background, experience and/or education. But city ministries does not make "assignments." We are here to help you in whatever way you would like. You are free to come and explore our ministry programs firsthand and see where you feel you might like to serve.
What do I need to come visit? Prayer, a sponsoring organization--such as your church or a missions sending agency--to help arrange lodging, a letter of invitation (which we provide for you), a valid passport, a visa which fits your planned length of stay and purpose (using a visa processing service), a plane ticket, and enough financial support to cover basic living expenses while here ($20-50 per day, depending on a variety of factors.)
When can I come? Usually anytime of year that best fits your schedule, but the process often takes 6 months to a year from when you decide you want to actually go.
Can I drink the water there? You will ONLY drink bottled/filtered water or bottles/cans/containers of juice, coke, etc. There is plenty of filtered water available, which you will use for brushing your teeth, cooking, etc.
How large is the city of Jos? Estimates range form 1 to 2 million, including surrounding areas.
How long does it take to travel to Nigeria? It takes about 8 hours to fly from New York to Amsterdam, Frankfurt or London, where you'll have a layover (the biggest variable) and then 6 hours to fly to Abuja (You should not fly to Kano or Lagos in Nigeria). Visiting teams will usually overnight in Abuja either on the way in or out. On the trip from Abuja to Jos (about 3 ½ hours), everyone will need to have good sunglasses, lip balm, water, snacks (If you want good ones!), with them in the car. It is very hard to get good snacks in Nigeria, so everyone should bring their own granola, jerky, etc. for the whole time here. Everyone should have a good water bottle, and keep it with them everywhere they go.
How many days is the minimum for a trip? Teams can do a trip in 10 days, although 2 full weeks is better. Longer and even shorter trips are also possible.
What will the weather be like? It depends on the time of year. Generally the weather will be warm. Highs will be from 70s to low 90s, but cooling down at night to 60s (Jos is at about 4,200 feet). Kano and Abuja are usually pretty hot. Dry season runs from October to April and is usually warmer. Rainy season runs from April to October and is usually cooler, so bring a raincoat and/or umbrella.
What kind of clothes can we wear? Men wear pants and only wear shorts if playing sports or in the privacy of the room/house. We usually wear Khaki pants and golf type or button down shirts. Women wear only skirts or dresses with the hemline well below the knee. Young girls can get away with jeans. (All the teens around here wear jeans). Young girls should bring a few dresses or skirts for church and some of the outings. When ministering in any church or in most ministries, women wear head coverings. Bring a few scarves to use as head coverings. During the dry season it is especially dusty and it turns clothes brown, so don't bring anything white that you would be sad to see stained. Sunglasses and sunscreen are very important because we are not far from the equator. Bring swimsuits as you may go to a place where you can swim.
Will we be able to wash laundry while in Jos? You can either do laundry at the missionary’s house or they can hire someone to come and do it. Most guesthouses will do it for a small charge.
Can we bring 110-volt appliances? The standard voltage here is 220. Some mission houses have 110 wiring or a transformer so you can re-charge batteries, etc.
Do we need to bring bedding, towels, etc? That is up to the missionaries you are visiting. One good towel is usually a good idea
Where will we stay? Again, this is up to the missionary. However, you will probably stay in a missionary run guesthouse or apartment in Jos not far from the missionary house. You will have beds, running water and the rooms will be clean. Sometimes the water may not come out fast, but you should have hot water. Bring flashlights because the electricity can go out any time. If you can get mosquito nets you may want to bring them, but they are not necessary.
Are there lots of mosquitoes, problems with malaria, etc.? There are mosquitoes. Bring nets (optional) and strong repellent. You will be taking an anti-malarial pills, so you should not worry about malaria.
What kinds of things should we bring in addition to our own personal things? Ask the missionary what kinds of things they need. You can be a huge blessing by bringing things out for them and the people they serve. You can also ask the church folks to donate things like small used children's toys, candy, educational software and good used clothes which you can put around heavy or fragile things. These types of things are great to give out at many of the local ministries. (You can always donate extra to your local Good Will if too much comes in.) You can also ask for used laptops. They are great here because they can be used in 110 or 220 and they do not need a monitor or UPS. Also: good blank computer disks, Christian music CDs, any kind of DVDs (We are all entertainment-starved and the main source is watching videos), American candy bars, or anything else you can think of. The main thing is that you are bringing yourselves!!!
Can children come? Bringing children is fine but we recommend that they come with their parents. We have had several kids about 10 year olds come out and they did great. It is a great experience for any age - use judgment about certain situations.
What about the use of credit cards in Nigeria, is it advisable or not?
Don't use them in the country – they should be locked away once you get here.
What are some other ideas that might help us on our trip?
Crafts: Come prepared to buy lots of gifts for family, friends and your supporters made by our orphans and widows. This will greatly help support City Ministries and our people who made them! Gifts and crafts are available at the Jos Gidan Bege. Also, please consider taking home a bag of these gifts to sell to people back in the U.S. We need to develop a system whereby these items are sold to folks back home! Prayer Partner Update: Consider sending a letter out to the congregation telling them of the trip and inviting them to partner with you. They will thus be with you in spirit and you will be more effective in your ministry. Send the letter out through a mass email to every church member, make a list of those who respond and then try to e-mail before you go with requests, as well as every few days from the field. You can perhaps choose a point person at home who will forward your requests to the whole list.
Sign up sheet for more involvement: Get the church involved by having a sign-up sheet for things you want to bring along: sports equipment, arts/crafts supplies, clothes, school supplies, money donations, etc, as well as things they have but perhaps no longer use.
