Brigada

Overseas missions travel is becoming increasingly more dangerous. Just yesterday, a personal friend of mine watched as thieves duct-taped the mouth of his wife in his own home. A handful of thieves took whatever they wanted, then drove off in the missionary’s car. Traveler kidnappings, illegal detentions, carjackings, and home invasions increased 300 percent just [...]

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Here is an excellent site full of useful information about electronics and communications, especially helpful for those who travel. http://kropla.com/index.html

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[Note I said "herding" not "hurting" :-) ] Truly, this is a heartbeat item, as is evidenced by the email I recently received from a faithful Brigada participant from Taiwan, who wrote, ” In my experience… when a small child has jet lag… EVERYONE has jet lag… no matter how much I *believe* that my [...]

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Maybe this seems like overkill, but, for malaria-infested areas, there’s something deeply secure about knowing that wherever you land to sleep, you’re covered. I recommend taking along something like the Epco Tropicscreen II. (Google it and the Campmor.com version will probably come up in the top 5 for about $70. Worth every penny of it. [...]

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Read the fine print on the AC Adaptor for your camcorder, laptop and/or digital camera. Odds are, if it’s less than 5 years old, you really don’t need an adaptor/transformer for it. (It’ll probably say something like 110-240V.) Just get a “tip adaptor” to change the shape of the plug so it’ll properly plug in [...]

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If you’re unsure about relying on cell coverage for any reason, for dangerous or “out back” areas, see Telestial. (See link above.) They might not be the cheapest, but they know their stuff. Again, the cost is prohibitive … unless you’re about to be kidnapped and you need to get a call out. Then the [...]

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If you’re not sure there will be good connectivity in your area and you simply *must* remain connected, consider a Thrane Sat Modem or its equivalent. Something like the Thrane Explorer 500 (via the BGAN network) shouldn’t set you back more than $115/week. Granted, that’s too much for the typical instant messaging with your kids, [...]

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Make a checklist. Take it with you on trip so you can add things as you “miss” them. Prioritize them according to a scale where 1 is “imperative” and 5 is “luxury”. When you pack, try to always stay within one checked bag, one carry-on. Go light!

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This new generation of rolling carry-ons and rolling suitcases is the berries. What a back-saver. Find the lightest, most durable stuff you can find. I like the ThinkPad Vertical Roller Case (model #40Y7384) but that’s probably just because I’m a Thinkpad guy. Still, they’ve thought of everything on this briefcase: gel padding, vertical “upright” design, [...]

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I’ve been carrying the Bota “Outback” for some time now… http://store.botaofboulder.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=BOB&Product_Code=outbackSystem&Category_Code=FS But pick your favorite. I like this one because it has the built-in lexan guard over the top, so you don’t have to suck on a dirty “straw”. Because you can “squeeze” water out, you can also use the Outback to filter a glass [...]

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Write everything down. Get in the habit of making good notes. The notebook has to be thin enough to stick in your shirt pocket or hip pocket, so you always have it with you. Do a section for finances. Write down every expense, make note of every currency exchange, including the commission and the exchange [...]

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Desperate people do desperate things. Until the entire world is completely satisfied with every basic human need, you and your belongings will still be a target. Keep your credit cards & your cash in there.

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I realize this might or might not be your style. But at least consider it. Get breathable cotton, with 15 or more pockets. It becomes a walking, incognito extra carry-on. On one occasion recently, a cultural “insider” had said he could only take 2 people with him into a Muslim area. I volunteered to stay [...]

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