25 - The Pink Letter

Kia ora!

Hey!  I know you’ll soon be reading the Prep Manual from cover to cover but I’m sure you’re also secretly wondering what it’s like to be female on a Surge mish.  So here it is – the inside info on how to survive as a missionary chick.

Please read the following tips carefully.  They’re not hard and fast ‘rules’ but taking this advice can make your mission experience a lot less stressful.

One of the main things that most girls want to know, is, how to cope with getting their period while far, far away from hot water, washing machines, and comfy beds. 

On previous trips, a couple of girls have used the pill so they didn’t get their period at all while overseas.  This is totally up to you.  Talk with your doctor about the different options available if you’re interested.  Some types need to be trialed first, so be sure to visit your doctor sooner rather than later. 

If you are affected by PMS/PMT and know that you're likely to be in pain for a day or two, see your doctor about the best medication for you – Panadol is okay but there are stronger alternatives that you might like to consider.  Don't forget to let your doctor know about your malaria (and any other) medication – that’s why it’s better to see your doctor about this rather than buy an ‘across the counter’ medication.

If you do get serious PMS etc, it’s very important that you let your female leader know if you're in pain, or if you’re feeling extra emotional, grumpy or tired. It's better to be honest than confuse your leader by bursting into tears unexpectedly.

Take more tampons/pads/liners than you think you'll need while you're overseas – even if you can buy them when you're there, it's much simpler and way more discrete to have them with you rather than have your whole team make a stop for you!  Your body may also react in unusual ways to different temperatures and foods, so take enough for two cycles even if you’re only due once.  If it’s safe for you, tampons are better than pads on mission as they take up less room and are more hygienic to use when hot water’s lacking.

Take heaps of very thin liners (like the ‘Barely There’ ones) with you – they make you feel a little bit cleaner, and are perfect for days when a shower is just not going to happen!  They take up very little space and come highly recommended by girls who have been before.

Take lots of small sealable plastic bags (eg Gladbags) to put used tampons/pads into.  You may also need to do this with toilet paper at times when you have to 'go bush' rather than a long drop or public toilet. You can dispose of these reasonably regularly.  Take a non-see through bag to keep in your daypack to put these small bags into.

You’ve probably heard at least one less-than-savoury 'toilet story' but don't stress – it really isn’t as bad as it sounds!  Just always carry a plastic bag and some toilet paper with you (and some emergency supplies in case you're 'early') and most crises will be avoided.  The girls on the team always look out for one another and 'stand guard' in those ‘but where’s the door?’ situations – great for bonding!  Everything’s going to be OKAY!

You need to take clothes-washing soap or liquid, as in most situations you'll be washing your clothes by hand, in buckets or a river.  Soap powder is okay but it can be difficult to rinse out properly in cold water and this is important to avoid skin irritation. It also tends to be not as good when there is a very small amount of water available.  My personal recommendation is to take laundry soap – it's cheap, it gets out the dirt and it rinses out easily.  You can get Sard Wondersoap or something similar from most supermarkets.  Just bring a couple of bars in two plastic bags.  If you do choose to bring powder, a small H2Go bottle is a good way to store it. 

As far as showering goes... there's often a limited water supply, so you may like to take a 2-in-1 shampoo/conditioner.  Another trick is to bring a good-quality shampoo and a leave-in conditioner. Shower gel is easier to transport than soap, and less messy.  I strongly advise you to bring a loofah etc if you're going to India or Tanzania as that dust just doesn't come off easily.  Or buy 'exfoliating gloves' from supermarkets or the $2 Shop – they save space, dry quickly, and work! 

Bring a small (SMALL!) mirror, coz it's amazing how you'll miss being able to check how your face is looking if you don't.  Some girls like to bring some makeup for days off/coming back to NZ etc but don't go overboard and keep it natural-looking. 

One last thing!  In the nations we're going to, women play a far more submissive role than in NZ, and it’s important to be aware of the way you present yourself to avoid needless offence.  If you have long hair, you’ll usually need to wear it neatly tied back.  The ‘trendy-messy-look’ just doesn’t go down well!  Wearing your hair out can be seen to mean that you're basically a ‘loose woman’ and open to propositions. This is especially true in India but also applies to the other nations to a lesser degree, so stock up on hair ties and bobby pins.  If you want to take extras to give away, this is a great way to bond with the local women and girls (but don’t bother if you’re on the Tanzania team; their hair isn’t the type that works well with hair ties!).

I hope this helps.  Some of it may seem a little daunting but don't let it worry you.  We have sent many, many girls to the nations over the years, and they come back with funny stories of interesting experiences, but no major emotional scars.

Bless you heaps, and don’t be shy if you’d like to ask more about anything mentioned in this letter.  I’m very happy to help and no question is too big or too small.  You can email me directly at info@globaltask.org

See you soon, missionary chick!

Julie Saunders

Global Task Leadership Team