Missionary Care eBooks and Brochures

The folks over at MissionaryCare.com have written a wealth of articles related to issues many missionaries face.

Free eBooks (PDF and DOC)

Some of the many topics addressed in “What Missionaries Ought to Know”

Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative

Passport

On 01 June 2009, the second portion of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative will take effect.  This means that US citizens traveling to Bermuda, Canada, or Mexico by land or sea will need identification documents that prove their identity and citizenship.  A special clause refers to religious youth groups from the US and Canada, and allows border crossing with only a copy of the birth certificate.

Read the official regulation from the US Department of Homeland Security

Email Forwarding

EmailMany missionaries I know change their email addresses all too frequently.  Either they use one address on the field and another in the home country, or their email address contained a specific role (teacherinmali@yahoo.com) that has since changed, or their ISP changed and they now use the mailbox provided by their new ISP.  Such changes cause needless interruptions in communications with colleagues, partners, and supporters.  Here are some unique realities missionaries may face that could complicate their email solution.

  • Regular furlough trips
  • Changing technology and internet service providers (ISPs)
  • Corporate solutions that are difficult to use in some locations
  • Unique remote solutions that require special addresses (radio, satellite, SMS)
  • Secure email requirements

The solution is to use email forwarding.  Email sent to one address is then forwarded to the other address.  This allows you to retain one email address for life, while still being able to change with new technology, new ISPs, and moves.  There are a couple easy ways to forward email.  Here are some common methods.

  • Forwarding Service – Services like Pobox are setup to simply forward your mail.  Usually a fee is charged for this convenience.  Pobox.com costs $20/year.
  • Forward Corporate Email – If you have a corporate email server, your network administrator can forward this for you.  In some systems like Microsoft Outlook/Exchange, you may configure it to automatically forward your email to another address using rules.
  • Forward Webmail – Web-based email services like Gmail allow you to forward email to another email address.
  • Custom Domains – You can purchase your own custom domain.  Google offers this feature for $10/year for a domain with 200 email accounts.

Here are a couple examples of how email forwarding could work using Gmail, which is free and easy to use.

  • Backup – A copy of emails to johndoe@gmail.com are forwarded to johndoe.backup@gmail.com as a backup copy.
  • SMS – Emails to johndoemobile@gmail.com are forwarded to 2125551212@verizonsms.com to give him a nicer SMS-email address.
  • Job related – Emails to FirstChurchPastor@gmail.com are forwarded to johndoe@gmail.com until he retires, then to tomsmith@gmail.com.
  • Technology related – Emails to johndoe@gmail.com are forwarded to 4568qwrsdz@remoteradiomail.com, which may be required by special ISPs.

How to Add RAM to Your Computer

RAMDo you want to make your computer run faster?  One easy and affordable thing you can do to increase the performance of your computer is to increase its RAM.  Here’s how:

  1. Find your computer make and model.
  2. Find how much RAM your computer currently has.
  3. Go to www.crucial.com and select your make and model.
  4. Determine if you can increase the RAM and if so, how much and what type.
  5. Purchase the RAM from an online retailer or a physical store.
  6. Install the new RAM into your computer. (See videos below)

Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA)

ESTAThere is a new procedure that relates to non-US citizens traveling to the US under the Visa Waver Program.  Effective January 2009, visitors to the US under the Visa Waver Program must complete an online registration before traveling to the US.

“Department of Homeland Security began accepting Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) applications on August 1, 2008 ESTA is a free, automated system used to determine the eligibility of visitors to travel to the United States under the VWP.  It collects the same information as the paper I-94W form that VWP travelers currently fill out en route to the United States.  ESTA applications may be completed online at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/. ESTA applications may be submitted at any time prior to travel.  An ESTA authorization generally will be valid for up to two years. Authorizations will be valid for multiple entries into the United States.  DHS recommends that ESTA applications be submitted as soon as an applicant begins making travel plans. ESTA is now mandatory for VWP travelers who are nationals of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, the Republic of Korea, and the Slovak Republic.  Effective January 12, 2009, all VWP travelers will be required to obtain an authorization via ESTA before traveling to the United States. Learn more about ESTA on the DHS Customs and Border Protection (CBP) website.”

Click here to complete the registration

Determine if this applies to you

Learn about Financial Management

Do you need a quick guide to non-profit financial management?  If you are a ministry leader without a financial background and are looking for help to establish a bookkeeping system and financial policies, take a look at this article from CIVICUS.  CIVICUS has prepared several handy articles called toolkits and this one is titled Financial Control and Accountability. It is also available in Spanish and French. It gives a good overview of the importance of a bookkeeping system, how to create financial policies, and the role of boards, staff, and auditors.  See this page for more toolkits.

Other CIVICUS Toolkits: