Mission Preparation and Luggage

Question: My grandson is going to Ghana for 2 years on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His mother wants to send daily vitamins, probiotics, Zpack, ivermectin, etc., should he get sick. Can he have a separate medication bag that he can carry on the plane in addition to his carry-on luggage and personal item? For customs and security checks, would it be better to put these things in his large suitcases or carry them in a separate bag?

Answer: A separate "medical bag" is unlikely to be allowed as an extra free carry-on for these items, and carrying large quantities of prescription antibiotics and antiparasitics requires careful handling for international customs and airline travel.

LDS missionaries can travel with two large bags (50 lbs each), a carry-on, and a personal item (like an over-the-shoulder bag).

1. The "Extra Bag" Rule for Airlines

Airlines exempt medical bags from carry-on limits only for necessary medical equipment or life-sustaining daily supplies (such as CPAP machines, breast pumps, dialysis equipment, or daily insulin/epinephrine).

• Standard vitamins, supplements, and "just-in-case" prescription packs (like azithromycin or ivermectin) do not qualify for a third free carry-on bag.

• Gate agents will count that bag toward his standard allowance (one carry-on bag + one personal item).

• Everything he carries into the cabin must fit inside his standard carry-on suitcase and backpack/personal item.

2. Carry-On vs. Checked Baggage for Customs & Security

Category	Where to Pack	Why & Important Rules
Prescription Medications (Z-Pak, Ivermectin, Inhalers, etc.)	Carry-On / Personal Item	• Checked bags can get lost, delayed, or exposed to extreme cargo temperatures. • Crucial: Must remain in their original pharmacy-labeled bottles with his name printed on them matching his passport. Loose pills in baggies or pill planners invite immediate scrutiny or confiscation at customs. • Bring a printed doctor’s note listing the diagnosis, medication, and dosage.
Vitamins & Probiotics (Daily multivitamins, digestive aids)	Checked Luggage	• Two years' worth of vitamins takes up massive volume and weight. • Keep them sealed in factory bottles where possible. • Ghana's climate is hot and humid; gelatin capsules and heat-sensitive probiotics degrade quickly. Shelf-stable tablets or blister packs travel best.

3. Critical Considerations for Ghana & LDS Missions

• Mission Medical Advisors Handle Prescriptions: Every mission (including those in Ghana—Accra, Cape Coast, Kumasi, etc.) has assigned mission medical coordinators and Area Medical Advisors. They have established protocols and local clinics to diagnose and treat illnesses with local first-line medications (malaria treatments, antibiotics for travelers' diarrhea, etc.). Self-medicating with broad-spectrum antibiotics or antiparasitics without consulting the mission doctor is discouraged and can be dangerous if the actual illness is malaria or dengue.

• Malaria Prophylaxis: If he is going to Ghana, malaria prevention (such as Doxycycline, Atovaquone-Proguanil/Malarone) is mandatory and prescribed specifically through his pre-mission medical clearance. That should stay with him in his carry-on.

• Customs Restrictions: Arriving at Kotoka International Airport (Accra) with bulk quantities of loose prescription antibiotics or antiparasitics without a clear doctor's order can look like unauthorized importation. Carrying a personal 1-to-2 week supply with clear pharmacy labels is fine; carrying bulk emergency medications for two years is not recommended.

Recommendation: Pack any personal prescription medications and a small, basic travel first-aid kit (pepto, blister pads, pain reliever) in his personal backpack. Put a 3- to 6-month supply of daily vitamins into his large checked suitcases. For major illnesses in Ghana, he will coordinate directly with the mission medical team, who have direct access to local pharmacies and approved clinics.

Sources: 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025, April 23). Malaria. In CDC yellow book: Health information for international travel. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.cdc.gov/yellow-book/hcp/travel-associated-infections-diseases/malaria.html

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (n.d.). Dress and appearance: Missionary standards. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/callings/missionary/dress-and-appearance

Transportation Security Administration. (n.d.). Liquid medications and special medical screening. U.S. Department of Homeland Security. https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/items/liquid-medications

Universe Staff. (2016, April 26). Finding an alternative backpack for missionaries. The Daily Universe. https://universe.byu.edu/2016/04/26/finding-an-alternative-backpack-for-missionaries1/

Backpacks or Fanny Packs

Question: Do missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) wear fanny packs or backpacks when proselyting in Ghana? 

Answer: The short answer is neither for daily proselyting.

Official Church missionary dress and grooming standards state: "Backpacks may be used for luggage but not for daily missionary activities". Standard fanny packs are also generally avoided because missionary guidelines require bags to look professional, conservative, and business-like.

LDS missionaries proselytizing in Ghana

How bags actually work for missionaries serving in Ghana:

1. What They Actually Carry: Crossbody / Shoulder Bags

Instead of a backpack, missionaries carry a durable, dark-colored shoulder bag or crossbody messenger bag.

• Why not backpacks?

  • Professionalism: Backpacks wrinkle white dress shirts and wear down suit coats/shoulders.

  • Security & Pickpocketing: In busy, crowded markets, bus terminals, or tro-tro stations in Accra or Kumasi, backpacks on your back are vulnerable to being unzipped or slashed without noticing. A shoulder/crossbody bag can easily be pulled under the arm or in front of the body where hands can rest on it.

  • Heat: A backpack creates a massive sweat patch on the back of a white shirt in Ghana's intense heat and humidity.

2. What About Fanny Packs / Waist Packs?

• Visible fanny packs are not worn with proselyting clothes because they don't fit the standard missionary dress code.

• Under-clothing money belts, however, are common: Many missionaries in West Africa wear a slim, flat travel money belt or neck pouch hidden underneath their clothing to keep emergency cash, a copy of their passport, and backup debit cards secure against theft or pickpocketing.

3. When Backpacks Are Used

Backpacks are permitted for:

• Travel days / Transfers: Moving between apartments or traveling to and from the mission field (used strictly as carry-on luggage).

• Preparation Day (P-Day): Running errands, doing laundry, or playing sports in casual clothes.

What to Pack

He should bring a high-quality, water-resistant messenger bag or briefcase-style shoulder bag (brands like Ogio, Timbuk2, or bags specifically designed for missionaries like Zion Bags or Missionary Mall bags) with heavy-duty zippers, a wide padded strap, and room for a water bottle, teaching materials, smartphone, and a compact umbrella.

Missionaries can ask questions of their instructors during their Mission Training Center (MTC) at home and in Provo to find out what they should bring to the mission field.  

Sources:

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (n.d.). Dress and appearance: Guidelines for elders. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/callings/missionary/guidelines-for-elders

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (n.d.). Dress and appearance: Guidelines for sisters. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/callings/missionary/guidelines-for-sisters

Crowther, J. (2016, April 26). Finding an alternative backpack for missionaries. The Daily Universe. https://universe.byu.edu/2016/04/26/finding-an-alternative-backpack-for-missionaries1/