General Comments
There are a number of financial issues that an overseas missionary traveler needs to take into consideration. Trip funding, personal funds (gifts, souvenirs, etc.), using travelers checks and credit cards, and understanding exchange rates when changing from one currency to another.

Obviously the first issue is the raising of Ministry Funding to support the trip. In my opinion, self-funding is the least favorable option. People are more prone to seriously pray for a ministry they have invested their money in. Those who travel to Uganda (or elsewhere) on a mission trip need people to be praying for them. From time to time I have personally been the recipient of an extraordinary measure of grace while in Uganda and upon returning to the states have someone tell me they had fervently prayed for our team at that very time or were awakened in the middle of the night with an urgency to pray for our team.

Additionally, if you pay your own way, there might come a tendency to view the opportunity as "my trip" and I can do my on thing. When you are very aware that others have given, and even sacrificed to help you go, you are much more aware that your trip represents the investment of others and should be spent wisely and covered with prayer.

I would also recommend giving some serious thought about how you will handle benevolent ministry while in Uganda. The needs are very real and very great. You cannot help every single person you see, no matter how much your heart wants to. Therefore, you must distinguish between truly helping someone and just handing out money (or other help) which in fact does not really permanently change anything but creates a cycle of dependency where people are taught to beg help from every foreigner they see. Please see the sections that deal with this under Ministry Issues.

Financial Accountability
The Africa Christian Training Institute, ACTI, seeks to demonstrate financial accountability in the following ways:

1. Governing Board: ACTI officers and board members meet the following:
   1. Are involved in ministry in Uganda so they understand the issues
   2. Serve without remuneration and pay their own transportation, room and board, to attend the annual ACTI board meeting
   3. Review the annual financial report and verify all donated funds dispersed as designated
   4. The only member of our Board who has not been to Uganda is our Treasurer, and his area of expertise (being a CPA) qualifies him to make a meaningful contribution to the faithfulness of ACTI.
2. Fund Raising: funds raised by ACTI and ACTI team members are solicited in a straight forward manner without the use of gimmicks and are used as designated by the donor. In the event the funds designated for an individual team member exceeds the amount needed ($3,500) the excess funds are used in the one of the following ways:
   1. Transferred to another member of that same team who is short of necessary funds, or
   2. Used to enhance the ministry opportunities of that team (e.g. grant more scholarships for Ugandan’s to attend a conference or seminar), or
   3. Placed in a reserve account for a future trip by that team member
3. Administrative Costs: slightly less than 3% ($100 of $3,500 raised) is used for ACTI administrative costs and this is to support our staff in Uganda and pay the required fees to wire money from the US to Uganda. All ACTI activities in the United States are handled by volunteers. ACTI team leaders raise their own support. We do not require team members to raise funds beyond their own needs so team leaders can go for free.
4. Financial Report: each year at our annual meeting (usually the first weekend in December) a complete financial report is received and reviewed by the board. The report is prepared by the ACTI treasurer who is a practicing CPA. Copies of this report are available upon request.
5. ACTI Mission and Vision: ACTI is a Word and Deed ministry that has worked effectively in Uganda since 1983 with the clear purpose of helping build the Kingdom of God with any group who invites us to minister without restriction in the following areas: evangelism, renewal, discipleship, marriage and family, church planting, and leadership training; and to provide assistance and training in the areas of health, agriculture, business, education, and orphans.

Personal Funds
Each team member should decide for themselves the amount of personal funds they wish to take with them on the trip. I always take some money to change into Uganda Shillings so I have currency to spend plus I am able to give small amounts as benevolent gifts to people who help us while in Uganda. As a matter of security, you should not keep all your financial assets in one location when traveling or in Uganda. Put some in a wallet, some in a hidden pouch, and some in a fanny pack so that you reduce the risk of losing everything in a single moment when you drop your guard.

I recommend taking nothing smaller than US $20.00 bills, $100s and $50s are best. Exchange services just give a lower rate for smaller bills. (see example chart below) This is true of travelers checks as well. Make sure your US $20s, $50s, and $100s are of the newest series and in crisp new condition. See U.S. currency exchange under the Critical Updates Section.

How Foreign Currency Exchanges Work
You will also probably deal with foreign currency in London or other layover city en route to and from Uganda. It might be helpful for you to check the current exchange rate for your layover city your travel schedule includes. Two options for doing so are listed below: