Needlessly to say, when campaigns roll around, we spend countless hours packing, slimming down, and lugging our supplies around the world. Case in point: Nicaragua. We have a team leaving for Nicaragua on Sunday, and the office is packed with vinegar, cotton, gloves, headlamps … If only all airlines could adhere to the Southwest mantra “Bags Fly Free”.

It’s not uncommon for us to get hit with a $250 roundtrip fee … On one hand, the baggage fees force us to constantly gauge whether an item is a necessity; on the other hand, there’s not much we can leave behind.

Regardless, it’s not a pleasant experience. And then there’s getting all the gear to the program sites. That’s a whole other story.