So, now that I am going on Teen Missions again, it’s time to shop for all the stuff I need for the summer. I bought a lot of the same stuff last year, but pretty much everything that I had that had any use or life left in it I left in Africa.
Last year I had three devices that all usesd AA batteries, and I went through a TON of those. They are heavy and they are expensive. My flashlight (which was used practically constantly) chewed through batteries. Granted, in Sicily where I’ll be (unless my team gets changed – my caveat until I’m actually in Sicily!) chances are there will be electricity and lights, but you never know! Anyhow, last summer one of the kids on my team had a flashlight that you would wind to charge. Pretty cool. I decided to find myself one of those for this summer so that I could decrease the pounds of batteries I’d need to take. I found one at Wal-Mart for less than $9. The light was sort of dim, but in the darkness of the Florida swamp, even a dimmish sort of light works pretty well. Then I found ANOTHER one in the camping section. This one was WAY brighter and would stay light for twice as long as the other one. And it was only $10 more. Crank for 30 seconds and you get an hour of flashlight power. BUT WAIT! This flashlight is more than just a flashlight. You can use it full power, or 1/5th power. It also has a flashing beacon. And it has an emergency siren. And it has an emergency radio. And it has a compass. AND it has a cell phone charger! A cell phone charger! No, you aren’t allowed to have a cell phone on Teen Missions, but I will take mine so that I can use it until Boot Camp starts. Then I’ll leave it at Boot Camp and get it when I come back to Florida for debrief. After debrief I’ll have it again. I really didn’t like using calling cards and having to find a phone before and after my team last year. I’ll also ask if, as a leader, I can take mine just in case of an emergency on the field. They might let me.
Besides, how great will it be to have a way to charge my phone in case of an emergency here at home? This flashlight will be in my car at all times with the rest of my emergency stuff.
Want one? Click HERE for more info!
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