The Rev. Verna Call, pastor at St. John's United Church of Christ, started using a hip bag instead of a purse in 1992 when she started in ministry.

“It's hands free, which makes it much easier when you are reaching out to people,” Call said.

This particular hip bag has traveled with Call around the world and back to places such as Scotland, Spain, the beaches of Normandy, the Baltic Sea, St. Peterburg in Russia, Estonia and Sweden, Denmark and Finland.

“It's been a lot of places. If you notice, I had to sew it because the Velcro started coming off.”

With its easily accessible pouches and waterproof leather, it's a great travel companion.

• Cell phone• Inhaler• Camera and extra battery“I'm a little bit of a camera buff ... You never know when you are doing something or see something you want to take a photo of.”• Wallet• Pens• Crayons“I took my grandchildren out to eat — the 2-year-old and 5-year-old granddaughter. They got these little things and a pad for crayoning.”“I thought they are so cute they will be easy to throw in my bag if we ever need them.”• Yellow pill holder“Allergy pills, calcium, stuff like that.”