Going on a mission trip is an exciting and rewarding experience. It’s an opportunity to serve others, learn about different cultures, and grow personally and spiritually. However, preparing for your first mission trip can be a daunting task. That’s why we want to give you a few practical ways to help you spiritually and mentally prepare for your mission trip.
Understand the Purpose of Your Mission Trip
Before you start prepping for your mission trip, it’s essential to understand its purpose. Are you going to build houses, provide medical care, teach English, or share the gospel? Knowing what you’ll be doing will help you prepare both practically and mentally.
You should also consider why you are going personally. People go on mission trips for lots of reasons: to meet Christians around the world, to serve God’s kingdom, to grow spiritually, etc. Once you’ve determined why you’re going on this mission trip and what your goals are, you can start to intentionally pray about the trip – which brings us to our next point…
Pray
Spend time in prayer before your trip, asking God for guidance, strength, and an open heart to learn and serve. Prayer is a beautiful thing because we not only have the opportunity to talk to the Creator of the whole universe, but it also allows us to receive from Him. So, we can ask Him to start preparing the hearts of the people we will meet way before we even get to the mission field, but as we are having those conversations with Him, He is simultaneously preparing our hearts and getting us ready for the encounters we will have.
Don’t Try to Be Perfect
Sometimes, we can have the temptation to try to be completely perfect before we step onto the mission field. That’s just impossible and a recipe for disappointment and unnecessary guilt. It’s helpful to remember that God is the one doing the work, and we are just allowing ourselves to be the vessels He is using to carry out that work. Yes, we need to do our very best, but even our very best will come nowhere near close to what God can do through our weaknesses. The Lord is already present in the communities we visit, and we are just choosing to partner with Him in the work that He is already carrying out. So, relax and trust that the Father will use your efforts for the glory of His kingdom, regardless of your weaknesses.
Work on the Fruits of the Spirit
That being said, there are things we can do in our spiritual lives that can help us to be better (not perfect!) vessels for Christ’s will. A great place to start is with the fruits of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. We want to invite you to intentionally work on one of these fruits in your life, and we promise that it will not only help you in your daily walk with Christ, but it will also help you on the mission field.
Bible Study
Consider doing a Bible study related to service or missions. This will help you understand God’s heart for the nations and your role as a servant. The Bible is full of stories about great missionaries who changed the world. We recommend choosing one of the gospels and studying how Jesus practiced mission work. Or, you can go through the book of Acts and see how the apostles carried out their ministry. Paul calls us to imitate him as He imitates Christ. Reading about the work of Paul and Christ is a great way to do that. If you think you need more guidance as you study what the Bible has to say about missions, we have an abundance of mission trip devotionals posted on our website.
Research
Research the country you’re visiting – its culture, customs, climate, and any safety issues. This will help you know what kind of clothing is appropriate or inappropriate, any cultural sensitivities you should be aware of, and how best to interact with the locals. If you’re going somewhere English isn’t the primary language, it’s also a good idea to start learning some simple phrases in the country’s native language.
Be Flexible and Adjust Your Expectations
Keep an open mind and be ready to adapt to unexpected situations or changes in plans. A lot of work goes into preparing for mission trips, but sometimes things don’t go exactly as planned. Be willing to roll with the punches and trust God with the trials that come up.
–
Preparing for your first mission trip involves understanding its purpose and preparing mentally and spiritually. It may seem overwhelming at first but remember that this is a journey of faith – trust in God’s provision every step of the way. You don’t have to be a perfect Bible scholar or know everything about the area you are going to, especially not on your first mission trip. Remember that God is already present in the community you are traveling to and you are just partnering with Him in the work that He is already doing. Your mission trip will be a life-changing experience that will leave you with unforgettable memories and a deeper understanding of God’s love for all people.
