Going on a mission trip is an awesome experience that I think every Christian should have, but sometimes it can be a little overwhelming and unnerving to go on a mission trip for the first time. Whether it’s for a week in Mexico or a month in the Czech Republic, there are a few things you can do to prepare for your mission trip to make it as uncomplicated and relaxed as possible, as well as more impacting and meaningful. I will cover three areas in which it is quite helpful to be prepared: mental - what to expect; spiritual - preparing yourself to minister to others; and physical - packing.

When you go on a mission trip, especially to a different country, it’s important to realize that you may have to do without some of the amenities and conveniences that you take advantage of at home. You may have to sleep in a sleeping bag, deal with spiders and beetles in your room, walk long distances, get up early, or eat food you don’t really like. It’s just part of being a missionary. You can prepare for some of those differences (for example, walking a couple miles every day before you leave or waking up at six in the morning), but sometimes you’ll just have to take things as they come. Even though you may not be able to prevent or prepare physically for discomforts, being aware of them will make a huge difference. Talk to one of the trip leaders before you leave and ask about those issues so that you can be expecting them and when things pop up, just grin and bear it. You are on a mission trip, after all.

Another thing to prepare yourself for is the culture of the people you will be ministering to. Research their culture, see what they eat, how they dress, how they greet each other, etc. If you will be going to a poor area, as many people do, prepare yourself to witness their living conditions. They may be living in shacks, use dirt roads, have old and dirty clothes, and never take a shower. You need to realize this and prepare yourself for it before you get to the mission location. Sometimes people don’t realize that there are actually people living in these terrible conditions. This shocks them and in turn, it can make them less effective in their work because they get depressed and upset. Become conscious of these difference in standards of living so that you can make a big impact for Christ.

When you are going on a mission trip to minister to others and tell them about Jesus, it’s important to be reading your Bible and praying before you leave. You need to have a daily quiet time with the Lord so that you will be filled up spiritually and able to minister to others. Pray for yourself, that you will make an impact and do what God tells you to. Pray for those going on the mission trip with you, that you all would be able to work together and minister effectively. Pray for those who you will be ministering to, that God would open their hearts to hear the Gospel.

Something that is helpful when telling people about Christ is to be able to share your testimony. It’s wonderful to have a personal example of what you’re sharing. Before you go, you should write out your testimony and practice sharing it, or at least saying it out loud. You may think you don’t need to write it out, but oftentimes, once you’re actually there, talking to someone, it will be much easier to mix up your words and forget what you were supposed to say. If you have your testimony written out and the main points memorized, it will help you to be able to deliver it more clearly and easily.

Now comes the fun part: packing. Okay, so maybe it’s not that fun, but it is important. When you pack, you obviously want to make sure you have everything you need. You don’t want to forget something silly like your toothbrush or pajamas (I’ve forgotten both) or something really important like medication or shoes. Make a list of everything you’ll need including: socks, shoes, meds, pajamas, toothbrush, etc., and when you pack, mark each item off as you put it in your suitcase. If you do forget something, however, try to live without it, unless it’s something really important, like a toothbrush. In that case, there will probably be a store in the airport that sells toiletries. One thing that many people like to take is a journal or diary. Even if you don’t normally journal, it’s good to write down your thoughts and experiences so that you don’t forget.

There are other things that I haven’t mentioned that you could do to prepare for your mission trip and certain things pertaining to specific countries. For more tips, talk to a leader or someone who’s been on that mission trip before. Wherever you go, have an awesome time serving the Lord!

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