May 2, 2018

We’ve all heard how incredibly life-changing mission trips are. We hear about the people, the culture, the food, the exhaustion! But there are some things that no one ever tells you before you go. Traveling to a foreign country to do and see things you never have, may seem surreal at times, but it’s incredible. Missions is your real life colliding with the real lives of the people you meet and things happen that you never expect.

1. Your clothes will become “mission trip” clothes

You never know what will happen in the mission field. But one thing is certain–you won’t be dry cleaning and pressing your Sabbath shirt for those crisp lines. When you’re back at it again, your Vans might not be quite as white. Coming home, your clothes will not be the same as they were when you left. But that’s okay because neither will you!

2. You’ll feel all the feels

Even for the stoic, mission work can unlock unexpected feelings! Before you go, you’ll probably expect to be moved–everyone will tell you that. But, know that something you never saw coming will hit you. Maybe you’re surprised by how much you don’t want to leave or how much you do, how a simple conversation shook your world or how you feel like you’ve known someone for years who you just met. Expect to be surprised by what moves you.

3. Your body might revolt

You already know that, when you travel, you’re liable to get sick. None of us are surprised when we feel that dreaded tickling in our throat. But you should also be prepared for what you’re not prepared for! A new environment can bring on new sensations. Whether it’s swelling feet, a kink in your neck or a backache, stay positive and be ready for anything.

4. It’s the most real thing you can do

Many of us have traveled or experienced foreign countries. But if you visit as a tourist or even a student or business person, you don’t experience the country the same way you do through missions. When you do missions, you see the reality of everyday life for the locals. You’re not there to be served but to serve and that different viewpoint, as a foreigner, is more real than you can imagine.

5. You’ll be different when you come back

When you go into the mission field and focus your attention completely on service, you return home with an experience that no one around you shared. You will feel different. Maybe you don’t act different, maybe you don’t seem different to your friends, but you will feel different inside. The experience you have with God in the mission field is difficult to express. It’s almost like you had to be there!