Author Archives: Mel

I think that mentally and spiritually preparing to go on missions trip is just as important as the obvious aspects of planning and fundraising. It’s easy to get really excited about a missions trip for the wrong reasons. As I’ve mentioned in my previous posts, you want to make sure that you’re going for the right reasons and you have the right expectations. I’ve been on missions trips with people who completely wasted their time and money by spending all their time and energy whining and complaining and having a terrible attitude. If you’re going to go through all the effort to go on a missions trip, have the right attitude and be prepared to be flexible, gracious and stretched in some ways that may be uncomfortable for you.

1) Know & respect the culture

One thing I’ve always done when I’ve prepared to go on a missions trip is research the country and the culture. I look into the history of the country, its major religion(s), its currency, government, etc. I even try to learn a little of the language before I go. A lot of people may not go this far for a short term trip, and I probably only did this because I now know I’ve always had that special bend towards missionary life, but it always gave me a great perspective and helped me better connect with the people I served. When you aim to influence people, whether it’s teaching in a classroom, delivering an inspiring speech, creating a television commercial, or in our case, serving on the mission field, the biggest thing to consider is your audience. If you make an effort to “speak their language”, they may be more responsive to what you have to share with them.

On the same note, being ignorant about the culture of the people you are serving could actually hinder you in effectively ministering to those you came a long way to serve. Learn about their cultural norms, and even if they’re strange to you, make an effort to respect them. Find out what’s offensive in their culture. I’m really going out of my way to cover all the bases on this point, but if you go with a genuine heart to connect and serve people, it will show. The ministry you partner with will also more than likely provide you with all the basic cultural info to be aware of prior to your arrival. Things may be different, strange and even uncomfortable to you, but think of it as an adventure as you get to see and experience new things!

2) Respect the missionaries/ministry you work with

This is kind of a given, but I’ve definitely been on trips in which more than one person needed a reminder about this. Give honor to whom honor is due – these are people who have dedicated their lives to serving on the mission field. There is a lot more work and planning involved for a missionary receiving a group from the States, than for someone preparing to go on said trip. Be grateful for their willingness to host you. Clean up after yourself. Be respectful of any rules/guidelines they ask you to abide by (i.e. dresscode, curfew). Be ready and on time for scheduled ministry events. Offer to help in any way you can. Be a blessing, not a burden. In fact, try to “out bless” them during your time there. Do this and you will become the kind of person that missionaries love to partner with, and a greater blessing will be added to the experiences on your trip.

3) Have a good attitude

Be prepared for the unexpected. Things will run late. Cars will break down. Weather will affect plans. Eat whatever is put before you (unless the missionaries advise you not too) – I’ve eaten a lot of interesting things overseas, but I’ve never gotten sick on a missions trip. Challenge yourself to not complain about anything, and be willing to serve and be flexible no matter what. Don’t miss out on what God wants to do in and through you by having a bad attitude.

On my second missions trip to Africa, I arrived at the airport only to find out that my bags had been lost. I had to buy all the necessities I had lost. Other Americans I met on my trip gave me clothes to wear that didn’t fit. I had to hand wash my clothes everyday. We didn’t always have electricity. We didn’t always have water, and when we did have water, it was ice cold. It was ridiculously hot and humid and I slept under a mosquito net at night. But you know what else? It was the best missions trip I had ever been on and it was that trip that made me immediately know I wanted to go back to Africa when I decided to become a missionary – all because I decided that I wasn’t going to have a bad attitude.

4) Spend time in prayer

Things are just always better when you pray. Pray about your trip and the people you’re going to serve. If you’re going with a church group, they may schedule group prayer times, but even then, spend some personal time in prayer about your trip. You can pray for safety in your travels and the ability to have a good attitude, but prayer can also prepare your heart to love people you have never even met. Pray for divine connections with people. Pray for favor. Pray about what you have to offer. Don’t wish for it to a life-changing experience – pray and expect for it to be. I’ve found that on every single trip I’ve been on, even though I’m the one who is there to minister, God uses the people I minister to to be a blessing to me. Give and it will be given back to you. That’s what happens on a missions trip. Expect God to do big things and He will. I would also recommend bringing a journal on the trip so you can record all of your experiences.

Next week I’ll be closing out this series with some last thoughts about missions, including how you can be involved in missions outside of going on a missions trip.

Related Posts:
So You Want to Go on a Missions Trip? (Part 1)
So You Want to Go on a Missions Trip? (Part 2)
So You Want to Go on a Missions Trip? (Part 3)
So You Want to Go on a Missions Trip? (Part 4)
So You Want to Go on a Missions Trip? (Part 5)
So You Want to Go on a Missions Trip? (Part 7)

How do I raise the money to go on a missions trip?

I think that money (or the lack thereof) is probably the biggest thing that turns people away from seriously considering going on a missions trip. The cost can vary depending on where you go, how long you stay, your travel and lodging accommodations, etc. The least expensive trip I’ve been on was $300 and the most I’ve paid is $4000. A missions trip can be a pretty steep financial investment for most people, but I want to encourage you that the cost aspect of going on a missions trip doesn’t ever have to be a deal breaker.

Here are some tips I can offer you on how to raise money for a missions trip:

1) For starters, plan ahead.

The old adage of “those who fail to plan, plan to fail” definitely holds true for raising money to go on a missions trip. Once you hear about a missions trip you want to go on, begin to plan on how you are going to raise the money, and the sooner the better. Almost every type of fundraiser I’ve done for a missions trip required thorough and advance planning. If you’re going with your church, the nice thing is they may probably already organize group fundraising opportunities you can be a part of (another great reason to partner with your church on a missions trip).

Also, I’m a big advocate of setting goals. It will help keep you focused and motivated. Set weekly or monthly goals for yourself, determining to raise a certain amount of money by certain dates leading up to your departure (i.e. raise $300 every month leading up to your trip). Again if you are going through your church, they will more than likely already have payment deadlines set in place that you have to meet. I find that when I break up the cost of a trip into smaller, realistic goals, it feels much more achievable and possible for me. Plus, it’s super rewarding to reach those smaller, frequent mile markers because it’s motivating to know that you’re only that many steps closer to reaching your total goal.

2) Fundraising Ideas

I think I’ve done almost every type of typical fundraiser idea out there and then some. Here’s a list of some of the things I’ve done:

• Saving: See if there’s something you can cut out from your everyday budget so you can save a certain amount every week/month to go towards your trip (i.e. sacrifice your morning Starbucks or eating out).
• Get an extra or part-time job: I’ve delivered pizzas & newspapers. I’ve babysat, pet sat & house sat. Offer to clean someone’s house or wash their car. You’d be surprised at how quickly you can raise a few thousand dollars by working a part-time or odd job(s) for a few months. A lot of times people will pay you way more than you expected to receive for a job because they know you’re working to go on a missions trip. I once received $100 for a 2-hour babysitting job – not too shabby!
• Silent auction: This takes a lot of planning and hard work, but a lot of businesses do donate free stuff and I raised $1500 at my first silent auction. Don’t know where to start? Google “how to have a successful silent auction”. That’s what I did…and I did [have a successful silent auction] :-)
• Support letters/emails: Don’t be afraid to ask your family and close friends to support you. These are the #1 people in your life who love you and will want to support you. Even when my family or friends haven’t been able to support me financially, they did pray for me, talk about my trip with people who did end up supporting me, or they gave me new ideas on how to raise money.
• Social media: Make a general announcement to everyone you know through Facebook, Twitter, etc. & give some brief info on what you’ll be doing and how they can donate. I think most of my social media friends probably got sick of hearing about my trip before I moved to Africa, so maybe make sure not to overdo it, but it is a quick and easy way to get the word out. There was one time I raised $700 between two Facebook posts! I think you’d be surprised at who is ready and willing to support you.
• Google “how to raise money for a missions trip”: I’ve done this many times. The internet has a plethora of ideas! Side note: I love the word plethora and relish any chance I get to use it in a sentence. :-)
• Pray for ideas: God is super creative and He can inspire you with the best ideas that even the most experienced missions-trip-goer couldn’t ever give you.

3) Make it a priority.

Just like our time, we spend our money on what we really want. I think most of us have all spent a good amount of money on things that we don’t need, which isn’t wrong at all. But a big reason why we always seem to have the money for certain luxuries is simply because we want them. Do you really want to go on a missions trip? If you do, then you will find the money to go. And when you find the money, come visit me in Africa :-)

4) Trust God.

Proverbs 16:3 (NIV) says this: “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” This was a promise I confessed over and over to myself anytime I felt discouraged about raising the money to go to Botswana. Don’t just believe that God can and will provide the money – live and act like you do. Align your attitude, speech and actions in a way that doesn’t say you think God can’t afford it or it’s too expensive for Him. I remember being determined to do what I’ve just described when I was preparing to go on my first missions trip to Africa. Anytime I began to feel the slightest bit doubtful about raising all the money, I would pray and tell God that I refused to believe that He couldn’t provide for me. I was allowed to go on that trip, still owing my church $1000, but a week after I got back, the church called me and told me that someone anonymously paid the remaining balance for my trip! He’s provided for me over and over again, and He can do it for you too. I have another cool story about God’s provision here.

I really could just sum up all this info by simply saying trust God and step out in faith. God can and will bless your efforts – just believe that He will AND make the effort! Anytime I decided to go on a missions trip and when I decided to move to Botswana, I didn’t have the money to go and it wasn’t something I could afford. The decision to go was my step of faith, and it was only when I took that step of faith that the money began to pour in. Take that to heart and you’ll discover that it’s really not that hard to raise the money to go on a missions trip after all :-)

Next week, I’m going to talk about how to spiritually and mentally prepare yourself to go on a missions trip. Remember, folks, a missions trip isn’t a vacation, it’s a time of service so have the right attitude going into it or it will be a very unenjoyable experience for you, which means you will more than likely make it unenjoyable for everyone else, so I’ll share some tips on how you can be prepared!

Related Posts:
So You Want to Go on a Missions Trip? (Part 1)
So You Want to Go on a Missions Trip? (Part 2)
So You Want to Go on a Missions Trip? (Part 3)
So You Want to Go on a Missions Trip? (Part 4)
So You Want to Go on a Missions Trip? (Part 6)
So You Want to Go on a Missions Trip? (Part 7)

How do I find the time to go on a missions trip?

Time is our most precious commodity, isn’t it? We all wish we had more than the 24 hours we’re each allotted so we can accomplish more things. When we factor in all the time we spend on what’s generally most important to us, it can be difficult to squeeze in all the extra things we would like to do, but don’t necessarily take precedence over our ultimate priorities. Like say, going on a missions trip :)

If you’re younger or single, a missions trip is generally more feasible for you. You probably have the flexibility to go on a 1-2 week (or longer) trip, not to mention the extra time to spend on raising the necessary funds.

If you’re married and/or have kids, it may seem like an impossible or daunting venture, but I want to encourage you that going on a missions trip is definitely possible for you too! It may require a bit of extra planning, but I’ve been on several trips in which family members served on the mission field together. In fact, I met a family recently who basically did a year long missions trip around the world! If this family can do it, you can too! I realize that it can be harder for you to work into your schedule, but if it’s something you and your family want to do, it can also be a really precious, life-changing, memorable experience, and worth making the time to do.

At the end of the day, whether we realize it or not, we will always make time for the things that matter to us. If you want to go on a missions trip – whether you’re young, old, single, married, have kids – it’s absolutely possible to carve out the time to go if it matters enough to you. For instance, I could very easily waste an entire day watching tv/movies or surfing the internet. Very pathetic example, I know, but my point is that we make so many concessions with our time for trivial, menial things. It shouldn’t be more difficult for us to concede time to do something as rewarding and worthwhile as a missions trip if that’s something you want to do. Maybe reread this post to get motivated and inspired to make it happen! It’s totally possible to schedule a missions trip into your [near] future!

As soon as you hear about a missions trip you can be a part of, begin to make the necessary arrangements to be able to go. Request the time off work, find someone to house/pet sit and make a plan to raise the money…which leads me to the question I’ll be answering next week…

How do I raise the money to go on a missions trip?

Related Posts:
So You Want to Go on a Missions Trip? (Part 1)
So You Want to Go on a Missions Trip? (Part 2)
So You Want to Go on a Missions Trip? (Part 3)
So You Want to Go on a Missions Trip? (Part 5)
So You Want to Go on a Missions Trip? (Part 6)
So You Want to Go on a Missions Trip? (Part 7)

Once you’ve firmly decided that you’re going on a missions trip, I’m happy to help you take the next steps to move in the right direction.

In this post, I’ll be answering the following questions:

1) Where should I go on a missions trip?

AND

2) What ministry/organization should I work with?

There are SO many missionaries, ministries and non-profit/volunteer organizations you can partner with to go on a missions trip. If you were to Google “missions trip”, an overwhelming list of options would pop up for you. But rather than help you sift through a myriad of options, my first suggestion would be to explore missions trip options through your church.

Your church may already plan yearly missions trips to work with missionaries/ministries they partner with. Almost every missions trip I’ve been on was organized through a church I was attending.

This is a great option for your first missions trip, especially if you don’t have any preferences on where you want to go or how you want to serve. This is also the easiest route for going on a missions trip, in my opinion, and here’s why:

• It takes a lot of the planning work out of the process for you. Your church manages all of the travel arrangements and ministry itinerary for your trip, so all you basically have to do is raise the money to be able to go (a discussion for a later post).
• You’ll more than likely be traveling with experienced leaders who have been on missions trips before, so you know you’ll be in good hands.
• You ensure that you’ll be partnering with a reputable, trustworthy organization.

If you don’t attend a church that plans regular missions trips, I would encourage you to schedule a meeting with your pastor (meet with your church’s missions/outreach pastor if they have one on staff). I’m sure they’ll be able to recommend some great ministries you can work with and help you get the process started. This is a great route to take for those of you who may have a specific country in mind you would like to visit and/or a particular type of ministry you want to be involved with (i.e. medical work, evangelism, building project, teaching, working with kids, etc.).

You can, of course, search the all-powerful internet and look for an organization/missionary to work with on your own, but I would caution you to make sure you partner with reputable people. I’ve never had a bad or unsafe experience on any of the mission trips I’ve been on, even ones that weren’t planned through my church, but I think I would attribute that to only partnering with ministries I had some kind of personal connection with (i.e. a recommendation from a close friend, family member or pastor). Basically, just use common sense. You are traveling to a foreign country after all, so make sure you work with people you trust and feel safe with.

Another important aspect about missions trips that I want to cover in this post is the fact that missions trips don’t necessarily mean you have to travel overseas. You can absolutely stay right here in the good ol’ US of A. Meeting the needs of your local community are just as important as meeting the needs of communities overseas. There are many outreach opportunities and depths of poverty that many Americans may not even realize exist in our country. I’m called to serve in Africa, but you may be called to serve the needs of those in your own backyard. Both kinds of trips can be equally life changing and impactful.

So whether you hop on a jet plane to travel to another continent or you choose to visit someplace not too far from home, the important thing to remember is that there are needs all over the world that need to be met, and God is using you to play a part in meeting some of those needs. God has put something good on the inside of each of us. We each have something to offer, something we can give away, some way we can give back. No matter where you go, not matter who you serve, the work will be rewarding, and you can walk away from your trip knowing that God used you to help make a difference in someone else’s life.

My next post will cover:

• How do I find the time to go on a missions trip?

As always, please ask any questions you may have by commenting below.

Related Posts:
So You Want to Go on a Missions Trip? (Part 1)
So You Want to Go on a Missions Trip? (Part 2)
So You Want to Go on a Missions Trip? (Part 4)
So You Want to Go on a Missions Trip? (Part 5)
So You Want to Go on a Missions Trip? (Part 6)
So You Want to Go on a Missions Trip? (Part 7)

Have you ever said you wanted to do something, but while you were saying that, you already knew it would probably never happen? And deep down inside you knew it would never happen because you never really had any serious intention of taking the steps to make it happen? I totally have. We say so many things we don’t mean. We confess things and don’t take ourselves seriously. I think everyone single one of us is guilty of confusing what we think we really want with something we just wish or hope for.

When I first contacted Matt & Kristin Buckley at Light of the World Ministries to tell them that I was interested in working with their ministry in Francistown, Botswana, their initial response, as with most who are interested in coming, was to wait and see. After being on the mission field for over 25 years, the Buckleys have seen many desire to come to Africa, but so few follow through and act on that desire. They’ve found that about 1 out of every 10 people who express an interest in coming out actually take the steps to fulfill their desire of serving on the mission field.

Have you ever said, “I would like to go on a missions trip one day”? Do you really want to go on a missions trip, or do you only wish you could?

When a dear friend and fellow missionary first suggested the idea to me of spending a year on the mission field, I definitely had a wishy-washy moment when I first thought I really want to do this, but at the same time thought I didn’t see how it could happen for me. How could I possibly just drop everything and move to a foreign country? And where was I going to get all the money to be able to go?

If you really want to go on a missions trip, my first piece of advice to you is to decide that you really want to go. Decide that you’re going to go to this country, on this date, to work with that organization/ministry, and you’ll work hard to raise every cent you need to raise to be able to go. Only after I made a definite decision to move to Botswana, did all of my initial hesitations and doubts begin to diminish. My decision also motivated me and birthed a fierce determination in me to pour all of my energies into accomplishing my goal. A huge change of heart and attitude developed in me simply because I hammered my stake in the ground, so to speak, and I decided that I truly wanted this.

My second piece of advice would be to pray. Pray and tell God the desire of your heart and trust and believe that He will open the door and provide your way to go. Proverbs 16:3 says, “Share your plans with the Lord, and you will succeed.” Also tell everyone you know that you’re going. Telling people helps put the right amount of pressure on you to stick to your decision. I find that I take my decisions much more seriously and they become more solidified when I tell others about it. Plus, more often than naught, you’ll find that people will respond to you with much needed encouragement and support when you share about your desire to pursue such a worthy endeavor.

Along with that, make sure you want to go on a missions trip for the right reasons. Several years before I went on my first missions trip, I just wanted to go because I loved traveling and because I thought it would be cool to visit someplace new. There’s nothing wrong with those reasons, but don’t go on a missions trip expecting it to be a relaxing vacation. I’ve definitely been able to do a day or two of fun, sightseeing, touristy stuff on missions trips I’ve been on, but keep in mind that your main reason for going is to give back. Just like Jesus, you are there to serve and not to be served. Trust me, you will get way more out of your trip if you have that attitude.

So, if you’re all talk in your desire to go on a missions trip (or to endeavor to do anything in your life for that matter), you need to graduate your talk into action; otherwise, going on a missions trip is not a venture for you, my fair-weather friend. I don’t say that to discourage you, but to challenge you. When you make an I’m-going-to-do-this-no-matter-what decision, I think you’ll be surprised to discover that it’s not too far-fetched of a goal to accomplish.

Next week, I’ll be covering some more practical steps about going on a missions trip, so stay tuned, and of course, please ask any questions you may have by leaving a comment below.

Related Posts:
So You Want to Go on a Missions Trip? (Part 1)
So You Want to Go on a Missions Trip? (Part 3)
So You Want to Go on a Missions Trip? (Part 4)
So You Want to Go on a Missions Trip? (Part 5)
So You Want to Go on a Missions Trip? (Part 6)
So You Want to Go on a Missions Trip? (Part 7)

Whenever people find out that I’m a missionary in Africa, I usually get one of the following two responses from them:

“I’ve always wanted to go on a missions trip! Maybe one day…”

or

“What do I need to do to go on a missions trip?”

I love hearing these responses from people since I am obviously very passionate about missions work myself.

In response to these responses, I thought it would be a good idea to do a series addressing all the aspects of what someone needs to do in order to go on a missions trip. If you’re that someone (and I’ve encountered many of you), please read on and follow my blog for the next several weeks as I share with you all the knowledge I’ve gleaned over the years from going on several missions trips, and from being a resident missionary overseas today.

A missions trip can be a life-changing experience. It can broaden your perspective on what really matters in life, and it can help you discover the joy found in giving away instead of accumulating or receiving. I’ve found that going on missions trips have really brought out the best in me. In short, I love missions and my investment in missions over the years has significantly changed my life; so through this series, I hope to encourage you (give you the courage) to pursue an equally life-changing experience.

With that said, in this initial post, my intent is simply to inspire you. If you’ve always wanted to go on a missions trip, but don’t know where to start, then this series is for you. If you’ve been held back from going because you think you don’t have the time or resources to go, this series is for you. Even if you have absolutely no interest in traveling overseas to do missions work, I still encourage you to be a part of this audience, because although I will mostly be addressing overseas missions work, I’ll also touch on how missions is not just limited to going overseas and how there are other ways you can share an involvement in missions, even without leaving the comfort of your home.

In this series, I’ll be highlighting what I believe to be the most important aspects of going on a missions trip. I’m sure there will be some things I’ll forget to cover, but I will share with you what I know has successfully allowed me to go on several missions trips over the past 14 years. And of course, please feel free to ask me any questions you may have as we go along by leaving a comment below.

I’m excited to help you take the steps to live out an experience I’ve fallen in love with – going on your very first missions trip!

Related Posts:
So You Want to Go on a Missions Trip? (Part 2)
So You Want to Go on a Missions Trip? (Part 3)
So You Want to Go on a Missions Trip? (Part 4)
So You Want to Go on a Missions Trip? (Part 5)
So You Want to Go on a Missions Trip? (Part 6)
So You Want to Go on a Missions Trip? (Part 7)