Mission Trips: Questions to Ask Before You Go
A new year has begun and that means new possibilities for travel! Given that I’ll be celebrating the milestone half-century birthday this year, I’ve decided it is the perfect time to go on an epic adventure that I have always dreamed about…
I will be taking my first mission trip to Kenya!
I plan to share a series of blog posts all about my mission trip, including the planning stages, my time in Kenya, and the lasting impact it is sure to have on me.
To kick off this series I thought I would share some of the key questions you should ask before going on a mission trip. And I’ll provide some answers and reflections to these questions regarding my own upcoming mission trip.
First I’d like to set the stage by posing this question:
What is a mission trip?
While various people and organizations may define mission trips differently, I like this simple explanation from Mission Discovery:
“a mission trip is an organized community service effort done by Christians and churches…designed to help individuals grow in their personal relationship with Christ while also learning about other cultures and how they can love on the communities around them!”
With a basic understanding of what mission trips are, let’s jump into an array of questions that have been on my mind and are likely common among anyone taking on this kind of travel.
Motivational Questions
Before even deciding if you should go on a mission trip, there are some questions you will want to ask yourself about your motivation for going on one. Then you can ensure your motivation lines up with the overall purpose of the mission trip you select.
- Why do you want to go on a mission trip?
- What do you hope to get (and give) out of a mission trip?
- How much does the location of the mission trip matter to you?
- Do you prefer to do a domestic or international mission trip?
- Are you a Christian who wants to explore or deepen your faith? Or are you at least open to learning more and participating in basic practices of Christianity (reading the Bible, praying, etc.)
For me personally, I thought about joining the Peace Corps as a teenager. The idea of going to a completely different place on the globe and being out of my element had a strong appeal during those teenage years when I was searching for who I was and who I would become. But life happened and that dream was never realized.
I have no regrets, yet that same desire lingers in my heart. And at this point in my life the timing seems to be right to do a short-term mission trip.
I may not be as brave (or as naive!) as I was several decades ago and I have many more responsibilities now (family, job, bills, etc.). So moving to another country for a couple of years isn’t in the cards for me. But a 10 day mission trip may be just the ticket to quench this longheld wanderlust…or maybe it will whet my appetite for more of this kind of travel in the future!
A mission trip will allow me to deeply explore several of my passions…travel, writing, faith, and serving. And I am confident that it will be a transformative experience.
Before even deciding which mission trip to go on, I knew I wanted an experience where I could come alongside others who live very differently than I do and to love and serve them in a meaningful way. I am open to whatever form that might take and feel like I’ve found an excellent opportunity to do that through Connection Pointe Christian Church (CPCC) in Brownburg, Indiana.
CPCC has a long-standing partnership with Kenya Community Education & Action (KCEA). This organization helps young Maasai girls be able to attend high school and have alternative choices besides entering marriage at an early age. For the Maasai, secondary education is not government-funded and the young girls must have funds for tuition and supplies.
While I hope to leave a positive and helpful impact on the Maasai girls and families I get to interact with during my trip, I know that I will be getting so much more out of this experience than I will ever be able to give in this short timeframe. Self-reflection, a broader perspective, and deeper compassion for others are some of the by-products I hope to take away from this experience.
I wanted to quickly touch on the last question in the list above. As a Christian myself, I wholeheartedly embrace the opportunity to deepen my faith and share the love of Jesus on my trip. Given that many mission trips are connected to churches or other faith-based organizations, participants are likely to be involved in prayer, bible study, and sharing the Gospel throughout the experience.
If that is not something you are open to (and that is why asking these motivational questions before researching possible mission trips is so important) then you may want to consider seeking out trips and organizations that focus on providing humanitarian aid without an expressed faith-based foundation.
Personal Questions
After you answer some of the big WHY questions and discover your motivation, it is helpful to delve into some personal questions that are likely to address your unique needs. Here are a few questions you will want to ponder as you narrow down the specific mission trip that is right for you:
- What are you willing to sacrifice?
- How much money can you afford to allocate to your mission trip?
- Do you have friends or family that might be willing to help fund your mission trip? Are you comfortable asking for their support?
- What everyday comforts are you willing to live without during your trip and which ones are you not able to give up?
- When can you get away from your daily responsibilities? Is there a certain time of year that works best with your schedule?
- How long of a mission trip can you reasonably take and what length feels right for you and your personal circumstances?
- Do you have any health or physical limitations that need to be considered?
- Will you be going alone or with family members? (If family members will be joining you then you will likely want to consider these questions as a family unit and make decisions that work for everyone.)
- Do you have any specific skills (medical, teaching, language, construction, etc.) that you hope to share?
- What church or organization offers a mission trip experience that aligns with your needs and desires?
Thinking about what you are willing to sacrifice in the way of money, time, and creature comforts is something only you can answer.
For me, stepping out of my comfort zone on this trip is something I actually want to experience and am looking forward to. I likely won’t be showering every day, Diet Coke won’t be readily available, and my beloved curling iron won’t be going on this trip with me. These are all expectations I have considered and am eagerly ready to navigate!
I’m also fortunate that I have a job that is flexible, with ample vacation time, and my teenage children are at a stage when they can function just fine if I leave the country for a few weeks. Plus I have a great support system that will help hold down the fort while I’m gone. (mental note…still need to find a dog sitter!) That same support system is excited to learn all about my adventure and provide both funds and much-needed prayer to make this trip possible.
Hopefully, as you ask yourself the questions above you will get even more excited about going on a mission trip. Then you can search in earnest for relevant mission trip opportunities. A quick Google search or a review of the mission trips offered by churches in your community are great ways to start as you seek to find the mission trip that is just right for your unique situation, timing, skills, and expectations.
Logistical Questions
By this point, you have likely selected the mission trip you plan to go on or at least found a few options that might work for you. But this is just the beginning of the questions!
Ask anyone who knows me and they will tell you I am full of questions! About everything! And a mission trip opens the doors to lots of questions.
If you are a planner like me, having at least some of the answers to the logistics before you embark on a mission trip will help you mentally prepare and get your trip started off right.
- When will you leave and how long will you be gone?
- How long are the flights and layovers?
- What other forms of transportation will you be taking?
- What should you pack? What shouldn’t you bring? Are there limitations on the number or weight of bags?
- What is appropriate (and inappropriate) to wear during the mission trip, including clothes, shoes, and jewelry?
- Are there any vaccinations or medications that are recommended for this trip/destination?
- Will you need a certain kind of passport or Visa to enter the country?
- What kind of weather might you encounter? What are the average temperatures?
- What kind of living/sleeping accommodations should you expect?
- Will there be access to electricity and water?
- Will it be safe to drink the water or will bottled water be available?
- What kind of restroom facilities should you expect?
- What kind of food should you expect? Will any allergies or dietary needs you have be able to be addressed?
- What language is primarily spoken in this destination? If you don’t speak that language will interpreters be available? Are there key phrases you should learn?
- What form of currency is used? Are credit cards accepted? Should you exchange money before your trip and how much should you bring?
- What kind of things might you need money for during your trip?
The mission trip you select will likely have a team leader who will be happy to answer all these questions and more as you prepare for your trip. As with any kind of travel, managing expectations is so important to a successful trip. That may be even more important on a mission trip where you have less say in your day-to-day activities, meals, accommodations, and other elements of your trip.
I’ve been asking my trip leader all these questions and more! I’m also doing what I can to learn more about Kenya by reading and watching videos to increase my understanding about the culture as well as the people I will be meeting.
I know that most Kenyans who go to school speak both English and Swahili and I’m working on learning a few phrases in Swahili. Jambo! (that means hello!)
I’m discussing possible vaccinations with my doctor (yellow fever and typhoid) and I will be sure to take the anti-malaria pills. I am aware that our living quarters do have electricity and indoor plumbing, but both can be spotty.
Fortunately, I don’t have any allergies to worry about and our group will have access to bottled water. I’m looking forward to embracing any and all food options that are presented as food is such a great way to connect with others as you learn about another culture.
I also look forward to supporting the local economy in Kenya as I plan to bring back meaningful souvenirs to remind me of my trip. And to thank those who are supporting me on this journey!
I know I will have even more questions as the trip gets closer. While I likely won’t have ALL my questions answered before I board the first flight, having a basic idea of what to expect will help ease any anxiety I might have. And you can bet I will be packing extra doses of flexibility and patience for the journey ahead!
Practical Questions
I said I had a lot of questions! So here are even more practical questions that you will want to ask as you prepare for your mission trip:
- How much does the mission trip cost? When are the funds due?
- Is there a fundraising platform available or suggestions on how to raise funds?
- Who will be going on the mission trip with you? Have any of the other travelers been to this location in the past and what can you learn from them?
- Will your group meet and get to know each other prior to the mission trip?
- What might a typical day look like during the trip?
- Are there specific projects your team will be working on?
- Will you have access to wifi during the trip? Will you be able to check in with loved ones at home? And will they be able to check in on you?
- Are there any safety concerns you should be aware of? Any safety practices you should employ during your trip?
While most days my iphone gets quite a workout, I’m actually looking forward to going off the grid and relinquishing my need to be in the know 24/7! But you can bet I’ll be holding those I love in prayer and trusting God to take care of them.
I will be meeting with my mission trip team soon and still have plenty of questions to ask them. For now, I understand that our team will serve in several ways, including visiting Maasai villages that are home to students in the program, commissioning and speaking in a new church established just this year through the work of KCEA and CPCC, participating in a workshop for the KCEA students, meeting and encouraging KCEA parents, and most of all sharing the love of God.
I’m so excited…and counting the days until I head to Kenya!
By now I’m sure you can see the value in finding answers to many of these questions and you are likely coming up with even more questions of your own. Feel free to reach out to me and let me know what questions should be added to this list. Also, if you have been on a mission trip I would love to hear about your experience and learn from you as well. You can contact me at travelingtanyashelburne@gmail.com.
If you would like to learn more about and support my upcoming mission trip (April 11 – 20, 2024), here are a couple of ways to do that:
- Prayer: Please pray for safe travels and good health for myself and the other 5 people who will be with me on this trip. Pray for the Maasai families that we will meet during our trip and that our interactions will be meaningful, helpful, and full of love.
- Support this mission trip: A financial gift of any amount is greatly appreciated! Go to http://www.connectionpointe.org/globalgiving/ Click the “Give to Global Missions” button, choose “Kenya KCEA April 2024”, under Mission Team Member type “Tanya Shelburne” and then fill in your information. All donations are tax deductible.
- Sponsor a student: Help a girl in Kenya have access to secondary school by sponsoring a student through KCEA at https://www.kceakenya.org/students.
Stay tuned…there are more blog posts to come about my mission trip to Kenya!
Wherever the road takes you, make it a joyous journey,
Traveling Tanya
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