One of my favorite parts about doing mission work are the friendships I’ve developed along the way.
Of course nothing can compare to the experience of helping others, telling people about Jesus, and witnessing them give their lives to Christ, but coming home with new friends all across the world is something I will always cherish.
On mission trips you have the opportunity to meet a lot of people.
There are the local volunteers that assist with the outreach, the people you may meet at the local village church everyone attends, and the people that translate for you or drive you around. The opportunities to develop friendships are endless! And with today’s technology, it’s easier than ever to keep in touch after your mission trip is over.
8 years ago I met Aude.
He was my translator on one of our trips, and we quickly became friends. Many of our conversations focus on our love of Jesus and I treasure our friendship! His father has experienced health issues the past few months and I’ve been able to pray along with him. I love that we can keep in touch, pray for, and encourage each other even though we are miles apart!
Because of mission work I have made lifelong friends all over the world, and I am so grateful to have so many friendships!
Many of the Christians we meet in third world countries are the minority. They need our encouragement and prayers, and love being able to keep in touch with other Christians from all over the world as well.
When someone returns from a mission’s trip, they have an incredible experience that’s hard to put into words. They want to share, but they don’t always know where to start! There is so much to unpack from a life-changing experience. We know that you want to be the listening ear that your loved one needs, so we want to help! The best way to help someone open up about their mission’s trip experience is knowing the right questions to ask. This post will help you know eight questions to ask after a mission’s trip!
What was your favorite part about the country?
Your loved one will have had a unique cultural experience being in another country and will have hopefully learned some new things from their time spent overseas. Challenging them to think of their favorite parts of the country will help open the doors to them sharing with you about their overall experience.
2. What was the team like that you worked with? Tell me about the people that you met!
Relationships are built on a mission’s trip — some long-lasting! It’s important for a person returning from a trip to be able to share about those they met along their journey. Give them the chance to open up about their team and how they worked together and the impact they made! They will appreciate being able to introduce you to the new people they care about!
3. What surprised you about the culture?
There’s always something to learn about a new culture. The person who went on a mission’s trip may not have had the chance to spend time reflecting on the cultural things they learned, so the question of “What surprised you about the culture?” is a great way to get them thinking and to help you learn more about another culture as well! It’s a win-win!
4. What was difficult about the mission’s experience?
A mission’s trip experience is not smooth sailing. There are difficulties faced whether it’s with possible culture shock, conflict within the service team, or a hard time taking in all the learning that comes from stepping outside of your comfort zone. Acknowledging the hard while also discussing the ways they have grown is beneficial to the one returning from a mission’s trip.
5. What is God teaching you from your experience?
There is always a lesson that God is teaching in difficult experiences. Sometimes the person gains a newfound appreciation for their blessings when they see the joy on the faces of those who don’t have as much. Sometimes the person overcomes difficult obstacles and gains a stronger sense God’s provision and grace. Be open and willing to hear how God is working in your loved one’s life!
6. What do you want to put into place to remember this experience?
Some people bring home souvenirs from a trip. Others spend time journaling and keep the notes from their experience. Whatever it is, remind your loved one about the importance of putting something in place to remember the mission’s trip experience!
7. How did God change your view of the world?
There is rarely a participant on a mission’s trip who doesn’t come back changed from the experience. Be willing to ask your friends how their world view was changed from the mission’s trip participation. This will open the door to a conversation that will not only help your friend process the depth of his/her experience but can also teach you a new view of the world you may never have considered before!
Use these seven questions to help support your loved ones when they return from a mission’s trip and tell us in the comments how it goes!
(Note: during your preparations, remember, this one-page trip planner makes it easy!)
But after a mission’s trip, you will experience the longing to continue supporting missions and wonder what you can do to stay involved! You will have been changed from the inside out after your trip, but you can’t stay forever. Here are a few tips for how to continue supporting missions upon your return:
1. Pray for missions.
Prayer is our most powerful weapon. We may not be able to be face to face with the people in the places we have served, but we can pray for them and those who work in the field. We can also pray for those who have yet to make the decision to go on a missions trip. Pray their hearts will be opened to how the Lord wants to use them. If you’re wondering what to pray for, here is a list of 31 ways to pray for missions.
2. Become an advocate.
Spread the word! Bring awareness to those you have served — what are their struggles? What can people do to help? Others may not share your experience, but they can connect through your story. Speak at events, share a post-trip email with those who supported you, get people on board to go on the next trip! Do whatever you can to advocate for missions experiences.
What has God shown you on your trip?
Why would others benefit from a similar experience?
What needs remain in other parts of the world and how can YOU make a difference?
3. Give.
FInancial support is often a huge need in ministry. You won’t be able to attend all the mission’s trips, but you can help support what we do onsite! Give a part of your income regularly to the mission’s field to ensure that the Gospel continues to be shared and spread. Or support someone’s mission’s trip fundraiser to help others share your same experience.
Don’t just give your money, but give your time! Help others as they prepare for a mission’s trip experience. Give them guidance and support. Your words are valuable as you’ve already been where they plan to go.
Follow these three suggestions to continue supporting missions even after you return home. And even if you haven’t been on a mission’s trip, you can follow these three steps to support missions from right where you are!
A transformation after a mission’s trip, whether it be because of what you offered to others or experienced individually, will make re-entry back to your everyday life more difficult. It’s as if you are stuck in the same life but are a completely different person. How do you navigate this? The blinders to poverty and cultural differences have been removed, and you can’t go back to your regular life without addressing the changes.
You will typically experience four phases after a mission’s trip.
Phase 1: Debriefing
It’s important to not jump straight back into your routine without debriefing your experiences on the mission field.
Ask yourself…
What experiences stand out?
What parts of your trip do you want to capture and remember?
Choose experiences that need further processing, and then dive into phase two.
Phase 2: Processing
There is a fine line between debriefing and processing. Processing is one step deeper. You can sit in a group and debrief an experience by talking about all the details, but to actually process something is to get to the root of the impact.
Ask yourself…
Why did those experiences stand out?
What have you learned about God?
Phase 3: Navigating
After processing the impact of your mission’s trip, the next part is figuring out how you will navigate your life with all the new knowledge! Cultural frustrations may set in, and you’ll find yourself frustrated that the people around you don’t seem affected by what’s happening in the world around them. Though you can’t change everyone else, you CAN navigate how to move forward.
Ask yourself…
What does your new normal look like?
How do you want to impact the people around you based on your experience?
Phase 4: Action
This is the most important step to move forward! You can make progress internally, but one must take action! Some people choose to take action by ignoring what they experienced and getting on with their lives, but consider actively implementing changes. Allow your mission’s trip to help you live a life of active intention.
Ask yourself…
What change do you want to implement into your life?
What impact can you make as a result of your experience?
What’s next?
Allow yourself to go through each of the four stages as you reenter your new normal. It’s okay to be impacted and allow yourself to live differently.
Do you have a different strategy for your re-entry process? Give us some pointers in the comments about your re-entry process following a mission’s trip.
