So this is your first Mission trip: here is a woman’s guide to prepare spiritually. 

I have traveled the world and been on all types of mission trips. I studied at Youth With A Mission and have worked in ministry for 20 years. Almost all of those were on the mission field around the world. 

Since you are reading this, I imagine you are stepping out in faith and going on that mission trip soon.

What can you expect from your first mission trip? 

Well, generally expect the unexpected. Traveling to different countries and experiencing other cultures always brings elements of the unknown.

This is where the adventure with God takes us to new places of faith. 

When our faith grows, so does our lives. 

But how do you prepare spiritually for your first mission trip? 

The best start is to, 

Pray 

I am sure you have already started your journey through prayer. But go beyond and pray for more specific things related to your trip, heart, and mission. 

Pray for your heart to be opened and for opportunities to serve those around you and the team. 

Pray for those the team will serve, for opportunities to share the gospel and testimonies of God’s goodness in your life. 

After that, the next step in preparing spiritually for your mission trip is, 

Create a prayer team.

Find a group of people you trust to pray for you. Ask them to pray for you before, during, and after your mission trip.

People often forget after the mission trip, but the after can bring the most challenges. It’s when you have time to think and process.

One day on the mission field can change your life forever. 

So you have prayed and have a fantastic prayer team for your mission trip.

Now is the next step toward being spiritually prepared for your mission trip, which might bring the biggest challenge.

Here is a prayer point you can include for your trip.

Prayer Topic: Loving Others

Bible Verse: 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 – “Love is patient, Love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.”

Read the whole chapter here.

The next step on how to prepare spiritually for your first mission trip is

Overcoming fear 

Overcoming fear will help you prepare for your first mission trip. 

Deal with any fear that might hinder you or the team. 

It’s expected to be apprehensive about going somewhere new, doing new things, or traveling to a foreign country. But any fear that can hinder you or the team needs to be addressed before you go. 

Your fear won’t go away in a different country. Actually, it sometimes makes it worse. 

So many fears can affect your trip, such as fear of flying, fear of bugs, fear of the dark, and fear of eating different foods. 

We can be afraid of never-ending things in life, but an amazing God also gave us Jesus, who can help us deal with fear. 

I love this verse,

“There is no fear in Love. But perfect Love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in Love.”

I John 4:18

So, work through your fear before leaving for your mission trip. 

Process your concerns with God. And do the practical things that can bring change as well. 

Here are some ways you can do that. 

1. Identify any fear that will hinder you on your trip
2. If you have worried thoughts racing around, stop and replace them with thoughts that bring peace. 
3. Talk with someone else about your fear. (Someone you trust that will encourage you)
4. Get therapy if you need to. 

You can also check out this post about overcoming your fear of flying, which includes some principles that could apply to any fear. 

Next step to prepare spiritually for your first mission trip is, 

Journal your journey. 

I am a firm believer in journaling. I’ve journaled for 20 years, and it helps me write out my feelings, express my prayers in written form, and document my mission trips. 

I write in a journal about the trip before, during, and after. I include the people I have met and the places I have been. 

Get a journal and start writing. 

Full disclosure: I love journaling so much that I use one Old-school journal and the one on my iPhone. The iPhone journal app is excellent for writing with and taking pictures to remember those moments that changed your life on your mission trip.

The iPhone journal as a gratitude journal is great. In the evenings, I write abot the day and the things I am grateful for.

I have found the benefits of journalling in my life. Recent scientific evidence says journaling can help reduce anxiety, increase happiness, and decrease pain. All of these benefits will help you prepare for your mission trip. 

Here is a wonderful article about the benefits of journaling. 

Now to really prepare spiritually for your first mission trip you will need to,

Practice being flexible

On some levels, this doesn’t seem very spiritual, but the truth is that many things change on mission trips. Transportation, travel in general, time schedules, weather, and people all require some flexibility.  

Being flexible is a skill you can develop. It only takes a willing attitude.

If you like things a certain way and don’t like change, you might need to start practicing flexibility. 

Take some time and think about ways you will be flexible on the mission trip. This article gives some wonderful tips for becoming more flexible.

The last but maybe one of the most important parts to prepare spiritually for your first mission trip is to, 

Give grace

Give grace before, during, and after your mission trip.

In recent years, I have worked in the justice field, specifically anti-human trafficking. One mission trip I was on was to Eastern Europe, specifically Moldova. It was the saddest place I have ever been to and one of the poorest. I had lived in Eastern Europe for almost 10 years prior to going, but I never went to Moldova.

Moldova had so much human trafficking at that time that girls just taking the bus home from school could become victims. A team went down to teach job skills training to teens who had just graduated or were going to graduate soon. These girls were at the highest risk and were just about to leave the orphanages. 

Our team and the girls who participated became so attached that we sobbed for hours when we had to leave each other. 

God helped us create a lasting friendship and bond. Many of the girls went on to get jobs at coffee shops and bakeries after the camp. 

But as we returned home, it was challenging. To see a level of poverty and injustice at such a large scale was traumatic. It was hard to process my comfortable, safe life and the lives of the girls. 

So what do you do when you return home from the mission trip, and it’s hard? 

Give yourself grace, and focus on the things you were able to change and help with while you were there. 

Giving grace on your mission trip to yourself and others will change everything. Giving yourself grace to process the emotions, feelings and moving forward towards a new level of faith, will change your life forever.

Then, seek God about your next steps and whether you have a calling or an idea to help. 

Seek God. 

If your heart is in pain, seek God. And if you really feel like you need more help, go talk to someone. 

I will say in those moments when I have given others grace, I’ve never regretted it, and in those moments when I was able to give grace to myself, it prepared me for the the next things God had for me.

So remember, in the process to prepare spiritually for your first mission trip, give grace. 

Here are some helpful articles about “How to look great on your mission trip” and things you need to do before you travel internationally that could help as well.

I would love to hear about your first mission trip and where you are planning on going in the comments.