Your teenager may have returned from church camp with a new awareness of missions, excited and eager to be part of a mission trip in the near future. Experiences like camp often spark a passion for serving others and seeing how God is at work around the world. Or perhaps your child has not had much exposure to missions at all, but loves being involved in youth group activities. She enjoys being around people and is always quick to lend a helping hand.
So how can you help your child prepare to serve others through a mission trip?
Whether your child feels a strong calling toward missions or simply wants to participate alongside friends, preparation plays an important role in making the experience meaningful. Below are ten steps you can take to help guide and support your child as he/she gets ready to serve.
1- Participate in their decision.
Because a mission trip will no doubt be a life-changing experience, the decision to participate is very important. Your participation in this decision is vital. Consider the timing of the trip and the maturity of your child.
Discuss ways a mission trip could benefit both your child and the ones being served. Allow your child to share concerns or reasons for fear. Ask thought-provoking questions such as “what might you learn from your experience?” and “how might this change your outlook on life?” Share personal stories about your experiences.
Pray with and for your teenager. Involve the entire family through family prayer and devotion time. Knowing the family is behind their decision will provide affirmation and support for the student.
Experiencing hands-on mission work for the first time can be one of the most impactful experiences in one’s life.
2 – Challenge your teenager to prioritize pre-trip meetings.
The youth pastor or group leader responsible for the mission trip will undoubtedly hold meetings and require certain preparations for participants. Attendance at these meetings is crucial. Stress the importance of these times for gathering information, group bonding, planning the work to be done and spiritual and emotional readiness. Work with your child to clear their schedule and place the dates for these meetings on their calendar in advance.
3 – Raise financial support, if necessary.
If you and your child are responsible to pay for the trip, prepare a support letter, pray about who to send it to, and mail the letter a few months before the trip. Remember as money comes in to send thank you notes. In addition, encourage your teenager to save as much money as possible. You might also consider holding fund-raising events such as a yard sale or bake sale.
4 – Research the trip location.
Plan a time where you and your teenager learn together about the area where he/she will be serving. Look for details about the climate and terrain, the culture and the lifestyle, and needs of the people. Search the internet for this information or talk to others who may have been in the same area on previous mission trips. Your child will need to know this to properly pack and discover how to best serve these people.
5 – Assist your child with packing.
Together, make a checklist of items to pack. Be resourceful with what you have. Think light-weight and appropriate. Pack only those items your child will need and try not to over pack. Easy care clothes that are practical and adequate for more than one function are best. Remember to mark your child’s bags with some distinguishing mark.
Packing a backpack or small bag is a great idea. Here are some possible contents: cell phone, ipod, medications, empty water bottle, snacks, reading material, journal, eye cover and ear plugs for sleeping, toothbrush and toothpaste, comb/brush, cash and/or ATM card, lip balm, sunscreen, small Bible, hand sanitizer, disposable face wash cloths, and sunglasses. Be sure to include a favorite pillow and comfortable blanket.
6 – Provide spiritual guidance to your teenager.
Your child will need to be prepared spiritually for this experience. One idea for this is to create a Scripture journey toward the trip. Prepare a chart beginning thirty days before leaving and assign each day with an Old Testament and a New Testament reading. Work with your teenager to prepare a prayer list for each of the thirty days leading up to the trip. Assign a day to each member of the team, the missionaries and contacts on the trip, the people who will be ministered to and safety during travel and the stay. Lead your teenager to journal at least weekly during the five weeks before the trip.
7 – Work with your child in sharing their testimony.
Your child may have an opportunity to share Christ with someone on the trip. One way to do this is through their testimony. Lead your child to write their testimony of Christ’s work in their life. Instruct them to begin with their life before Christ, the decision to accept Christ and what He is currently doing in their life. Encourage them to practice sharing this with you and family members. Then, equip them to share the gospel using an approach such as the 3 Circles.
8 – Facilitate training in your child’s specific work assignment.
Once team member assignments have been made and your child has an idea of what he/she will be doing on the trip, some training may be needed. For example, if your child will be working with children, help them gain experience working with children at church or in an after-school program. If they will be doing yard work, demonstrate how to use the equipment they will be using and allow them to practice using it.
9 – Ensure your teenager has a passport and proper vaccinations (international only).
See that your child has his/her photo taken for a passport. Complete and mail paperwork for the passport as soon as possible to make sure you get it back well before leaving for the trip. Getting the passport last minute or not in time could cause a major snag.
Your youth pastor or group leader will more than likely know the needed vaccinations your child will need. If not, your doctor should be able to go online to the CDC to discover the necessary ones. Schedule an appointment for the vaccinations and take your child to the doctor for these shots.
10 – Send off your child in trust and support them while away.
When the day of departure arrives, accompany them. Pray with them before they leave. Take photos to create memories for the future. While your child is gone, pray for them daily. If he will have access to a computer and the internet, email them. If the group does not create a blog to record their experiences, do so for or with your child. If this is done, check it and post on it regularly.
Experiencing hands-on mission work for the first time can be one of the most impactful experiences in one’s life. When your teenager returns from the trip, encourage them to debrief and process their experience. Assist them in knowing how what they experienced can change who they are and how they live their life. Help them think through practical ways they can carry the heart of that mission experience into their everyday life back home.
