Before you go:

• Pray regularly

• Prepare your testimony and practice it

• Think about your response to some of the questions you might be asked

• Prepare some activities to do in worship eg drama/mime/songs/sermon

• But think also about how you might encourage the missionaries eg some devotional time spent with them and their children

• Decide how you are going to organise your group sharing time while you are overseas (while you’ll need to be flexible with this, it is good to have a plan)

• Spend some time thinking about what might be spiritually different

• Determine as a group what the aims of your mission trip are – and how you are going to work together to achieve them

While you are away:

• Try and maintain (or develop) your personal spiritual life – set aside time to pray and read you bible

• Use a journal – it is a great tool to assist your continued learning (and sharing) when you get back

• Personally and as a group reflect theologically together

• Work towards the achievement of your mission aims

• Spend time praying and sharing together

• Deal with conflict as it arises

• Always try and be an encouragement to your Christian brothers and sisters

• Don’t forget that ensuring you get enough sleep will help you maintain your “emotional and spiritual balance”

When you return:

• Pray regularly

• Tell the story of your trip to your church and to other groups who may be interested

• Say thank you to the people who supported you

• Write to thank the missionaries and the national people who helped make your trip happen

• If you said you would send photographs to people overseas then do send them

• Spend some time debriefing with other team members

• Take the time to decide if you want to make the changes in your life you thought you would when you were overseas