Complete International Mission Trip Guide
The Significance of International Mission Trips
International mission trips are an opportunity unlike anything else. This is when a group of people, usually associated with a religion, travel to an international location with the sole intention of helping others who live in that particular destination.
These excursions can last anywhere between five days to a month, so there is a lot of flexibility with your schedule and time commitment. Some long-term missions require that travelers stay for at least two years.
International mission trips are significant because they are all about people helping people! When they are planned with care, they can be highly impactful, life-changing experiences for everyone involved.
Our Little Roses is proud to offer this exciting opportunity for anyone who wants to help our cause. In this guide, we’re covering everything you need to know about international mission trips, including benefits and how you can prepare.
Four Reasons Why Mission Trips are Incredibly Rewarding
Embarking on an international mission trip is one of the most eye-opening adventures you could ever have. While that may sound like an exaggeration, it couldn’t be further from the truth! The details of everyone’s personal experience will be completely unique to the individual.
That being said, there are many similar themes that are apparent from one mission trip to the next. People tend to travel abroad as part of an international mission trip for related reasons. Four of the most common reasons why people say that mission trips are incredibly rewarding include:
- You will expand your worldly experience
- You will change your perspective about the world
- Your faith will become stronger
- You will experience all-around growth
Expand Your Worldly Experiences
Traveling abroad is a popular key component behind international mission trips. This is not to say that you are never going to stumble upon a mission trip that is local to your country, but it is far more unlikely.
One of the main points of an international mission trip is that you are taken out of your usual surroundings and introduced to a foreign nation. Naturally, by being somewhere new, you will take in new sights and sounds, experience local traditions, and gain a broader understanding of the world. Just check out all of the incredible things to do in San Pedro Sula while on an international mission trip to Our Little Roses.
Change Your Perspective About the World
The traveling aspect aside, international mission trips will open your mind to other ways of thinking about the world. The majority of your shift in perspective will result from being exposed to lifestyles and conditions you likely have never seen before.
After seeing how other people in different parts of the world live, you will notice that there are so many ways to experience life. This level of exposure to places beyond your comfort zone will give you more insight, and as a result, your compassion and understanding will flourish.
Strengthen Your Faith
While not all international mission trips are rooted in religion, the majority of them are backed by faith. Mission trips are a chance to live out your religious beliefs and put your faith into action as you serve others in God’s name.
No matter which religious denomination you practice, participating in a mission trip allows you to treat others in a way that reflects your faith-based beliefs. Take the teachings of your church to other parts of the world and practice what your religion teaches!
Personal Growth
Not only will you experience emotional growth, but you may also notice that you’re growing in other ways, too. Maybe you’ll decide to make international mission trips an annual adventure in your life. It’s possible you’ll find yourself encouraging friends and family to embark on a mission trip of their own someday, too.
After participating in your very first international mission trip, there’s no doubt that you will value mission trips more than ever before. This is particularly true when visiting Our Little Roses. Our mission trips are life-changing for both those traveling abroad and for the girls at our Home.
How to Prepare for an International Mission Trip
When you start the planning process for your international mission trip, there are three things you should keep in mind in order to ensure everything runs smoothly for all parties.
1. Select Your Destination
Before you can set off on your mission trip adventure, you must first select a location. If you choose to align with an organization, there is a high probability that the destination is already set in stone.
For example, with Our Little Roses, Honduras is the location of the international mission trips. If you have an idea of where you would like to travel, try searching for organizations that typically travel to your destination of choice on a mission trip!
Once you have a general idea of where you want to visit, see how you can get involved through your local community organizations.
2. Familiarize Yourself with the Culture
It is incredibly important to become acquainted with the culture of wherever it is that you are going. International mission trips are intended to improve the lives of the people in the place that you visit, so as a mission trip participant, you want to do your best not to disturb the lifestyles of the people who live there already.
Do they dress in a certain way? Are there specific behaviors or phrases that are viewed as disrespectful? What language do the people speak? Questions such as these are important to think about and address prior to you traveling internationally on a mission trip.
Doing so will show that you took the time to understand the people rather than asserting yourself into another culture and expecting them to adjust.
3. Create a Travel Checklist
When traveling internationally, it is especially important you don’t forget any travel essentials that could contribute to delays or disrupt the process. Here is a checklist:
- Passport
- Driver’s license
- Travel visa: allows you to stay in a country for a specific amount of time
- Vaccination certificate (if applicable)
- Debit or credit card
- Trip itinerary
- First-aid kit
- Flashlight
- Disinfectant wipes
- Sunscreen
- Clothes, toiletries, etc.
Check these off one by one and you’re in for a smooth trip!
Plan an International Mission Trip to Honduras With Our Little Roses
If you’re looking for a life-changing and eye-opening opportunity for a mission trip, look no further than the Our Little Roses annual mission trips to San Pedro Sula, Honduras! Things pick up in the summer for the mission trip season so be sure to plan ahead.
On our mission trips, you’ll have the opportunity to meet the girls we are helping in Honduras face-to-face and witness firsthand the impact our organization makes in the lives of these young women. You will also contribute to our mission, playing games with the girls, working on spiritual growth and building relationships. Many of our mission teams return every year and have seen our girls grow up from vulnerable little girls to strong and educated young women.
You’ll have the option to stay in one of three housing arrangements:
- Mission Team B & B: most convenient option, four bedrooms with bunk beds (sleeps approximately 35 people)
- On-Site Apartment: for single travelers or additional space for groups; private one-bedroom space
- Schilling-Weeks Retreat/Training Center: more remote area, for visitors seeking a comfortable place to stay; perfect for business meetings and retreats.
- Local hotels
If you are interested in joining Our Little Roses during an international mission trip to Honduras, feel free to contact us by filling out our online form. Let us know that you are particularly interested in our international mission trip opportunities, and we will respond with details as to how you can join Our Little Roses for an international mission trip of a lifetime!