Rooted in faith and a desire to help others, mission trips afford students a unique experiential academic opportunity—combining passion and social justice, faith and exploration. Whether they involve building houses in rural areas of Mississippi or running a clinic in Uganda, mission trip programs have a huge impact on the people they serve and on the missionaries themselves. When you think of this journey, you might imagine groups trekking through the rainforest, bustling urban work sites, or even quiet Bible study meetings. The cool thing is they can be all of the above! They vary widely in scope and setting, depending on your and the group’s goals. But at their heart, missions are about serving a greater need and doing so with faith.
The benefits and challenges of pursuing missions
Missioners and volunteers experience major cultural and spiritual growth, two of the greatest benefits of the work. You'll learn about a different culture through art, music, dance, food, stories, rituals, and celebrations. You will learn by reflecting, and journaling, exploring themes such as education, health, ecology, women’s issues, children, and other sociocultural issues. The whole experience is just one big chance to expand your vision of the world and your faith, and maybe work on your language skills too.
Missioners need to come to terms with the discomfort of facing poverty, the possibility of violence, and the lack of resources, all depending on the location you're volunteering in. The diverse peoples and cultures you encounter will likely be radically different from anything you’ve ever experienced before. It requires a great deal of observation, listening, and respectful navigation of cross-cultural interactions. Due to language barriers, communication can be extremely challenging. Cultural differences may leave missioners changed or even puzzled, and coming back to the US at the end of just a major culture shift may leave you with some reverse culture shock.
Related: The Benefits of College Missions and Travel Abroad
How to find a program or group
The best way to get on board with a mission trip is by asking your college or university administration, which usually will partner with an organization that serves the poor in the United States and overseas. Mission-planning organizations are often instrumental in helping student groups embark on trips. They do the prep work and then present it to the school or student group. The school or student organization provides the necessary funding. Mission organizations and participants must also work with the university’s risk management departments to cover liability. Some prominent examples include Catholic World Mission, Adventures in Missions, and Catholic Mission Trips. To choose the organization that best fits your needs and values, take the time to do some research and get to know their principles and goals.
And if your school does not offer any missionary work, it may have one or two (or 10!) volunteer clubs and organizations. Plus, there are plenty of nonprofits out there that welcome college students! Colleges and university students are a pretty ambitious bunch when it comes to volunteering, often offering service learning opportunities, where students engage in community service related to their academic studies. Many schools offer credit for service learning, including Rivier College, St. Ambrose University, and the University of Cincinnati. Just as in missions, students can serve communities both locally and abroad.
How to prepare before you leave
Start your planning and preparation by investigating the culture you're going to be immersing yourself in, the specific ethnic groups you may encounter, and the current political, social, and economic reality of the area. Figure out what ministry options are available too. While the mission planning organization will handle most of the logistical issues, you will still need to prepare in practical ways and be informed of where you're going (including researching what to pack, immunizations, travel documents, etc.).
Missions require emotional preparation too. Missionaries and volunteers need to determine why they want to have this experience. What has led them to this point? What do they hope to discover or learn from their mission? How open are they to realities that are unknown and different? How flexible and patient are they? What type of support system will they need? Missions are a deeply spiritual, even sacred, experience. When you encounter the world’s most destitute, think about grace and compassion. Think about your relationship with God and how he might manifest Himself during your mission.
Related: The Impact of the Pandemic on College Mission Trips
Opening a door
Some missions are only about hands-on mission work, where people perform a service or complete a project for a community in need. Other missions incorporate spending time with locals to learn about them and hear their stories. To really be of service, you should know the people and work with them, not for them. Developing a dialogue between the receiving group and the visitors is the key to achieving this. You aren’t going to rebuild a society in a week or solve any of its major problems in such a short time. However, you can help in small part and enter into an understanding and appreciative connection, an open door to building a more tolerant world. Short-term missions provide awareness about communities that need help and individuals who dedicate their talents to building a more compassionate world. It also opens the door to understanding the different realities the people of the world face—and the truths we all have in common.
Mission trips aren't the only way to stay connected spiritually through school opportunities. These Extracurricular Activities to Nurture Your Faith on Campus are sure to do the trick too!
