Mission Trips to Africa

A unique way of experiencing Africa is to join as a volunteer of a Christian mission trip to countries such as Tanzania, Nigeria, and Kenya. The primary goal of these missions is to spread Christianity. However, preaching alone is not the best way to go about converting Africans into Christians.

This is why Christian missions usually involved humanitarian projects such as building construction, education, and medical services. The conversion to Christianity of societies that are firmly rooted in polytheism may not be entirely successful but the missions are still able to make a positive change.

Thus, a person joining a Christian mission trip must be aware that there are many barriers that must be conquered. He or she must be prepared physically, mentally, emotionally, and financially.

Physical Preparation

A Christian mission to Africa may be as brief as two weeks or as long as two years. Therefore, being healthy cannot be overemphasized. There are many factors that could put a person’s health to the test. The foremost factor is Africa’s climate. The hottest summer days in the United States can be considered mild in Africa. Temperatures can go higher, especially in the middle of the day. A volunteer, whose mission will last only for a month, may bring enough supply of sun protection lotion.

But if the mission is for two years, it is best to acclimatized as quickly as possible to the high tropical temperatures. It is also recommended that long-sleeved clothes are packed for the mission. Tropical Africa is unlike the Hawaiian beach. The hot sun is relentless and the exposed skin that is used to the temperate climate may get burned easily.

Christian mission trips to Africa often involve strenuous physical activities. A volunteer is actively involved building hospitals, churches, schools, and orphanages. Sometimes, a volunteer must live without washing machines and dishwashers. A mission is clearly not a leisurely trip in the park but it can certainly become the most rewarding experience in a person’s life.

Therefore, to completely embrace the experience, one must be truly healthy. Before embarking on a mission, it will be advisable to get into a fitness program that will develop strength and endurance.

Mental Preparation

A volunteer must also prepare his mind for the mission ahead. Some Christian mission trips will place the volunteers in dormitories. Others will have a generous host family for one or two volunteers. And still others will involve complete immersion in a local African community. In all situations, a volunteer will be working shoulder to shoulder with people who have different backgrounds, different beliefs, and different cultures.

Maintaining an open mind and accepting the differences will go a long way towards establishing harmonious and fruitful relationships. Therefore, a person who have too many stereotypes in mind or who have strong racist views is not the best volunteer for a Christian mission.

On the other hand, having cultural sensitivity is vital in making the mission a success. A willingness to maintain an open mind to new ideas and new ways of thinking would help improve cultural awareness. A volunteer should also acknowledge that there are many ways of accomplishing a particular goal. This is important when the volunteer works side by side with local pastors and other volunteers from other countries.

And finally, the volunteer must be mentally prepared in overcoming the biggest challenge volunteers in Christian mission trips: crossing cultural barriers. A volunteer must have a healthy attitude when dealing with cultural barriers. Expect to deal with new things. It can be frustrating at times, but it can also be worthwhile.

Emotional Preparation

Homesickness can be one of the most paralyzing emotions that will beset the volunteers especially if the Christian mission will last for more than one year. Thus, it is recommended that the volunteer must be emotionally strong even when he or she is far away from his or her loved ones.

It will also help the volunteer to focus on the present and build new friendships. Instead of wallowing in homesickness, a volunteer must be proactive and learn as much as he or she can from the mission. Many mission leaders advise that Christian mission trips is not only helping to build lives for the poor, but also developing the emotional maturity of the volunteers.

Financial Preparation

And most important of all, a volunteer must have his or her finances in order. The volunteer must ensure that there is a backup plan in case a bag, with all the credit cards and money, is lost while in transit. The organization that led the mission may cover all the basic necessities but extra funds will always contribute to the volunteer’s peace of mind.