No matter your age or background, participating in a mission trip is a life-changing experience. There are few other more impactful opportunities to broaden your perspective while also safely challenging your personal comfort zones. The sense of togetherness and empowerment achieved from your work will forever remain a part of you and the way you observe the world. The thought of traveling abroad with people you don’t know for any extended period of time can, however, seem difficult and intimidating. Don’t be fooled. This is one experience you absolutely don’t want to miss out on. Here are five great reasons you should jump at the opportunity to participate in a short term mission trip, no matter how old you are or where you live.
1. Knowledge That You Made a Difference in the World
Whether you’re helping children learn to read, digging wells, or rebuilding homes after a natural disaster, the work you do on your mission trip will impact the lives of other people. The knowledge that you have made a difference, even for just a single person, will be something you can be proud of for years to come.
2. Ability to Easily Manage Your Trip around School or Work
While long term mission trips offer participants the opportunity to make change on a bigger scale, taking off from school or work for an indeterminate amount of time simply isn’t possible for everyone. Short term service trips, on the other hand, often span only 10 to 14 days and can be scheduled over holiday breaks or by using paid vacation time.
3. Opportunity to Use What You Learn Abroad When You Get Home
You will likely return from your mission trip with knowledge of and proficiency in many new things, regardless of the duration of your service. This new understanding, as well as any acquired skills, can often be put to great use at home, in your church, and within your community.
4. Chance to Explore without Long-Term Commitment to a Single Place
Traveling abroad can be scary, especially if you’ve never done it before. Opting to participate in a short term mission trip allows for a sampling of the experience and the location without making a long term commitment. Participating in several short term service trips to different places can often help you better determine what you’re meant to be doing and where you’re called most to do it.
5. Expansion and/or Revitalization of Your Faith in People
One thing is certain; joining together on mission trips for young adults and other like-minded people giving selflessly to achieve a common goal is good for the soul. Whether you’ve been feeling unfulfilled and disconnected or are simply seeking to expand upon and express your faith in other people a new way, a short term mission trip may be exactly what you need.
Contributed by Amanda Vosloh Bowyer
