During the Trip

Be loving and patient with group members and leaders. When you are tired and “out of sorts,” keep quiet and give it to the Lord. Accept His correction. Relationships are too important to injure through thoughtless words and attitudes.

Devotions

Daily team devotions are an imperative part of your day. Time will be provided each day for this. This time with God will be a valuable part in your preparations for service and ministering. Use it to prepare your mind and thoughts for the joys as well as the unexpected circumstances that may crop up during the trip.

Journal

You will want to keep a written account of your experience. Be sure to bring a notebook and pen.

Rules and Guidelines

• Team members will need to help each other maintain a quality atmosphere at all times. Encourage each other in the work you are doing.
• Team members will need to acknowledge and affirm that they will comply with the Missionary Ventures Staff.
• Group leader must know where you are at all times.
• Group leader must accompany you outside the housing complex at all times.
• When traveling, the unexpected can happen. Even though you have prayed for protection, do not “tempt God” by exposing yourself to unnecessary danger. Listen to the leadership and take their suggestions. Never wander off alone or without permission from an MV representative.
• Don’t volunteer any information to customs officials or others that may speak English. Your leader should be the only one to speak for the group.
• Don’t make promises to churches, Pastors or anyone else without the permission of your leaders and the MV representative.
• Don’t discuss pricing, wealth or how much a certain item cost that you own. Keep away from discussions that may cause a cultural gap.
• Don’t take pictures of Military persons or police.
• Fruits and vegetables may appear to be growing wild, but do not pick them. They may be someone’s income.
• If you have any money or an item you would like to leave as a gift, please leave it with the MV Representative. It will be disbursed as you wish, but discreetly. We do not wish to discourage gifts, but to direct them in a proper way.

Conduct

• As a member of the mission team, you are expected to maintain the highest standards of integrity, honesty and morality. It is our belief that all members of the mission team have reached a high level of maturity and are responsible in their behavior.
• Pray for the leaders of the trip and accept decisions made by them.
• Use the restroom before leaving your room. Always carry tissue with you.
• Absolutely no romantic involvement of any kind among singles during the mission trip. This is critical. Please don’t go if you can’t abide by these guidelines. Married couples, please realize that this trip is about working together with a team and you will not have a lot of time alone together.
• Be an encouragement to missionaries and national pastors.
• Show respect for older people in the culture you are visiting.
• Ask permission before taking pictures of people.
• Be flexible concerning time and schedule. Other cultures do not run as strictly by the clock as ours does.
• Learn a few greetings in the foreign language. Greeting the people in their own language means a lot to them.
• Stay with your group leader or translator at all times.
• You may be invited into someone’s home. Do not express shock or dismay at their living conditions. Do not go in unless you notify your group leader.
• Be observant of local customs and respect them. Never laugh at the traditions of the people. Laughter may be misunderstood. Do not do anything that would make people think you are making fun of them in any way.
• Be polite and discreet. Avoid loud conversations and arguments. If you have a complaint, please bring it in confidence to the group leader. We want your trip to be a positive experience and will help you work out whatever problems you may encounter.
• Be flexible and willing to go with change. Avoid being uptight about things you cannot control.

Lifestyle

• No illegal drugs, alcohol, or tobacco products.
• No profanity.
• No fighting.
• No fireworks or firecrackers.
• No secular music.

Before Returning Home

On the last night of the trip, the team will have a wrapup meeting. Be ready to share what impacted you the most and what you learned while on this mission trip.

Take Advantage of a Great Opportunity!

• Consider volunteering to write a short article telling about your trip, a personal experience, a touching story… Include good photos that will help describe what you write about.
  
• Any writing and/or photos should be given to your team leader at the follow-up meeting after you get home. They will be submitted to Missionary Ventures and may even be published in the quarterly Missionary Ventures Update.