Things to Consider before Your Short-Term Missions Trip

Bags packed? Check. 

Flight scheduled? Check. 

Translation app downloaded? Check.  

Cultural awareness acquired? Not yet. 

That box is a little harder to check off than the others. 

Before a missions trip, squaring away all the tangible aspects is the relatively easy part—organizing the flights, paperwork, contacts, and tasks of the journey. The difficult part is researching and gathering what’s more intangible about your host country—its worldview, clothing norms, language, spiritual practices, and customs. 

Although these more elusive aspects take time to understand and habituate, remembering them will be one of the most effective witnesses to your commitment to loving and ministering to local people in your host country. 

1. Worldview

Cultural worldview encapsulates the general perspective on age, life experiences, and beliefs. People familiar with your host country are great resources to clarify and explain what may seem to them to be common knowledge about their country. Because this new worldview will cover a wide range of people and beliefs, it may be hard to pinpoint or simplify for someone totally new to the culture they are about to encounter. To get a better understanding of a culture’s worldview, ask these questions: 

• What roles do honor and shame, fear and power, or guilt and innocence play in my host culture? 

• How do people in my host country view authority and age? 

• What about gender? 

• What is my host culture’s view of timeliness? 

• Do people relate to society as individuals, or as a collective group? 

2. Clothing Norms

We know how to pack the essentials for a trip—your Bible, ID card, an adapter plug, those backup glasses—but what about a mask? What are the expectations for dress in the host country? 

Before the local people can judge how well you speak the language, your clothes are often your first impression on your host country. Other than personal comfort, consider cultural clothing standards when it comes to … 

• Modesty, especially in regard to cleanliness or health (maybe you should bring that mask), and weather changes 

• Appropriate clothing for church, work, shopping 

• Common outfits for locals of my gender and around my age 

3. Language

OK, you’re dressed for the part, and you have a great understanding of your host country’s general perspective of the world. Now, to learn how to say, “Hi!” 

Although achieving fluency in the local language may not be feasible before you lift off for a short-term assignment, commit time to learning basic phrases to better love and respect the people you’ll serve. Before you leave, determine: 

• The primary language spoken among locals 

• Any other popular majority languages or dialects 

• Proper greetings based on age or authority difference 

• How to say, “Thank you,” “I’m sorry,” (which comes in handy if you accidentally offend or misunderstand a cultural norm) and a few other common phrases 

4. Spiritual Life & Practice

Examine your host culture’s beliefs about religion and spirituality to better understand how you may be perceived when you identify yourself as a Christian or as a missionary. This may be the start of strong bridgebuilding with those you’ll minister to, by understanding their country’s … 

• Primary religion 

• Common religious practices 

• Understanding of Jesus 

5. Customs

One culture expects strangers to bow 90 degrees at a first meeting, and another culture expects a kiss on the cheek, so understanding cultural etiquette can be key to gaining respect in your host culture. To gather familiarity: 

• Research online and ask friends from your host country about significant events on the country’s holiday calendar 

• Check Pinterest or other social media for visual examples of how locals celebrate these holidays. Ask a friend from the host culture to gauge the significance of these holidays 

• Research the expectations regarding giving and receiving gifts 

• Explore local cuisine, any allergens you should be aware of, and dining do’s and don’ts to be aware of 

Onward! 

The most important invisible aspect of preparing for your trip is prayer. Commit yourself and your efforts to the Lord, and trust that he will work through your ministry (Psalm 37:5). Pray for the locals in your host country and for their hearts, that they would recognize the truth of the Gospel as you learn a new culture and language. 

Visit team.org/trek for a free downloadable eBook and other great information about finding your call in missions.