After the Mission Trip: How do I keep that spiritual high all year long?
By Jason Pfingsten
After what seems like a lifetime of thinking about going on a mission trip you decided to finally take the plunge and go. Now after all the fundraising, planning, and prayer, you’ve taken the trip—completed it this past summer. It’s in the rearview mirror.
And yes, it exceeded your expectations! It was the spiritual high you were hoping for. The difference made in the lives of those you served was quantifiable and proven through many relationships built and many tears and hugs goodbye. God moved in your life through this trip like never before. You don’t want to lose that feeling, but now as autumn has come and the days since the trip have turned to months, that amazing feeling of being close to God you felt on the trip is slipping away. What can you do to keep it from sliding away altogether?
Trust in God’s Steadfastness
First of all know that life is full of ups and downs. We feel great one day and not-so-great the next. Life is a rollercoaster. But know that through all of life’s ups and downs, God doesn’t move. He is there. In Exodus 3 God tells Moses “I am Who I am.” He always was and always will be. He is there to draw close to. He won’t move and won’t be moving.
When we have a genuine conversion and accept him as our Lord and Savior, that hope of heaven is real as well. It’s not going anywhere. We can look forward to eternity in heaven and count on it whether we are having good days or bad. There is no slipping away from heaven once you are there!
Put Things in Perspective
Hopefully this reminder that God doesn’t move puts things in perspective. Now we are starting from the right place, and we can go about building on a great mission trip experience.
Here are a few of the steps I recommend:
- Stay in touch with those you ministered to and met. Use Faceboook, email, or a periodic phone call or text to stay connected.
- Build on the relationships that grew so much with fellow group members.
- Attend church. Worship like never before.
- Have a more intense and consistent prayer time because of what you’ve experienced.
- Read and memorize scripture daily.
- Share your trip experience with others.
- Make a video of the trip and watch it periodically. Pray for those you see.
- Pay it forward. Contribute financially to other people’s mission trips.
- Go again. Make plans to lead or attend a future trip. Take people with you to experience the trip through their eyes.
- Find a way to get involved in your community and local church to serve weekly.
Ultimately your true mission field is where you live and work. Your mission field is the people you see on a daily basis. So share the gospel, spread love, serve, uplift, care for, reach out to, and minister to those you see every day.
View your 51-week-mission-field locally. Your international mission trip is a chance to expand your horizons with a one week reprieve and revival before you head back to your true mission field.
Worship the Lord and serve him … wherever you wake up.
We invite you to serve your one week per year overseas with Thirst Missions. For 2017 we’re offering amazing and life-changing mission experiences in Alaska, Belize, and England in 2017.
Jason Pfingsten is the founder and CEO of Thirst Missions.
