Going on an international mission trip can be a life-changing experience for students. It offers unique experiences for personal growth, immersing in new cultures, and growing spiritually. These trips not only allow students to serve others and make a tangible difference in the world but also challenge them to step out of their comfort zones and gain new perspectives on life.
Last summer, several students from Abundant Life’s student ministry, Fusion, went on a mission trip to Harmons, Jamaica. While on the trip, they did everything from building houses and repairing roads to eating meals and sharing the gospel with locals. Their experiences allowed them to return home with renewed faith, and burden to share the gospel, and a deeper appreciation for life’s blessings. As they reflected on how this international mission trip impacted them, they shared their stories of life change.
Why Did You Go on an International Mission Trip?
Each of the students had a different reason for going on a mission trip, but they all affirmed that it was life-changing for them in various ways:
“My parents were the ones that prompted me to go on a mission trip…I didn’t really expect to get anything out of it, but the experience was life-changing in so many ways.”
“The main thing that prompted me to go on a mission trip was the special guests from Jamaica and Kenya who came to Fusion to speak about the poverty and the need for Jesus in their home countries. I felt a giant tug on my heart that told me I could go and make the difference they needed.”
“What originally sparked my desire was watching my brother go to Africa on a mission trip when he was in high school. He always talked about how fun and eye-opening the trip was. As I got older and listened to the stories of life change, that desire grew.”
“I wanted to go on a mission trip to experience the movement of the Lord and to serve people and show the love of Christ.”
The Transformative Power of a Mission Trip
While on their mission trip, the students encountered poverty at a different level than they had ever seen. They were immersed in the Jamaican culture and got to be the hands and feet of Jesus by doing construction work, praying for people, worshiping with them, and sharing the good news of the gospel. The international mission trip gave the students experiences to grow in four different ways:
- Show the love of Christ to others.
International mission trips give students an opportunity to practice loving like Jesus. Jesus loved selflessly by pouring into others and serving them. The students shared some of the ways they shared Christ’s love with the people they ministered to.
“When our group went to Jamaica, we went to a place where old or disabled people went for help because they had no one to help them, such as family members or close friends. We went there and sang worship songs and prayed over the people and some of us also went and washed some of the elderly's feet…One of the coolest things we did was we went to some of the local's houses and prayed for them.”
“We did everything from helping build the foundation of a home for a single mom and her two children, repairing a road so citizens could more easily get to church, and walking around the small town to meet families and shop owners and hear their stories. Everyone in Harmons, Jamaica, knew each other like one big family, and for a week, we got to be a part of that.”
“We repaired roads, hauled concrete, built a house, went on prayer walks through the village, and prayed over the individuals in the infirmary along with reading scripture over them, providing foot care, and worshiping in their rooms with them.”
- Grow your relationship with the Lord.
One student shared how this international mission trip challenged her to grow in humility and surrender to the Lord.
“Over that week in Jamaica, I really had to lay down control over certain aspects in my life. I think this trip was the first time I truly surrendered every single aspect of my life to God. In that time, I grew more dependent on God, and when I got home, He began to point out areas in my life that I needed to let go of. After seeing how good He is and how well He provided for all of us on this mission trip, it was easier for me to let go of things I had been holding on to.”
- Come back changed.
A mission trip changes the way you look at the world because it takes you out of your comfort zone and challenges your worldview.
“I take things for granted a lot less, seeing what I have compared to other people and the joy that they have with so little, and how I can be so ungrateful for things people would dream to have. It’s a life-changing trip…you’ll get to grow in your relationship with the Lord more than you know and come back changed in more ways than you can think.”
“I realized what I had and how fortunate I was for what God had given me and I felt convicted that I was not giving what I had to the church to help those people. I began to tithe a lot more and I would always remember to pray for the people in that country so they may get by with what they have and what I may be able to give.”
“Coming home was harder than I thought it was going to be. My heart was broken for the people of Harmons, and I wanted to go back and do more. I saw people desperate for the Lord. Desperate for prayer and to hear Scripture. I left with a heart more burdened to go out and share with others about the Lord.”
- See God at work in a different culture.
God is at work all around the world. Going on an international mission trip opens your eyes to see Him working in the lives of people who are not near you or like you.
“One of the last days in Harmons, a group of us went on a prayer walk where we met families and locals. We were able to pray over many of them, but some of the most impactful moments were when a family invited us to sit down so they could share the goodness of God with us, how the Lord was faithful in their trials and blessed them with things that weren’t physical but held so much more value than anything this world could offer.”
“My favorite memory from the trip was getting to work alongside the locals. Every day, we met new people, heard their stories, prayed over them, and worked with them.”
Why Should a High School Student Consider Going on a Mission Trip?
After their international mission trip, these students were eager to share the joys of mission trips with others. They gave some encouragement to students who are considering going on one:
“Going on a mission trip will get you out of your comfort zone, grow you in your dependence on God, and strengthen your faith in Him. This mission trip taught me that the goodness of God appears in so many different ways. It gave me an appreciation and awe for His timing and provision for His people. If you’re considering going on a mission trip, you should definitely do it. But don’t go for yourself; go for the purpose of furthering His Kingdom. Go expecting Him to move in mighty ways, because He will always surpass your greatest dreams.”
“Another high school student should go on a mission trip just to see how other cultures and countries live so they might be humble and learn to be more grateful for what God gave them…Also, when high schoolers go on mission trips they connect better with the kids and with some younger adults. We can relate to them and then better understand how to make that lasting impact whilst preaching the gospel.”
“All high school students should consider going on a mission trip because it really is life-changing. I heard all the stories growing up but it didn’t become real until I went and experienced it. One of the leaders in Jamaica told us, ‘There’s no growth in the comfort zone, and no comfort in the growth zone,’ and that couldn’t be more true. It might seem scary now, but I promise it’s so worth it and will grow you more than you could imagine.”
Are you considering going on an international mission trip? Check out the list of trips Abundant Life is planning to take this year and put your faith in action!