Tips for the Journey

Preparing for a Mission Trip: Outlining the Details of Your Trip

If “the devil is in the details,” then good planning should help ensure your mission trip is centered on God and Satan is kept at bay.

Once you have determined when, where, who and what you are ready to get down to the nitty gritty of planning your mission trip. There are a thousand decisions to make from how you will travel to the mission location and where will your team members sleep, to who will prepare the food and what do team members need to take with them.

The list of things your team will need to include in their project planning details includes:

• How much will it cost each individual?
• Will there be scholarships available? Who will qualify?
• When will you leave?
• When will you return?
• What transportation do you need? If you need drivers, who will they be?
• What happens in case of an emergency?
• Do you need insurance coverage for participants? Who will pay for it?
• Do you need chaperones? How many?
• Where will you stay?
  • Hotel
  • Church
  • Campground/Conference Center
  • Private homes
• What items should participants bring with them? 
  • Bible
  • Musical instruments
  • Puppets
  • Clothing
  • Tools
  • Bedding
  • Money
  • Toiletry items
• What items should participants NOT bring with them?
• Where will you eat? (If not a restaurant then…)
  • Who will cook?
  • What will you eat?
  • Who will shop? When?
  • Are there any participants with food allergies you need to plan for?
• What equipment do you need to bring with you.
  • This will depend on the type of project you will be involved with but making a list will ensure nothing is forgotten when you load up and head out
• Will you have group/individual devotions and/or worship?
  • Who will lead them?
  • Do you need printed materials?

This is not an exhaustive list but it should help you get started with your planning. You can find more ideas in the Volunteer Mobilization Project Logistics Manual see below to get a copy of the complete manual.

© 2009 Adult Volunteer Mobilization Team, NAMB. Portions taken from the: Volunteer Mobilization Project Logistics Manual. You can download the entire logistics manual from the AVM website.

If you want to read previous Tips for the Journey visit the Mission Trip Tips webpage.

Tips for the Journey are published in the Volunteers in Motion eNewsletter. To receive future issues via email click here to subscribe.