International travel can be intimidating, whether it is for a mission trip or not, whether it’s your first time or not. Here are some of my top tips to make the process less stressful.
Make a Checklist.
It is important to make a list of all essentials that you check off before you leave your house. Put “passport” on the list twice. There is nothing worse than leaving for the airport and realizing thirty minutes down the road that you left your passport.
Prepare Your Heart.
We must prepare spirituality, mentally, and physically for our international trips. Take the time to lean into your devotional life before departure. If you do not have a consistent routine of meeting with the Lord it will be very difficult for you to develop one on the trip, so start right now by asking the Lord what He has for you on this trip. Write down what He speaks and allow the Lord to prepare you for how He is going to use you on your trip.
Pro Tip: Check out the 40-day devotional Before You Go by Jack Hempfling. It is a great book to process through before your mission trip.
What to Bring.
Global Passion trip participants receive a packing list for their trip; so, if you are traveling with us, make sure you bring everything on the list. However, there are some essentials that you may not find on a Global Passion packing list. Here are some things to consider:
A hand fan. There is nothing worse than getting on to a hot airplane for ten hours. A collapsible hand fan will make all the difference for the plane ride and once you arrive in country, especially in the humid, summer locations.
Something of comfort, one or two small things that will bring you joy while traveling. I once had a girl on a team in Fiji that brought a jar of Hershey’s hot fudge. Every day she would eat a scoop and it brought her great joy.
A travel bible. A smaller bible made for traveling is much lighter and easier to manage.
A cooling towel and sweat cloth. I always bring clean sweat cloths on trips. I typically bring thin washcloths. One for every two days. You can also purchase a cooling towel. They are special towels that you put some water on, snap tight, and then they feel cool.
A portable charger. Some places we go to power is intermittent. If you have devices you want to keep charged bring a charger. I recommend doing your research and get one that meets your needs.
Fruit snacks. Fruit snacks are delicious and often contain your daily value of vitamin C. Staying healthy is crucial on a trip. It’s even better when it is delicious. I could go on and on about things to consider bringing.
The point is there is always one more thing we could bring. Trust your outreach coordinator, follow the packing list you receive, and you will have an excellent trip.
Airport Life.
Arrive at the airport at least three hours prior to departure. Trust me. It is better to have some time to hang out at the airport then be running through a terminal hoping that you make it on to your flight. You are often part of a team, and as a team leader, it is one of the most stressful things when you are waiting for an individual to arrive when you have 20 other people waiting.
Pro Tip: You can bring any food you want through airport security. Yes, even pizza! If you know you will have some time, swing by your favorite spot on the way to the airport and pick up some food to go.
Packing.
If this is your first trip, put everything out on your bed that you think you need to bring. Then put half of it away. We often think we need to bring more than we do. I am a what if packer and have a tendency to pack things that I will never even touch on a trip. Stick to the essentials and do not over pack. I would encourage to start packing at least three days before your departure. This gives you time to go through your checklist, find the best packing method, and gives you time to go get anything you are missing.
Pro Tip: pack an extra set of clothes in your carry-on bag in case your checked luggage gets lost.
On the Flight.
When on a long flight make sure you get up often and walk around to keep your blood circulating well. Let’s just say I learned this one the hard way. Flights are also a great time to read that book you haven’t gotten around to, to take some time to study your bible or to listen to that podcast you have always wanted to hear. Plan out your time well on a long flight. Being proactive in filling your time on a long flight will eliminate boredom.
Pro Tip: Make a playlist for your trip filled with worship music on Spotify and download it for offline use.
International travel can be intimidating but it does not have to be. These are just a handful of things that have helped me in all of my travel over the years. Every moment is an opportunity. Embrace the moments of your trip and make the best of every situation. You never know what the Lord may have in store while you are enjoying a snack at the airport food court.
