Spring Break Mission Trips

I am not christian but i have a christian best friend and we both want to go to 3rd world countries or any other suffering countries to help them from poverty, hunger, or natural disasters, but we don’t know where to find one. usually some mission trips are conducted by churches, i honestly don’t mind that but my goal is more of a helping experience and not to spread a specific religion. I just want to help and have fun giving people an opportunity to live.

Funding Your Volunteering Trip Abroad
(includes information on where to find credible programs)

http://www.coyotecommunications.com/stuff/fundingabroad.html

Volunteer Abroad

http://www.coyotecommunications.com/volunteer/international.html

transire benefaciendo
"to travel along while doing good."

http://www.coyotecommunications.com/travel/go_and_do_good.html

Community Service and Volunteering by Teens: How to Find Opportunities

http://www.coyotecommunications.com/stuff/teenvolunteers.html

Very detailed information that discusses your many, many options – the usual and many activities you probably never thought of.

I go to an Assembly of God church in the United States and im interested in getting my church to go on a 3rd world mission trip. Our church doesn’t have many youth but through school Im trying to bring more in. I have friends that are attending with me sometimes. Im not forceful with my religion or anything like that everyone has there beliefs im just wondering if you anyone can find information on how to raise awarness, money, pass it through the Church Board and go on a misson trip with the youth to open people in out communities lives. I would like to go through World Vision if possible. Any information or Websites would be very helpful.

You can always talk to freedom flyers. They have all sorts of information on those sorts of things.
They can help you all the way including with visas and such.
You can email them on freedomflyer@aol.com.au or ring them on 316 541 1362.
They arent always at the phone because they are based in Australia but leave a message and they always get back to you quick smart.
They can also find missions that will suit your specific needs and requirements as well and they may be able to help with funding the trips.
Talk to them and see what you come up with.
Hope that helps.

They’re terribly selfish and if you disagree, you are nothing short of wrong.

There are three things you need to go on a mission trip…

- An outrageous ego (to have the audacity and nerve to spread the "truth")
- A camera (to take pictures of brown kids to post on Facebook)
- Your worst clothes (to pretend to make the poor feel comfortable)

What’s the point, guys? I don’t get it. Just send money abroad. You’re wasting your time…

That depends on the reason why you are going. If you are just trying to build your resume, then yes, you are correct. But if you are going to actually make a difference, then you are dead wrong. Missions are what you make them.

I’ll be 16 next month and entering sophomore year. Life is to short and I want to serve God as much as I possibly can, by spreading the gospel as well as helping the less fortunate. I’m very interested in going on a missions trip my junior year, wether it be over easter break or during the summer. Does anyone know of any Christian organizations that take teens on mission trips in different countries ( I live in California by the way). It would be very much appreciated if you could add the website and/or details. Thank you so much!

You should ask the youth director and/or missions leader at your church. If your church is not currently involved in missions, then perhaps you could get it started or ask if they can refer you to a sister church that you could participate with.

My 13 year old daughter and I (she will be 14 by then) are going to China next summer. We are going with a Christian organization called Bring Me Hope (their website is .org, and they are also on Facebook) that does VBS type summer camps where they bus in orphans. The missionaries/volunteers spend a week (or more) showing the love of God and family to these children as well as the translators, etc.

You can check out NAMB (North American Mission Board) and IMB (International Mission Board) for links to their missionary opportunites for various ages and locations.

Teen Missions International is one I know of.

If you are interested in Bring Me Hope, send me a private message and I can give you more info or you can check out their website/Facebook page.

I’m looking for an opportunity to go to a foreign country and do some mission work (specifically nutrition-related), but everything I find is short term. I know there are long term options but can’t find any. Help!

That’s because they aren’t called "mission" trips. They are called "international development" or "international aid" consulting.

If you have a background in nutrition education, particularly in low-literacy areas, you can see paid jobs and volunteering gigs at ReliefWeb (under "vacancies")

Also see:

How to Pursue a Career with the United Nations
or Other International Humanitarian or Development Organizations,
Including Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)

http://www.coyotecommunications.com/stuff/workabroad.shtml

Volunteering Abroad

http://www.coyotecommunications.com/volunteer/international.html

I am an 18 year old and I just got back from my first missions trip. I went to Jamaica and I hope to take another trip next summer. The only problem is that I don’t know where to go. I want to stay for about 6 weeks and I would love to work with kids, on minor construction projects, in churches, or pretty much anything. I also don’t know which organization to work with. I went with CSI (Christian Service International) this summer but they have limited locations

I know some people will just say to stay around my community, but I work locally all year and I want to take a missions trip on my vacation. Any advice on where to go, who to work with, or even stories of how your own trips went would be really helpful. Thanks!

Try this Christian missions organization, and pray to see if it might be for you: http://www.ntm.org

Over spring break my church is going on a mission trip to Belize. I just quit travel softball so my parents have a little extra money to help my out (its $1200). I’d be coming up with most of the money by myself…they’d just pay for my passport and shots. I already have close to $700 and Could easily get about $300 for christmas then do fundraisers and borrow the rest from my grandpa if I’m still short. I do believe God will provide a way for me to get the money but my mom is worried about my safety. I’ll be with adults she’s known forever and trusts and my church has gone before and nothing bad happened. How could I convince her there’s not much bad going on in Belize she has to worry about? Any suggestions (fundraisers, convincing her, whatever..)

In regard to convincing her, I would visit the travel.state.gov website and find the information they give for Belize and present that to her. I would also set up a conference for her to talk with the person in charge of the trip (I am sure they have procedures in place to address the concerns of parents). Let her know that you understand her concern and do not try to pressure her into agreeing, but convince her- in a mature and responsible manner- of the good. In fact, why not invite her to go with you on the trip (my daughter and I are going to China next summer for a missions trip- it can be a great bonding experience).

As for fundraising, after you have permission to go then start saving immediately. Here are some ideas:

1. Give up something you do for your trip. If you go to the movies weekly, start skipping that and put the money you would spend on the ticket, drink, popcorn, etc. toward the trip.

2. With your parents permission, have a yard sale. Get rid of any items th at are no longer wanted or needed. You can solicit donations from your family, friends, neighbors, church members, etc. and sell those at your yard sale as well. And, instead of putting prices on the items consider asking for donations- you are likely to raise a lot more that way.

3. Work. Babysit. Mow lawns. Shovel snow. Walk dogs. Wash cars. If you are old enough, get a part time job.

4. Solicit sponsors. Send letters to family, friends, neighbors, church members, local businesses, etc. Detail your trip and ask if they would like to sponsor. You can find examples online (search for mission trip sponsor letters) and then customize to fit your needs.

5. Sell arts and crafts- maybe you can paint or maybe you can make bead necklaces or whatever, but use it and sell on Craigslist or eBay.

6. Host several events, such as a Spaghetti supper or an Ice Cream Social. At the Spaghetti Supper, serve spaghetti, garlic bread, salad, perhaps corn or cucumbers (I like them sliced and in vinegar with a little pepper). At the ice craem social, have an ice cream bar with vanilla ice cream and various syrups (chocolate, strawberry, caramel), sauces (hot fudge, caramel, strawberry), toppings (whip cream, nuts, sprinkles, cookie crumbs, cherries). Ask for donations.

If you have not been school shopping yet, see what you can make do with that you already have and check otu Goodwill for the rest- and put the money you would have spent on new clothes into the fund for your trip.

Since it is a church trip, look into having your church participate. The pastor might agree to be "kidnapped" or "arrested", for instance, and then the congregation donates money to ransom or bail him- proceeds going toward the trip, of course.

Get familiar with rules now- obtaining yoru passport, visa (if required), vaccinations (if required), baggage limits and requirements, etc.

Best wishes!

I REALLY would like to go to UF…the only problem is that I don’t really know my chances of getting in! I’m an upcoming senior Class of 2010, and will be applying early to UF. I took the SAT last year and got an 1890 (660 on math, 660 on writing, 570 on reading). I took honors history and english for each of my freshman and sophomore years, and took AP Physics and AP Stats my junior year, and passed both exams with 3′s. I will take AP Calc next year, along with either AP Bio or AP Comp. My unweighted GPA is 3.6874, and my "UF weighted GPA" is 3.9375 (adding on weights for AP’s and honors).

I have been a member of my school’s basketball team for all three years, on the tennis team my sophomore year, on the soccer team for my soph. and junior years, and was the football mascot my junior year. All of these sports took up a LOT of my time. I was also in the Future Business Leaders of America for all of my high school years, as well as NHS for my junior year. I have completed 70+ hours of community service…I helped with Vacation Bible School in my community and went on a mission trip to Slovakia with a youth group for my Spring Break.

Think I have a good shot? Thanks for your time and advice!

uf is getting more selective. But at the same time you have good grades, and extra activities under your belt. If you don’t get accepted, go to Santa Fe college in gainesville. Before it became a college this past year it was ranked the top community college in america. and it still offers community college credits. You can do 2 years there and easily get accepted into UF

For example, I know people who have gone to Germany, Ireland, and Greece on mission trips. I don’t understand why anyone would go to a country that already has a majority Christian population and/or can/does take care of its own poor/sick/homeless/etc to do "God’s work." Shouldn’t these people be putting more effort into countries in Africa or Asia instead? If they are going to do mission work in an industrialized Christian country, why not just do it in America and help their own country? It seems to me like these people are just looking for an excuse to say they’ve been on a mission trip but are actually more interested in leisurely travel and their own safety.

Because its fun to take a vacation on another cool country instead of actually sacrificing your time to help others.

i can’t afford the trip(a $365 trip), and they keep sending emails asking if i’m going and I don’t know what to say…i can’t ask my parents because they’d feel really bad that they can’t send me on a mission trip.

Sorry, thats to bad. If I had teh money I would help u out. Take Care