I went on my first mission trip the summer before my first year of high school. I was so nervous; sure, I knew most of the people going on the trip at least vaguely and my mom had been roped into chaperoning, but I was terrified. I didn’t have a very clear picture of what I had gotten myself into, and that scared me. But I survived and I went on three more trips after that. So for anyone nervous about their first mission trip, here are the 10 things I wish I had known before mine.
1. Fundraising is not a party.
Let’s just acknowledge that. It takes so long and it never feels like you’re actually doing very much. It often entails waking up early to do manual labor, which is difficult. But the people you’re helping truly appreciate it and it will pay off in the end.
2. Losing your phone is hard, but you will survive.
Trust me, I understand. Whether you’re upset because you think you’ll be bored without your apps or stressed from not being able to contact your friends, having your phone taken away sucks. But I promise that you will be ok. There will be other games to play, people to talk to and your friends will still be there when your trip is over. It will be okay.
3. Just give up on the showers now.
You might be able to shower every day, you might not. Most likely, you will have time for a 5 minute shower in freezing cold water. Honestly, don’t even bother thinking about shaving. Dry shampoo will be your BFF.
4. Air mattresses are the worst.
Plan on having to re-pump it at least twice. They can also be really loud and make a lot of noise when people shift their weight in the middle of the night. If that will bother you too much, bring earplugs. On the bright side, air mattresses beat hard wooden floors hands-down, so count your blessings.
5. People make noise at night.
Whether it’s the occasional fart or constant snoring, it might happen. There’s not much you can do about that. In my experience, your day of work will be so tiring that you’ll fall asleep quickly, so it’s not a huge problem. If you’re super worried about it, though, earplugs are, again, great.
6. A deck of cards goes a long way.
There are so many different games that you can play and you can include as many people as you want. Personally, I recommend James Bond, BS and Mow.
7. Just wear the sunscreen.
Listen, I know it may not seem cool to be slathering on the white goop every 6 hours. But trust me, you will regret not wearing it when you’re twinning with a lobster.
8. Yes, you have to work. No, it’s not that bad.
Sure, you are probably going to get hot and sweaty and you might feel gross, but you will live. Physical activity is good for you now and then.
9. Don’t judge anyone.
The purpose of this trip is not to build your ego. You are not better than the people you are helping; you’re just different. Don’t write the community you are helping off. More than likely, you have different experiences and you can learn from any and all of the people you meet. Be open to these new ideas and experiences, listen to the stories and leave your ego at home.
10. You will never, ever regret it.
You are going to meet so many new people and grow closer to the people you already know. The memories you make on this trip will last forever and they will change you. How they change you, though, remains to be seen; you will have to find out. Good luck and have fun!
