Posted on March 25, 2019.
Traveling the World when you are young, for many, is an experience that shapes who you are. How a person views life is often tied to how many different perspectives they have been exposed to. Now, traveling the world for the sake of the great commission and sharing the Gospel is a whole different story! The outreach phase of a DTS (discipleship training school) with YWAM Denver is a 2 month overseas missions trip. During this adventure, you will need to be prepared for anything and everything, so we thought we’d get you started right away.
1. Humility & Servant-heartedness
I can speak for Americans in saying that sometimes we go to the Nations thinking we can transform the whole Country by ourselves. I’ll admit that the underlying heart is good, we do have the story that brings complete transformation, but we need to remember that the greatest in the Kingdom is the servant of all. Especially when it comes to working in teams, unity should be one of our highest goals. It comes with a heart of humility ready to serve.
2. A Good Water Bottle
Especially if you’re going to a warm climate, a good water bottle is a lifesaver! I can tell you from experience, drink so much more water than you think you need to. For instance, on some of my teams, we’ve even had hydration meetings! You can’t go wrong with a Nalgene, it’s inexpensive, lightweight, and durable. Now the real trick is, not losing your water bottle through all of the outreach.
3. Teamwork
Adding onto what I mentioned earlier, a team that maintains one heart and one mind (Phil. 2:2) will have no roadblocks to advancing the Kingdom. Honestly, do whatever you have to do to keep the bond of peace. “Revival moves at the speed of FAMILY”, I don’t know if I’ve heard a statement with more truth in recent years. There really is no stopping a team where everyone feels valued for who they are.
4. A Travel Backpack
A worthy investment! Jesus is calling our generation to the unreached, talk about a practical step of obedience! Now, you’re gonna be looking for a different kind if you are going to the cities of Europe or the mountains of Nepal. Personally, I love the front-loader as opposed to a top-loader. I would recommend between 50 – 70-liter size. Get yourself a solid bag! The next much more challenging task is, learning what to pack…
5. A Durable Bible
The word of the Lord is the sword of the spirit (Eph. 6:17). What soldier would go to the front lines without their most important weapon? Let us learn how to wield the power that builds up the church and sets the Nations free. Not to mention, make sure your Bible can survive all conditions and you can pack it wherever you go!
6. The Three T’s: Travel towel, toiletries, and Toilet Paper!
The first time I packed a travel towel, I lost my mind with thankfulness! It takes up very little space, dries fast, and essential. Next, don’t count on finding your go-to toiletries on the road. Bring along enough deodorant, shampoo, toothpaste, etc. The best tip for last:
- Always have an extra roll of T.P. with you!
- DO NOT just assume a restroom is going to be stocked. Especially in remote locations.
- In most other Countries, DON’T FLUSH YOUR TOILET PAPER! (Shoutout to all my international friends)
7. Willingness to Risk
Above all, God wants to speak to us and guide our steps by the Holy Spirit. The real number one priority? Listen and obey. If it’s unknown territory and maybe a little scary, do it anyway. The most important encouragement I could give is to prepare the YES in your heart, no matter the cost.