You’ve said yes to going. Now what?

Whether you’re heading to a rural community in Appalachia, serving alongside local leaders in Costa Rica, or preparing for an immersive experience in Fairbanks, Alaska, getting ready for a mission trip can feel both exciting and overwhelming.

At Adventures in Missions, we don’t just send people to new places. We prepare them to go well – spiritually, practically, and relationally.

This is your behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to get ready for an Adventures mission trip.

Step 1: Apply for a Trip

It starts with a yes. Once you’ve found a trip that fits your heart and schedule, submit your application online. Our team will walk you through every step from there, including interviews (when applicable), payments, and paperwork.

Step 2: Build Your Support Team

Mission work is a team effort. Adventures provides tools and coaching to help you raise financial support and prayer partners. We equip you with:

• A personal fundraising page
• Email and letter templates
• Best practices for sharing your story

You’ll be surprised how many people want to come alongside what God is calling you into.

Step 3: Prepare Your Heart

Before you pack a bag, we’ll invite you to slow down and listen. Take some time with the Lord, open your heart to His will, and ground yourself in scripture. Identify your motivations for going and dive into helpful resources like the books When Helping Hurts by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert or Foreign to Familiar by Sarah A. Lanier.

Step 4: Learn About the Culture

Every destination is unique. You’ll receive resources to help you understand the culture you’re stepping into so you can serve with humility, learn with openness, and connect more deeply with the people you meet.

Step 5: Pack with Purpose

Adventures provides a trip-specific packing list so you’ll know exactly what to bring (and what to leave behind). You’ll pack light, but intentionally. Clothes for work and worship. A Bible. A journal. And a willingness to be flexible.

Step 6: Go. Serve. Grow.

Then it’s time to go. You’ll live simply, serve passionately, and come face-to-face with what it means to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Every trip looks different, but all are built on the same foundation: presence, partnership, and transformation.

Featured Destinations

Appalachia
Long-lasting misconceptions and myths about the remoteness, temperament, and conduct of its residents have their roots in Appalachia. On this trip, your team will work alongside churches and ministries that are bringing hope and renewal to some of the most overlooked communities in the U.S.

Costa Rica
Costa Rica is a nation in North America’s Central America region, bordered to the north by Nicaragua. Known for its beauty and biodiversity, this country also holds deep spiritual hunger. Serve through children’s ministry, evangelism, and supporting local churches and leaders.

Fairbanks, Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the U.S., covering more land than the next three largest states combined. But in Fairbanks, you’ll find small-town need. Come alongside long-term missionaries, host VBS for kids, and encourage rural churches in a region marked by both beauty and isolation.

Navajo Reservation – New Mexico
On the Navajo Reservation, your team will step into generational stories of resilience and faith. Partner with local ministries to serve, learn, and honor one of the oldest living cultures in North America.

Preparing for a mission trip is about more than logistics; it’s about readying your heart to see the world through God’s eyes.

Take your first step toward an experience that will stretch your faith, deepen your purpose, and change the way you see the world.

Learn more about our upcoming trips and find the one that’s right for you.