Mission2go > Spiritual and Mental Travel Preparation for Christian Adventurers
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Prayer
Prayer (interacting with God), is a privilege
given to Christians. Unlike the impersonal god of many religions, the scriptures
reveal a God who knows us, who desires a relationship
with us, and who is interested in how we live out our belief.
So, as it is written, we should "pray without ceasing" , inviting the Spirit of God to intervene in all of our activities. Travel involves unknown situations that lead to new and challenging experiences. These unknowns are part of the excitement and the sense of adventure experienced in travel. Faith is built as you see God's leading and granting of wisdom to handle these situations in accordance with your prayers. So for the Christian traveler, prayer is both a matter of travel preparation and day to day living.
One aspect of prayer that should not be overlooked, particularly for those doing Christian service work, is to find individuals who will bring requests before God on your behalf. The scriptures tell of another spirit (Satan), who always resists our efforts to help people properly relate to God. Prayer is the key to dealing with this adversary. However it works, scripture makes it clear that the prayers of the saints do not fall on deaf ears, and have an impact on the "working out" of our salvation. It's safe to say that most of the great Christian workers would rather be limited in funding than limited in the prayers of fellow Christians.
Know What You Believe
As a Christian, when you travel you are an ambassador for Christ. That is, you represent Him and the Christian faith to those with whom you meet and interact. The extent to which you interact with others and discuss matters of faith may vary depending on your reason for travel, but you can be sure that people will be interested in your views. Rather than shunning discussion, take the time to prepare reasonable answers for likely questions.
It's likely that you will not be part of the majority religion when traveling outside the western world. Since many people have only learned about Christianity from non-Christian teachers, they are generally interested in a first hand account. A good understanding of key Christian doctrines, that you can articulate well, is helpful to both you and your listener. When you are able to present what the scriptures teach, rather than "what you believe", there is less likelihood of a heated argument and more opportunity for the Spirit of God to do the convincing. A willingness to engage in reasonable conversation will make your personal story more interesting to those you meet.
In gaining a better understanding of the basic (core) beliefs of Christianity, purchase a copy of Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. This is a great book for presenting the doctrines that have been shared by nearly all Christians at all times. In addition, you may wish to read or memorize some of the classic creeds,. These creeds were written specifically to declare to the early church the non-negotiable points of the faith. Most importantly, try to engage in a daily time of scripture reading in order to know and understand the mysteries of God.
Spiritual Warfare
Don't forget that your life is part of a larger drama being played out between God and His enemy on earth (Satan). How this drama plays out before us seems to take on different characteristics in different parts of the world. Whatever the characteristics though, the basic situation is still the same. Satan is most interested in preventing people from hearing the truth about God. To gain a better understanding of what the scriptures say about this, and how it affects our lives, check out the book Spiritual Warfare by Dr. Timothy Warner. Not only will this book help give you a better understanding of world events, it could drastically change how you view the happenings around and to you on a day to day basis.
Mental Attitude
The essence of travel is the process of learning from, and responding to, new situations. Enjoying the journey, having a positive outlook, and embracing change all affect your enjoyment of travel and adventure. The Bible teaches that we can find joy in all our circumstances, so here are some ideas to help you shape a positive travel mindset.
Things to Remember
Everybody is different - People do things differently around the world, not necessarily better (though some things are) or worse (though some things are) but often just plain different. Instead of getting mad at all the "stupid" people who are walking down the middle of the road, try to learn what it is about their worldview that makes them so "stupid". Do they have a fatalistic worldview believing there is no part to man's decisions in god's will? If they get hit no big deal, what happens, happens? Or, maybe their culture gives a higher priority to people on foot than to those using that new fangled machinery (cars, trucks, etc.)? or maybe.... don't get mad, find out and learn. Then you can at least be an informed cynic.
Everyplace is different - If you wanted all the comforts of home you should have stayed there. Enjoy the diversity of new places. Sure it is miserable in the dessert when it is 120F, but when you're done complaining, look around and learn how the local people deal with the heat day to day. Maybe there is a reason the men wear those funny looking white dresses and people only work early in the morning?
Plans change - Planning is important before a trip. However, problems arise when you think you can accomplish as much in an unfamiliar environment during each day as you can accomplish in your home environment. Try to make your plans as flexible as possible, there is little chance that the local folks will be as concerned about your travel plans as you are. A willingness to accept change is probably the key element in developing a good travel attitude.
The importance of time changes - People from the western world are very time sensitive and consider arriving late rude. Much of the world does not share this perspective. Feel free to voice your opinion about time management, but when you lose (as you surely will), you might as well just sit down and enjoy the cup of tea that has been offered to you. Engage in some interesting conversation and learn something while you fidget and wait.
Things go wrong - Every great travel story has some element of triumph over tough situations. When you get home you will want to share some great travel stories.....you make the connection.
Things to Do
- Read travel articles and stories from other people
- Use the internet to read English versions of foreign news papers. Try to understand the author's worldview
- Travel often, both domestically and internationally
- Develop a simple lifestyle at home, then luxuries won't seem as important when you travel
- Seek opportunities to get outside of your normal comfort zone, try new things
- Read stories from Christian missionaries. Reading how God worked in their lives gives you confidence of His working in your life. (He is the same yesterday, today, and always, He never changes)
Don't Start Whining (as in; wah, wah, wah, poor little me, boo hoo)
Because many readers of this website will travel with a group, possibly on a short term mission trip, you have a responsibility to develop a positive travel attitude before your trip if you wish to open your mouth during the trip. Yes, you will likely have some culture shock and you will not like the way things are done. Feel free to discuss your frustrations, but don't just whine and complain. Take your complaints to the Lord first, see if He can help you view the people as He sees them, remembering that you are His ambassador while you travel. There is no point in making those around you miserable just because you happen to be miserable. More than likely, what is bothering you is part of what you need to learn about yourself while you are traveling anyhow.
Relax and find the adventure in your travel trials. In the end you'll be glad you did and so will the rest of your team.