Mediterranean (College)

Vision

What is the Goal of the Trip? 

Join the long term team who are working with refugees by providing a place for them to gather and hear stories from the Bible over meals. The trip will include prayer walking, simple gospel sharing (through google translate and translators), cleaning the meeting place, serving food, playing with kids, and setup/teardown of tables and chairs.

Short-term trips are a blessing to the long term partners because they provide more hands to serve, more mouths to share the gospel, and more ears to hear the refugees' stories. Because they operate out of a ministry center, there will be workers in place to follow up with people you are able to connect with. 

How Does The Trip Serve the Ministry Partner?

Short-term trips fit into their long-term ministry by coming alongside existing communities and offering short programs that advance and build momentum of their current programs. Short-term trips breathe new life, help to create new relationships, and bring encouragement to our national partners and the team.

The team has a week cycle of regular programming through their building called Hope House - Bible study, English lessons, church in Arabic and Farsi - meals, etc - that the team will join in on. Most refugees don't have great english and there aren't that many translators so there is a lot of conversation through google translate.

The ministry partner makes sure that in virtually all of the interactions a short-term team might have, they have a member of their team present who is able to make appropriate connections for further follow up. They also have daily debrief time where if there was a connection made or important aspects of a relationship made, they can make note and create an appropriate action plan for follow up.

What Heart Posture is Needed for the Trip

As team members are learning from and engaging with others, team members should have a heart posture of humility and remember that culture does not make people, people make the culture.You are part of the long-term team and are expected to participate in all their team-wide activities, events, fasts, meals, prayer meetings, work meetings, etc. Be ready to be flexible, as activities are often subject to change due to various factors (e.g. last minute invite to someone’s home).    

Other expectations include: 

• In light of our value to hear and obey the Holy Spirit, we expect all team members to spend individual time in the Word and prayer outside of group prayer meetings. This may sound far too obvious, but this can be a hard discipline to carry out, especially when on a village trip. We can’t emphasize enough the need to daily abide in the Lord!
• Come ready and eager to learn, as life and ministry here are most likely different from what you’re accustomed to.
• Be aware of your personal needs to maintain spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically health. If you need something, ask. 

What to Expect

What Does Time with the Ministry Partner Look Like? 

You will spend time with the ministry partner or someone on their team daily as you work alongside them in their ministry. There will also be a daily debriefing time. 

What Does a Typical Day Look Like? 

Every day will look a little different, but here are some examples of the team's current rhythms.

• Monday: Discipleship and a meal with specific groups.
• Tuesday: Follow up meetings with those the long-term team has relationships with. Teams will be a part of welcoming and serving those who the long-term team is meeting with though things like coffee and playing games.
• Wednesday: Outreach in the community as well as grocery shopping..
• Thursday: Team prayer, then get ready to receive those who begin to arrive in the afternoon. The long-term team currently serves 200-300 people on this day. They come to fellowship, hear about Jesus, and then they serve them a meal.
• Friday: Prep for Saturday’s gathering and spend time prayer walking.
• Saturday: Team prayer and then preparing for the gathering. Right now they serve between 150-250 people on this day.
• Sunday: Day of rest.

What are Accommodations Like?

• Rooms will be same gendered unless there are married couples on the trip.

What’s the Location Like?

• Weather - The weather is hot in the summer! 
• City vs. rural - You’ll be staying on an island that isn’t large, but it’s not also rural. 
• Air Conditioning - Where you will be staying will most likely have AC, but there is not always AC in public places. 
• Public transportation/walking: There is some walking between Hope House and the field where they do ministry with the refugees. 
• Traveling there:  Flights usually have 2 layovers.
• Culture: Majority of the people who live in the city are Muslim. There is a wide spectrum of agnostic to religious Muslims. 

What All is Covered in the Trip Cost? 

Everything you need for your trip is included in the trip cost. These costs include flights, lodging, food, transportation, ministry costs, health insurance, etc. These amounts are based on preparation costs and costs given to us by the ministry partner.

Trainings

Trainings are essential for preparing well for the ministry your team will be participating in. Therefore, trainings are mandatory and if you need to miss, you will work with your trip leaders and Mission Lead to make up the content. 

The Heart Behind Training

We desire you to pursue Jesus in your daily life and grow to be more like Him. We will provide trainings that walk through abiding and resting in Jesus (John 15), ministry overview and expectations, culture, and logistics. While we can’t perfectly prepare you for everything you might encounter, we do our best to train you with everything you’d need for your trip. 

What is Covered in Trainings? 

• The vision and practicals of how to support raise. 
• The importance of gospel conversations and prayer coming from a place of overflow from your relationship with the Lord. 
• Gospel sharing tools. 
• How to care for people through prayer. 
• How to engage in prayer walking.   
• What the culture of  location you are going to is like.
• What content is needed for the local churches programming. 

Trip Leaders

What Are the Expectations of a Trip Leader? 

Being a short-term mission trip leader is a rewarding experience. It makes you a part of the Great Commission, letting you respond to God’s call to the nations in a sacrificial way while also shepherding a group of people. Check out the benefits and expectations here. If you are interested in being a trip leader, you apply through the application and complete the "Trip Leader" question section. 

What does Training for Trip Leaders Look Like? 

Once confirmed as a trip leader, the trip leaders will meet with the Mission Lead from their congregation and the For the Nations staff regularly for ongoing connection and support as well as equipping you on how to lead your team well!

Prerequisites

• Must have a valid passport through the end of 2027 – If yours is expired, you’ll have to get it renewed. 

Financial Notes

• Budget: The cost of the trip is based on traveling to and from Austin and includes all trip insurance, transportation, supplies, lodging, and meals for the duration of the event. 
• IRS Guidelines: Gifts to the For The Nations Fund are used to support the church's global mission initiatives. You may preference the use of your gift, and we will endeavor to use the funds as you desire, but in order for the contribution to be tax deductible, the church must have ultimate control/discretion as to how the money is spent. This means that any financial gifts towards trips are non refundable.