South Asia (Downtown)

Vision

What is the Goal of the Trip? 

This trip is a vision-casting opportunity focused on regional lostness, while also providing extra people to do evangelism that the ministry partner can follow up on. The team will visit key focus areas for evangelism, likely starting in the capital and traveling to one or two major Hindu religious sites. The ministry partner is also training a few local believers, so the team will have opportunities to model spiritual conversations for these newer believers.

How Does The Trip Serve the Ministry Partner?

The ministry partner will follow up with any new interested contacts within a week. Because they have a very small team, the extra hands allow them to reach far more people than they could on their own. Having a team from their sending church also provides a huge boost of encouragement and helps them persevere in the work.

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? 

• A ministry partner is with the team the whole time, or available at all times for the trip. If they aren’t with you, there will be a national partner or a translator. 

What’s a Typical Day Look Like? 

• Team time: devos/prayer
• Day of debrief and any tourist activities.
• Potential Ministry: evangelism & follow up; church trainings; local fellowship meetings & house visits

Potential Itinerary

• Day 1-3: Arrival / Orientation in Capital City
• Day 4: Travel to Goer’s City
• Day 5-6: Local Ministry
• Day 7: Rest
• Day 8-11: Village Ministry Trip
• Day 12: Debrief
• Day 13-14: Travel to Capital City / Departure

What are Accommodations Like?

• Rooms will be same gendered unless there are married couples on the trip. 
• You will stay in a hotel near where the ministry partner lives

What’s the Location Like?

• Weather - The weather will be hot! It is a very hot and difficult climate.
• Temperature: Daytime feels like 100–111°F, Nighttime feels like 73–79°F
• Humidity: ~70-90% (High)
• Rain: Chance of rain on a typical day ~62%, daily short afternoon/evening
• thunderstorms or showers are common
• City vs. rural - They live in a small city and you may take trips out to rural villages. The landscape is also very flat compared to other cities of their country. 
• AC - There will be AC at the hotel, but it may not work as well as you’re used to in the US. 
• Local Transportation: Participants should prepare for a lot of walking. Goer owns a vehicle and will be able to transport the team on occasion, but independent local travel options include:
  
  • Auto rickshaw (tuk tuk)
  • Public vans or buses
  • Motorbike taxi (least likely to use, but an option)
  • In the capital city for transportation would be car taxi or Goer’s private vehicle
• Traveling there - There will most likely be multiple layovers and it is a longer travel time. 
• Food:  Staple local meal: white rice and lentils and any combination of the following: chicken, vegetables (cauliflower, potatoes, green beans, tomato, carrots cucumber, daikon radish), mustard greens, achar (spicy pickled vegetables)
  
  • Note: The food is cooked with oil, onion, garlic, ginger, cumin, turmeric, and chili, but is generally not spicy.
  • Avoiding gluten and dairy is relatively easy for diet-intolerance
  • You will need to drink purified water. Black tea will be served to guests. Coffee is widely available in restaurants as well as coke, sprite, and orange fanta. 
• The power may go out at different times. 
• Village Accommodations:‍
  
  • Local homes may be rudimentary concrete or mud houses
  • Floor sleeping or very thin mattress, may need to share a bed
  • Anticipate no AC and potentially no fan
  • Expect squat toilets in outhouses

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. 
• How to engage in spiritual conversations. 
• How to care for people through prayer. 
• How to model spiritual conversations for local believers.  
• How to engage in prayer walking.   
• What the culture of  location you are going to is like. 
• Practical ways to serve the community you are going to. 
• A call with the ministry partner to prepare well for the trip. 

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 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. 
• Minimum Age Requirement - (for family trips)

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. 
• If a trip is canceled due to unforeseeable circumstances, refunds will not be issued in compliance with the IRS guidelines. In some cases, it may be determined to allow raised funds to be applied to future trips