Mission Trip Prep: Free Training Now Available

There is a common misconception that a mission trip is about serving people. In fact, the heart of mission is deeper than an act of service, it’s about connection.

“The biggest problems we see in teams who are going on mission trips with us is that either they are so agenda-driven that they miss out on wonder, or their top priority is changing the place they go rather than being open to being changed themselves,” Wonder Voyage Executive Director Shawn Small said.

Wonder Voyage has wanted to help clients understand the heart of mission trips, but there hasn’t been a good source to point them to.

“A lot of mission training focuses on the wrong thing. It’s practical information, but there is nothing about the nitty-gritty of connecting with people,” he said.

Since the inception of Wonder Voyage, pilgrims have put in over 180,000 service hours. In that time, we have learned that the difference between teams who enjoyed a trip and those who returned impacted and changed by a deeper understanding of what service means is how prepared the team was before departure.

“You don’t go on a mission trip and just tack on some pilgrimage activities. If you want to truly experience wonder, your heart has to be open to that,” Shawn said.

That heart preparation is now easier than ever.

Over the last year, a team of guides and writers joined forces to create a free curriculum that helps prepare a team for their service-focused Wonder Voyage.

Through the Way of Wonder curriculum, your team will learn the six critical elements that separate good teams from great ones.

If you are registered for a 2022 Wonder Voyage, the curriculum is already in your portal. If you aren’t registered, contact Shawn for more information.

The curriculum can be adapted to meet your team’s unique needs, and you don’t have to do it alone. As you’re going through the material, contact the office with questions.

“We are your partners on this journey,” Shawn said. “The curriculum is just one more tool we offer to help you get more out of your Wonder Voyage.”