Mission Trip Prep Student Journal: A Student Journal for Capturing the Experience (Paperback)

Chapter One

Unless you've been abducted by aliens-or bullied by a tambourine-wielding cult-you made a personal choice to be part of this mission trip. Rattling around in the back of your brain you have reasons for joining this fantastic adventure. Maybe you've thought a whole lot about what you expect of your trip. Or maybe not. Either way, pull up a mental picture of the best trip you could have. Then jot down some of what you're thinking about:

WHY AM I GOING?

HONESTLY, WHAT ARE THE TOP THREE REASONS YOU SIGNED UP FOR THIS TRIP?

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HOW DO YOU WANT TO CHANGE AND GROW THROUGH YOUR MISSION TRIP? IN OTHER WORDS, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE GOD TO ACCOMPLISH IN YOU?

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HOW DO YOU WANT TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE-AND SHOW OFF GOD'S GREATNESS? WHAT DO YOU EXPECT GOD TO DO THROUGH YOU ON THIS TRIP?

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Being part of a mission project means having a huge wallop of fun. It also means getting swept up in something big beyond imagination. Look at what the Bible says:

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
(1 Peter 2:9-10)

Chosen ... royal ... holy ... belonging to God. Those words might sound huge-like they describe someone other than you. But they fit anyone who belongs to Jesus.

Being clear on those facts gives you huge reasons to go on your trip-and reasons to work hard at whatever you're planning to do. So ponder these:

How has God made you part of his people? ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________

What does it mean that God has shown you mercy?

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How has God called you out of darkness, busting you free from things you've done-or might have done without his presence in your life?

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Roll all those thoughts together and answer this: What has God done in your life that's worth telling the world about through your words and actions?

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God probably didn't rescue you from a life as an ax murderer or an acid-pushing drug dealer. But if God has been good to you-by bringing you into his family, yanking you from sin and selfishness-then you have something to share with the world.You have a reason to show the world who Jesus is.

WHAT AM I GETTING MYSELF INTO?

You have a picture in your mind of the place you'll be and the things you'll do on your trip. That picture, however, might have no resemblance to reality. There's no time like now to figure out what you're getting into. So jot your wonderings here-and remember to get the true scoop from your trip leaders!

What sounds great about your trip? (Do you think your expectations are realistic?)

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What sounds hard about the trip? What are you tense or fearful about?

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What questions do you want to ask your trip leaders about your trip?

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WRAP IT UP WITH PRAYER

God, thanks for giving me the chance to do this trip. Help me to get clear on why I'm going-both for the fun of hanging with my friends and for the big things you want to do in and through me.

(Continues...)