Should you let your teenagers to travel internationally on mission trips for high school students? Absolutely! And why not join them on a mission trip for families, sign up for some medical mission trips, or calm some of your own fears on a mission trip for adults? Although the risk and purpose of mission trips depends on the specific destination or mission group, the short-term mission trip benefits far outweigh the risks. Let’s chat about your mission trip concerns and calm some of your parental fears.
Mission trips for young adults can be transformative. Mission trips for college students can help guide career and life decisions. I spent my high school summers on international youth missions to Mexico and joined a Honduras medical trip on a college spring break. These experiences were the highlights and transformative in my teen years. Then, life got busy, and I didn’t go again until my own teen was in youth group. That’s twenty years of putting off mission trips for work, family, and “real life.”
Through international mission travel, I learned to love other cultures, immerse myself in Spanish, and see the value of global experiences. I want the same for my kids. Raising them isn’t just about GPAs or sports; it’s about preparing them to be self-reliant, open-minded, and God-honoring young adults. Focus on the bigger picture and let your teenagers go now while they have the time and freedom—because once adulthood hits, life will get in the way.
What are the Benefits of Mission Trips for Teenagers?
As parents, especially parents of teens, it’s easy to focus on the dangers and risks. These hard experiences are the true growth – both spiritually and mentally – that our kids need to prepare them for the world.
Personal Growth
Mission trips are an amazing opportunity for so much growth. How much better to let them experience another country than in a controlled, large-group environment with responsible adults other than their parents? Letting them handle challenges on their own builds independence. Let them see that they can do hard and scary things; when they get home, the regular stuff will be easier in comparison.
Cultural Awareness
They’ve been learning about geography and cultures – now they need to visit it.
They’ve been struggling to see why they need to learn a foreign language – let them experience it.
They’ve been molded into lifelong learners – push them to see what they need to know.
Spiritual Development
While not all activities on a mission trip are specifically evangelical, even pouring concrete next to a local can lead to spiritual development through conversations about their faith or seeing the spiritual maturity of older Christians. Let them follow the example of the adults on the team or even their peers. Everyone can learn or teach something merely through their actions and speech. Yes, push them to evangelize and have Jesus conversations. But make sure they also leave time to just sit and watch and listen. Those are often the very best spiritual lessons.
Leadership and Responsibility
If your kid has been approved for a mission team, they’ve already been marked as a responsible young adult. Sometimes, parents just need to trust the judgement of other people to see through other’s eyes. On a mission team, they will be given specific jobs and the job of leading or participating in a group. If they don’t do their part, the group will suffer. Sometimes the pressure of peers or success is enough to motivate.
On international missions, there are rules about safety and expectations. They keep track of their own luggage, schedule, and hygiene. They have to find their own band-aid and pay for their own snacks. Let your teenager be forced into adulthood by not turning to their parent.
They will serve, be served, have their eyes opened, appreciate home more… They may meet Montezuma’s revenge or have translation issues. They may learn to appreciate air conditioning and get dehydrated. They might have their bus break down on the side of a Honduran highway, but things like that happen even at home.
- Risk of personal growth – 100%
- Risk of seeing Jesus and the church differently – 100%
- Risk of forming lifelong bonds with church friends – 100%
- Risk of wanting to go on another international trip – 100%
Why Do Mission Trips Make Parents Nervous?
Releasing our kids to the world is scary even if it’s for a good reason. I get it. If a mission parent doesn’t seem nervous, they are. If it’s too scary, go with them and have your own eyes opened.
The mission trips of my youth group didn’t have statistics to research and extensive facts posted on the computer. We couldn’t read about their safety rankings or the list of countries on the do-not-travel list. I do think that while important, as I said, to research. These also give us fodder to all kinds of unrealistic risks.
Yes, be cautious. Yes, discuss risks with your children and see the tips below. Do the research with your child. Don’t take unreasonable risks… but be reasonable. Their risk of serious life-altering injury or kidnapping or disaster is so much smaller than the benefit of taking the leap for a mission trip.
Should Every Kid Go on a Mission Trip?
I do not believe that every kid is ready for a mission trip. Speaking from experience, my mission team has made mistakes and allowed teens to go who shouldn’t not have been considered. We have also had kids pulled off trips by the youth minister who knew the situation better. Trust the judgment.
Not every kid is emotionally or spiritually ready to participate in a mission trip or international travel. The adults and youth minister should not have to babysit them. If your kid doesn’t respect the authority or will bring mischief to the group, they are not ready.
Most of the time, it isn’t that your child isn’t ready; you aren’t ready. As parents, we have such a hard time thinking of our kids as “old enough,” but this may be the life event that makes them ever more independent. If you’re holding your kid back, let them know that you trust and believe in their ability to travel abroad without them. If you don’t trust and believe in them, they shouldn’t be allowed to go.
It’s okay to say no. Or next year. One person’s bad choices can put everyone else’s safety at risk. The weakest links need to be cut.
How Can I Prepare My Teen for the Mission Trip?
Apart from just spouting scary statistics, you do need to prepare your kid to travel internationally. Ignorance of risks is not bliss- it’s just ignorance. Often just meeting with the team in person can calm fears by connecting and seeing the quality of people on the mission team.
Make sure everyone understands the true purpose of the trip. This is not a travel adventure to see the world or to make a documentary or to learn how “the other half” lives. You should be going because God led you and not because you think it will be fun. When you keep that in perspective, all your nice stuff can stay at home. Minimize the risk.
International Safety Tips for Teen Travel
Preparation for a teen mission trip can be a family affair as they learn how to interact in a foreign culture.. and face their own fears. Look up the statistics of the country, language, native peoples, special foods, and customs. Prepare them as much as possible without added extra fears.
- Learn about the currency and discuss exchange rates. (Download currency app.)
- Help them come up with safe places to hide money and take a reasonable amount.
- Show them how to carry their bags over their chests instead of their back.
- Discuss “blending in” as much as possible; don’t take the latest phone, jewelry, and sunglasses.
- Consider taking clothing and shoes to donate at the end of the trip; it’s a great use of extra space.
- Buddy up with a travel partner and talk about why they need to stay with others. This time it’s okay to potty in groups.
- Watch safety videos on how to avoid a kidnapping – drop to the ground and hold on to the attackers legs.
- Hand out emergency contact phone numbers and addresses in country, and register your group with the embassy in that country.
Should My Teen Take Their Cell Phone Internationally?
Your teenager does not need to take their phone on the mission trip… even if they tell you they do. Not only do they have a risk of losing there phone, the trip leaders will have phones for emergencies. Ask them to send group texts for updates like safe arrivals. Twenty years ago, before the days of ever-present cell phone contact, none of my youth group was lost or maimed… or there wouldn’t have been more youth mission trips.
Does my teen need an international cell phone plan?
These days, it’s easy to get an international phone plan and micromanage your teen’s mission trip—but you shouldn’t. Even with coverage, there’s no guarantee they’ll have good cell service.
If your teen does take their phone even without international coverage, they’ll likely still have Wi-Fi access if needed to check in. But remind them: this trip isn’t about Instagram—encourage them to stay present and focused on the experience.
What if my teen has an emergency?
If an emergency happens with your teenager, what could you do if notified other than worry thousands of miles away? Will you hop on a plane if they get separated from the group? If for some reason the adult phones don’t work, you can get contact for the in-country organization or use email in case of a true emergency. Constant updates just distract from their experience.
What if there is an emergency at home?
Often, at-home “emergencies” don’t need immediate action. It won’t help your child in Uruguay to hear about Granddad’s hospital visit or a lost dog—save those calls for truly urgent situations. They’ll be back in a week.
Does carrying a phone make my kid a target?
Even in the tiniest Central American villages, cell phones are common. In my view, having one no longer makes you a stand-out to be pickpocketed. Yes, be safe and see what kind of travel coverage you have just in case you drop it in a river or it flies out of your hand going down the road. But I personally wouldn’t hesitate to keep the phone with you for safety reasons. Talk to them about putting it in the best pocket, about not flashing it…. but the risk of the phone distracting your kid from their true mission is much higher than that of it being stolen.
I hope this makes you feel a little better about international mission travel. With some preparation, it truly can be one of the best things your teen does in their young life. If none of this makes you feel better, I’m sure your group would love another involved adult to support and help on the trip. You might just come back better for it – and be ready to go back soon.
Thanks for stopping by my little corner! Here’s to your next adventure.
I’m Bobbie. As transplants from Texas, my family of six is on a mission to discover all of Georgia’s amazing places, experience amazing road trips across the United States, and create a homeschool life along the way.
Want to adventure like me? Reach out! I’d love to chat. Stop by my Instagram or Pinterest page to discover more of our adventures.
Want to work with me? I’d love to work with your destination and tourism board to help other family travelers see all you have to offer.
Thanks for stopping by my little corner! Here’s to your next adventure.
I’m Bobbie. As transplants from Texas, my family of six is on a mission to discover all of Georgia’s amazing places, experience amazing road trips across the United States, and create a homeschool life along the way.
Want to adventure like me? Reach out! I’d love to chat. Stop by my Instagram or Pinterest page to discover more of our adventures.
Want to work with me? I’d love to work with your destination and tourism board to help other family travelers see all you have to offer.
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