# 10 Provide for their mission trip expenses
Mission trips can be very expensive when you consider the cost of air fare, ground transportation, lodging, food, immunization costs, passport and visa fees, insurance, interpreters, etc. Perhaps you can’t go yourself, but you can make it possible for someone else to go. If you know personally someone going on a trip, financial support is a greatly appreciated gift. Another possibility is giving a designated offering at your church for mission trip volunteers.
#9 Provide supplies for their trip
Most mission trips involve work with children in a VBS type setting and volunteers need large supplies of arts and crafts materials. Medical teams can use over-the-counter medications, hygienic supplies, dental items, and even equipment. Construction teams often pay for the building materials they will be working with on-site. Disaster relief teams can use many supplies. If you know of a team going somewhere and would like to help out, contact the team leader beforehand and find out what is needed.
#8 Form a prayer support team
Prayer support for volunteers cannot be overemphasized. A prayer support team can supply volunteers with the spiritual strength they need for the mission trip.
#7 Hold a commissioning service
It is very encouraging for volunteers to feel the support of their church, and likewise, it is important for the church to have the priviledge of blessing those they are sending out. In addition, a commissioning service helps promote future mission trips as onlookers sense the significance of the event and want to become more involved themselves.
#6 Write notes of encouragement to open throughout the trip
Send offs are great, but their effect can be short lived, especially if the volunteer runs into challenges early on. Little notes can be like a daily dose of encouragement just when the volunteer needs it most.
#5 See them off
Going to the airport to see the volunteer off is great, but sometimes this is not practical if the airport is far from home. A send off at the church before the team leaves can be equally effective.
#4 Hold a short prayer just before leaving
This is a good transition as those staying behind place the team in the hands of God as they depart. It also helps to get the team off in the right spirit.
#3 Give them a small package filled with items of encouragement
Once again, the mission trip can be long and participants can begin to get homesick. Little reminders of home like bookmarks, music CDs, special Scriptures, a favorite candy bar, etc., can give them a boost.
#2 Welcome home with banners and signs
Coming home is always a special, oftentimes emotional time for volunteers, and a reception of some kind helps solidify the support effort in symbolic way as they see that the support shown when the left did not wain during the trip. That image can also serve as a great encouragement on future trips.
#1 Allow them to share their experience
Those that stay at home have been going through their usual routine, and in some cases, have been under extra stress covering things for a volunteer while he was gone. This can easily set up a “yes, that’s nice, here’s your dog and dog leash back” attitude if we are not careful. Volunteers have experienced some great things and they will be eager to share those experiences with family, friends, and the church. They need to be given an outlet for their need to share.
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