Printer Friendly Version

TIMELINE & CHECKLIST FOR INDIVIDUALS
PREPARING FOR MISSION SERVICE

Several years to 6 months before your mission:

ÆPray for God’s guidance to a people group, missionary, or part of the world.

ÆCheck the Web site for project options.

ÆComplete the individual application and submit online to the Student Mobilization Team (SMT).

ÆPrint a copy of your application for your records.

ÆFollow the instructions below to obtain reference forms, and return them electronically to the Student Mobilization Team.

• IMB / PO Box 6767/Richmond, VA 23230 ATTN: Student Mobilization Team.

ÆGet a passport or renew your passport (if needed).

• Passport applications are available at your local post office or at http://travel.state.gov/passport/.
• Passport renewal

ÆSpiritually prepare by becoming a World Christian on campus and with regular Bible study

Six to three months before your mission:

ÆReceive your electronic approval packet from the SMT.
All approval info is online at http://www.thetask.org/students/approved.

• Travel agent info
• Spiritual preparation info
• Physical preparation info
• Cross-cultural training info
• Insurance info

ÆContact the travel agent.

• Price plane tickets.
• Ask about visas for your country and the process for applying for visas, if required.

ÆSend the SMT a copy of your travel itinerary.

• IMB / P.O. Box 6767/Richmond, VA 23230 ATTN: Student Mobilization Team.
• Or send the itinerary electronically to the SMT (studentteam@imb.org)

ÆMake 2 copies of your passport ID page and your plane ticket

• Copy the last page of the ticket, not the itinerary.
• Give one copy to someone who could fax them to you overseas in case either your passport or your plane ticket is lost or stolen.
• Take the other copy with you, stored separately from the originals so you at least have a copy if the originals are lost or stolen.

ÆBegin getting immunizations

• Find the list of required and recommended immunizations at www.thetask.org/students/approved/immunizations

ÆEnroll for travel insurance.

ÆPhysically prepare with the “Prepare to Go” materials.

ÆAttend Cross-Cultural training.

ÆBegin Immunizations

Three months before your mission:

ÆResearch your mission country and people group

• Get several travel guides for information about the country and culture. Each guide has a different focus of information, so several will give you comprehensive information.
• Country research
• People group research

ÆCheck airline weight and size limits on checked baggage and carry-on bags.

• Most airlines list this information on their Web sites.
• If you have a domestic flight within your host country, the luggage limits will be much less that the limits on international flights. Be sure to check luggage restrictions for all airlines you will fly and check both domestic and international restrictions.

ÆBegin a packing list

One month before your mission:

ÆGet copies of regular prescriptions and necessary amounts of medication to take with you.

• Take each medication in its original container with the pharmacy label on the container in case customs officials ask about the medications.

ÆE-mail your field supervisor about gifts to bring to the field.

• Ask what items available here (food, magazines, etc.) you can bring to them and their children.
• Ask what types of gifts and how many gifts you should bring for the nationals whom you will encounter.

ÆShop for gifts, travel-sized toiletry items and other travel necessities such as batteries and film.

ÆPack your suitcase with all items you plan to take and carry it around campus with you for a several hours, including up and down staircases.

• Weigh your suitcase by standing on a bathroom scale, noting your weight, then picking up the suitcase while you are on the scale. Subtract your weight with the bag from your weight without it to find the weight of the packed suitcase. Overweight bags incur charges from $70 to $400, depending on the airline. You must reduce the weight (leave things behind) or pay before you are allowed on the plane.
• Remove items that are not really necessary or that you think you might need if your suitcase is unmanageable on the campus outing.

One week before your mission:

ÆCompile a list of names and addresses to take with you.

• Include those who gave you money for the trip in order to send a short newsletter, as well as family and friends.

ÆPut all of your travel documents in a folder.

• Separate your original passport and plane ticket from the copies.
• Pack this folder in your carry-on bag, not in your suitcase!

ÆGet the cash and other forms of money you need to take with you.

• Check with your field supervisor about the denominations of the bills to bring and how new and clean the bill should be. Many money exchangers will not accept bills that are torn, crumpled, wrinkled, or have writing on them.

ÆGive your travel itinerary and emergency contact phone numbers to your parents or guardians.

• Contact phone numbers include:
  • Your field supervisor and any other number on the field that the supervisor has provided to you.
  • Travel agent contact information.
  • IMB Student Mobilization contact information
    • (800) 999-3113
    • studentteam@imb.org

ÆCheck the weather report at your destination to make sure you have the right clothes packed.

One Day before your mission:

ÆReconfirm all domestic and international flights for the next day.

• Contact the airlines directly to confirm your flights.

ÆGive "Debriefing Tips for Family and Friends" to your parents or guardians, grandparents, and close friends.

ÆTake God’s glory to the nations!

One week before you return from your misson:

ÆBegin debriefing your experience.

A few days after your return from mission:

ÆFind a family member, friend, or former missionary in your church who has traveled overseas on mission and set a time to talk with that person in-depth about your experience.

ÆCall your church staff to ask how you can share your experience with the church.

• Ideas on places to share your story in the "Basic Debriefing Tips" section.

ÆWrite down 3 to 5 stories of how you saw God work in someone's life on the field during your mission.

• Use the "How to Tell Your Story" tips
• Practice telling these stories until you can tell them in 3-5 minutes with a distinct point to the story.

ÆEmail your field supervisor to thank him/her for hosting you.

ÆMobilize other students to pray, give, and go on mission to the nations.

One month after your mission:

ÆComplete the "Settling Back In" debriefing exercise.

ÆDeliberately get involved again in your local church and/or local campus ministry.

ÆWrite out a personal action plan for next semester to reach the nations in your community and on your campus.

ÆKeep mobilizing other students to pray, give and go on mission to the nations.