Is a mission trip for you?
Aug 12, 2026
Sometimes the hardest place to grow isn’t across the ocean—it’s right here, in the familiar noise of everyday life. We carry around “languish” without calling it that: self-doubt, scrolling to numb pain, overconsuming as anesthesia, fear and anger that drift in when we’re tired of trying.
We can have the basics, yet still feel restless—like something inside is waiting to be fully alive.
But then you go. Far, far away.
And for a moment, God interrupts the script.
“It’s not what you do… It’s who you become.”
A mission trip isn’t only about projects. It’s about inner freedom—becoming fully alive inside: learning to live in love, joy, and generosity.
It’s learning, again, that your life isn’t your own project.
“Your life is God’s project.” And flourishing isn’t measured by outward signs like income, possessions, or attractiveness. It’s harmony with God, other people, and yourself—moving toward the best version of who He made you to be.
Here in the states, we often treat needs like they’re negotiable. We tell ourselves we’re fine.
But when you visit communities where people don’t even have basic hygiene necessities—where homes may have no shower, no toilet, no sink, sometimes no beds, sometimes no heat—you realize how easy it is to confuse comfort with contentment.
And if you’ve ever thought, “That’s wonderful, but I could never afford to go”—I want to say this clearly: serving around the corner is just as noble as serving abroad.
“Remember the poor” doesn’t require another country. It requires a willing heart, and a willingness to be moved.
My recent Ecuador trip (a little more than a week) offered scholarships to help those who needed it.
That matters. Because the body of Christ shouldn’t be limited by our budgets—God’s call shouldn’t be affordable only for the comfortable.
On the trip, we helped build bathrooms on houses that had none. We left with families having a shower, toilet, and sink… along with toilet paper. It was deeply humbling to witness how much dignity lives in the basics.
"Remember the Poor” is amazing—often the one giving is also the one being given to.
And here’s another huge benefit I didn’t fully expect: you don’t just serve alongside people—you become family with them.
Ten days of serving day and night, eating all meals together, walking through the highs and lows together—something bonds you.
It’s hard to explain, but it would take years to build that kind of closeness if it was just a buddy in town.
It’s also deeply humbling in a different way. It isn’t that their hearts simply soften—it’s that when they share their vulnerability and their story, our hearts soften toward them.
They open the door through what they’ve lived, and that transparency allows us to truly know them. It’s a beautiful thing to experience acceptance and encouragement flowing both directions.
Yes, there’s also always a moment that reminds you you’re human. I was the one who got sick—laid up in bed 4 of the 5 working days with a nasty stomach bug.
But even that became part of the lesson: on a serving trip, I was being served. Meals were brought. People guided us. They encouraged me constantly.
By the end, the love for the hurting was contagious—and something “un-polluted” happened inside. You’re freed from wanting and drawn to give.
And you realize: you didn’t just come to help. You came to become.
If you feel a nudge, a stirring, or that “no more waiting” in your spirit, I’d love to hear from you.
There are many trips throughout the year—and there’s also plenty of serving you can do right where you live. Let’s go find what God will do in you.
Let me know if you are interested -
Much love,
Dave
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