How Beautiful the Feet...
Ever wondered if you should go on a mission trip? Or wanted to know something your team leader wished they would have know before their first adventure? Here's a quick run-down of Global Encounters' 2017 missions trips, and a little peek into what makes each one unique. {Myanmar - April 2-23, 2017 }
Top Five Reasons to Go:-I sense God's presence and will for me to go-The Lord is working there-The people are amazing-We are training people to do something that they see is effective and useful-We are on the front lines of missions, sharing with people who have never heard the gospelSomething You Wish You Would Have Known Before Your First Trip:-I wish I would have known how hot it was going to be - I would have packed differently
{India - May 6-21, 2017} 
Top Five Reasons to Go:-Share the gospel in one of the most unreached parts of the world-Partner with and encourage Indian Christians who are so dedicated to sharing the gospel that they are willing to die to tell others about Jesus-Experience one of the most fascinatingly different and colorful cultures I've ever seen. For instance, did you know that they have a yearly festival when they dump giant terra-cotta elephants in the river?!?-Be a part of the craziest traffic on the planet! Imagine roads filled with cars, trucks, rickshaws, bicycles, motorcycles with 5 passengers each, water buffalo, cows, goats, sheep, monkeys, and UMVs (Unidentifiable motorized vehicles) that all want to go SOMEWHERE.-Show the love of Jesus in a country where compassion is unusual. Because of the Hindu concepts of karma and reincarnation, suffering and poverty are often seen as something deserved from a former life. You can provide comfort, love, and acceptance to a child who may not receive much of that from their own culture.Something You Wish You Would Have Known Before Your First Trip:-It's ok for women to wear pants in India (as long as they are modest). This just makes children's ministry so much easier! Also, apply for your visa as early as possible and book your ticket after it's approved! I learned a lot about the visa process. Favorite Food In-Country: Tandoori chicken and Kashmiri naan --Elizabeth Fox, Team Leader{Chiapas - June 10-July 1, 2017} 
Top Five Reasons to Go:-It's one of the only times I get to sleep in a hammock. Believe it or not it's SUPER comfortable!! :)-The adventure! Sometimes you don't know where you're going to sleep or how many how many kids are going to come to the program...great opportunity to practice your flexibility. -The people. The church body is so caring and sensitive to your needs...even if you don't have any. :P-I can practice my Spanish, which trust me, this girl needs it!-I find that once you are there you can truly see God's heart for the people. It's different hearing about them from afar- but when you are living with them and around them-it truly changes your perspective.
Top Five Reasons to Go:-Camp week!-Build relationships with the translators-Loving the forgotten: gypsies and street kids-Castle-hopping-The small team atmosphereSomething You Wish You Would Have Known Before Your First Trip:-Romanian! Although knowing Spanish helps a bit, I would love to know more real Romanian and be able to communicate freelyFavorite Food In-Country:-Gogoşi (basically a homemade, sugar-dusted doughnut) and sarmale (cabbage rolls)--Amy Dickson, Team Leader 
{Ecuador - July 8-30, 2017} Top Five Reasons to Go:-Camp! And everyone of the kids that come!-Lemonade at camp-Watching 85 kids who never get to go to the beach play in the ocean-Seeing a 6'4" young man carry a chicken at camp-Meeting the people in Otavalo, and being able to worship God looking at some crazy awesome mountainsSomething You Wish You Would Have Known Before Your First Trip:-That I was about to meet kids who were going to change my world. How many can I adopt?Favorite Food In-Country:-Ceviche de camarones (shrimp) on the coast!--Philip Horvath, Team Leader {Photography Team - August 2017} 
Top Five Reasons to Go:-Use your art to create an eternal impact-Document in real time how God is working and growing His Church around the world-Use your camera to connect and cross cultural barriers-Teach the Gospel in a memorable and visual way-Have the opportunity to shoot images of a lifetime in rural international places you can only dream ofSomething You Wish You Would Have Known Before Your First Trip:-I didn't know what to do with the level of heart ache I was witnessing and feeling on behalf of others, and in hindsight, I wish I was better prepared to process that. One of my passions now is to help team members and fellow believers peel back the blinders we have on to the world around us, and see firsthand the broken stories right beside us, wherever we may be. However, with this newfound sight, to be able to work through it in a way that results in action and worship, and leads us to a healthy dependence on the sovereignty of God.Favorite Food In-Country:-Anything healthy and local, no matter where I find myself. And any type of Asian food is for sure a win.--Ashlyn Ours, Team Leader
Top Four Reasons to Go:-I could see how needed it was to have basic medical care out in the remote villages of Chiapas. Living in a mountainous terrain and doing strenuous manual labor daily with poor nutrition and hygiene, accidents, infections, and scenes are pretty common out in the jungle - but getting to a hospital or even a clinic can take up to a full day of travel, which many villagers cannot afford. Because of this, many accidents go untreated or poorly treated. Having a mobile clinic that is able to diagnose and provide medicine to these people can make such a difference to them!-More importantly, it's a doorway to sharing the gospel. While we may ease their physical suffering, it is our main goal to bring them the peace and joy of salvation through Christ. Each patient personally hears the gospel message before seeing a "doctor" or receiving medicine.-Because most EMS workers are unable to take long periods of time off of work, it's important to make the most of the time and money they have invested into a missions trip. Working with local missionaries who know the needs of the people, and the Mexican doctors familiar with jungle sickness helps to make a very effective team of awesome people who are passionate about sharing God with people, while they try to help with their physical needs.-Whether you're an EMT or PA you can make a big difference in the lives of these people, plus it's great experience with a variety of cases. Something You Wish You Would Have Known Before Your First Trip:-Make sure you take care of yourself while you're out there, so you can best serve the people. You never know how many people will come to a clinic and sometimes it can run for hours. Making sure you drink enough water (HYDRATE OR DIE) and using whatever you need to get a good night's sleep (earplugs, Benadryl, etc.), so you can stay focused.-Favorite Food In-Country:I think an all around favorite of med team is the famous Elizabeth Fox bean dip! We don't really know what goes into it, but man, after a long, hot, busy day that stuff will light up your life and revive your Spanish/medically mixed up brains! --Aria Edwards, Team Leader {Language Team - September-October 2017} 
Top Four Reasons to Go:-The teacher takes your learning style and teaches to it-Learning and using the Spanish while living in the culture-It's a very fast-track way to learn Spanish-Experiences that you can't trade for a lifetimeSomething You Wish You Would Have Known Before Your First Trip:How much work it would take to learn the language. Also the impact I was going to have when communicating with people in their languageFavorite Food In-Country:Tacos--John Shoemaker, Team Leader
Top Four Reasons to Go:-It gives you the chance to get close to your teammates in a way you wouldn't usually, because it is a smaller team-Because it is a smaller team, you can travel quicker and do things you might not normally of with a larger group-Small teams mean you have to rely on each other a lot for more than you usually do because you are teaching the same amount of kids with less than half of the usual team members! Sounds exciting, right? I promise you it is!-My favorite reason for going on the Christmas trip is that I get to spend time with a small group of people sharing the gospel, exploring a foreign country, and making new memories with people that I have never met. It's hard to beat.Something You Wish You Would Have Known Before Your First Trip:-The first time I went on a trip was a long time ago. ;) Ok, seriously, I wish that I had prayed more over the trip and deepened my walk with the Lord every day of my life, so that anything that happened on the trip I was willing to give to HimFavorite Food In-Country:-Asking me my favorite food in country is like asking me what my favorite pocket square is. I don't know because I love love finding new ways to try them. And by them, I mean the food of course. --Micah Cavanaugh, Team Leader