Journey Home: Post-Trip Debrief
A guided reflection course to help you process your mission trip experience, share your story, and integrate what God taught you into daily life. Begin on your last day of the trip.
What you'll learn
- 1
Day 1: Initial Reflections
Pause to process your initial thoughts, emotions, and moments with God before the memories of your trip begin to fade.
~20 min - 2
Day 2: What Did I See?
Reflect on the people, places, and cultural contrasts you observed, asking God to give you His eyes of compassion.
~20 min - 3
Day 3: The Hard Stuff
Bring your honest questions, personal struggles, and painful observations from the trip directly to God in trust and prayer.
~25 min - 4
Day 4: What God Taught Me
Identify how God renewed your mind and transformed your view of Him, yourself, the church, and the broader world.
~25 min - 5
Day 5: Crafting Your Story
Learn how to share your mission experience authentically using a brief story that testifies to what God has done.
~30 min - 6
Day 6: Now What?
Navigate reverse culture shock and create concrete action steps so your trip leads to lasting, everyday spiritual transformation.
~30 min - 7
Day 7: Sent from Here
Embrace your ongoing identity as a sent follower of Jesus who lives on mission right where you are placed.
~25 min
Sample lesson
Day 1: Initial Reflections
Initial Reflections
Before the memories fade and the routines of home set in, take a few moments to capture your initial thoughts and feelings. This is best done while you're still on location or traveling home.
Pause: Find a quiet space. Take a few deep breaths. Ask God to help you remember and understand what He has done.
Capture the Moments
What are 3-5 specific moments from this trip that stand out to you? They could be powerful, funny, challenging, or confusing. Just write what comes to mind.
How Are You Feeling?
Consider where you fall on these scales:
- Physical/Emotional Energy: Energized ←→ Exhausted
- Joy Level: None ←→ Overflowing
- Mental State: Clear ←→ Confused/unsettled
What emotions are you experiencing right now? Name them.
First Impressions of God
What is one thing you sensed about God during this trip? It might be something you already knew but experienced in a new way, or something entirely new.
Prayer
Close by thanking God for this experience. You don't need to understand everything yet. Simply express gratitude for the gift of this journey.
That's a free sample lesson. Sign up to complete the interactive workbook and continue the rest of the course.
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Journey Home: Post-Trip Debrief is free for churches, groups, and individuals on Start Discipling.
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