Morning Prayer Time : We highly recommend that your team meet each morning to begin the day with a short devotional thought and prayer. The team leader may want to designate someone to coordinate this or do it his or herself. Make assignments before the trip so team members can adequately prepare.

Here are some tips on leading a devotional:
 

1. Keep it short. Usually, a devotional should last about 7 to 10 minutes.

2. Share about what God has been teaching you.

3. Share from one Bible verse.

4. Share one big idea.

5. Come up with some ways to apply this idea to your audience.

6. End in prayer.

Source: How to lead a devotional | pursuegod.org

Evening Share Time : Each evening the team should get together for a time of sharing. This is a time for team members to share what they see and sense God doing. This sharing time is usually a very meaningful experience for volunteers and can add greatly to their own spiritual growth. Each team member should be encouraged to share. The team leader or designee should act as a facilitator to keep things flowing. Be sensitive that all team members have opportunity to share and that one or two do not dominate the time. If the team is large, consider breaking into smaller groups (5-6) to do this. Beware that, if not monitored, this share time can evolve into a gripe session. We all know that things will not always go as smoothly as we might like on a mission trip. There may be some validity, and even need, in allowing members to express frustrations they are experiencing – either personally or with the group at large. If one is feeling a certain way, it is possible that others may be as well. This can be a time to work out some of these issues so that they do not “fester” during the course of the trip. But the main focus of the time should be on the sharing of how team members have seen God at work during the course of the day. End in a time of prayer.

Missions/Prayer Journal : Encourage your team members to consider keeping a journal as part of their mission experience. While it may seem at the time that events experienced on the field will never be forgotten – they often are. Most people are thankful later on that they took time to record their thoughts about the trip. This may also be helpful when you get back to your church and prepare for a time of debriefing or sharing with your church family about the trip. Record interesting things that you see, unusual experiences, ways that you see God at word, and prayers that are answered.

Dealing With Conflict : Anticipate some measure of conflict within the team. From frustrations over travel snafus to personality conflicts among team members, don’t be surprised at things that arise that could divert your team’s focus from its intended mission. Remind and encourage team members to focus on the purpose of the trip. Try to lead team members to work out differences among themselves first. Then, if needed, issues can be raised and discussed among the team at large. (See above)

Important Spiritual Reminders for all Team Member:
 

• You are on this trip to serve Christ; not for your own comfort or enjoyment.

• Follow your leader. When many adults come together who aren’t used to working together, those with strong personalities will frequently conflict. For those with “Type A” personalities, it’s important to submit yourself to the leadership of your team.

• Remember that everyone is unique. You’ll be in close quarters all day, every day with people who eat differently, sleep differently, recreate differently, work differently (and so on) than you. Try not to let their quirks “bug” you. Letting petty differences get under your skin will likely be a distraction from the mission at hand.