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Mission Trips: 1-12 Weeks

How might God use you if you took a step of faith to engage with His mission somewhere in the world? Cru offers many kinds of mission trips for college and high school students, working adults and families. Get out to the world! You can help make a huge impact in the lives of a person close to home or far away in a completely different culture or among people who still haven't heard the name of Jesus.

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Unto® humanitarian trips express the kindness of Jesus to people living in the toughest places on earth.

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Missions Trips for Adults

Launch Point offers the perfect blend of adventure and spiritual growth for adults seeking to make a difference. You’ll have opportunities to explore a new destination, meet new people, and bring Christ to those who need him. Travel with us to an underdeveloped region of the globe, and work alongside locals to improve the community’s quality of life. You’ll be amazed at what God’s servants can achieve when they come together as a team.

All About Missions Trips

Adult missions trips offer many benefits for those who take them, including networking opportunities, personal growth, and career exploration. If you feel God calling you to help different parts of the world, an adult missions trip may be the perfect option for you. Adult missions trips often involve some form of service work, such as building homes or working in orphanages, and they often take place in developing countries or areas affected by natural disasters.

HOW TO CHOOSE A MISSION TRIPS

Adult missions trips provide opportunities to serve others while growing your personal faith. However, with so many options out there, deciding what trip fits you best can be challenging. Here are a few factors to consider as you choose an area to serve:

• The length of the trip : Adult missions trips vary in length from a few days to several weeks. Make sure you choose a trip that fits your schedule and commitments.
• The cost of the trip : Adult missions trips also vary widely in cost. Some trips may be free or only require a small donation, while others may cost several thousand dollars. Make sure you consider the cost of the trip and your needs for support before choosing your destination. Family, friends, and fellow church goers often provide support for missionaries needing help.
• The location of the trip : AWBE offers trips all over the world. Choose a location that interests you and that you feel comfortable traveling to for a period of time. Talk with people who have been there, and research the local customs and mannerisms of indigenous people to help you develop an idea of what to expect.
• The type of work you’ll be doing : Adult missions trips typically involve doing some sort of service work, such as building homes, working in a soup kitchen, or teaching English. Be sure to choose a trip that matches your skills and interests.

Can Adult Missions Trips Have a Long-Term Impact?

Undoubtedly, adult missions trips can create profoundly lasting impacts for missionaries and recipients. In fact, many people who go on mission trips say that the experience changed their lives forever. Here are just a few ways that missions trips can have a lasting impact:

• Missions Trips Provide a Unique Opportunity to Serve Others – While there are many ways to serve others, adult missions trips provide unique and life-changing experiences. Not only are you providing physical assistance to those in need, but you’ll also offer emotional and spiritual support for God’s suffering children, which impacts both you and the community you choose to serve.
• Missions Trips Can Help You Form Lasting Relationships – Meeting new people and forming lasting relationships commonly follow missionaries who set out on these trips. God uses all forms and backgrounds to engage people that wouldn’t have a chance to meet him otherwise. Let God use your gifts to reach the fallen, hurt, and forlorn, and many times they’ll reach back into you!
• Missions Trips Can Be Life-Changing – Many people who go on adult missions trips find their lives change for the better. These trips often help broaden their horizons and increase their understanding of other cultures. After all, the greatest commission asks us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves.

How To Prepare For a Missions Trip

Adult mission trip can alter the way you see the world forever. If you plan to go on an adult mission trip, there are a few things you need to do in order to make sure that your experience engages you and provides positive and productive outcomes. Use the three tips below to help you discern the purposes and outcomes you’d like to see on your missions trip:

• Do Your Research – Before you go on a missions trip, do your research and learn as much as you can about the country or region you will be visiting. Cultures and mannerisms outside of America often shock visitors, but knowing what you’re walking into can help you make a lasting difference.
• Learn Some Key Phrases – Learning basic introductions and responses will help you communicate with the people you meet during your stay. Even if you only know a few phrases, taking an interest in the culture of those around you goes a long way when making connections.
• Have Realistic Expectations – Understanding that there may be culture shock and that things may not always go according to plan. Be prepared for anything and remember to be flexible. God’s plan doesn’t always look like ours, but he uses unique situations and people to reach the lost.

Why Launch Point ?

Create connections with people and cultures in unique and authentic ways! You’ll see the world in a whole new light and leave behind a lasting impact on the communities you serve.

When you go on a missions trip with Launch Point, not only are you making a difference in the world, but you’re also building lifelong friendships and discovering opportunities God gives you. As Christians, we believe that when we serve others, we all benefit. Join us on this journey of service and see for yourself how life-changing it can be.

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PLEASE NOTE: IMMERSION Staff will be out of office Sept. 11-15. After submitting a form, use the link in your email to schedule a call for Sept. 18-22!

Service opportunities assigned to each community or program are not guaranteed to be part of every trip. Fill out an interest form to learn more.

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Join an IMMERSION program with Experience Mission! Take a break from academic life. Serve others. Experience life in authentic community. Grow in your understanding of God, yourself, and the world. Find your program today!

Grow Spiritually

IMMERSION participants are challenged to develop a better understanding of your pictures of God and yourself. Grow in faith and maturity and start to discover who God created you to be.

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Serve Others with Your Daily Life

IMMERSION teams serve in simple, yet profound ways, seeking to be a picture of God’s love to everyone you meet. You will be challenged to consider that HOW you serve is just as important as WHAT you do.

EM’s Approach to Missions

Experience Authentic Community

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IMMERSION gives you the opportunity to press pause on life for 1-10 months and give 100% of your energy and focus to serving and learning in unique communities and cultures around the world. Slow down and learn what it means to love and serve others as a follower of Jesus on a daily basis.

This kind of others-first experience has the power to dramatically change the direction of your life. It's the type of kickstart we all need to stop living for ourselves and pursue life in the Kingdom of God.

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MISSION TRIPS

As disciples of Jesus, engaging in God’s mission is something we do wherever we go. At Temple, we want to cultivate a willingness to go, give, and pray for God’s work around the world at every age and stage of life. Our children, student, and college ministries all host age-appropriate mission training and engagement. Information is available through their individual ministries.

To keep up with our adult mission trips (all ages) you can join an interest group

Reach the World.

Reach the world..

Inspire HOPE in the global community - go on a mission trip! Bold Hope has partners around the world who welcome your support of their ongoing work in order to impact lives for eternity.

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Faith-Based Mission Trips

Bold Hope trips exist to glorify God and cause others to worship Him. Join us as we share the HOPE of salvation.

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Share the experience of serving as a family. Be transformed together by the collective offering of your time and talents.

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God intentionally uses high school students for His purposes every single day. Mobilize your students to step into His plan for them today

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Mission trips can radically change the trajectory of a young person's life. Encourage your youth group to connect with their peers in an international setting.

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Medical Mission Trips

Join Bold Hope as we follow Jesus' example of providing HOPE through healing in communities with little to no access to basic health services.

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GO THEREFORE

Love God & Love Your Neighbor

Volunteer mission trips are built on relationships, fulfilling humanity’s call to love God and love others. Teams get to know Bold Hope’s local long-term partners and support their ongoing vision by doing things like building, running medical clinics, raising money for projects, educating families, and providing programming for children.

Trips By Location

Upcoming Mission Trips

Dominican Republic

Oct. 06-11, 2024

Medical - DO - 10/06/24-10/11/24

Join us on this mission trip to La Romana, Dominican Republic. We will be serving the people of Dominican Republic from Oct 06, 2024 to Oct 11, 2024.

View Trips Details

Jul. 28-03, 2024

Bold Hope - Belize

Join us on this mission trip to West, Belize. We will be serving the people of Belize from Jul 28, 2024 to Aug 03, 2024.

Jun. 23-29, 2024

Bold Hope - BZ - 06/23/24-06/29/24

Join us on this mission trip to West, Belize. We will be serving the people of Belize from Jun 23, 2024 to Jun 29, 2024.

Nov. 03-09, 2024

Bold Hope - Jamaica

Join us on this mission trip to Montego Bay, Jamaica. We will be serving the people of Jamaica from Nov 03, 2024 to Nov 09, 2024.

Nov. 17-23, 2024

Join us on this mission trip to Montego Bay, Jamaica. We will be serving the people of Jamaica from Nov 17, 2024 to Nov 23, 2024.

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"I am thankful for Bold Hope and the experiences that they provide. Belize not only brought me out of my comfort zone but it brought me closer to God as well."

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Book Reviews

Global bc sites.

Canadian Biblical Counseling Coalition https://biblicalcounselingcanada.ca/

BCC Mexico https://www.consejero.org/

Brazilian Association of Biblical Counselors http://abcb.org.br/

Biblical Counseling UK https://www.biblicalcounselling.org.uk/

Network of Biblical Soulcare Germany https://biblischeseelsorge.org/en/

Growth Counselling Institute https://growthcounselling.nz/

Serving Missionaries through Biblical Counseling

•   December 8, 2017
• Biblical Counseling , Loneliness , Missionaries , Missions , Multi-Cultural Ministry , Multi-Ethnic Ministry , Sacrifice

Chris and Julie always had a heart for missions work. They met in a graduate program with a focus on missions. A fast-forward look at their life reveals the following. Soon after they were married their church affirmed their call to serve as long-term missionaries, they were connected with a sending organization, support was raised, plans were set, and they arranged their new home in a country that had once only occupied their thoughts and prayers. Once there, they enjoyed getting to know the others serving on the same team and were grateful for new friendships. The first year they were excited to spend most of their time learning the language and culture. The language was harder for Chris than Julie and, to his disappointment, he quickly began to depend on her for day-to-day interactions with people.

The Struggle

By then end of the first year they recognized some personality differences on the team, and while this was not discouraging it was challenging. The friendships they shared there were not as close as friends they had left behind, and an underlying spirit of competition from other team members was felt by both Chris and Julie.

Their second and third year on the field were difficult. Chris’s father suffered a heart attack, and he wrestled with being so far away when his parents could really use extra support. His father began to recover but then in year three Chris and Julie had their first baby, a little boy born with significant medical needs. The country they were in had good medical care for their son’s needs but the emotional and physical strain began to take a toll on both of them. In the midst of all this was the work of the mission as well as the continued need to raise support. This is a snapshot of many missionaries today.

The life of a missionary and/or missionary family is full of sacrifice. Those called to the mission field leave all that is familiar to begin a new life in a country foreign and unknown to them. The challenges they encounter impact themselves and their family as a whole. Those called to be missionaries give fully to the work and often their only connections are other missionary families who are facing the same struggles.

Mixed Blessings

Missionaries understand what it means to sacrifice for the sake of the gospel. They also understand the incredible joy of being a part of kingdom work in places where the gospel is not understood or perhaps completely unheard. The blessing of participating in the seed-planting of the gospel in lands barren of truth provides rich faith-building moments. The encouragement of seeing people come to faith in Jesus is a lasting joy to those serving as missionaries.

Needed Care

However, it can be a lonely work and the need for emotional support and spiritual comfort are great. More and more sending agencies are amping up the focus on member care to include biblical counseling. Including regular counseling in member care as a norm rather than something that is employed only when crisis happens is a growing trend in sending organizations. A focus on how to help individuals and families make adjustments is growing. Without such care, those serving as missionaries can encounter overwhelming struggle or burnout, leading to ineffective service or possibly leaving the mission work all together.

The recognition of this need helps to give missionaries practical and biblical ways to work through the strain that comes from transplanting to a new location where most of your support is miles, if not oceans, away.

How to Help

So what does this mean for biblical counselors? Expanding training that focuses on care for missionaries and their families is important. This means learning more about the specific struggles faced on the mission field. Missionaries need help navigating the loneliness that can accompany them in unexpected ways. Maintaining the friendships left behind while on the field can also be a struggle they face. Help with relationships within the team is always a big need as well. Spouses carry great burdens when there is little to no lines of separation between work and family. Parents need help parenting third-culture kids who struggle to know where they belong. Included in all this is the unique pressure of raising support. All this takes place while seeking to make gospel connections with the people they are serving. Counselors who are equipped with a better understanding of these struggles can offer an empathetic place to work through these pressures. This help can encourage missionaries toward a hope-filled perspective of their calling even in the midst of struggle. It can be a lifeline that puts fuel in their hearts to help them continue to serve well.

Another way biblical counselors can help is to be open to serve on short term mission trips specifically to support the mission team with biblical counseling. Many sending organizations have training conferences for their missionaries to attend where they also provide counseling support or workshops taught by those trained in biblical counseling. Other organizations now have openings for counselors to serve in member care online or as an onsite counselor team member. The need for biblical counselors who have an understanding of the struggles missionaries face is growing as needs come more and more to the surface.

Finally, pray for those serving. Knowing someone is praying for the specific needs they face can be a great source of encouragement to those serving on the mission field.

Question for Reflection

Have you found resources to help counselors care for those serving as missionaries?

Eliza Huie is a biblical counselor at Life Counseling Center in Marriottsville, Maryland. She has served with a few missions organizations to bring biblical counseling to the needs of those serving on the mission field.

About the Author

Eliza Huie, MA

Eliza is the Dean of Biblical Counseling at Metro Baltimore Seminary as well as the Director of Counseling at McLean Bible Church in Vienna, Virginia where she oversees care and counseling ministries. She provides counseling training and equipping in order to help those in the church to care for one another. Eliza received her master’s in counseling from Biblical Theological Seminary and has advanced certificate training from the Christian Counseling Education Foundation (CCEF). She is the author of Raising Teens in a Hyper-Sexualized World ,  and  Raising Kids in a Screen-Saturated World . She and her husband Ken were married in 1992 and have three young adult children and a lovely daughter-in-law.

Recent Posts by Eliza Huie, MA:

• Four Ways to Pray for Your Counselee — May 4, 2022
• Counselor Check-up — November 1, 2021
• Technology and the Future of Virtual Biblical Counseling — May 21, 2021

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We are deeply committed to extending the church’s ministry beyond the walls of our campus buildings. Our team creates ongoing practical opportunities for our members, guests and friends to join Jesus in his redemptive, restorative work in communities locally, nationally and globally. We are thrilled that you’re interested in learning more about our missions method, affiliates and partners, and ways you can serve. We’d love to have you join us!

OUR COMMITMENT

Crossroads Missions’ missions & outreach work is guided by four promises. When undertaking any missions and outreach work we:

We go outside the walls of our church buildings beyond the comfort zone of our church friends and small groups, and towards the mess to love those who are hurting and without hope.

We Listen...

We listen by setting aside agendas… we don’t desire to fix or change people, we want love them; because we want to know people and we want them to know us, and focusing on what we have in common, not on our differences.

We Share...

We share our time, our talents, resources, and most importantly… Jesus!

We stay where God plants us, focused on “life on life,” long-term relationships, and persevere, choosing not to leave when things get difficult, and patient, continuing to love and trust God for results.

These ministries are separate entities from Crossroads Church, but are guided and influenced by Crossroads Missions staff and leaders.

CROSSROADS RECOVERY

Crossroads loves Jesus’ heart for broken, hurting people. People struggling with addiction need to know that freedom is found in an intimate and growing relationship with Jesus Christ. That belief compelled us to establish Crossroads Recovery — a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that serves as an umbrella organization for addiction recovery ministries. Justin’s Place is the first local affiliate ministry for Crossroads Community Church under Crossroads Recovery. Justin’s Place has been serving men who struggle with drug and alcohol addiction since 2015.

NicaWorks! was founded in 2008 by Crossroads Missions Pastor Tim Adams and his wife Katie. As the ministry’s first partner church, Crossroads has been instrumental in building the organization’s work to create tangible hope and growth in impoverished communities across Nicaragua, the second-poorest country in the Western hemisphere. NicaWorks! helps Nicaraguans break the cycle of intergenerational poverty by providing real opportunities for spiritual, economic, social, and educational growth. The ministry employs nine Nicaraguans who work full time with local leaders on initiatives to address the root causes of poverty by providing increased access to education, employment, healthcare, agricultural training and spiritual discipleship.

The Breaking Ground Counseling Center provides therapy to all. Our counselors are clinically trained master-level counselors, experienced in helping with lasting life-change based on biblical & clinical truths. Wherever you are in your relationship with God, counseling will help you find healing and purpose in your suffering.

CROSSROADS COMMUNITY CENTER

The Community Center is located right in the center of a predominantly low-income community in Westminster, which faces significant challenges navigating employment, childcare, food insecurity, and engaging with the local school system.

Crossroads creates long-term partnerships with existing ministries that are faithfully and successfully meeting identified needs. Meet the partners we’re grateful to work with in making Christ’s love tangible to people in Maryland, the U.S. and across the world! Our partners include:

• A New Beginning Recovery Ministry, War, WV
• Agape Gospel Mission Ghana
• AppyTime for Learning
• Feed My Sheep
• Fellowship of Christian Athletes
• Carroll County Food Sunday
• Good News Prison Ministry
• Helping Up Mission
• Human Services Program
• New Life for Girls
• Northeast Social Action Program
• Samaritan’s Purse
• Shepherd’s Staff
• The City of Westminster
• The Town of Hampstead/Hampstead Lions Club
• Transformation Center
• Westminster Overlook Apts

SERVING OPPORTUNITIES

Regional & global opportunities.

At Crossroads we view missions trips as an opportunity for people to see, learn and support what God is doing through our ministry affiliates and partners year-round. Our trips are designed to help you develop relationships with both the staff and people living in communities we care deeply about and give you an opportunity to enjoy giving your time, attention and gifts in a new place. Our ministry philosophy is to invest deeply in a handful of countries through long-term, strategic partnerships that are doing important, community-based work; we hope our missions trips experience both shows you how Crossroads is impacting the world around the year and creates a desire to be meaningfully involved beyond your trip.

Three to four times a year Crossroads, along with men in our residential recovery program (Justin’s Place), travels to War, WV (McDowell County) to visit Rick and Mary Smith who run "A New Beginning", one of Crossroads' partner ministries. While visiting you will get to know Rick and Mary, participate in community bible studies and events as well as get to know members of the community. Although this is not a project-based trip there may be an opportunity to help Rick and Mary with some ongoing upkeep projects when needed.

SAMARITAN'S PURSE

Crossroads partners with Samaritan's Purse’s North American Ministries in responding to communities who are in crisis as a result of natural disaster. When needs arise, trip opportunities will be communicated on Sunday Morning and electronically.

Partner with Crossroads Affiliate ministry, NicaWorks! by joining a trip to Nicaragua. Participants will get to know NicaWorks! Staff, the communities they serve, and have the opportunity to take part in ministry projects or events when appropriate. Got Bikes? Another way you can serve NicaWorks! is by collecting bikes. These bikes will be shipped to Nicaragua to be fixed up and sold in our bike shop. The bike shop helps to raise funds for our ministry efforts in Nicaragua.

MISSIONS TEAM

Executive Director

Steph Albright

Missions Director

Field Pastor, Crossroads Recovery Director

Executive Director, NicaWorks!

Mike Strine

Field Pastor, Crossroads Community Center Director

Karen Strine

Assistant Director, Crossroads Community Center

Josh Jaentschke

Field Director, NicaWorks!

SUPPORT MISSIONS FINANCIALLY

Crossroads' mission is both inside and outside the walls of the church building. To support our outside-the-walls efforts, we invite you to donate to Missions specifically through one of the methods below.

Click the link below to give to missions online.

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2024 Mission Trips

You can expect a life-changing experience on a Samaritan’s Feet mission trip. We will handle all of the logistical details and make the process super easy for you! As you consider joining us on one of our transformative mission trips, rest assured that we go above and beyond to ensure a secure and supportive environment for all participants. We have experienced, knowledgable team leaders, collaborate with trusted partners, communicate clearly, and constantly monitor international issues and news. Samaritan’s Feet is an Associate Member of the Standards of Excellence in Short-Term Mission.

Choosing a Mission Trip

Samaritan’s Feet offers domestic and international mission trips that are open to the public, so individuals, couples, families, and small groups can join any trip. Or, if you have a school group or church that wants to plan a mission trip just for them, Samaritan’s Feet can use its network and expertise to plan a private trip just for your group.

Demonstrate proper foot care as you distribute new shoes.

OPPORTUNITY

Serve alongside local organizations to further aid.

Encourage unity as you serve communities together.

See children go to school because they have a required pair of shoes to attend.

2024 Public Mission Trips

UGANDA APRIL 11 - 21 $2,100+AIR

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC JULY 13 - 20 $1,600+AIR

BELIZE JULY 20 - 27 $1,750+AIR

ALASKA AUGUST 23 - 31 $1,800+AIR

GHANA AUG. 23 - SEPT. 1 $2,100+AIR

UGANDA SEPT. 12 - 22 $2,100+AIR

CUBA OCT. 11 - 18 $1,850+AIR

INDIA NOV. 8 - 17 $2,800+AIR

Have questions about our trips? Want to plan a private trip for your group? Want to learn more about our partners? Fill out the contact form and will connect you with our Missions Team.

Cancellation Policy

If Samaritan’s Feet cancels a trip for any reason, participants will be notified. Individuals will have the option to transfer their balance to a future Samaritan’s Feet trip within the following calendar year of the originally scheduled trip. Other than the $150 deposit, donations made towards a trip cannot be returned as they are considered tax-deductible donations towards Samaritan’s Feet.

If a participant cancels their trip 30 days or less prior to departure, all collected funds will be used for the missions, as, by that point, those funds will have been used for the trip’s expenses.

If a participant withdraws from a trip more than 45 days prior to departure, they will be given the option of applying their balance of funds raised, less a $300 charge fee, to a future a Samaritan’s Feet trip to be taken within 12 months of the withdraw date.

The above policy applies to groups, too, they also have the option of swapping out individuals if permitted by the Director of Missions and airfare was purchased at a group rate.

Are you representing or from a company or organization? If so, please input it below.

We offer warehouse volunteer shifts on:

Tuesday-Thursday: 9:00am-12:00pm, 1:00pm-3:30pm

Saturday: 9:00am-12:00pm

Amazon Smile

AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support Samaritan’s Feet, at no cost to you. When you shop at smile.amazon.com, you’ll find the same shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to the charity of your choice.

Follow these instructions to start giving to Samaritan’s Feet through your regular Amazon purchases:

Sign in to smile.amazon.com on your desktop or mobile phone browser. From your desktop, go to Your Account and select the option to Change your Charity. Or, from your mobile browser, select Change your Charity from the options at the bottom of the page. Select Samaritan’s Feet.

Mixed Grill Menu

Supporting Samaritan’s Feet

First Course The Smith House Salad Mixed Greens, Radish, Carrots, & Cherry Tomato with a Mustard Seed Vinaigrette

Second Course 4 oz. Petit USDA Prime Filet Mignon Served Medium Rare with Standard Sauce & 4 oz. Norwegian Salmon Home-Style Mashed  Potatoes & Steamed Asparagus

Third Course Tennessee Cheesecake Jack Daniels Caramel Sauce & Southern Candied Pecans

Matching Gifts

Many companies have programs through which they will “match” the charitable contributions made by their employees. Through corporate gift matching, your employer can multiply your donation to Samaritan’s Feet, making it go further.

Check with your company’s Human Resources office to see if they offer gift matching. If your employer does offer this program, your Human Resources department should provide you with a matching gift form to send to us, along with your donation. Complete this form and mail it with your donation to:

Samaritan’s Feet International P.O. Box 78992 Charlotte, NC 28271

We offer pick-up and drop-off during the following times:

Monday-Friday: 9:00am-12:00pm or 1:00pm-3:00pm

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Planned or Legacy Giving

With thoughtful planning, you can make a lasting contribution to our mission. Your gift can take any of the following forms:

Residual Bequest : after making provisions for your family and friends, the balance of your belongings (legally referred to as your “estate”) is donated to Samaritan’s Feet.

Percentage of your Estate : where a specific percentage of your estate is left to Samaritan’s Feet.

Pecuniary Bequest : where a specific sum of money is donated.

Specific Gift Bequest : referring to any non-cash items such as stock, annuities, property, jewelry, artwork, or other valuables, which can be given to Samaritan’s Feet.

Life Insurance Policy

Want to know more about a planned gift to Samaritan’s Feet? You should make an appointment with your legal or financial adviser. They have all the tools to help you decide what type of request to make. We have partnered with the National Christian Foundation to make it easy for our supporters to donate cash and non-cash assets to us to take full advantage of all tax credits and benefits.

Organization Category: Counseling

Hagar’s sisters.

Motivated by God’s lovingkindness, Hagar’s Sisters cultivates the emotional and spiritual healing of women impacted by intimate partner abuse, empowering them through care planning, education, and compassionate community.

The Beacon Family Hub (TBF)

A family oriented organization equipping the family – from children to adults including educators, parents, guardians, child care attendants and all who are involved in training the child in full potential and assisting in building solid family life, the foundation for positive society.

Saddles in Service

Saddles In Service at Storm Son’s Ranch is a Veteran founded non-profit promoting wellness and healing for our Heroes and Horses at absolutely no cost to participants! The Saddles In Service program offers Active Duty Military, Veterans, Firefighters, Law Enforcement Officers, and First Responders the unique opportunity to explore their own healing alongside a rescue […]

Crosswinds is an organization that does counseling and coaching along with Mission Trips down to our therapeutic boarding school in the Dominican Republic. At our Caribbean Mountain Academy, we have Mission Teams from churches, families, businesses and college students come work together to create lasting change in both the lives of our students and in […]

Wounded Warrior Homes

Wounded Warrior Homes is a grassroots charitable non-profit chartered to provide transitional housing to single post-9/11 combat veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS). We are citizens, like you, who deeply care about our nation and appreciate the sacrifices of those who have served in armed conflict to protect our country, our […]

Daughters of Cambodia

Daughters of Cambodia is a fair-trade business established to empower men and women to exit sex-work and receive training. Our businesses entail a sewing room, screen printing, shops, spas, cafes, and a guesthouse. We seek a holistic approach which includes: counselling, medical care, life-skills, day-care, and a sustainable wage.

I Live Again Uganda

I Live Again Uganda offers you the opportunity to bring healing, hope and restored identity to survivors of war. We are bringing holistic healing to those affected by war living in a slum – Acholi Quarter in Kampala, to thousands of individuals in the northern region of the country and to refugees that have come […]

Eagle Ranch

Eagle Ranch is dedicated to modeling a Christ-centered family for the children entrusted to us. A committed Christian couple lives in each of the homes with the boys or girls providing the love and structure that they need. And while children may live at Eagle Ranch from elementary through high school, the program is structured […]

Mission Trips for Adults: Discovering Your Path to Purpose

The question, “Can I go on a mission trip?” is one that many Christian adults find themselves asking. Whether you’re seeking a new adventure, wanting to give back to communities in need, or looking for a deeper spiritual connection, mission trips for adults offer an array of opportunities to draw closer to Christ and to serve Him. 

Mission Trips Are for Adults: Not Just for Youth

The perception that mission trips are primarily for young people is a misconception. While they offer invaluable opportunities for young individuals to gain unique experiences, mission trips are equally impactful for adults. Adults bring a wealth of life experience, skills, and knowledge to these trips, making their contributions particularly valuable.

Unique Ways You Can Contribute to a Mission Trip as an Adult

1. leadership and mentorship:.

Adults often serve as natural leaders on mission trips. They can provide guidance, support, and mentorship to younger participants, helping them navigate unfamiliar situations and making the mission trip a more enriching experience for everyone.

2. Specialized Skills:

Many adults bring technical skills to mission trips, such as medical expertise, construction knowledge, teaching experience, or counseling skills. These skills can be invaluable in addressing the unique needs of the community being served.

3. Financial Support:

Adults may have been blessed with greater financial resources, making it possible to provide significant financial support for the mission trip. They can contribute to funding the trip, covering expenses, or donating to the undertaken project.

4. Organizational Abilities:

Adults often excel in planning and logistics. They can help coordinate travel arrangements, set schedules, and manage resources efficiently, ensuring the mission trip runs smoothly.

5. Emotional and Spiritual Maturity:

Adults tend to have a deeper well of emotional and spiritual maturity, which can be especially helpful when dealing with challenging or emotionally charged situations. Their ability to provide a calm and composed presence can have a soothing effect on the group and the community they are serving, and it can ensure that Christ is represented well even when things get tough and frustrating. 

Who Can Go on A Mission Trip?

The simple answer is – anyone! Age is not a barrier when it comes to participating in mission trips. Whether you’re in your 20s or your 60s, there’s likely a mission trip that suits your skills and interests. The Lord calls us all to serve Him. 

Understanding Mission Trips

Mission trips are journeys taken by individuals or groups who want to volunteer their time and skills to help communities in need in the name of Christ. These trips can be domestic or international and often involve activities like building homes , teaching English, providing medical care , or sharing religious beliefs. The duration of these trips can range from a few days to several months.

Mission trips are not just limited to young people; they are increasingly popular among adults of all ages and backgrounds. In fact, there’s been a notable increase in mission trips for adults over the past few years. These experiences provide an opportunity not only to make a difference but also to learn about different cultures, meet new people, and challenge oneself personally and spiritually.

Can You Go? 

So, can you go on a mission trip ? Absolutely! Mission trips for adults are not only possible but also incredibly rewarding experiences that allow individuals to make a tangible difference in communities around the world while growing personally and spiritually.

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How Counseling Helps Churches Embrace a Missional Mindset

Dr. Tim Allchin November 6, 2019 For Those Giving Help 2 Comments

One of the major blessings of biblical counseling is that it naturally brings a missional mindset.  I love that.  Strong churches are not content to allow those around them to hurt without seeking to compassionately care.

I was training at one of our Launch partners in Long Island, NY and was thrilled to hear about their new plans to engage their community.  They are planning to come alongside the local sheriff to help those come out of prison transition and talk with county leadership about how to help families in the new county medical center across the street that largely serves at-risk populations.

On the Sunday that I visited, they held a church picnic after church where I sat down at a table with a fourth grader and an eighth-grader from a Hispanic heritage.  Soon, four more young Caribbean girls sat down along with a female young adult children’s volunteer.  Twice a week the volunteer picks them up from the local transitional housing shelter and brings them to church and is sharing the gospel and her life with them.

As I rode to the airport, I sat with a 50-something carpenter who was in tears about how God had brought two young men to Christ in his men’s bible study.  His face resonated joy as he described how his daughters were now marrying these two young men and they were all walking with the Lord and serving faithfully in this church.

This is a practical and inspiring example of a church that is embracing a missions mindset.

Taking a Missions Trip in counseling

This past weekend I taught from the Sermon on the Mount on how Jesus challenges us to overcome anxiety: placing value on what is eternal and trusting him with our future.  I had read this passage many times, but I always stop way too early and missed something crucial to understanding this passage correctly. 

Do you want to know what Jesus did right when he got done teaching about the new life and came down off the mountain?   He took a missions trip .  You can read about this trip in Matthew 8-9.  It was quite some trip, with danger, uncertainty, opposition, and blessing.  Over and over again, Jesus met the physical and spiritual needs of those he encountered.  He proved he was worthy of trust in every area of life.

Look at what he did next!  When they got back from the missions trip,  He prayed for workers to go into the Harvest, and then he sent them out on their own missions trip to love others with the same compassion that he demonstrated throughout His missions trip. (Matthew 9:36-37)

I am convinced that many churches stall out because they never complete this crucial last step, they don’t take missions trips and they don’t send out saints for ministry.  Our idea of missions trips is typically overseas, but how about across the street, across town, or into your schools, prisons, youth outreaches or health departments?  The mission is what is important, not the location.

Changing our Goal

We should think about a new goal for counseling success!  The true success in biblical counseling is for someone to become a disciple-maker.  Teach people to obey, show them the power of God, prepare them to embrace their purpose, and send them out to impact others.  Isn’t this the clear pattern of Jesus over and over? This is why effective counseling can’t be fully done in a counseling office or in 8 timed sessions.

The goal is that we send those who we counsel into the fields, where they can comfort others with the comfort they have been shown.  This is why churches are the best place for biblical counseling and care.  Speaking the truth in love over time is the best way to grow.  Allowing scripture and relationships with God’s people to train you in righteousness and learning to shoulder responsibility in the disciple-making mission of the church.

Embracing Biblical Counseling changes your church culture by helping your people realize that they leave the service to enter the mission field.

Here are three implications of this mindset shift for those passionate about biblical counseling.

• The best counselors are often those who have been counseled because they return on a missions trip to your counseling ministry to help others find the hope and peace they have found.
• Our communities around us are full of opportunities for trained biblical counselors to make an impact as volunteers .  Does your church send out trained counselors to youth/medical facilities, shelters, and prisons with the goal to listen long enough that our community feels loved?  You can’t do it all, but partnering together with other churches can bring people marked with the gospel to many areas of need around us.
• Jesus taught us to be serious about equipping his disciples to be disciple-makers .  Does the mission of your church align with this?  It should! Biblical Counseling can be an effective way to train people of all backgrounds and ages to embrace the opportunities around them.

If you are wondering if your church can have a great impact, we would love for 2020 to be a year that your church looks back upon as a year where you stopped being content with doing church, and you started to do what the church exists for.  We are thrilled when we hear our partner churches making progress.  We would love to help you too!

Do you or someone you know need counseling? We are passionate about helping hurting people. We provide Skype counseling for people across the country, and live counseling in 5 offices across the Chicagoland area. Get Help Today Are you interested in learning to counsel others? We believe that the Bible has the answers for a hurting world. We are passionate about training people and churches, through online courses and events, to help those in need. Learn More Today

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STCH Ministries invites you to join a mission that impacts lives daily

STCH Ministries is dedicated to healing, restoring and transforming lives globally. Through a unique blend of providing safe homes for children and families, counseling, international missions, financial and career training and providing resources for individuals, we honor God by ensuring that each individual experiences the love of Christ. Your support empowers us to be the hands and feet of Jesus, making a tangible impact on those in need. Will you join us ?

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Through our three campuses, STCH Ministries provides safe, comfortable homes for children and families during times of crisis.

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Our Family Counseling ministry provides hope and direction for individuals, couples and children when they need help sorting through the challenges of life.

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STCH Ministries International takes our mission overseas by partnering with established local churches and organizations that serve children and families.

Faith & Work | Faith & Finances

Through our training programs, Faith & Work and Faith & Finances, we guide people in critical life-management applications. This includes discovering purpose in life and how to apply that at work as well as Biblical principles about managing money in order to break patterns of a financial crisis.

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We care for our communities by offering Pastor Care and support for our local church shepherds, Family Support for families needing a connection to local resources, and Ministry Consulting to offer our expertise to organizations that share our goal of being Christ’s hands and feet.

In a distracted world, it’s sometimes hard to see and participate in what God is doing.

Discover focus & mission for you and your family by joining in on what God is doing At STCH Ministries!

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We’re excited you’d like to be the hands and feet of Jesus. So how do you participate at STCH Ministries?

Give in one of five ways

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By taking part in an STCH Ministries event, you have the opportunity to share the gospel all over the state of Texas (and the world!).

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Volunteer with us

You are needed! At STCH Ministries, you’ll discern clearly how to participate in what God is doing. Will you respond to the call to help?

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STCH Ministries News & Updates

Breaking Chains: Estefania’s Journey to Intimacy with Christ

IN THE DEPTHS OF ESTEFANIA’S HEART, a deep desire for freedom from a cycle of challenges and setbacks rang loudly. Her path, woven with threads of desperation, resilience and faith, is evidence of the life-changing power of God’s redemption. As Estefania shares her journey, God’s grace is evident in her words, painting a vibrant portrait of transformation.

Bustin’ for STCH Clay Shoot: A Day of Hope

Are you ready for an exciting day of clay shooting that makes a lasting impact? Mark your calendars for the Bustin’ for STCH clay shoot on January 27, 2024, at the picturesque White Owl Ranch, just 13 miles from Alice, Texas. White Owl Ranch Nestled in the heart of Texas, White Owl Ranch spans 175+ […]

ACCA Leadership Conference

Six high school students from our Boothe Campus recently returned from an unforgettable youth leadership conference held at Shepherd of the Ozarks. The ACCA Youth Leadership Conference is an opportunity for older students who show leadership potential to grow and develop their leadership skills and abilities. Our students were right at home in the Ozark Mountains, […]

Teacher Appreciation Luncheon

Last week, STCH Ministries hosted a delicious teacher luncheon for the Pettus ISD staff as a shout-out to our amazing educators. It was a special event filled with gratitude and good food, reminding us of the incredible impact teachers have on our lives. They put in so much hard work and dedication, and we want them to know how […]

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Join us in healing hearts and sharing hope

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Serving in roatan, honduras since 2012, interested in roatan as a, mission group, youth group,, individual or as a family.

For over eleven years, we have lived, worked and ministered on the Island of Roatan, Honduras providing teaching, evangelism, professional counseling, mission trip planning and coordination, missions team assistance and more. Review our site, download our prayer card and contact us for more information on how God can use you. The needs are great but our God is greater. Come experience His transforming power as you work alongside local ministries that match your gifting and talents.

We are a 501c3 nonprofit organization and all gifts are tax-deductible.

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Roatan Mission Fellowship exists to be used of God to make disciples of Jesus Christ through His power, by His grace and for His glory. We do this through leading church services, ministering to the lost, serving in the community and living the gospel through our lives.

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We need your church or organization's help to help meet the challenges and needs of the communities on Roatan.

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Roatan Mission is a non-profit organization in USA, Canada and Honduras. All gifts are tax-deductible. 

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Moody Mission Trips

When you attend Moody, you get the opportunity to take mission trips in the United States and overseas. You’ll go with the PCM department or on one of Moody’s athletic teams. Study and learn God’s Word in community with other believers, then practice what you learn in real ministry settings.

Your experience on a mission trip with Moody will shape you spiritually. As you minister to the local church in a different country, you’ll see how God moves when His people pray and serve Him. Prepare to follow God wherever He calls you, as you learn what it really means to do intercultural ministry.

Destinations

Previous trips have gone all over the United States and the world. Recent locations have included:

• Choctaw Indian Nation
• Dominican Republic
• the Philippines
• Czech Republic

What you’ll do on a Moody mission trip

Every Moody mission trip is different, and no matter what your skill or passion is, there’s a place for you on the team! Teams in different countries have served a variety of ways, including:

• Lead church worship evenings and run a youth Bible camp
• Serve a Christian rescue mission and recovery facility
• Preach and lead worship for church services
• Teach Bible lessons to children
• Assist the church’s ministry to women program
• Help with discipleship training
• Witness at a juvenile detention center
• Minister to victims of sexual exploitation
• Lead an English training workshop
• Share the gospel with college students
• Hold sports clinics and give testimonies about Jesus

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Volunteer Abroad in Mental Health, Psychology and Special Needs

By Danielle Forshay

Updated for 2023-2024

Mental health and special needs are important issues everywhere, and in many countries around the globe, there is still much work to be done to combat pervasive social stigma, discrimination and low quality of life. Many mentally disabled people simply do not have access to adequate care, or local superstition prevents them from receiving it. As a volunteer on a mental health or psychology placement, you will work to overcome these barriers and help communities embrace a mindset that approaches mental health matters with care and understanding.

International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ) offers 17 special needs volunteer projects in exciting destinations such as Cambodia , Croatia , Nepal , Mexico , and more!

Another program in particular that you will want to check out is Maximo Nivel, which offers tons of volunteer opportunities in Latin America, including medical volunteer projects and special needs internships . If you are looking for an opportunity outside Latin America, then check out GoEco’s Special Needs program in Israel .

Finally, an additional excellent organization is Volunteering Solutions which offers a special needs program in Delhi and a disabled children program in Peru .

Read on to learn more about some of the best international mental health volunteer opportunities available.

International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ)

International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ) provides affordable volunteer programs in 40+ countries worldwide. An innovative organization, IVHQ works with local organizations and NGOs to offer more than 300 programs that deliver sustainable value for communities and for the environment. Since its start in 2007, IVHQ has sent over 130,000 individuals abroad annually. With program fees starting at only $20/day, this is an affordable option for travelers on a budget. Program durations range from one week to six months, and support is available 24/7 for participants throughout Africa, Asia, Latin America, Europe, the Caribbean, and the Pacific.

Volunteer in Vietnam

IVHQ’s Special Needs project in Vietnam needs caring people to work in schools, hospitals, community clinics, or orphanages, helping mentally disabled children affected by Agent Orange. Your assistance will go a long way to support the day-to-day operations in hospitals and community clinics, where you will be working alongside local placement staff. No experience is necessary to sign up, and duties may include rehabilitation exercises, therapeutic treatments, playing with children, entertaining and educating them through games, music, and art, painting murals, renovation work, and helping to develop fundraising initiatives. Accommodation is a volunteer dormitory at a Tourism College nearby. Program fees start at $300 for one week. Read more about this program here.

Volunteer in Greece

If you hold qualifications for Special Education and/or Physical Therapies, or you’re wrapping up your studies in the fields, consider an IVHQ program in Athens, Greece . As a Special Needs Care volunteer, you’ll work under the supervision of teachers at an activity center that provides care and education for disabled children. Tasks include helping the local staff with outdoor activities such as swimming, sports, as well as indoor activities like crafts and cooking. From this project, you will understand the challenges that they may face. Accommodation includes staying in a dorm style hostel in the heart of Athens. In your free time, you can wander and learn about ancient Greek history! IVHQ’s Greece program starts at $1345 for the three weeks. Click here to learn more!

Volunteer in Guatemala

An oft-overlooked segment of the population, the elderly in Guatemala need your compassionate and friendly assistance. This IVHQ elder care program in Antigua, Guatemala places volunteers at local organizations to help seniors with recreational activities, provide one-on-one attention, assist in healthcare, and to socialize with them. Most of the elders are from low-income families and rely on local service organizations for their basic needs. As a volunteer, you’ll help to organize exercise programs, medicine distribution, and meal preparation. Accommodations are homestay with local families, and weekends can be spent traveling to nearby Tikal, Belize, Mexico, El Salvador, and Honduras. Program fees start at $385 for one week. Learn more and apply here!

Special Needs Care in Peru

The Special Needs Care program in Cusco is one of the many volunteer projects you can sign up for with IVHQ in Peru. The children at the care center have a range of mental and physical disabilities, and volunteers are needed to help with personal care, specialized attention, basic feeding, clothing and more, depending on the severity of their needs. You’ll also help by organizing crafts and games for playtime. You’ll be housed with a host family for an immersive experience. Sundays are a religious day and most shops and restaurants are closed, though you may decide to attend a local church with your host family for an immersive cultural experience. Program fees are $385 for one week. Read about this program here!

GoEco  connects volunteers to more than 150 projects around the globe, including community initiatives focused on mental health, psychology, and special needs. A top-rated volunteer organization, GoEco was created by experienced volunteers and all programs have been carefully vetted for safety, quality, and ethical commitment. They’ve won several awards, notably the Top Volunteer Abroad Organization in 2015 from GoAbroad. Check out some recommended projects below.

Guiding People with Special Needs in Tel Aviv, Israel

Collaborating with a non-profit organization that started in 1991, this project aims to  integrate people with special needs into their communities . Based on your preferences and experience, your  volunteer work  may include teaching infants and toddlers with developmental delays (minimum of 4 weeks), doing employment skills training for adults with mental and physical disabilities, and helping with activities at a social club. It’s really an impactful program—and you can make a difference right away.

When you’re not volunteering, explore Tel Aviv. From the artsy neighborhood of Neve Tzedek to the Eretz Israel Museum, this is a city with plenty to do and see. Ready to go? Project fees begin at $720 for one week.  Get all the info here!

Healthcare and Community Outreach in Livingstone, Zambia

Pack your bags and join GoEco in  Livingstone, Zambia . There, you’ll assist poorly resourced and understaffed medical clinics in a variety of ways. For the program, you can do everything from home-based care and elderly home care to HIV/AIDS education in prisons. As a volunteer, you’ll not only educate patients about diseases, physical health, and the importance of adhering to a medication regimen, you’ll also be a friend and provide them the opportunity to socialize. That’s vital to ensure they’re in good spirits.

What’s also nice is that Livingstone is right near Victoria Falls (be sure to visit!). So, are you interested? Project fees begin at $1,530 for two weeks.  Find out more here!

Vietnam – Ho Chi Minh Community Involvement

Volunteer in the big city of  Ho Chi Minh at the placement of your choosing! Volunteers can work with children with special needs, join a food outreach program or assist at a local kindergarten. No matter the placement choice, you can be sure to be helping out the local community. Learn more here.

Maximo Nivel

Maximo Nivel  offers safe, affordable, and high-quality volunteer trips, Spanish language learning programs, and teaching opportunities in Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Peru. Its mission is to encourage individuals to gain a better understanding of the world through education, adventure, and cultural travel. Founded in 2003, Maximo Nivel has placed 25,000 people on programs that improve and positively impact communities where they work. Its education programs are internationally accredited, and it trains and certifies ESL teachers for worldwide employment.

Healthcare and Medical Volunteering

Do you have experience in health care?  Put your skills to good use in a clinic or hospital, providing care for patients in need . If you’re a pre-med student or in nursing school, or studying health sciences, you can sign up for a healthcare and medical volunteering program with Maximo Nivel and work with medical professionals in Costa Rica, Peru, or Guatemala.

Take part in medical campaigns and vaccination programs and learn how the healthcare systems work in other countries. Care for people who are physically or mentally disabled, elderly or adults and children with HIV.

As a volunteer, you’ll assist with general care and companionship, distribute medications, help to feed and bathe patients, change beds, hold conversations as part of talk therapy, and take part in therapeutic arts and crafts.

If you’re in your third or fourth year of medical school, or a licensed medical professional, you can volunteer alongside local doctors and nurses. Some of the tasks include assisting with check-ups, helping with triage, taking a patient’s vital signs, organizing records, and more. Jobs you’ll perform depend on your Spanish language ability, your experience, and your qualifications.  Learn more here.

Medical Internships in Latin America

Build a professional foundation for your medical career with a  medical internship in Latin America  through Maximo Nivel. Gain experience with practices and treatments of patients that spans differences in languages, cultures, illnesses, and resources.

Medical interns get a hands-on education when working in the developing world, especially in the areas of patient care and foreign healthcare systems. You’ll not only boost your practical knowledge, but you’ll also increase your knowledge of medical terminology in the Spanish language and improve your ability to communicate with Spanish-speaking patients.

You’ll work in clinics, hospitals, assisted-living facilities, and private practices in Costa Rica, Peru, or Guatemala, and learn valuable skills in diagnosis, intervention, and evaluation of diseases and injuries.

Depending upon your education, experience, and Spanish language skills, your work could include triage, patient consultations, check-ups, making rounds, elderly care, health education, materials management, and patient records.

Intermediate knowledge of Spanish is required, so if you need assistance with your Spanish language skills, Maximo Nivel offers online Spanish classes and a Native Spanish Program.

This internship requires a minimum of four weeks onsite, and you can expect to work four to six hours per day, Monday through Friday. This program is open to pre-med, medical, and nursing program students, as well as alternatively licensed medical professionals. You’ll need proof of medical education, training, certifications, and licenses, and a final project is required.  Learn more and sign up here!

Special Education Internships

Tackle learning challenges with grace, become more patient and compassionate with students, and find joy in helping others when you participate in a  Special Education Internship with Maximo Nivel . Teaching students with disabilities and special needs can be a difficult yet extremely rewarding experience, and one you won’t want to miss.

You’ll form strong relationships with your students and the teachers working as a teacher’s aide in a private school. You’ll work with individual students, conduct your own lessons, participate in teacher-to-teacher mentoring, learn about the education system in developing countries, and gain insight into special-needs curriculum standards and obstacles. Your students will have visual impairments, hearing impairments, physical impairments, and developmental disabilities.

Gain real-world experience in the classroom and learn about the challenges families of special needs students face. Learn how to measure students’ development and lead educational activities. You’ll need to be proficient in American Sign Language, and if you’re an expert, you’ll be able to help hearing-impaired students learn English as a second language.

Intermediate Spanish is required for your special education placement. Maximo Nivel offers  online Spanish classes  and a  Native Spanish Program  to help you improve your Spanish language skills.  Read more and apply here!

Projects Abroad

Mental illness affects people in countries throughout the world. On top of the struggles that come with these illnesses, harmful stigmas persist in many communities. You can be a part of changing this on a psychology internship with  Projects Abroad . You’ll gain valuable experience in this field while supporting the work professionals. During your internship, you’ll learn skills that boost your resume and set you apart for grad school applications.

Psychology Internship in Jamaica

Adapting to different cultures is an important part of working with people. That’s why an overseas internship is ideal if you’re pursuing a career in mental health. On Projects Abroad’s  psychology internship in Jamaica , you’ll work closely with local psychologists and they guide you through your work. Shadow the professionals as you sit in on consultations with patients, and perform the following tasks:

• Learn from professionals about diagnosis and treatment
• Observe or assist with play therapy sessions
• Give presentations on mental health to raise awareness
• Conduct interviews and collect data to identify common mental health issues

You must commit to two weeks on-site, and the cost begins at $3,065. Learn more here .

Psychology Internship in Mongolia

Projects Abroad’s  psychology internship in Mongolia  gives you the opportunity to gain experience working at a mental health clinic with professional psychologists. Through their guidance, you’ll learn first-hand what a career in mental health is like. This internship is geared towards interns with experience. You need to have completed at least three years of psychology-related training to join. This way, you’ll be able to handle more sensitive cases and won’t feel out of your depth. As an intern, you’ll:

• Conduct research and write reports on mental health in the Mongolian context
• Shadow psychologists during consultations
• Learn from professionals and share your knowledge with them
• Help with outreaches in remote communities

Fees begin at $3,155. If you’re able to commit to four weeks,  click here and read more .

Involvement Volunteers International (IVI) 

Searching for a transformative experience abroad? Involvement Volunteers International (IVI) , established in 1989, beckons individuals to be part of 25,000 volunteers who’ve positively impacted 112 projects in 23 countries.

Why IVI? 

Boasting a 34-year legacy, IVI is a unique non-profit. Their focus? Empowering communities in the South Pacific ( Fiji ) and India . Beyond just travel and volunteering , IVI delves deep into humanitarian aid , supporting impoverished communities and refugees. University students also find opportunities to complete practicum hours in diverse sectors such as health and teaching.

Diverse Opportunities for Volunteering, Interning, and Teaching  

IVI offers teaching projects for various age groups, primarily 3-12. For those eyeing internships, there are openings in medical , teaching, and physiotherapy across destinations such as Peru, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. These internships come with guaranteed hours and essential documentation for university placements.

Catering to all Travelers 

Solo traveler, family , or group, IVI has something for everyone. From teaching to construction, their projects cater to different needs. They even curate specialized itineraries for larger groups, making them a top pick for school expeditions. For those aged 16-17, parental consent is mandatory.

Curious about IVI? Explore their story on their official website: volunteering.org.au . With IVI, an enriching global adventure awaits!

Special Needs School Assistance in Fiji

If you are passionate about supporting children with special needs, then definitely check out IVI’s special needs school assistance project in Fiji . With over one third of the population below the poverty line, malnutrition, and low literacy rates, Fijian communities desperately need the support of international volunteers. IVI offers two opportunities in Fiji for special needs: (1) Nadi, which is the main tourist hub of Fiji and (2) Lautoka, which is a working class harbor town. As part of these projects, you will volunteer in schools that cater to children and young adults aged 5 to 20. You will have the opportunity to help feed, care, teach, play fun games with special needs children. You can also support movement classes, physiotherapy, & speech therapy if you have the requisite skills. Project fees are extremely affordable starting at just $395 and includes accommodation, meals, airport pickup, 24/7 in-country support and so much more. Click here to learn more .

Special Needs Care in Vietnam

Located in Vietnam’s most populous city of Ho Chi Minh City, IVI’s special needs care project in Vietnam is a wonderful opportunity to support Vietnamese children with disabilities. As part of this project, you will volunteer in a special needs home of 20-25 children with a variety of disabilities. You will have the opportunity to engage in fun activities with the children, including singing, playing, face painting, art, and more! Project fees are affordable starting at just $465 per week and includes accommodation, meals, airport pickup, 24/7 in-country support and so much more. Click here to learn more .

Volunteering Solutions

Volunteering Solutions (VolSol)  is an international volunteer organization that was started in 2007.  Since then, they have hosted over 17,000 volunteers in projects across 27 countries , including popular destinations such as  Nepal ,  India ,  Thailand ,  South Africa ,  Peru , and  Costa Rica .

Volunteering Solution’s  volunteer projects  are among the  most affordably priced  in the world, starting at  $200 USD for one week .

In addition to their 120+ volunteer projects, Volunteering Solutions also offers  intern abroad  opportunities, the highlight of which are their international medical internships.

To learn more about Volunteering Solutions and  apply to their program , visit their  website here  (UK readers, please visit their  UK site here ).

Volunteer in Peru – Cusco For Disabled Care

Travel to Cusco to volunteer with a school that cares for and supports children suffering from deafness and other mental challenges . As a volunteer, you can help with a variety of support activities, including looking after the children, helping with their personal development and hygiene education, designing program curriculum alongside local staff, and even assisting with administrative and behind-the-scenes activities, such as updating the center’s website and writing reports and articles. This program starts from one week at $510.

Volunteer in India For Disabled Care

The Delhi-based special needs care program gives volunteers the opportunity to help at one of three centers:  the Special Education Center, Skill Development Center, and Autism Center. As a volunteer, you can help the local staff as needed and assist with taking care of children, including teaching them and supporting specific skill development/enhancement. This program starts from one week at $250.

Plan My Gap Year

Volunteer in Ghana

The  Ghana Mental Health & Psychology Experience  placement from  Plan My Gap Year  is intended for current students of  mental health or psychology , placing volunteers within a clinical setting at Tafo Government Hospital. Gain valuable insights into the structure and function of mental health services in Ghana today and become deeply involved in community outreach programs that seek to overcome stigma against mental health, encouraging patients to seek treatment at the first signs of mental illness. You’ll have the opportunity to give talks about mental health in schools and other community centers, engage in direct outreach to community members who suffer from psychiatric issues and make home visits to keep apprised of patient progress. Mental health volunteer placements require a minimum of two weeks starting at $599 (£459).

Volunteer in Sri Lanka

Similarly, the  Sri Lanka Mental Health & Psychology Experience  was designed with students of  psychology and mental health  in mind. This placement is based in the Galle District of  Sri Lanka , which was one of those worst affected by the 2004 tsunami, an event that left a lasting impact. Volunteers will gain insights into how mental health needs are addressed within a foreign culture. You’ll spend time shadowing mental health professionals as they consult with patients; opportunities for hands-on involvement will vary depending on experience, willingness, and program duration. You’ll also become involved in community projects caring for mentally disabled children, creating engaging activities and supporting creative therapy. You must commit to a minimum of two weeks. Program costs begin at $586 (£449).

Agape Volunteers

When you join  Agape Volunteers  in Africa, you’ll have the opportunity to take part in meaningful work for communities in need. With programs in Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, and Ghana, Agape Volunteers specializes in volunteering, tourism, and development work, with a focus on medical volunteering, teaching, coaching, and environmental conservation. Program fees cover orientation, support, accommodation, airport transfers, meals, and even travel insurance, making Agape Volunteers an incredibly affordable option if you want to volunteer in Africa.

Volunteer in Kenya

If you’re interested in mental health care, consider a trip that allows you to  volunteer with a medical program in Kenya. This opportunity has a far-reaching impact on patients, and you provide much-needed support for the overworked healthcare teams onsite. Your tasks will vary depending upon your experience level, but you’ll shadow professionals during your first few days in-country. Accommodations are in a volunteer house with dorm-style rooms. Fees start at £590 for one week.  Click here to learn more.

Boost your experience as a nurse or doctor specializing in mental health on a medical volunteer trip in Ghana . To volunteer with mental health patients, you’ll start the day by shadowing medical professionals as they begin their rounds, and assist with more serious procedures, if asked. Volunteers live at the local center for street-children, which also acts as Agape’s base camp in Ghana. Sign up for extra adventures, including jungle trekking, cultural excursions, and visits to a variety of National Parks and animal sanctuaries. Program costs start at £510 for one week.  Read more and apply here.

Volunteer in Tanzania

Volunteer for special needs or mental health care on a  medical placement in Tanzania  with Agape Volunteers. Support the staff at underserved hospitals and clinics, and help with medical outreach projects in the community. Accommodations are at a guesthouse in Arusha, a short walk from the city center. Spend your free time on excursions, including overnight safaris on the Serengeti or a weekend visiting the beautiful Moshi Waterfalls and Chemka Hot Springs. Stay from one week to one year in Tanzania, with costs starting at £695.  Click here to start your application!

The Intern Group

The Intern Group  places 2,000 individuals each year with renowned NGOs and important global employers. Founded in 2011, the award-winning social enterprise has been featured in Forbes, TIME, Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, and CNN. It works with top applicants from 600 different universities to develop customized professional development internships in North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. The Intern Group’s mission is to develop an innovative and culturally sensitive generation prepared to address the issues that affect the world today and tomorrow. Interns receive assistance with visas, as well as developmental workshops, career training, social and cultural events, quality housing, and in-country support.

Psychology Internship in Dublin, Ireland

Study human behavior on a  psychology placement with the Intern Group in Dublin, Ireland . Psychology is one of the most popular academic pursuits and is a competitive field once you graduate. Jumpstart your career with an internship that lets you put into context what you’ve learned in the classroom. Work with NGOs and focus on mental health or substance abuse, or focus on statistical or data analysis and research. Successful interns have worked with Youth Work Ireland, an established NGO with more than 150 projects and 300 youth clubs across the island nation. Gain valuable connections, build close relationships, and enjoy weekend adventures in Dublin, such as the Guinness Storehouse tour, the EPIC Ireland exhibit, an Irish dance party, a trip to the Cliffs of Moher, and a literary night. Placement fees start at $4,869 for six weeks, and you’re invited to stay up to six months. Learn more and sign up here!

Social Work and Healthcare Internship in Madrid

Pursuing a career in mental health? Apply for a  social work Internship in Madrid that allows you to work alongside people of all ages, ethnicities, education levels, and socioeconomic statuses. This hands-on experience through the Intern Group permits you to make a difference in a vulnerable community overseas. You’ll enhance your resume and stand out as a top candidate in the competitive job market of psychology. Work with major international social work organizations, such as One Young World, that focus on access to healthcare and education. This placement includes social events such as a Flamenco dance show and dinner and a tour of Santiago Bernabéu. You’ll also visit Toledo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Fees for this program start at $4,570 for six weeks, with stays up to six months.  Read more and apply today!

Mental Health Internship in Colombia

Visit  Medellin, Colombia  on a mental health internship and gain hands-on experience with a variety of medical treatments, from psychiatry to clinical medicine. The Intern Group partners with private and public hospitals where you can network with medical professionals and interact with patients to learn more about treatments in public health sectors. Gain practical hands-on experience in a variety of roles, including research, clinical trials, policy, fundraising, advocacy, and outreach to promote awareness. You must have completed two years of medical school, and have a basic understanding of Spanish. If your language skills need improving, you can sign up for an intensive two-week language course in Colombia before starting your elective abroad. Spend weekends exploring the city by taking a walking tour- there also are many cinemas, museums, and restaurants to occupy your free time. Program fees begin at $2,490 for two weeks, with longer stays available.  Learn more and apply here!

Join an NGO for Psychology Research in London

Check out this  international NGO internship in London  that invites you to learn how to conduct research to improve treatment for a specific mental health issue, and increase public awareness about mental health. The Intern Group partners with NGOs and hospitals that provide customized professional development opportunities for students interested in working alongside experts to learn about drug addiction and other mental health issues. London is an amazing destination, full of culture, art, and history. While you’re in town, your internship calendar includes an Afternoon Tea service, a Thames River cruise, and a trip on the London Eye attraction. You’ll also catch a show at a West End Theater. Enjoy street festivals like the Notting Hill Carnival, and make sure you stop by Buckingham Palace. Stay six weeks or longer – program fees begin at $4,841.  Read more and apply today!

Fronteering

With unique programs across more than 15 countries,  Fronteering is known for its commitment to developing high-quality programs that uplift the communities they serve. When it comes to projects aimed at improving the lives of mentally disabled people and those with mental health needs, they have several great options.

What’s also nice about Fronteering is that they have affordable program fees and are transparent about how that money is used. No wonder they get great reviews from previous participants.

Interested in being a volunteer with Fronteering? Check out some of their amazing programs for volunteering abroad in mental health, psychology, and special needs.

Volunteer at a Children’s Autism and Horse Therapy Ranch in Mississippi, USA

Head to a  200-acre ranch in the rolling hills of Mississippi  and volunteer to help children with autism through interactions with therapy animals, such as horses and dogs. Your main duty will be to assist with therapy sessions as the kids ride the horses and interact with them. This is all in an effort to boost the children’s self-esteem and happiness and help them improve socially. You also will be to care for the horses by feeding them, cleaning enclosures, and maintaining the grounds.

A truly heartwarming experience, this project also gives you the chance to go horse riding during your free time. How awesome is that? The fees begin at $1,295 for the first week, with stays up to four weeks available.

Volunteer at a Hospital in Accra, Ghana

Fronteering offers  a great program in Accra that’s designed to help understaffed and under-resourced hospitals give patients better care and improve outcomes. Not only can you learn about medical care in Ghana and the issues the system faces there, but you’ll also work with local doctors and medical professionals. As an assistant, you’ll help out with treating those with special needs and those suffering from mental illness, as well as other patients in need at the hospital.

Please note experience related to healthcare is required. Depending on your level of education and experience, your role may be more or less hands-on. The program includes a two-day trip to Kakum National Park, as well as plenty of time to explore Accra. The fees begin at $1,495 for four weeks, with stays up to eight weeks available.

Love Volunteers

Founded in 2009 with the goal of offering volunteers impactful, affordable, transparent, and safe projects around the world,  Love Volunteers has been delivering on their mission ever since. They’re recognized as one of the top volunteering organizations in the world and are simply an excellent choice if you’re looking for mental health, psychology, and special needs volunteer programs abroad. Love Volunteers operates in more than 40 countries, so your options are plenty, too!

Interested to learn more about programs offered by Love Volunteers? Read on!

Healthcare Volunteering in Kenya

Join Love Volunteers at  Diani Beach , where you’ll volunteer to combat the ongoing drug epidemic in the area. As a volunteer, you’ll be helping run a drug awareness community center that aims to provide essential care to vulnerable drug users, reduce the transmission rate of diseases, and give users the compassion and support they need to overcome addiction. You’ll truly have the opportunity to transform lives during this project. Please note there is a minimum age requirement of 21 years old, as you will witness intravenous drug use and other conditions that aren’t for the faint of heart.

During off-hours, you can enjoy the beauty of Diani Beach and the Indian Ocean. Project fees begin at just $299 for one week, with stays up to 12 weeks available.

Ready to Travel?

When it comes to mental health issues, the bottom line is that there is a lot of important work to be done and not enough people willing to do it. This is your chance to step up and make a true difference!

Danielle Forshay · Guest Writer

Danielle Forshay is a guest writer with Volunteer Forever. She is a former Fulbright grantee who has spent more than two years of her life living, working, and traveling in foreign countries, often in a volunteering capacity. She currently works as a freelance writer, primarily focusing on assignments that pertain to travel and culture.

Related guidebooks

Abroadly: Find & Apply for the Best Volunteer, Intern or Teach Abroad Trips

Childcare Volunteer Programs Abroad: Daycare or School Assistant

Volunteer & Intern in India: Teach English, Medical Projects, and More

Volunteer Abroad for Women’s Empowerment & Girls’ Education

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