Step 1: To be able to travel with WMA, you must submit an application. Submitting an application does not obligate you financially to anything and does not sign you up for a mission trip. It’s just the first step in getting approved to travel on WMA mission trips. Here is a link to our online application to get started https://rfwma.org/about/mission-trip-application/. It’s a simple application that should only take a few minutes to fill out. Just fill out all the fields and then click “submit”.
Step 2: To complete your application and get approved to travel we also need a letter of recommendation from someone in leadership at the church you attend. Here is the link to forward to the person writing it https://rfwma.org/about/letter-of-recommendation/. They can fill the form out and submit it online as well.
Step 3: After your application is approved you can secure your spot on a team with a $200 deposit here https://rfwma.org/make-a-trip-payment/ which goes toward your total amount due. Once we receive your deposit you will be able to set up a personal fundraising page on our website that will look similar to this one https://rfwma.reachapp.co/campaigns/denise-s-mission-trip-to-thailand to help you raise the funds to cover the cost of your trip and flight if you’d like.
Step 4: – Stay Informed: We will be in communication with you through email so please check your inbox often for emails from us about the mission trip you are attending. Also, please locate the link to your trip information page we send in the emails about your trip. Visit your trip’s information page, open each tab and read all the information thoroughly in each tab on the page. Save the link to this page and check back often as this is where we will post any new information about the trip as well as emailing it to you.
Step 5: If your trip requires an additional domestic flight, please make your payment for it by the deadline date indicated in the emails and on the trip information page. This is typically about 90 days before the trip.
Step 6: Make your final payment and send us your international flight itinerary by the deadline date indicated in the emails and on the trip information page. This is typically about 45 days before the trip.
Step 7: Submit your responsibility and emergency contact form. Click the link to fill out the responsibility and emergency contact form. We must receive your completed form by the trip’s final payment deadline (45 days before the trip) for you to be eligible to attend. This link will be emailed to you as well as posted on the trip information page. https://rfwma.org/responsibility-passport-emergencycontact/
Step 8: Attend the online team meeting if possible. About 8 weeks before the trip you will start receiving invites to the online team meeting which will be held about 6 weeks before the trip. This will be your opportunity to meet your team leaders and fellow teammates. We’ll be discussing the details of the trip as well as going over important travel and airport pick up information as well as answering all your questions about the trip. This meeting will be recorded and emailed to you, whether you attended or not, to view afterwards.
On this groundbreaking mission we will be partnering with the local churches in an incredible opportunity to share Jesus with the Vietnamese people by sharing testimonies and teaching in evangelistic services. We you will have an opportunity to bring hope and joy to the adults, youth and children as we share the Gospel with them– there is hardly a more significant impact that can be made in these hearts. The team will be interceding for the restoration of Vietnam from the spiritual oppression, strife and wars and for its spiritual destiny as children of the true God. We need prayer warriors and intercessors on the team who will devote themselves to this extremely important part of the mission.
The cost of the Vietnam trip is $1900 (Due by 11/26/25)
Includes: lodging, 3 meals/day, ground transportation, itinerary planning and translator services. This fee does not include airfare. Our office can assist you with booking your flight out of your home airport and connect you with other travelers along the way.
Click the link to make a trip payment https://rfwma.org/make-a-trip-payment/
A deposit of $200 is required to secure your spot on the team. Your deposit is nonrefundable, but will be applied to the total amount due which is $1900, due by 11/26/2025.
Please read our full cancellation policy, including information about deposits and refunds
Click the link to make your deposit https://rfwma.org/make-a-trip-payment/
Read Our E-book 10 Great Ways to Fundraise for Your Mission Trip. You can download it here
Get acquainted with the country God’s called you to.
Here are some fun and interesting facts you may not have known about Vietnam:
- Home to the World’s Longest Cave: Vietnam is home to Son Doong Cave, the largest cave in the world. Located in Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park, it’s so large that it has its own ecosystem, river, and even clouds.
- World’s Largest Floating Market: The Cai Rang Floating Market in the Mekong Delta is the largest in the world, where traders and farmers sell fresh produce from their boats. It’s a colorful and unique market experience!
- The Birthplace of Pho: Vietnam is the birthplace of pho, a traditional noodle soup made with broth, rice noodles, herbs, and meat, typically chicken or beef. It’s a staple of Vietnamese cuisine.
- Incredible Biodiversity: Vietnam is one of the world’s most biodiverse countries, with over 10,000 species of plants and 300 species of mammals, birds, and reptiles. Many of these species are found nowhere else on Earth.
- Ha Long Bay: This UNESCO World Heritage Site is known for its emerald waters and thousands of towering limestone islands topped with rainforests. It’s one of the most photographed natural sites in Vietnam.
- Rice is a Key Staple: Vietnam is one of the world’s largest exporters of rice. The country’s rice paddies, especially in the Mekong Delta, form some of the most picturesque landscapes in Southeast Asia.
- Unique Coffee Culture: Vietnam is the second-largest coffee producer in the world, after Brazil. The country’s coffee culture is famous for its egg coffee (a creamy blend of egg yolk, sugar, and sweetened condensed milk) and ca phe sua da (iced coffee with condensed milk).
- Ancient History: The history of Vietnam dates back over 2,000 years. The ancient civilization of the Dai Viet laid the foundation for the modern country, and numerous archaeological sites show evidence of its rich cultural heritage.
- Primary Religion: The majority of Vietnamese people practice Buddhism, often blended with elements of Confucianism and Taoism in a unique belief system called Vietnamese folk religion. There are also significant populations of Christians (mostly Roman Catholic) and a small percentage of followers of indigenous religions.
- Unique Language: The Vietnamese language has six tones, meaning that a single word can have multiple meanings depending on its pronunciation. The language uses the Latin alphabet but with additional diacritical marks to denote tones and specific vowel sounds.
Practical travel and packing tips to help make your mission trip smooth and efficient:
Travel Documents
1. Is your passport up to date? Do you have a passport? I personally believe that once you have asked Jesus into your heart, you should follow up with water baptism. After you have been baptized, you should be given: a towel to dry off; and a passport application. If you are a US Citizen and don’t have an up to date passport, start by filling out the proper form. Detailed instructions are found at: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/apply-renew-passport/how-to-apply.html
| Form | Used For |
| DS-11 |
|
| DS-82 |
|
| DS-5504 |
|
- Does the country you wish to visit require an entrance visa? (Remember visa requirements differ based on the passport you are traveling with. If you are living in USA but hold a Bolivian passport you will follow the procedures for a Bolivian citizen).
- Once you have completed the proper application process for your travel documentation you will need to get there.
Air Travel Tips
Most places we travel require air travel. This can be tricky, unless money is no object. We will go over some basic tricks to get a comfortable flight. Know this, the best procedure today may not even work tomorrow. Nothing we say will be in stone. This will just get you started. Creative thinking is the key.
- Start with a flight search engine that searches many airlines. I use Kayak.com and google.com/flights. There are many others. None are always the best. Anyone can find the best route at the lowest price on one itinerary. I have found Kayak and google are consistently good, so I would start there and experiment with others as you go.
- Where do you wish to end up? If you are flying to Paris or Moscow scheduling is pretty straight forward. Start with your local airport and enter the airport you wish to fly to.
- Small airport destinations become a little tricky since major carriers don’t fly there. Trick, find the airport website. Small airports generally list the incoming and departing flight schedules. Work backward. Find out from which airports flights depart to arrive at the airport you wish to go. Then look for flights into that airport. You may have to buy two tickets. A round trip to that intermediary airport. And the second-round trip from the intermediary airport to your destination. There are many variations here. Including open jaw (where there is a gap somewhere in the round-trip itinerary. Example: ORD to AMM outbound and BEY to ORD return. Here you have another flight from AMM to BEY. This can get complicated but can save some money, with a risk. If the flight on your first ticket is delayed or canceled and causes you to misconnect to your flight on your second ticket you are at the mercy of the airline. They can have mercy and book you on the next flight, charge you a change fee and book you on the next flight or force you to buy another ticket. If you chose to use two or more tickets be sure to get insurance. Some credit cards cover you automatically. But verify before you purchase the ticket.
- Search with the three-digit airport code used by IATA (international association of travel agents) you can find the airport code list here http://www.airportcodes.org/
- Be careful of what countries you transfer in. If you change planes in a country that requires a visa and you get stranded, you will not be allowed to leave the airport. For U.S. citizens Russia and India are two that require visas to leave the airport. It is a good idea to check if there is a hotel in the terminal. Find out where the hotel is located and how much the rooms are. Sometimes they are reasonable.
- There is no apparent logic for the airline prices. If you find a good schedule with a fair price book it and don’t check prices again. Airline prices change faster than the stock market. I have had an airline ticket go up $800 during lunch. I have also had a ticket go down by almost that much after I purchased the ticket. Don’t let this fluctuation stress you out. It is a fact of life. Your goal is to get to your destination safely.
- Check all airports you are willing to drive to. Sometimes very surprising fares or better schedules come from the unexpected areas
- Schedule. This is a person preference. I prefer a two to four-hour layover in an overseas connecting flights. You will go through security which takes time and planes are often late. When returning you must clear passport and customs. Allow a minimum of 90 minutes for a connecting flight.
Packing tips (remember less it better).
- Try to get everything in a carry-on. For a 10-day trip it can be done but takes some planning. I have some recommendations for you.
- Clothes hamper for dirty clothes. I have one I bought at dollar tree. It is like this one from amazon. I really like it. https://www.amazon.com/Mesh-Pop-Up-Laundry-Hamper-Eliminate/dp/B00HZ0IOJ2/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1519268074&sr=8-3&keywords=collapsible+laundry+hamper
- Clear zipper bag for electronics. I use the following: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Modella-Transparent-Black-Make-Up-Bag/10315324
- Travel adapter. I designed and made a travel adapter I thought met all my needs. Left out in a German airport then discovered this adapter which is better than my design. http://www.walmart.com/ip/Travel-Smart-TS238AP-All-In-One-Adapter-with-USB/23499900
The travel adapter above is great for a reason that is not readily apparent until you stay in some foreign hotels. I have stayed in many hotels that have no free electric outlets. So, if you want to charge your phone you must unplug the lamp. Remember their plugs are different so you can’t plug in the lamp in the USA extension cord. The plug above is universal. Unplug the lamp, plug in the adapter, plug the lamp into the adapter and you still have two more plugs to use for your extension cord or computer.
***Important note***
Transformer changes voltage. Example a stepdown transformer will drop 220-240 volts to our 110-130 volts.
Adapter only allows you to put your plug into a socket not designed for your plug. Example an American plug (using two flat blades) into a German socket (one using two round holes).
An ADAPTER WILL NOT CHANGE VOLTAGE!!!!
- Extension cord. Minimum 6 foot. Generally, there are no outlets near your bed. If you enjoy having your phone charge while on the night stand near the bed, then the extension cord will allow that.
- Travel iron. I really like this iron. Steam Bug Travel Steam Iron https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001EXJ20G/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apa_wqoJAbP4CABP8. There are other brand names that look the same (and may be the same). It’s size and function make it perfect for travel. Many hotels overseas do not have an iron in the room.
- Hair dryer. (and curling irons). Buy a hair dryer that is 220v if you travel overseas. (Save Japan). DO NOT WASTE TIME AND MONEY BUYING ELECTRIC CONVERTERS. they generally don’t work. The ones that do work are unlikely to last the entire trip. If you have one that works well, you might consider buying a Powerball ticket also. (ha, ha!) You are that lucky (blessed and highly favored) person, (and probably have a pet unicorn!)
- Curling iron. See hair dryer above.
- Chargers. Most phone, camera, computer chargers are world voltage. Verify to be sure. It will say on item or on the plug or the transformer something like; input 100~250v 50~60 hz. These you can plug directly into the wall without an electric converter (step down transformer). You may still need an adapter to get it to fit into the electrical outlet.
- Bring a backup phone charger. (Yours could quit or, more likely, get lost).
- Mix and match clothes. Appropriate for the people you are ministering to. A little research is helpful. You will generally be surprised by the real situation. You need not dress like a local but dress appropriate (non-offensive) for the locals.
- Medicine. All personal medications need to be packed in your carry-on not your checked bag. Many are of faith and rightfully believe that God is a better healer than medicine. You are 100% correct. My experience is, you will find many areas to test your faith while on the mission field. If an aspirin will get you back to the mission quickly than take it. Maybe you need to help another who has a headache. If you pack a painkiller you can bond over providing a help in time of need. Items I think are of vital importance.
- Pain killer, (Excedrin, Tylenol, ibuprofen etc. What works for you.)
- Imodium. (Bathrooms are not that nice to spend your whole trip there.)
- Any prescription medicine you take.
- Allergy medicine.
There may be other things you may want to bring but these are important. Generally, you won’t need anything, but it is nice to have it just in case.
The big challenge of short term missions is reflected in the term itself. It is short. What can and should be done in a short period of time in a nation to make a lasting impact?
Another question that is frequently asked – am I qualified to make a difference?
Being called by God for a specific assignment is very humbling. We don’t want to mess up His plan. We don’t want to embarrass ourselves trying to achieve something we don’t have the ability or expertise to do.
Setting a realistic objective helps to eliminate the initial concerns. God chose you because He has determined that your life experience, your gifts, your story are going to be useful for this place and time. Do you lead a Bible study in your church? Do you enjoy playing with children? Do you have a beautiful voice, play instruments, love to worship? These natural gifts and affinities will be used during your time in the country. From the moment you have felt the call start asking God what is the subject that He wants you to prepare to teach on, what songs you should rehearse, etc. Always be prepared to share a personal testimony. We all have many experiences in our lives of God’s favor, provision, deliverance, rescue – these are your best tools to introduce someone to Jesus. Pray and seek which story you should share during the trip. You may not know all the people you will encounter on your journey but God does. He prepares divine appointments for us – if you consult Him in advance, He will help you be prepared.
In Luke 10:1 Jesus had several practical reasons for sending His disciples in teams.
1. The power of the message you proclaim on the mission field is solidified by having at least one more person who is an agreement. “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.” 2 Cor 13:1
2. Being able to agree in prayer with at least one other person creates God’s presence and activates His answer. “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Matthew 18:20
The power of being a team is something that we have witnessed through the decades of doing missions work. It creates a pool of multiple talents, personalities, ages groups and makes us relevant an appealing to a larger segment of the local population. It keeps each person challenged to maintain the focus of big vision and willingness to sacrifice personal needs for the sake of the success of the entire team. In short, it creates a favorable environment for God to move and perfects the vessels that he has chosen to use. The people who have traveled with WMA missions teams make life long friendships during the trip because the desire to spread the Gospel is an excellent common ground for a lasting quality relationship.
An important aspect in setting your objectives is recognizing that in missions work there will be a time to sow and a time to reap. The first should always the objective of a successful missions trip. The second is more of a reward that God grants us to encourage us to continue.
“Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. 36 Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. 37 Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. 38 I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.” John 4:35-38
Reaping is rewarding, sowing is done by faith. The fruit of your sowing may become someone else’s reward, but the Lord of the Harvest rejoices over both – the sower and the reaper.
Three key elements to prepare for your mission trip are:
1. Prayer
2. Fasting
3. Enlisting partners to cover you and your mission in prayer
TRAVEL/TRIP/HEALTH INSURANCE
WMA strongly recommends the purchase of comprehensive travel insurance, which includes coverage for trip cancellation, lost luggage, emergency evacuation, and medical expenses. This will protect any funds that are nonrefundable as well as cost for flights and other travel expenses.
While WMA has no affiliation with any insurance providers, we have successfully used the insurance company mentioned below for our staff and missionaries. However, you may pick any other provider of your choice.
AVAILABLE COVERAGE PLANS
There many customizable insurance coverage options available such as trip cancellation, trip interruption, and cancel-for-any reason insurance. While your airline may offer insurance for your flight, we have found private insurance companies such as this one listed below often offer comparable if not better coverage options at similar if not lower prices.
NOAH JAMES INSURANCE – www.noahjamesinsurance.com
Agent: James Pruss
Agency Director – Devoted Father, Fan of all Boston Teams, Global Citizen
Katy, TX USA
Mobile: (617) 676-7858
MEDICAL INSURANCE
Be prepared for an overseas medical emergency or illness with travel medical insurance including emergency medical evacuation benefits, terrorism coverage, and more.
SHELVIE’S STORY
Prior to going on a mission trip to Ireland, Shelvie purchased travel medical insurance through one of our recommended insurance providers. During her trip she fell and broke her and had to have a hip replacement surgery. The insurance covered all her medical expenses while in Ireland, it also covered the upgrade to first class with a personal medical travel aid for the trip home. During the flight home Shelvie was able to share the Gospel with the medical aid. This was God’s way of helping Shelive to accomplish her mission in spite of the accident. We believe in God’s protection and provision for every WMA missionary!
FEB 24- Traveling day
FEB 25-Arrive in Vietnam, our partners will be at the airport to pick you up to take you to the hotel
FEB 26-Orientation for the team, ministry begins
MARCH 6- Travel home day
Our staff is happy to assist you in finding a flight and coordinating your flight itinerary with other team members when possible. However, generally, the team members are responsible for booking their own international flights.
Download our free FLIGHT BOOKING GUIDE for a step by step guide to booking an international flight. Included are important and helpful instructions, reminders, tips, suggestions and more.
FLIGHT BOOKING ASSISTANCE REQUEST
WMA and the staff at WMA are not licensed travel agents and only offer flight booking assistance to help those who are not seasoned travelers and need assistance with navigating the flight booking process. Click the link to request assistance with booking your flight https://rfwma.org/flight-booking-assistance-request/
TRAVEL AND ARRIVAL DATES
You will fly from your closest international airport on February 24, 2026 and arrive in Vietnam on February 25th. You will fly home on March 6th..
SEND US YOUR FLIGHT FOR APPROVAL BEFORE BOOKING
Please send us your flight itinerary for approval before booking. You can email it to Jamie at [email protected] and she will double check that it is correct before you purchase it.
We highly recommended you book a flight that will allow changes to be made if needed!
SEND US YOUR FULL FLIGHT ITINERARY AFTER BOOKING
You can send it to [email protected] or email your booking or confirmation code (6 letters or letter/number combo) and the airline you are flying with and we can look it up online.
Your passport must be valid for six months beyond the date the you will exit the United States or Canada
Please verify Vietnam’s current visa document and other entry requirements for the country you are a citizen of here https://vietnamembassy-usa.org/content/visa-application-process
All US and Canadian citizens traveling to or through the United Kingdom are now required to apply for an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) costing £10 ($12.20 USD) or ($17.53 CAD). Click this link to learn more and to see if you need to apply https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta
MANDITORY:
Click the link to fill out the responsibility and emergency contact form. We must receive your completed form prior to the trip for you to be eligible to attend.
To go on a mission trip with WMA, you will need to be able to walk up and down at least one flight of stairs, walk at minimum for 1 mile and be able to make large steps up into vans/buses without assistance.
World Missions Alliance cannot accommodate any food allergy or dietary restriction needs while on the mission trips. If you have allergies or special dietary needs, you will need to plan accordingly if you go on a mission trip.
MEDICATIONS FOR CLINIC
The medication for the clinic has to be purchased in Vietnam, we are not able to being the medicine in with us this trip.
We are looking for donations to help us be able to purchase these medicines. If your family, friends, church, etc are looking for the ways they can help, this would be a great need that can be fulfilled.
MEDICAL ITEM LIST
(Many items can be brought by non medical team members if you want to help with supplies for the clinic)
Reading Glasses (All strengths)
MEDICAL EQUIPMENT
• glucometer
• otoscope (and covers)
• oximeter
• sphygmomanometer
• stethoscope
• thermometer
SUPPLIES TO BRING
• clipboards
• hand-sanitizer (lg pump-style bottle)
• index cards
• plastic containers (to hold liquid meds, topical creams)
• scissors
• scotch tape
• sharpies (thin and thick point)
• wall organizer (clear plastic ‘over-the-door’ shoe organizer…great for meds, etc)
• writing pens
• zip locks: small, snack, sandwich (to hold all meds given to pt), gallon (to organize pharmacy), extra large zips ($Tree…3/$10)
***Several printed copies of the WMA drug formulary***
MEDS TO BRING
• Folic Acid
• Inhalers
• Iron supplements
• Kaopectate / Pepto-Bismol
• MVI:
• adult
• pre-natal
• children’s
These medications are sometimes not as easily found or are more expensive in foreign countries.
SUGGETIONS FOR MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL:
• Monitoring # of patients that are checked in according to number of providers available to ensure that all patients can be seen and given quality care from the beginning to the end of clinic
• Having a short medical team meeting before starting clinic to get to know each others clinical strengths, determine assignments: intake, triage/people mover, pharmacy, provider assistant, to discuss flow, etc
• Asking translators (at the beginning of the 1st clinic) to please not use their cell phones while translating (unless it is an emergency or for translation purposes)
Coming Soon
Here are some helpful resources you may use to share about your mission trip with your church or group:
- Trip Video: Coming Soon
This is a short video highlighting the country you’ll be traveling to, the people groups you’ll be ministering to and helping, and what types of outreaches you’ll be involved in on the mission.
- WMA Video: https://youtu.be/UHThB5LB0y8
This video gives an overview of World Missions Alliance, who we are, where we go, what we do, who we help and who can get involved.
- Ministry Outreach Fundraising Page: Coming Soon
This link can be shared with anyone who would like to donate to the ministry outreach for the trip. These funds are used to purchase food, clothes, supplies, medicines, and Bibles for those we will be ministering to on the trip.
- A link to your trip fundraising page if you have one and are raising funds to cover the cost of your mission trip. This link is provided to you once you set up your fundraising page.
- A link to our website www.rfwma.org as there is an immense amount of information about WMA and all the ways someone can get involved in missions. The website has mission trip opportunities, answers to our most commonly asked questions, video testimonies from those who have traveled with us, podcast episodes, Missions Beat recordings, information about Project Medical Missions, our Child Sponsorship program, giving opportunities and so much more!