Preparing for life in the field

Laura Power spent several years in Kenya after graduating college. Her commitment to the Lord was firm, but Laura wasn’t equipped for the culture shock she experienced. 

“My time in Kenya was very difficult, and I honestly believe that if my team had attended a Campus Outreach Pre-Deployment training, our years in Kenya would have looked drastically different,” she shared. 

Laura attended 2-months of pre-deployment training with a well-known missionary organization, but she said:

“The eight days that these staff get to attend are far more valuable than anything I did before deploying. Healthy missionaries are able to do the most good overseas. When they aren’t worried about all the little things, they can focus more intently on sharing the gospel and equipping laborers. And that is ultimately what we are about, glorifying God by building laborers.” 

The training: 

1.    New Staff Orientation — 5 days

Staff learn the history of Campus Outreach, office policies and processes, how to raise support, and basic CO procedures 

2.    Pre- Deployment Training — 8 days

After raising support, new staff discuss the importance of gospel identity at the center, which drives community and mission. They also learn about team expectations, emotional and physical health overseas, cultural adaptation, participate in an introductory cooking class, and more. 

“They need every single thing that we offer them in these trainings, from how to reimburse business expenses to how to share the gospel in a way that those in the host culture would be best able to understand,” Laura shared. 

Feedback from veteran overseas staff and incoming staff has been overwhelmingly positive, and teams can reach campuses for Christ more effectively. 

One new staff shared: 

“I walked away excited for the future and knowing that a team of people is behind me.” 

Another said:

“I hope the LEAD people come to this training again and again to root themselves deeply in Jesus. I also really liked the cultural adjustment curve that was shared. I think it was one of the most practical tools for them to re-visit on the field and identify/interpret where they are.”