You say your final goodbyes and begin gathering your things for the long trip home as the mission trip nears an end. You ask yourself, “Am I leaving anything behind?”

Passport? Check. Suitcase? Got it. Vision? Well, that is something you definitely want to leave behind.

Vision gives direction. Vision gives purpose. Vision gives hope. Vision creates action. Vision moves people to attempt great things.

You may be leaving behind some great tangibles like a new building, a water well, medical clinic, etc. You may be leaving behind some intangibles, like love, hope, encouragement, training, etc. Whatever the purpose of your mission, be sure that it also includes imparting vision. You may discover in the long run that the vision you impart to national workers and leaders may have a more profound impact than even the work you did during your trip.

Note that vision isn’t always your vision. In fact, when it comes to cross-cultural situations, it’s best if it isn’t yours, or at least not yours alone. It’s their vision—the vision of the nationals with whom you are working. Vision must be owned. Vision must be relevant. Vision must be personal or it is ineffective.

When nationals catch vision as a result of your trip, amazing things can happen. The short amount of time you spend with them is multiplied. You become the catalyst for ministry that lasts long after you are gone from the field.

Many people, even leaders, are not particularly visionary. This is especially true in places where there are enormous pressing needs—like a lack of food, shelter, clean water, etc. Vision for the future is muffled by a focus on surviving the present. Yet it is often this vision for the future that enables leaders to overcome the immediate. When you see where you want to ultimately go, it makes you think about what it will take to get there, and that translates into action today.

Here are three suggestions for imparting vision on your next missions trip:

1)      Listen. Listen to expressions of hope and dreams. Listen to personal stories and how it is that the person ended up where they are at the moment—working with you.

2)      Question. Ask big picture questions like why they do what they do. Where do they see themselves in three to five years? What motivates them? What are they most passionate about?

3)      Dream. Ponder “what ifs” with them. What if you had unlimited resources, what would you do? What if you had more volunteers, then what? What if the opportunity you are praying for actually comes to fruition, then what?

It’s true that some will never get it. They will never see beyond the immediate. But there are those who will. There are those who will not only catch the vision, but who will work tirelessly to fulfill it. In the process, they will lead others to accomplish more than they ever thought possible.

A little time spent in focused, intentional conversation about the future may reap eternal rewards. Do this and you will quickly discover that vision is the greatest thing you can leave behind.

Flying internationally with children can be a challenge, but as we saw in our last blog a little preparation can go a long way. Today we’ll explore 18 dos and don’ts that should help make your next international trip more enjoyable.

 -Do ask your Ministry Travel consultant about reduced rates for children. Although discounts are not common for children above age 2 on domestic travel, they are quite common for international travel. Knowing that you saved money will definitely make your trip more enjoyable! Your Ministry Travel consultant can give you all the details.

-Do take a bag of inexpensive toys and goodies. Consider getting some new toys specifically for the flight. This can make the flight special for your child and keep them better occupied.

-Don’t pack so much you are unable to carry it, and your sleeping child, off of the plane.

-Do pack medicines for fever, travel sickness, allergies, or for anything else your child might suffer during the flight.  Keep them in original packaging, or you might be sitting in customs for a while. Do be aware of limitations on the amount of liquids you can carry on a plane.

-Do consult a doctor if your child is ill with a virus or other disease prior to your trip.  In some cases you can go ahead, but some things, like ear infections, may keep you on the ground.

-Do pack plenty of chewing gum for take-off and landing. 

-Don’t expect chewing gum to work like a charm.  Swallowing and yawning also help.

-Do give your infant a bottle during take-offs and landings.  If your baby takes a pacifier, pack more than one.

-Do educate your kids in advance about what to expect on the airplane, from popping ears to proper etiquette.

-Don’t worry about what other people are thinking when your child has a meltdown.  Anxiety over other passengers won’t help your child.  Be assured you are suffering the most.  Take a deep breath, and do the best you can.

-Do ask about child menus in advance of the flight, not on the plane.  The same is true if your child has food allergies. Children allergic to peanuts, for example, can get sick just from breathing the peanut dust created when other passengers open their peanut bags. Check with the airline as far in advance as possible and let them know your needs. Many airlines that offer peanuts, for example, will make your flight peanut-free as long as they have enough notice.

-Do make sure your family drinks plenty of fluids; plenty of juice and water will best help you overcome jet lag.

-Do pack a few snacks and a couple packaged meals in case your kids hate the airline food.

-Do take advantage of all forms of distraction: in-flight cartoons, kids’ music on the headphones, and kind seatmates who offer to entertain your children for a while.

-Don’t forget to pack security blankets and other small comforts from home.

-Do let your walking children carry a small backpack with their own things.

-Do prepare for accidents, whether for potty-trainers or travelsick prone children.  Keep airsick bags even after you disembark, as some kids continue to feel ill after disembarking.

 Most of all…

 Don’t let the fear of problems keep you from traveling with your children.  A whole world awaits your exploration; the flight is only the first adventure.

Traveling overseas with children may seem something akin to voluntarily entering the funny farm.  It is possible to survive a long flight with your children, but it is best to be ready for the inevitable.  Even when the trip goes smoothly, you can expect it to be challenging, exhausting, and boring.  Your job, as parent or parents, is to work together to help everyone get through it as best as possible.  With a little bit of insider knowledge and preparation, you can better your odds of a good flight.

Before you book, understand:

 1.         The plane is a small place, and your seats will be even smaller.  When you book, ask for adjacent seats in a row, including aisle seats.  You can also let a child stretch out on the floor in front of your seats for a nap.  If you have an infant, you can request seats at the head of a section, called bulkhead seats; most planes have drop-down bassinets for newborns through 3-month babies. Know, however, that many airlines will not assign these seats until you actually go to check in.

2.         A flight of more than two hours will seem like forever to a preschooler.  Booking a night flight is helpful, since children can normally sleep anywhere, making the time pass faster for them, and for you.

3.         Once you are on the plane, if the seating is unsuitable, you can ask an attendant to help you change seats.  Sometimes other passengers will willingly switch.  Consider the location of the restrooms, the kitchen, and space around you.

4.         Connecting flights in foreign countries can be an unnerving experience.  Do a little bit of homework before you go and you can make this a much better experience.  What currency will you need if you want to buy a meal?  Are there areas for children to play?  Though you can find out all of this information when you arrive, it will help if you know ahead of time the answers to these questions.  Visit the airport’s website before travel. If you are connecting through London Heathrow, Frankfurt or Amsterdam, be sure to read our previous blogs on what to expect at these airports.

5.         It is possible to take a stroller on your flight, and is nearly a must if you have a baby or toddler.  Some airlines stow it at the front of the plane for you, while others may check it as you enter the plane and then have it for you as you depart.  Umbrella style strollers are the most widely accepted.  An alternative is a back carrier.

 We’ll look at some dos and don’ts of flying with children in our next blog.

The Schiphol is the Netherlands only International Airport and is located 20 minutes south of Amsterdam. It is Europe’s 3rd largest airport and the world’s 14th largest. The airport is split into three hallways allowing for accessibility and expansion.

Schiphol prides itself on having a large shopping area with more than 100 stores. It’s almost like a shopping mall that happens to have an airport attached! The shops consist of a wide variety of stores such as a Nike store, a florist shop selling seeds and bulbs, a poster and picture shop, toy stores and jewelry stands. Schiphol also provides a wide assortment of restaurants and cafes such as Grand Café Het, a deli, a modern cuisine sushi restaurant, and a McDonald’s.

The Schiphol Airport is renowned for the level of comfort and care it provides travelers. It also has its own art museum, the Rijksmuseum. The museum offers a permanent exhibition of work by several Dutch masters of the Golden Age, as well as exhibits that change throughout the year. The Rijksmuseum is the first museum in the world to have an annex at an airport. The museum also has a shop with souvenirs specially crafted for the museum.

Schiphol is very easy to navigate and its proximity to the city makes it a great stop-over airport. If you have a longer layover, go into the city and take a canal cruise. From the airport, take the train to Amsterdam’s main train station. Within yards of the station you will see where the boats depart. The Anne Frank Museum is also an easy walk from the station.

So the next time you find yourself on a layover in Amsterdam don’t just sit at the gate. Go explore the amenities offered by Schiphol—just don’t get so caught up with them that you miss your flight!

You’ve got time to kill while you wait for your connecting flight at Germany’s Frankfurt Airport. You could read that magazine again—for the 3^rd time—or you could go behind the scenes and get a glimpse of the airport that most travelers never see.

The Airport Experience Tour, as it is called, can accommodate large groups of 20 or more persons as well as individuals. On weekdays, the tour starts at 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m., and 4 p.m. On weekends and holidays it starts at 11 a.m. and 12 noon. The price of the tour is €6.00 for adults, €5.00 for students, children, and the disabled. Reservations are not needed for individuals. Groups of 20 or more should make reservations before traveling. A reservation form can be found on the airport’s website http://www.frankfurt-airport.com. Just search for “Experience Tours.”

The tour meets on the pedestrian bridge between Terminal 1 and the Frankfurt Airport Center. Tours last 45 minutes

In addition to the tour, Frankfurt Airport offers an outdoor visitor’s terrace where you can observe airport operations. From the terrace, visitors can see aircraft loading, unloading, takeoffs and landings. The visitor’s terrace is open every day from 10 am to 5pm. The admission fee for the terrace is €5.00 for adults, €3 for students and disabled, and free for children under 3½ feet.

Navigating Frankfurt Airport is easier when you remember that it has two main terminals which are divided into five concourses, A through E. Concourses A, B, and C are located in Terminal 1 and Concourses D and E are housed in Terminal 2.

There are several dining options throughout both terminals at Frankfurt Airport including fast food, sit-down restaurants, and cafes. Restaurant options include Asian, European, and Mexican cuisines as well as fresh food from “Marche.” Fast food options include U.S. style fast food and bakeries. In addition, the selection of cafes at the airport ranges from American “Starbucks” to Italian coffee shops “illy” and “Mondo”.

Shopping options at Frankfurt Airport range from souvenirs and duty free to designer clothes and accessories. In addition, passengers have access to the “Esanelle” salon, “Metropolitan Pharmacy”, and “Be Relax” mini spa which offers manicures, pedicures, and massages.

The airport has a 24 hour prayer room in both terminals. One is on the second floor on Concourse B in Terminal 1. The other is on the third floor of Concourse D in Terminal 2.

We’ll wrap up our series on European airports with our next blog on Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport.

Your plane lands in Europe after an overnight flight from America. You notice that you have a good bit of time before your next flight departs to your mission trip destination. What can you do to pass the time? More importantly, how do you find your way around the massive complex of gates, moving walkways, and constant commotion?

We’re launching a three-part series on European airports, focusing on the most common transfer airports for Ministry Travel’s clients. Today we will look at London’s Heathrow Airport.

Heathrow is a major international transportation hub. Accommodating more than 60 million passengers in 2009, it is officially the second busiest airport in the world. Of the five airports serving passengers in the London area, Heathrow Airport is by far the busiest and biggest.

The city of London is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, and Heathrow Airport welcomes a considerable portion of the tourists. With more than 100 airlines and hundreds of destinations worldwide, Heathrow Airport is also a common place for flight transfers.

When first arriving at Heathrow, it may be overwhelming, especially for passengers waiting for a connecting flight. Heathrow has four active terminals, all of which offer transfers for international flights. Before you start searching for activities to kill some time, you must pass through hand baggage checks and security screenings. Then, you will find yourself at the departure lounge full of amenities, shops, restaurants, and services. Bus shuttles are available if your connecting flight is from a different terminal than which you arrived.

Each terminal’s departure lounge at the Heathrow Airport has the basic facilities and amenities you would expect, such as public restrooms and wireless hot sports for internet access. If you are at Terminal 4 and want to freshen up, you can take advantage of the public showers.

London Heathrow Airport provides religious accommodations for multiple faiths. Prayer rooms can be found in all terminals. Located outside the terminals near the bus station, the St. George’s Chapel offers services for various denominations. It is staffed by members of the International Association of Civil Aviation Chaplains.

Shopping and dining are the best options while waiting for a flight transfer at Heathrow. There are more than 20 shops in each of the departure levels at Terminal 1, 3, and 4. Terminal 5 has the least amount of shopping options, with just over 15 stores. You can shop for clothing and apparel at fashion stores of designer brands such as Bvlgari, Burberry, Escada, Gucci, and Versace. If you are looking to buy travel accessories, check out stores such as Dixons Travel, Excess Baggage Company, and WHSmith. You can also expect to find several duty free shops at each of the terminals.

Each Heathrow terminal offers unique cuisines. Terminal 3 offers the most food options, with a total of 10 eateries including Yo! Sushi, Rhubarb, and TGI Friday’s. You can also grab some coffee at Starbucks in Terminal 3 and Terminal 4. If you want a taste of home, grab a Krispy Kreme doughnut in the arrivals area of Terminal 5 or outside security at Terminal 3.

We’ll continue our look at European airports in our next post when we explore the Frankfurt Airport.