Experience MissionReviews of experiencemission.org

Communication was major struggle. We did not know a 2nd group was joining us. Both groups bought supplies that were not used. It would have been helpful to prepare beforehand for kids club. In addition, we did not have an EM person on the ground to coordinate operations and nightly follow up. Some questions were left unanswered or responded to slowly. This includes not knowing the address we were going to in Belize leading to issues at immigration. Pastor Nelson and Pastora Jenny were great and the trip went well. However, the lack of communication impacted the overall experience at a rather high level.

We appreciated the number of Experience Mission staff on site - 3 persons and felt it worked well with the 4 adults to 16 youth from our church. Staff got us off to a great start each morning and were responsive when needed. We did notice less proactive engagement this year compared to 2024, when staff stayed more involved throughout the day—a highlight our youth and adults really valued. We share this as feedback, as that level of consistent interaction can make a big difference in the overall experience.

We truly appreciated the kindness and dedication of the Mission Experience staff. Their openness and genuine belief in the work they were doing did not go unnoticed, and it was clear they cared deeply about both the volunteers and the communities they served. However, there were several areas that could use thoughtful re-evaluation. Many volunteers felt underutilized, especially given the effort to share our skill sets in the initial surveys. While we were happy to assist with business and landscaping projects, it was disheartening to witness pressing needs—like people living in tents—seemingly go unaddressed. Additionally, this trip may not align with those seeking a spiritually transformative, evangelistic mission experience. Opportunities for group worship, reflection, and outreach were minimal, and evangelism toward those we served was discouraged—something that may surprise those expecting a faith-deepening journey. We're grateful for the opportunity to serve and hope this feedback contributes to even greater impact and clarity in future mission trips.

Need to have more work

I would say this experience has grown me spiritually and mentally. I have grown a lot as a person and it is all thanks to the Lord and experienced missions.

I liked the work there. Costa Rica is a beautiful place that I wish we got to explore a little bit more than we actually did. I will miss my host family

I loved the people in Africa, but the EM staff failed to communicate.

From my experience, EM leaves a lot of the responsibility up to the participants, so the trip is kind of what you make of it. If you are a person that needs structure this could be a challenge for you. If you are free flowing and looking for adventure you might enjoy it more. I believe if you are willing and able to turn every day over to the Lord and let him work through you and around you this trip can have a great impact for the communities you visit and your own life—just don’t expect that impact to come through EM or their resources.