I briefly had a roommate in college that thought very differently than I. Although we grew up in the same culture and spoke the same language, our habits and personalities were worlds apart. These differences seem to be hooked up to an amplifier when we take a step into a new culture.
Teaching the Gospel in a way that works at home may confuse or even offend someone from a different culture because of our presentation style. We can avoid these blunders by attempting to understand reality from their point of view.
Hudson Taylor was one of the first missionaries to accept and identify with his host culture, which was China. He dressed in typical Chinese apparel, ate their food and learned Chinese. He also dyed his blonde hair black and wore it in a long braid as the other Chinese did. He embraced the culture and was able to communicate the Gospel in a way that was relatable to the Chinese people.
I have a friend from China who recently became a Christian. In the time leading up to her acceptance of Christ, we had several opportunities to talk about faith and various facets of Christianity. One day, we were looking at the map of the world and I pointed to Israel and told her that Jesus lived there while He was on earth. She was shocked and asked me, “You mean Jesus wasn’t born in America?” For her, Christianity was a foreign religion.
We never know what our cultural expression says about Christianity and about the person of Jesus Christ. We want to eliminate cultural barriers so that those who receive the Gospel know that Jesus came for all people and not only a few.
A huge dose of patience is essential for anyone embarking on the journey of language acquisition. Languages have several facets besides grammar. There is also slang and connotation to consider. Language is evolving with new words being born and old words taking on new meanings. Be patient with yourself and never stop studying or practicing.
Many people don’t realize the wealth of easily-accessible resources that connect people into missions and often give up because they simply can’t find a starting point. Here are some places that can help you get connected.
for carry-ons luggage. All airlines have their own policies, but generally maximum size is measured by a single number - the sum of the total dimensions (L x W x H). For example, a common size limit is 45″ on domestic flights, which could be any combination of dimensions (eg. 24 x 14 x 9). Most airlines also allow for a single “personal item” in addition to one piece of carry-on luggage. Personal items would include things like laptops, cameras, umbrellas, purses, etc. Bear in mind that international airlines tend to be less lenient when enforcing their policies - which are often times more strict to begin with. Airlines also reserve the right to adjust their policies as they see fit, at any point in time, so be sure to check their website prior to each trip, noting their guidelines for size, weight and number of carry-on pieces. The last thing you want is to end up frantically unpacking and repacking on the floor of the airport to meet their airline’s restrictions.
The wingspan of insects in some foreign countries or the rumors of illness can cause us to panic, not to mention the thoughts of self-doubt that may arise in our minds about our own insufficiency. Our job as missionaries is not to be perfect, but our main tasks are to trust and obey God. This post is dedicated to offering encouragement to any missionaries that may be feeling nervous about his or her impending trip and to offer some advice.
Many problems may arise during a mission trip. Those problems can range from poor weather that sets the mission back, difficulties communicating with locals, political unrest, and homesickness. However, one of the biggest problems that will arise during any trip is the problem of getting along with the other people on the trip. This is almost always a problem because those who go on missions often have very big personalities. They are very passionate about their jobs, and when you combine that with high stress and long hours, it often spells out disaster. All is not lost, however, if you can do the following things.
However, one of the biggest blockages to going is an apparent lack of finances, and the fear that missionaries often have about raising support. 
Dress Code: This is an extremely conservative society, especially so in the northern states. If you were dressed in shorts and an old t-shirt, you would be taken for a poor person who can’t afford full pants. It is important for women to be fully covered. An Indian salwar suit is ideal to beat the weather. The cities are more forgiving and anything decent is acceptable. However, women should still avoid short shorts and mini skirts as harassment on the city streets is quite common. For business meetings, a suit is appropriate. For men, a business suit is mandatory.