Are you preparing for a mission trip on foreign soil?

Make sure you prepare your testimony before you are called upon. This will give you time to make corrections.

Keep in mind giving your testimony in a foreign country will usually require an interpreter. This means it takes twice as long because it is repeated twice. It would be ideal to write it out and go over it with the translator. This gives that person time for clarifications and relevancy.

What do I mean by relevancy? Not everything translates well.

Our English might not convey the true intent after translation because the native language may not have a similar word. Be careful when trying to inject humor across language lines.

Humor is culturally specific.

Things we find funny in America may not make sense in a third world environment. It may even be offensive and that will dampen your testimony.

Please stay away from political or current events. More than likely your audience is concerned with basic living essentials, not the 15-minute news cycles.

Focus on the Holy Spirit

Your testimony should focus on you and the transformation you have experienced by the Holy Spirit.

When sharing your testimony try not to Americanize it. By that I mean don’t explain how your day started off bad because you had a flat tire on your Ford Expedition.

In Haiti, people ride in Tap Taps 3 layers deep. Instead, focus on the personal feelings you experienced and how your quiet time or a specific scripture gave you calm in the midst of the storm.

I was in a church service on a mission trip and one of our group was asked to share her story. She explained her ex-husband did not pay alimony and her and her stepdaughters (from a previous marriage) had to live with her half-brother and she paid her lawyer…etc.

Keep in mind foreign or 3rd world countries don’t have the Western legal system in America.

In Haiti, there are no stepdaughters or half siblings. They only have “family.” They have no concept of alimony. Many do not have formal wedding documents. If they sleep there they are the “spouse”.

Focusing on personal struggles of how God worked in your life are very impactful. Explaining your struggles as a child (broken home, sickness, handicaps, feelings of worthlessness, etc.) are feelings we all can relate to.

Your audience will elevate you because you are from America and are very wealthy in their eyes.

They may believe since you are an American your life is perfect. They are thankful you are there. But they also want to know a little bit about you.

Relating family to them will be universal. All families have issues and struggles. This will connect you to them.

Any personal testimony should always point people to Jesus. Be humble and sincere and you will encourage them with your story.