Don’t Waste Your Travel
It’s 6am on Friday, May 28th. You’re standing in a parking lot loading your luggage into your van or bus. Maybe you’re in an airport terminal waiting to board your plane. Standing next to you are your fellow Nexters. For the next 4 days you will laugh, talk, sleep, eat, walk, and pray with these people. How can you bless them?
It’s an 8hr bus drive for my church. What about you? For some Baltimore is practically next door. For others it is on the other side of the globe. What will you do on your trip?
No matter the distance you have an unique opportunity to serve and bless those you are traveling with. Instead of “just another car ride”, this time could be used to encourage others and put them before yourself. You can glorify the Savior and show His love to them by making the time meaningful. What would this look like for you?
The possibilities are endless and will probably differ depending on your friends preferences and personalities. Here are a few ideas to jump start your creative juices…
- As Next draws nearer, pray for your friends. Pray specifically. As you travel, share with your friends the ways you have been praying for them.
- Take time to point out areas where you see God working in your friends life. My friends and I call this, “Pointing out evidences of God’s gracious working”. It is always encouraging to see God at work in your life!
- Write your friends notes. Include scriptures and ways that you have been praying for them. Give them the notes at some point during the trip.
- Plan a couple of wacky travel games.
- Create a random playlist on your iPod. Make sure to include your friends favorite songs!
- Compile a list of their favorite snack foods. At the start of the trip, give them each a small bag full of their favorite goodies. Everyone needs chocolate on a trip!
- If you’re leaving early bring breakfast for your friends. Muffins and donuts are easy to make/buy, they’re cheap, and easy to transport. And if you have a friend with food allergies, make/buy them something they can eat. It may take a little effort, but the thought will really bless them!
- During a gas station stop (or during a layover), buy your friends a soda or a cup of coffee. Make it Starbucks and they may make you the MVN (Most Valuable Nexter) of the trip!
- Surprise your friends with a pack of their favorite gum or mints.
What would you add to the list?
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Awesome ideas. I’ll start thinking of ways to pray for and bless each other. Thanks, Jess!
Offer to use your car in the carpool and/or offer to take a turn driving even if you’re not asked!
If you have the money (which I understand most of us dont) you could surprise your friends by paying for all the gas and parking yourself (again this may be difficult for most people but its just an idea)
Great reminders/ideas! The roadtrip is one of the best parts of the conference. Looking forward to what God does!
Last year we had a time of singing/worship about 45 min. outside of Baltimore. That was SO helpful and encouraging. Helped get my heart ready for the conference. I hope we do it again this year.
Jessica…great ideas…yes it is not just another car ride/plane ride etc…God does have plans and purpose for even our travel time…thanks for the reminder:).