IMMERSION: 1-9 Month Cross-Cultural Mission Trips for Young Adults

Each IMMERSION program is different in the exact daily rhythms, but every day brings something new and gives participants the chance to practice loving others like Jesus through everyday life moments. Most ministries we partner with during IMMERSION are relationally focused, but there may also be opportunities for hands-on work projects such as painting schools or helping with agricultural projects.

Our hope is that each participant finds opportunities to serve, whether leading VBS with their teammates, tutoring at a local school, attending church, participating in a Bible study, working on a host family's farm, doing laundry in a river, going to the market, playing soccer with locals, carrying water from a spring, or preparing meals with their host parents. Outside of service opportunities, team members learn and grow together, through devotionals, cross-cultural training, and group debriefs each week.

Current IMMERSION programs include 1-month trips to Indonesia, Namibia, and Uganda; 3-month trips to Costa Rica, South Africa, and Namibia; a 6-month program to South Africa, Namibia, and Lesotho in southern Africa; and Gap Year programs combining opportunities to these same communities. Program locations, lengths, and launch dates change over time, so the upcoming programs list above reflects the most up-to-date team openings and application deadlines.

Upcoming 1-9 month IMMERSION programs cost participants between $5,000-$20,000, depending on length and communities visited. Most participants pay for their experiences with a combination of fundraising, personal funds, and financial help from parents or family. Explore the IMMERSION Fundraising Guide for our best tips to becoming a fundraising pro!

Every IMMERSION team member goes through EM's 3-day cross-cultural training before serving, covering topics like human dignity, the realities of poverty, and how to approach serving on mission trips in a healthy way. IMMERSION training is designed to help team members enter a host community as guests and learners, and to serve in a way that honors the people they will live alongside. Outside of this, team members are encouraged to pray for the experience ahead of time, asking for God to help them experience it fully and live into his calling to love our neighbors, wherever they are.

Experience Mission (EM) is an interdenominational Christian nonprofit that has organized service-learning mission trips since 2003 for over 40,000 volunteers, helping over 450 IMMERSION team members serve internationally since 2012. We would love to connect with you! Read more About Experience Mission, check out EM's public reviews on TrustPilot, or reach out directly with questions before you commit.

Experience Mission's approach to missions centers on joining communities that are already in motion, not starting or leading a project of our own making. We encourage team members to come ready to serve wherever they're needed, learn from their hosts, and grow through whatever each missions experience throws their way. In this way, we have seen team members grow their capacity for meaningful relationships centered on love for God and care for others, alongside their team and the people and faith communities they meet along the way. Our approach to serving in a healthy way is fully outlined through EM's Healthy Service Principles.

1, 3, 6, or 9 months, depending on the launch date and program selected. Team members who join a Gap Year will also have a break at home from late November to early January, between the two halves of their school-year-long experience.

IMMERSION is designed for young adults to join a team as individuals, and serve, learn, and grow together during this specific stage of early adulthood. For this reason, IMMERSION is only open to individuals ages 18 to 30, with some programs designed for 18-20-year-olds and others set up for team members, age 20-30.

Most IMMERSION teams range from 7-12 people. We've seen the benefits of this smaller team size as the sweet spot for really getting to know your fellow team members and support each other as brothers and sisters in Christ throughout your IMMERSION experience.

All IMMERSION applicants apply and are accepted on their own, but you are welcome to apply to the same trip as a friend or relative and serve together if you are both accepted to the program! If you represent a group of young adults or college students looking for a group experience like IMMERSION, we would love to connect with you about a custom trip! Contact us to learn more.

For those who desire to serve, but are daunted by the fundraising process, there are limited partial scholarships available. However, we have found that most people are capable of fundraising when they follow the simple steps outlined in the IMMERSION Fundraising Guide. IMMERSION staff also provide 1-on-1 coaching and support during the fundraising process to help you along the way!