Planning a JourneyPartners Immersion Journey

The effectiveness and success of JourneyPartners’ immersion journeys lie in the preparation.  If you, your congregation or your organization are considering an immersion journey, you will want to be prepared – physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  Travelers are expected to be proactive in this preparation, and participate in the following ways:

Learn about the place you will be going – Part of the commitment to your JourneyPartners partnership journey involves learning about the culture and people who will be your teachers and hosts.  JourneyPartners will provide an extensive bibliography, one or more “required readings,” and current in-print and on-line resources to assist you in your pre-journey learning. Our philosophy is “The more you know, the more meaningful will be your experience.”

Work with a Mentor throughout your journey -- Invite a teacher, pastor, elder, or wise friend to partner as “mentor,” to be listener, encourager and friend throughout your journey. JourneyPartners will correspond with your mentor, keeping them abreast of political and other developments in the area to which you will journey, and offering suggestions for assisting you in your journey-learning.   In our experience, this mentoring process has proven invaluable for travelers of all ages and all backgrounds.

Keep a Journal – Journaling has long been recognized as a valuable tool – not only for recording events, but also for assisting in reflection, processing one’s experiences, and assisting in personal growth.  Travelers are asked to begin journaling from the time you begin the discernment process about participating in the journey, throughout your preparation for the journey, during the opportunities and challenges of the journey itself, and as you experience re-entry and acclimation in your own culture.

Attend orientations and debriefings -- JourneyPartners provides extensive orientation and preparation sessions for every traveler, including three or more day-long orientation seminars and access to comprehensive printed and on-line information about the country, culture, and people among whom you will live and work.   Upon return, there will be at least one debriefing seminar, a time of reunion, reflection, and renewal as you discern the ways in which your JourneyPartners immersion journey has transformed your own life.

To learn more about planning and preparing for your JourneyPartners immersion journey, contact JourneyPartners by phone at 919.494.2033, or by email at journeypartners@earthlink.net.