The team will use dance, drama, community service, and intentional surveys to engage atheists, agnostics, Muslims, Catholics, Protestants, and everyone in between. Conversations happen easily with people in Europe; they tend to love challenging conversations and are open to hard questions and exploring new ideas. We also partner with local churches and organizations to ensure that there is a place for follow-up and maximum impact during our time in each country.

Royal Servants takes the safety and health of each participant seriously. We go to great lengths to ensure that participants remain healthy and safe throughout the trip. Therefore, no participant is allowed to be alone in any city; Royal Servants always travel in groups of three or more, and when possible, with either a male or Summer Staff in each group. The Trip Leaders also continually monitor conditions within the host country both before and during the trip. If a situation arises that threatens the security of the team, either politically or from environmental conditions, the team will be moved to a stable location.

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Three words describe this trip: explore, discover, and embrace, because your team will be traveling to countries such as Poland, Slovakia, Croatia, Austria, and the Czech Republic. For those of you who know recent history, almost all the countries were once behind the “Iron Curtain.” Eastern Europe is under-rated, far less crowded, though just as beautiful and enchanting, as Western Europe. 

Envision yourself happily wandering through the cobblestone streets of Zagreb, climbing the stairs of the Old Town Tower and looking out over historic Prague, or just finding a comfortable chair with a good cup of coffee and watch the people go by … which is a rich European tradition. These are things most people only see on a YouTube video or a travel website.

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The team will visit regional museums and historic sites and come away educated in the history of many of the countries. You’ll find out the devastating impact that WWII and the following communist takeover had in shaping the cultures as they are today. Whether lingering at mouth-watering bakeries or lounging in local coffee shops soaking up the ambiance, you will definitely pick up the vibe of each of these unique countries.

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You’ll find a spiritual boldness developing within you as you share your faith story with strangers, which admittedly can be a bit intimidating. But you’ll gain a new understanding into the power of God and relevance of Scripture as you experience the Lord giving you wisdom, insight, and words as you share. Beyond that, your faith will significantly deepen by reading and studying the Bible daily and strengthen as you grow in relationship and community with your team, which will quickly feel like family.

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If you have a spirit of adventure, and the idea of traveling by train gets you excited, if you are willing to be part of a drama, music, or dance team, and if you are willing to talk to people about your faith story in new and unusual settings, then this mission trip might be the perfect fit. You’ll be experiencing new countries, cultures, and people every four to five days, so it wouldn’t hurt if you appreciate funky coffee shops, amazing ice-cream, and delicious pastries. If so, you’re going to enjoy this adventure.

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Your team will primarily be preparing its own food while staying in various hostels and churches. We buy locally from the small markets and groceries, but because we don’t want you to stray too far from your American roots, we also bring lots of peanut butter and jelly for sandwiches on the go. However, that won’t stop you from sampling the cuisine of each country! We like to say that you’ll “taste your way through Europe,” trying things like Polish pierogies, apple strudel in Vienna, or just a slice of pizza from a street vendor in Zagreb.

The team will spend most nights in small but comfortable hostels where you’ll get a bed and a shower. Other nights will be in a local church where you’ll get a primo spot somewhere on the floor, and even though we can’t promise you a shower every day, it’s always a priority!

Though the debriefing location hasn’t been determined yet, you’ll spend the last five days of your trip spiritually preparing for going home. As on all Royal Servants trips, you’ll be given time to reflect, journal, pray, and plan. We want to help you learn how to take the tools that you learned over the summer and apply them back home. During this time, we will also take a couple days to relax and enjoy some of the sights. Debriefing time is a sweet way to end your summer, and it will propel you forward as you continue to walk with Christ long after your mission trip ends.

Most Royal Servants mission trips work directly with missionaries and church leaders in their host countries, but on the Europe mission trip, you'll be ministering on the streets of cities across the continent. Part of the experience is to learn how to create and engage in ministry from scratch. You’ll see God providing unique opportunities, whether it’s serving in community work, holding ministry performances in city squares, or distributing food to refugees.

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