What to Expect

While serving with Shemah, you will get an opportunity to live with local families. This is one of the greatest ways we can develop close relationships with locals and enable effective conversations about Jesus. You will be immersed in village life and begin to understand local beliefs and the challenges locals face. Homestays are also a great way for us to give back to the community by providing income for these families.

All of the families we stay with are incredibly hospitable, friendly, and are selected by us. Although living conditions can be vastly different than what you are used to (we hope you like bucket showers!), we know this will be one of your favorite aspects about partnering with us.

After arriving, your team will receive a short training on the “do’s and don’ts” of living in a conservative religious culture. We ask everyone who comes out with us to try to be flexible and respectful in adapting to a new culture as this helps us to break down barriers and build relationships. It is in the context of relationships that people become open to knowing Christ.

You can expect to experience many cultural differences such as food, dress, gender roles, and the importance of time. Typically, the diet here consists of rice, fish, chicken, and vegetables served with a spicy chili paste. Women are expected to dress modestly, but you will not be expected to cover your head. Experiencing a new culture is exciting and scary at times, but it is also something that God will use to grow and change you in new ways.

Sharing stories both from the Word and our own testimonies are great non-threatening ways to begin spiritual conversations with locals. Before you come out, we will ask you to start thinking about your favorite stories or parables from the Bible. We challenge you to memorize these stories and then, with our help, share them with people you meet in the village. This will lay the foundation for long-term work by casting a large net to see who is interested in going deeper and learning more.

We will also spend time as a group talking about and doing Discovery Bible Studies, a technique we are using that has started church planting movements all around the world. You will be able to use this strategy to share and learn about Jesus back home or wherever God takes you.

As a licensed tour company on the island, it is important for our identity that you have a lot of fun! In the mornings we will get out and enjoy God’s beautiful creation for a few hours through waterfall hikes, snorkeling, prayer walking, rock climbing, spearfishing, and world-class surfing. There will also be many opportunities for excursions to learn about the local culture. You never know when you will be invited to a local wedding! By the afternoon, teams are back in the village sharing meals and conversations together. No matter what we are doing, serving God is always an adventure.