Missions Challenge Levels - NLW International

Our Mission Trip Level ratings are meant to be a helpful guide for potential mission trip members.

LEVEL 1

Language barriers: Practically none
Comforts: Similar to 1st World accommodations
Food: Similar to most US diets
*Security risks: Low
Emergency care: Well-equipped hospital in region
Physical fitness: Minimum walking and physical exertion

LEVEL 1+

a marked escalation in certain areas of Level 1

LEVEL 2

Language barriers: Many church leaders speak English
Comforts: Possible 2nd-3rd World accommodations
Food: Some differences to US diets
*Security risks: Low-medium
Emergency care: Adequate hospital in region (for most injuries)
Physical fitness: some physical exertion

LEVEL 2+

a marked escalation in certain areas of Level 2

LEVEL 3

Language barriers: Few speak English
Comforts: 3rd World accommodations
Food: Vast differences to US diets
*Security risks: Medium-high
Emergency care: No trusted hospitals in region
Physical fitness: much walking and physical exertion

LEVEL 3+

a marked escalation in certain areas of Level 3 (think extreme)

Important Notes:

“1st World” means developed countries similar to England or Germany.
“2nd World” means developing countries similar to South Africa or Sri Lanka
“3rd World” means under-developed countries similar to Zimbabwe or Bangladesh

LEVELS 1-1+ are generally recommended for first-time mission trip people
LEVELS 2-2+ are generally recommended for experienced mission trip people
LEVELS 3-3+ are recommended only for experienced mission trip people who are in excellent physical condition

*Security risks are accessed based on information from US and local government websites and also from our local country hosts.

Disclaimer: As much as the NLWI team does its best to keep team members safe and secure, the reality is that anything can happen to anyone at any time while on a mission trip. We can make no guarantees about a team member’s complete safety (not even for trips in the US).

For this reason, we require all mission team members to complete a waiver form and a medical release form. In addition, for challenge levels of 2 or higher, medical trip insurance may also be required. Level 3 trips may require a recent physical fitness exam.