Awake the Nations

Gap Semester

February 9 - May 2, 2026

$11,650

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Details and Basic Itinerary

( Subject to change...A comprehensive itinerary will be sent 30 days prior to the trip.)

 

 

 This is an around-the world gap semester developed for the (wannabe) daring types. Crafted for the passionate, spiritually hungry, compassionate, and adventurous, and made to inspire YOU to reach in deeper, and give out bigger...and then even bigger! To the ones who are secretly wondering if they’re missing out on something “more and amazing." To the dreamers and the big risk-takers. To the ones who want MORE. And to the ones who are finally going to get out there and GO...Awake the Nations is the gap semester for you!

 

Join us as we partner with amazing, on-fire, missions-minded ministries and local churches. We will provide much-needed support, encouragement, prayer, outreach, evangelism, and continued advancement of God's work.

 

Much of the ministry and outreaches for this trip will be: home-to-home evangelism and discipleship, singing, playing, sharing, teaching and doing crafts for school children, VBS-style outreaches, safe homes, red light districts, ministry within the church, worship, prayer walks, minor work projects within a community, leading small group Bible studies...and so much more!

 

Prepare yourself to engage in knowing and hearing God's voice direct your everyday steps as you discover and use the talents and gifts He has given you. Enjoy a semester being discipled while creating a roadmap for your future. Be exposed to God's will and His plan for your life and leave your comfort zone for a powerful global encounter.

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You will experience a mix of amazing outreaches, daily ministry, community development, children's ministry, and discipleship. You will be sharing your testimonies and praying for the sick; praying with people during house-to-house evangelism; and engaging in small work projects, outreaches, orphan care, and more. All of these ministry opportunities combined with some breathtaking adventures, quality lodging, food, and private transportation make this gap semester a life-changing experience.

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You will also see the world in an adventurous and amazing way! In each country we visit you will get to experience it's culture in unique ways. Family-style meals, adventurous free days, visiting Unesco World Heritage sites, Camel rides into the Sahara, exotic train rides, mountain and volcano treks, safaris, and so much more!

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During the course of the gap semester, you will personally develop great habits and grow through reading the entire New Testament and participating in daily quiet times, intentional journaling, and small group devotions. We will be reading a couple books to further challenge us in our walk with the Lord as we dive into learning how to hear God's voice in our life and gain a deeper understanding of missions and our role in it. You will mature in our spiritual gifts, talents, personalities, and strengths through authentic team dynamics, discussions, daily life, adventures and outreaches.

 

 

​​What’s Included:

• All international flights (departing city is NYC)

• Hilton accommodations during training and debriefing

• All housing throughout the gap semester

• A special excursion and/or adventure in each country we visit

• All in-country transportation to/from airports and to/from ministry sites throughout the trip

• Daily meals (3 per day) in NYC during training and all in-country meals (3 per day)

• Daily bottled or purified water where safe or pure water isn't available.

• Trip hoodie

• Medical emergency insurance

• All outreach/ministry associated costs in each country 

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What’s Not Included:

• Domestic flight to NYC

• Passport and tourist visas

• Immunizations (see CDC button)

• Personal snacks, medicine/doctor visits, laundry, airport food throughout the trip and souvenirs

 

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Visa Requirements: *We will let you know ahead of time which visas are needed. We have chosen our route and countries visited to keep travel visas at a minimum. 

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2026 Basic Trip Itinerary

( Subject to change...A comprehensive itinerary will be sent 30 days prior to the trip.

 

February 9: Arrive NYC

When you arrive, our airport greeting team will meet you at the airport. We will enjoy dinner together and then begin our team training. During this time, we will have some team bonding time and go over trip logistics, rules, safety, cultural items, team communication, and schedule...and then we will have a worship service and meeting. *You will be sharing a room with others (same gender) as it helps create team bonding...and is just more fun!

ACCOMMODATIONS: La Guardia Hampton Inn (NYC)

 

February 10: NYC to London and Scotland

Main cities we'll visit, minister and do outreaches in: London, Edinburg, Aberdeen, and other smaller cities as well.

ACCOMMODATIONS: TBD

 

February 21: Scotland to Morocco and Spain

Main cities we'll visit, minister and do outreaches in: Madrid, Seville, Casablanca, Fez, and other smaller cities as well.

ACCOMMODATIONS: TBD

 

March 3: Spain to Tanzania

Main cities we'll visit, minister and do outreaches in: Arusha

ACCOMMODATIONS: TBD

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March 12: Tanzania to Uganda

Main cities we'll visit, minister and do outreaches in: Entebbe, Kampala

ACCOMMODATIONS: TBD

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March 19: Uganda to India

Main cities we'll visit, minister and do outreaches in: New Delhi, Agra, Varanasi

ACCOMMODATIONS: TBD

 

March 28: India to Nepal

Main cities we'll visit, minister and do outreaches in: Kathmandu

ACCOMMODATIONS: TBD

 

April 3 Nepal to Cambodia

Main cities we'll visit, minister and do outreaches in: Siem Reap and other smaller cities as well

ACCOMMODATIONS: TBD

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April 9: Cambodia to Thailand

Main cities we'll visit, minister and do outreaches in: Chiang Mai and Mountain tribe villages

 

April 17: Thailand to Peru

Main cities we'll visit, minister and do outreaches in: Lima, Cusco and surrounding villages

ACCOMMODATIONS: TBD

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April 25: Peru to Guatemala

Main cities we'll visit, minister and do outreaches in: Antigua

ACCOMMODATIONS: TBD​

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May 2: Guatemala to NYC

Last of the Debriefing

ACCOMMODATIONS: La Guardia Hampton Inn (NYC)

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May 3: Team returns home

All team members travel home

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Talk to your doctor about any prescriptions you are currently taking or should take in case you get sick, and also about the following vaccinations: Hepatitis A, Typhoid, & Malaria. Yellow Fever vaccination and Malaria pills may be required or suggested for this gap semester

 

See Center for Disease Control and Prevention requirements for the countries we plan on visiting.

 

Training:

Training for this trip will begin in NYC. Training consists of specific ministry and outreach information, going over rules and safety regulations, team bonding time, and an evening meeting with worship and small group prayer.

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Health & Safety FAQs

 

What vaccinations do I need? We would strongly suggest following the CDC requirements/suggestions. You should consult with your own family physician, but what we always suggest is to make sure that all your Hepatitis A, Tetanus/Diphtheria, and Typhoid/Polio shots are all up to date. It is a personal choice and decision as everyone has their own risk tolerance, vaccination beliefs, and health and safety thresholds.

 

Is the trip insured? Yes! We carry short-term travel insurance for each member of the team that includes medical evacuation, AD&D coverage, and other great travel insurance benefits. However, you will still need to be covered on a health insurance plan or have one purchased for the trip. We use Good Neighbor Insurance (GNI) for our mission trip coverage. For more information, call 480-813-9100 or visit info@gninsurance.com

 

What if an emergency happens and I can’t go? If you have to pull out of the gap semester for whatever reason, we will apply all payments/donations to a future mission trip or internship, minus costs we may not be able to recover. There are no refunds available if someone has to go home for emergencies, sickness, or schedule conflicts. 

 

Health history questionnaire. A few weeks prior to the mission trip, we’ll email you a Health History Questionnaire and a Consent/Release form for you to fill out and email back to us before the mission trip. Most of it is pretty standard and it just gives us an idea of medications being taken, past health issues, allergies, immunizations received, and other items for us to be aware of if there were to be a need for you to go to a doctor or clinic/hospital. Please fill out what you are comfortable with; everything is 100% confidential. 

 

Safety track record. Going overseas is a big deal, and it's totally understandable for individuals, parents, and families to be concerned and want to know what safety precautions are being taken for each trip, especially if they are new to Wide Awake Missions. We've been at this for over 30 years; we have taken thousands of teens and young adults overseas, and over the years of doing mission trips, we have been fortunate to have never had a major safety or medical issue.

 

International safety and travel warnings. We keep in constant contact with all travel warnings concerning each country we go to. Before we leave, we register our group with the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) through the U.S. Department of State, and we log our itinerary with the State Departments of each country we  travel to.

 

On being alone. No one is ever allowed to go off by themselves outside of our outreach sites, ministry sites, and hotels. We travel as a team unit, eat as a team, and minister as a team—so no one is ever alone. We rely on our trusted and experienced contacts/translators to guide us each day. Also, each team member pairs up daily with an accountability partner. We always have a first aid kit that travels with us, and our contacts keep us informed on the best doctors, clinics, and hospitals to visit if there are ever any issues or emergencies.

 

Contact information and itinerary. You, your parents, and/or family will have a list of all our emergency numbers and will receive a more updated itinerary before each trip.

 

Leaders. We have a seasoned country director run the gap semester. We allow the team to bring their smartphones, and usually, it's their camera as well. We use the hotel’s or missions base wifi; this way they can be in contact with their parents/family for updates. We also provide you and your parents the phone numbers of the international hotels where we will be staying during the trip.

 

What about theft? Theft is always a possibility when you travel abroad, so please don’t bring anything you cannot afford to lose. Most crime is petty like pick-pocketing—but since we travel as a group we’ve rarely had a team member lose anything.

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General Gap Semester FAQs

 

As we get within a few months of our Wake the Nations, Around-the-World Gap Semester, we will be in more communication to make sure everything goes smoothly, and we are always available to answer any questions you may have. We can’t even begin to express how unbelievable, fun, and adventurous this mission adventure is going to be!

 

What about drinking water? Throughout the trip, we will drink plenty of bottled water and/or purified filtered water. 

 

Can I bring items for the outreaches? Yes! If your church/small group/family or friends wants to be a part in a financial way, we will be buying food and materials to distribute in villages, supplying some Bibles, and handing out other little things, so you/they can give towards these options if you’d like; just let us know.

 

Are there any additional costs? Pretty much everything is covered! We work with a variety of helpers and translators, and we do take a group "love offering" occasionally for our main contacts as well—it’s the gesture that counts here and not the amount though.

 

Do I need a sleeping bag or towel? No, you will need a sleeping bag or towel for this gap semester.

 

Can I use my phone? Definitely! Although wifi can be spotty, it’s nice to keep in touch and share photos with friends and family who are praying for you and have supported you. 

 

How many bags can I bring? You are allowed to bring one personal item like a back pack or day pack (usually a smaller type of school day backpack and not an actual carry on suitcase) and one checked piece of luggage (a suitcase or backpack/duffle bag weighing 48 pounds or less), and your sleeping bag.

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*This list isn’t exhaustive, if you have any additional questions please just let us know!