More and more countries are expecting that foreigners who apply for a visa have something significant to offer. Thus, they respond more favorably to those with professional training. On the other hand, one goes as a missionary to not only contribute something to the culture but to share spiritual truth.

Regardless what your interests are, I would encourage you to keep in mind the following areas:

- Cultural Anthropology: This will give you greater sensitive to the new culture. - Basic courses in Bible and Theology. You will need to know what you believe and how to express your conviction. - Courses in missions: what a missionary is, what other missionaries have done, including both great contributions and unfortunate mistakes.

One can learn these things at an undergraduate level, or study something else in college and then go on to graduate school, concentrating on the areas more specifically related to what I have mentioned.

A good way to get started is to do the following: - Take a couple of mission trips. I have already suggested to you the wisdom of the Spearhead experience (www.lam.org) because it gets you into nationals' homes, interacting with the culture, and seeing something of the basic needs of the country. As you move through this exprience, talk with national leaders and missionaries, you can begin visualizing what you might like to do as a missionary. - Get a copy of Operation World and read the descriptions of the different Latin American countries. As you see the struggles they are going through, what draws your heart? - Read mission magazines. Note the wide range of contributions that missionaries are making. - Get in contact with some individual missionaries - read their prayer letterz, correspond with them, and pray for them regularly. - Get in contact with a mission agency and correspond with them. As you grow in your interest and have questions, you will find them helpful in orienting you. - Perhaps one of the most important things is to be active in opportunities of ministry right where you are. Join a group of Christian young people who are serious about their commitment. Learn to share the Gospel. Learn how to pray effectively. Be faithful in your daily devotional experience. Look for opportunities to help out at your church. Talk about your vision with your pastor and ask his advice.

Well, Daniel, I don't want to load you up too much, but this should give you some ideas.

Blessings on you.