Do:

• Pray first!  Prayer connects us to the very power of God.
• Smile & be friendly! (They won’t bite, and they won’t blow you up either J)
• Ask questions. (See “Conversation Ideas”)
• Be a good listener.  (Listening lets them know you truly care and helps you learn ways to minister to their physical, emotional and spiritual needs.)
• Look for ways to serve & demonstrate love.
• Build Bridges with things you have in common.
• Be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
• Ask for their contact information at an appropriate time (Follow up is critical! It’s best to get this information from an international of the same gender. Writing down their name will also help you practice and learn their name.)
• Take pictures but ask permission first. (Same gender is best in this situation as well.)
• Discuss getting together again and make a plan if they seem interested.
• Dress modestly! (For ladies around Muslim people groups: no sleeveless shirts, no low cut necklines, no shorts and no form fitting shirts or pants.)

 Don’t:

• Don’t be nervous.  (Ask God to give you a deeper unexplainable love for the nations and this will really take away nervous feelings. Many are hungry for friendships and will really enjoy talking to you.)
• Don’t Bait & Switch.  This is when you plan a visit with them for one thing or invite them to an event and then “turn it” into witnessing or a Bible study.  Most internationals think all we care about is converting them.  Let’s show them that we truly care about them so that we gain their trust and the right to share truth.
• Don’t use the words: missionary, evangelism, convert, missions…
• Don’t reject people if spiritual conversations do not develop quickly or they do not express interest immediately.  (You never know how God is working in their lives or what He is going to do.  It took 2 years of a faithful friendship and speaking truth before a very close Muslim friend accepted Jesus as Savior.  It’s not a sprint but a marathon. Remember, it’s not by our power or even what we say but ONLY the work of the Holy Spirit that changes lives.)
• Don’t be pushy or aggressive with discussing religion. (Finding natural ways to praise God or give personal testimony in a conversation is non-offensive in most cultures. Remember most of Jesus’ teaching were told as parables.)
• Don’t yell. (Speaking louder won’t help them understand English.)
• Don’t initiate physical contact with anyone of the opposite gender. (Don’t initiate hugs or hand shakes between opposite genders. If they initiate, then follow their lead.  The more conservative we can be the more we can gain their trust and show then we are different from the movies and soap operas they watch.  This is what they think all Christians are like.)
• Generally it’s better for singles to engage conversation with someone from the same gender.  (Guys talk to guys, girls talk to girls.)
• Shoes and feet in many cultures are considered dirty.  (Don’t let your feet touch anyone or anything that is considered clean or valuable and don’t point the sole of your shoe or bottom of your foot at anyone.)