I was in the eighth grade when I first sensed the Lord’s call to live on mission in my classroom, and one day overseas. I had not considered all of life’s realities, I just knew I was called to go.

Now, as my family and I prepare to go, we are asking some tough questions: Are we ready physically, mentally, spiritually and financially? Yes, even financially.

If you feel a similar call to live your life on mission internationally, than I encourage you to consider these six financial questions before going overseas:

1. Can you pay off your debt? This is the main financial reason that keeps people from going overseas on mission. Debt ends up being a heavy burden in all areas of life. Of course, if you have debt, you probably don’t need me to tell you that. It is important however, to try to pay off your unsecured debts before you go so that you are free from that financial strain and can focus on the task at hand.

2. Do you have a retirement account set up? Whether you are going overseas as a young, single person or as a middle-aged, married couple, this is an important question. If you are going with an organization that contributes to a retirement account for you – great! If not, you will want to make sure that a portion of your funds are being put into some kind of an IRA.

3. Have you created an emergency fund? Yes, even missionaries need an emergency fund (of sorts). With that being said, this truly depends on what is made available through your support partners. If you get sick or injured while overseas, or if something else unexpected happens to bring you back to your home country, you will need a provisional emergency fund to draw from while you figure out what is next.

4. Are you planning on selling or leasing your house? Is your house in your home country more of an asset at this point or more of a liability? Depending on what is most fiscally responsible for you and your family, you will want to sell your house or rent it out. My recommendation is that you sell your home. Only lease your house if it’s your last option. Again, when you are overseas building relationships with locals and sharing the gospel, you do not want to have to deal with renters asking about new carpets.

5. What items are you going to sell and what are you going to store? You probably have some smaller assets (your car, furniture, household items, etc.) that you will want to decide what to do with. Most likely you will not be taking these items with you, but you will need some stuff when you get to your destination. Items you are able to sell here will help with the purchase of your living necessities there.

6. What is the cost of living of the location to where you are moving? Each of the previous questions have dealt with items in your home country. But you also want to consider what the cost of living is of the location where you are going. This may seem less significant, but there is a vast difference between the jungles of Peru and the high-rises of Dubai.

As you sense the Lord’s call to move internationally, it can be easy to become focused solely on just getting there. However, you would be doing yourself and your ministry a disservice if you did not prepare physically, mentally, spiritually and financially. With that being said, try asking these six financial questions before making the big move.

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Written by Art Rainer, member of the Summit Stewardship and Generosity Ministry Leadership Team.

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