Q: I’ve always lived in an urban area. How hard is it to adjust to a rural or jungle environment?

answer this question

A: Adjustments are hard for some people but not others.

Answer from Malcolm, who served for nine years in Indonesia and Cambodia with People’s of the Earth.
It depends on the individual's lifetime experiences and his/her world view. In my own case I experienced no problems at all, but I know others who did not stay very long, quit and returned to their own countries.

A: The jungle is hard but worth it for the gospel.

Answer from Marty who has served for five years in Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua with Shekinah International Missions.
Some simple questions to ask yourself are these: Am I willing to work in extreme heat and high humidity? Can I travel hours per day in the hot sun in order to bring the Gospel of Christ to remote jungle and mountain areas? Am I willing to live on meager means for months at a time? Am I willing to travel by any means (water, animal, foot, etc.) to reach areas that are remote? Am I willing to "go without" the everyday items I have in my home country? Am I willing to sleep among bugs and spiders? Can I fit all my personal belongings in a backpack?

If you cannot answer "yes" to these questions then mission trips to remote areas will be a challenge for you. If you are willing to forsake all to spread the gospel to others, then God's grace will be more than sufficient. My suggestion is that you try a two to four-week mission trip to a remote area to grasp a better understanding of what is required, physically, mentally and spiritually. I have served the remote mountainous areas of Honduras and the Mosquito Coast for several years and can say that it is rewarding but also demanding. Read Matthew 19:29-30.