Are mission trips just vacations other people pay for? Do they actually help anything? Or, are they a waste? Last summer I traveled with my youth group to Mexico for a mission trip. It was amazing, and I learned a lot. However, before we left, missionaries there cautioned us; they warned us against the mindset of trying to “save the world” or being “Santa Claus” to the natives. We had asked what they wanted us to do - did they want us to bring supplies, do construction or paint something for them? Their answer was no. They didn’t need us to give handouts to the people. They didn’t need us to build something they could have done themselves. They needed us to build relationships with the people and show them that God’s love reaches across different parts of the world, breaking the boundaries of cultures and languages. The teens needed to see other teens that weren’t from their church, from their area, from their country that were following Jesus as well! Projects weren’t the top priority. They needed us to focus on the people. So, we did. We didn’t build a church or a wall or a house… we built relationships. We sang about God’s love - in two different languages. We gave testimonies about God’s mercy - in two different languages. We taught Sunday school, played and laughed and hiked and swam and had conversations … in two different languages! We became instant friends with the people, and still talk months later. It was the most amazing time I’ve ever had! “Don’t raise $1000 for a week and then give nothing else for a whole year” - Michelle Perez Some people would object however. What is wrong with projects? Don’t they improve the quality of life? I wondered too, and here’s what I found.
I’m not saying this happens every time, but it happens a lot. You might be discouraged from going on a mission trip now, as I was. But don’t worry, all fellow-explorers who long to get out of their comfort zone in an adventurous way, ministering and spreading the gospel in faraway places! There’s still a time and place for mission trips. You just have to consider your motives and mindset before you decide when to go. One’s motive for a mission trip is crucial. If all you do is want to be a hero for a week, the benefits of the trip are lost. Remember you are an ambassador from your country and for Jesus; how you act and serve should reflect his selfless love. That’s what ministry is actually about! It’s not just “doing.” “Developing countries do not need short term heroes. They need long-term partners.” - Michelle Acker Perez It is also important to reset your mindset. Ask yourself if there were a “no photos” restriction, would you still join the team? When teens go on mission trips only focusing on the cute, children-hugging Instagrams or “saving the world” by donating/building projects, harm comes as a result as you have seen. Did you know that over a million Americans spend two billion dollars on mission trips per year? Yet it is shocking to the natives when they see how many would rather spend five dollars than five minutes to help someone. What they want? A hand up not a handout. Buy them a goat for milk, a motorcycle for transportation to a job, or a one time university payment to help them get that nursing degree. Start a church that they can self-sustain, etc. That way, when the mission trip is over, natives have a better chance of breaking free from their poverty-stricken lives. Gifts of time rather than gifts of materialism. When I was in Mexico I saw how laid back the people were. All day we built relationships instead of houses, and barely realized supper ended up at 10 o'clock at night. We hiked together, taught each other our languages, and played games with kids at this amazing orphanage. A great time. See, mission trips CAN be a great thing. You don't need to go all the way to Africa to make a difference in the world. Give all year round! Help out or leave little notes for your neighbors, teachers, cleaning ladies at your school, etc. One little nudge at a time. So you know what? Mexico wasn't a waste of money. I didn't build a house, I didn’t repair a fence, but I learned the people's names.
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about the authorAs a 21 year old aspiring teacher, Karissa loves to write, travel, play piano, and read. Many creative things have her heart. archives
November 2021
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