Aside from a one credit class I had to take in college (we went to a
Chinese buffet for our final) I have not studied mission-ology. I do not
claim to be an expert. I have been blessed to be part of missions
trips both foreign and domestic. I also had the opportunity to represent
my organization and lead several short term teams in India. I have seen
and participated on short term missions teams that have done more for
The Kingdom in 10 days then have been done in 10 years. I have also
lead/participated teams that have soured a communities thirst for the
gospel. Below are my (rather long) observations on how to make a short
term missions trip one of the former and not the latter.
Pray
It
may be the most overused term in Christian lingo but it doesn't make it
any less true. You aren't going to go to The Amazon without your
mosquito repellent and you certainly aren't going to go into battle
without your armor. If you read nothing else in this blog READ THIS;
Satan hates you and your mission. It doesn't matter if you are going for
10 days or 10 years the devil will stop at nothing to stop you from
being the hands and feet of Jesus. I believe that missionaries are some
of the most vulnerable Christians to Satan's most viscous attacks. They
are out of their comfort zones, exhausted with jet lag and covered in
strange painful rash. Easy targets for discouragement, gossip among
teams and selfishness. Just because you are on a mission from God
doesn't mean that the things you struggle with at home stays at home. In
fact in these magnified experiences your weaknesses become magnified.
Pray against these things both for yourself and with your team. Pray and
ask God for guiding wisdom in where to go and how He wants you to
proceed. Pray for the organization you are going to serve alongside,
that you would know how to serve them well. Pray that even before you
know where you are going that He would be preparing your heart for what
He has planned. Ask that the entire journey from filling out and
application to coming home to your first hot shower in two weeks would
glorify Him. Ask others to pray with and for you. They, in a sense, will
be going on the journey with you. It takes an army.
Research
This
can come in many forms. First research the organization you are serving
with. One of the biggest concerns in the anti-short term mission camp
is that STMs can cause a lot of irreparable damage for natives in other
countries. For example if you felt God calling you to witness to the
penguins in Antarctica for 2 weeks and so you got on a southbound plane.
When you step off the plane you are surrounded by curious penguins
wondering what in the world you are. As you are observing them you
realize that the penguins have to work really hard to get fish. You
decide after being there for 2 days you are going to build a big fish
tank so the penguins don't have to work so hard to eat. Nice of you. The
penguins love it and you bored a northbound plane with a full satisfied
heart. However, while you are back home on your nice comfy couch the
fish tank runs out of fish. The penguins have forgotten how to fend for
themselves and starve. You, with all your good intentions and love in
your heart, have created a catastrophe. Go with an organization that is
native, rooted in the community. A hospital or a church that will be
there long after you have gone home. This builds a strong foundation for
the relationships that you build to continue and be fruitful. Locals
know how to best reach and serve the locals. Plus they can enrich your
cultural experience with their knowledge of the area. Make sure you
agree and comply with the organization mission/values/goals. Don't go
because what they are doing or where they are sounds cool. In order to
really serve you have to be able to work with them.
Speaking of culture, research it before going. I am all for adventure but culture shock is real and hard. Whether it be from an American Indian reservation or an African hut, you will feel it in some form. Some people can get stuck in it and end up having it ruining their whole trip. Gain a basic knowledge of what daily life, religion, bathroom practices (you laugh until you realize that it is perfectly normal for men to pee on the side of the road in India) etc. are like in the places you are going. You will still face shock but with research of this new definition of "normal" you can absorb and enjoy the experience more.
Research the place you are going to. I once went on a short term missions trip to Arizona in March. For some reason (I blame nursing midterms...) I packed thinking it was going to be warm spring weather. Like Disney World. Turns out the ministry was on these high platues with whipping wind daily. And there was snow. Needless to say I was freezing for most of the week.
Pack
For all the traveling I have done this is my very least favorite thing (besides unpacking) about going some place. Ugh, if someone ever wants to take this stress from me on my next trip be my guest. Needless to say I have had my share of packing fails (see above). I also tend to be a "what if" packer. Thoughts like "What if Uganda suddenly gets hit with a Polar Vortex? Then I will need this winter parka!" are constantly running through my head. Once you know where you are going and what you are doing pull everything out and put it in a pile.(Most organizations give you a list of ideas of what to pack/not pack) Pray for wisdom and guidance. Then pack half of it. Trust me.
Speaking of culture, research it before going. I am all for adventure but culture shock is real and hard. Whether it be from an American Indian reservation or an African hut, you will feel it in some form. Some people can get stuck in it and end up having it ruining their whole trip. Gain a basic knowledge of what daily life, religion, bathroom practices (you laugh until you realize that it is perfectly normal for men to pee on the side of the road in India) etc. are like in the places you are going. You will still face shock but with research of this new definition of "normal" you can absorb and enjoy the experience more.
Research the place you are going to. I once went on a short term missions trip to Arizona in March. For some reason (I blame nursing midterms...) I packed thinking it was going to be warm spring weather. Like Disney World. Turns out the ministry was on these high platues with whipping wind daily. And there was snow. Needless to say I was freezing for most of the week.
Pack
For all the traveling I have done this is my very least favorite thing (besides unpacking) about going some place. Ugh, if someone ever wants to take this stress from me on my next trip be my guest. Needless to say I have had my share of packing fails (see above). I also tend to be a "what if" packer. Thoughts like "What if Uganda suddenly gets hit with a Polar Vortex? Then I will need this winter parka!" are constantly running through my head. Once you know where you are going and what you are doing pull everything out and put it in a pile.(Most organizations give you a list of ideas of what to pack/not pack) Pray for wisdom and guidance. Then pack half of it. Trust me.
You are
already to viewed as extremely wealthy. True or not you were able to
stop work for a week, get on an airplane and bring a suitcase that you
pay someone else to carry because it is too heavy for you. Most people
in the world (including America) earn just enough to get by each day and
never leave the place they were born. It can be hard to minister
effectively when all people see are the material things you bring with
you.
This is not to say that you have to look like a slob for two weeks. Dress appropriately but comfortably. Know the electrical situation. Most countries have different electrical wattage then the US. So either you are going to fry your blow dryer or blow out the fuse for the entire house every time you turn on your curling iron. When you pack ask if what you are packing will make your ministry more effective. Remember this is about serving God, not about you. Represent yourself, and your organization well.
Go Local
When in Rome..... Seriously good advice. Don't expect to get on an airplane fly over the Pacific Ocean for 10 hours and expect to land in America. Not everyone in the world speaks English or has had a McDonald's french fry. Sad, I know. I have watched too many people ruin missions trips by saying things like "this place needs such and such from America", "this wouldn't happen in America" or "I wish they would do this like we do in America". For this season you are not an American, you have left that behind you and you are entitled to nothing. God has called you as His child to love and serve them in their home. Embrace it, learn from it, love it.
Act culturally appropriate. Maybe the best way to illustrate this is with the example of gender roles. In most countries in the world women and men are not viewed as equals Men have jobs/responsibilities that only men can do. Women have things only women can do. Never the two shall meet. As unfair and uncomfortable it may be, respect it. You are only there for two weeks, you are not going to change the cultural mindset in that time. Know what these rules are before you go and help out your organization by following them as best you can. When my parents came to rural India they couldn't hold hands when they walked down the street. Odd but you can handle it.
Ladies, dress appropriately. In India women can't show their ankles, they wear long shirts that cover their bottoms and shoulders, and a scarf across their fronts. I was stopped and pulled aside a few times as my Indian ayah's corrected what I was wearing. I had ladies on teams brought to me to help explain that what they were wearing was negatively effecting their ministry. This is not the time to exert your independence with your sense of style. American women in India are preconceived as being "loose" and welcoming of unwanted attention (thanks Hollywood). Dressing in Punjabi's and Sari's gives a clear "No!" to those who need it. Don't be offended, just fix it. It is fun to wear something different. Wearing brightly colored and flowing Indian clothes for a year taught me there is beauty in femininity. Embrace it. We all have fun playing dress up once in awhile.
Respect the Christian culture as well. If Christan in the ministry don't play cards, don't play go fish for two weeks. If women cover their heads in church, ladies follow suit. Get out of your comfort zone in relation to worship. Pray in English while everyone else prays in another language. Your concept of an all knowing, all present, God will be blown to bits. Awesome
Eat local, as much as possible. For most cultures in the world food is a gathering point. You are viewed as a guest and people want to serve you their best local dishes. This is how relationships are formed and how ministry is shared. To refuse an invitation to dine is considered very rude and hurtful to those you are trying to love (note: I am not talking about if the food makes you physically sick. They will understand that) One time when I was in Taiwan two new friends of ours wanted to take us out to eat at their favorite restaurant. It turned out to be this hole in the wall restaurant that doubled as a fishery. The food was horrible and the smell of raw fish was in my nose for days. But the two friends were so excited to be eating a meal with us that I wouldn't have passed it up for the world. (Side note since then I have eaten some of the best food ever in "hole in the wall" places. Just not fisheries....) Find things you like. Take small portions if you can. Use your best judgement, if the locals are all eating there try it! Pray against food borne illness and enjoy the experience. You are never in your life going to taste better chicken curry then what my Hyderabad cooking auntie makes. If you dive in you may find you enjoy something more then McDonald's (not to mention that Micky D's overseas is extremely expensive!).
From your native contact, learn 5 words or phrases in the native language. I cannot tell you how much I have been blessed from this trick. I know about 3 phrases/words in Hindi total. They all have to do with food (shocker!). When I was eating dinner with my parents in Jaipur, India I tried them out on the waiter at our hotel. He was tickled pink. For the rest of the time he was pointing out things and telling me names. One of the most fun meals in a restaurant to date! It doesn't matter that you butcher words, people know when you are really trying. It goes a long way in showing love but attempting to cross a language barrier.
Love Well
As strange as this sounds, this can be really really hard. Especially with culture shock, jet lag, and sickness thrown in. Expect the unexpected, is the mindset to be in. I once was paired with a team who had come to India to serve in a particular area of ministry. But for one week that ministry sent them to serve with us. We were in desperate need of a deep clean. So we asked the team to spend 3 hours every day for 4 days to give every inch of the house a through clean. They bulked and told me that this was not the ministry they were called to. Needless to say the entire week was a very painful disaster. When you sign up to be follow Jesus calling to missions you submit your will to whatever He has planned. This is true adventure. Submit your will, find joy in the freedom of not being in control, serve well. Even if you spend two weeks cleaning toilets do it with joy as you think of how nice it is for someone to have a clean bathroom. You may never hear a thank you but I promise with a good heart attitude you will leave far more blessed then you came.
Don't bad mouth the organization, even if you don't agree 100% with them. Don't undermine their ministry. If you go down the street handing out $100 bills to everyone you see, then the locals associate foreigners and that ministry with handing out $100 bills. Not the gospel. The organization will be there after you are gone and you may have just ruined their chances with the community in which they live.
Be fully present in your ministry. Know that for all the work you do to prepare to go, the organization has done double to prepare for you insuring that you have everything you need. Thank them.
Find Jesus in everyone you meet, cover everyone in prayer, physically touch people (if culturally appropriate!), tell them they are loved both with your words and with your actions.
Share
Aka that scary phrase be vunerable. Share your faith and the reasons you are doing this crazy thing with people before you leave home. Share yourself with your team, good and bad.You will be a more effective team. Share yourself and your faith with every single person you meet during your ministry. Even without words. Share with yourself in a journal. It is a blessing to look back over later. Share yourself, your faith and your stories when you come back home. The people that sent you, whether financially or prayerfully, went with you too. It may be hard to explain what God did in two weeks. He is so awesome that it can leave you speechless. Tell them that. Spread the joy. Tell them if it was the hardest two weeks of your life. Find someone who can just sit and listen to you process, or write it out. It won't happen overnight and you may never fully understand all that happened to you or all that God is doing in the ministry. Know that's ok. You have been changed. Radiate it.
Pray
Sound familiar? It probably needs to be posted somewhere in the middle of this very long blog too. Pray for the organization you served with. Pray blessings, protection, and wisdom over them. Pray for the brothers and sisters in Christ you left behind. Follow up with them if you can. Thank God for the experience. Ask Him how He wants you to use this experience to move forward. Pray that He would use this time and you to further His kingdom.
This is not to say that you have to look like a slob for two weeks. Dress appropriately but comfortably. Know the electrical situation. Most countries have different electrical wattage then the US. So either you are going to fry your blow dryer or blow out the fuse for the entire house every time you turn on your curling iron. When you pack ask if what you are packing will make your ministry more effective. Remember this is about serving God, not about you. Represent yourself, and your organization well.
Go Local
When in Rome..... Seriously good advice. Don't expect to get on an airplane fly over the Pacific Ocean for 10 hours and expect to land in America. Not everyone in the world speaks English or has had a McDonald's french fry. Sad, I know. I have watched too many people ruin missions trips by saying things like "this place needs such and such from America", "this wouldn't happen in America" or "I wish they would do this like we do in America". For this season you are not an American, you have left that behind you and you are entitled to nothing. God has called you as His child to love and serve them in their home. Embrace it, learn from it, love it.
Act culturally appropriate. Maybe the best way to illustrate this is with the example of gender roles. In most countries in the world women and men are not viewed as equals Men have jobs/responsibilities that only men can do. Women have things only women can do. Never the two shall meet. As unfair and uncomfortable it may be, respect it. You are only there for two weeks, you are not going to change the cultural mindset in that time. Know what these rules are before you go and help out your organization by following them as best you can. When my parents came to rural India they couldn't hold hands when they walked down the street. Odd but you can handle it.
Ladies, dress appropriately. In India women can't show their ankles, they wear long shirts that cover their bottoms and shoulders, and a scarf across their fronts. I was stopped and pulled aside a few times as my Indian ayah's corrected what I was wearing. I had ladies on teams brought to me to help explain that what they were wearing was negatively effecting their ministry. This is not the time to exert your independence with your sense of style. American women in India are preconceived as being "loose" and welcoming of unwanted attention (thanks Hollywood). Dressing in Punjabi's and Sari's gives a clear "No!" to those who need it. Don't be offended, just fix it. It is fun to wear something different. Wearing brightly colored and flowing Indian clothes for a year taught me there is beauty in femininity. Embrace it. We all have fun playing dress up once in awhile.
Respect the Christian culture as well. If Christan in the ministry don't play cards, don't play go fish for two weeks. If women cover their heads in church, ladies follow suit. Get out of your comfort zone in relation to worship. Pray in English while everyone else prays in another language. Your concept of an all knowing, all present, God will be blown to bits. Awesome
Eat local, as much as possible. For most cultures in the world food is a gathering point. You are viewed as a guest and people want to serve you their best local dishes. This is how relationships are formed and how ministry is shared. To refuse an invitation to dine is considered very rude and hurtful to those you are trying to love (note: I am not talking about if the food makes you physically sick. They will understand that) One time when I was in Taiwan two new friends of ours wanted to take us out to eat at their favorite restaurant. It turned out to be this hole in the wall restaurant that doubled as a fishery. The food was horrible and the smell of raw fish was in my nose for days. But the two friends were so excited to be eating a meal with us that I wouldn't have passed it up for the world. (Side note since then I have eaten some of the best food ever in "hole in the wall" places. Just not fisheries....) Find things you like. Take small portions if you can. Use your best judgement, if the locals are all eating there try it! Pray against food borne illness and enjoy the experience. You are never in your life going to taste better chicken curry then what my Hyderabad cooking auntie makes. If you dive in you may find you enjoy something more then McDonald's (not to mention that Micky D's overseas is extremely expensive!).
From your native contact, learn 5 words or phrases in the native language. I cannot tell you how much I have been blessed from this trick. I know about 3 phrases/words in Hindi total. They all have to do with food (shocker!). When I was eating dinner with my parents in Jaipur, India I tried them out on the waiter at our hotel. He was tickled pink. For the rest of the time he was pointing out things and telling me names. One of the most fun meals in a restaurant to date! It doesn't matter that you butcher words, people know when you are really trying. It goes a long way in showing love but attempting to cross a language barrier.
Love Well
As strange as this sounds, this can be really really hard. Especially with culture shock, jet lag, and sickness thrown in. Expect the unexpected, is the mindset to be in. I once was paired with a team who had come to India to serve in a particular area of ministry. But for one week that ministry sent them to serve with us. We were in desperate need of a deep clean. So we asked the team to spend 3 hours every day for 4 days to give every inch of the house a through clean. They bulked and told me that this was not the ministry they were called to. Needless to say the entire week was a very painful disaster. When you sign up to be follow Jesus calling to missions you submit your will to whatever He has planned. This is true adventure. Submit your will, find joy in the freedom of not being in control, serve well. Even if you spend two weeks cleaning toilets do it with joy as you think of how nice it is for someone to have a clean bathroom. You may never hear a thank you but I promise with a good heart attitude you will leave far more blessed then you came.
Don't bad mouth the organization, even if you don't agree 100% with them. Don't undermine their ministry. If you go down the street handing out $100 bills to everyone you see, then the locals associate foreigners and that ministry with handing out $100 bills. Not the gospel. The organization will be there after you are gone and you may have just ruined their chances with the community in which they live.
Be fully present in your ministry. Know that for all the work you do to prepare to go, the organization has done double to prepare for you insuring that you have everything you need. Thank them.
Find Jesus in everyone you meet, cover everyone in prayer, physically touch people (if culturally appropriate!), tell them they are loved both with your words and with your actions.
Share
Aka that scary phrase be vunerable. Share your faith and the reasons you are doing this crazy thing with people before you leave home. Share yourself with your team, good and bad.You will be a more effective team. Share yourself and your faith with every single person you meet during your ministry. Even without words. Share with yourself in a journal. It is a blessing to look back over later. Share yourself, your faith and your stories when you come back home. The people that sent you, whether financially or prayerfully, went with you too. It may be hard to explain what God did in two weeks. He is so awesome that it can leave you speechless. Tell them that. Spread the joy. Tell them if it was the hardest two weeks of your life. Find someone who can just sit and listen to you process, or write it out. It won't happen overnight and you may never fully understand all that happened to you or all that God is doing in the ministry. Know that's ok. You have been changed. Radiate it.
Pray
Sound familiar? It probably needs to be posted somewhere in the middle of this very long blog too. Pray for the organization you served with. Pray blessings, protection, and wisdom over them. Pray for the brothers and sisters in Christ you left behind. Follow up with them if you can. Thank God for the experience. Ask Him how He wants you to use this experience to move forward. Pray that He would use this time and you to further His kingdom.
