"24 Things World Christians Wish North American Short-Term Missionaries Would Quit Doing…".
The premise is that many of us going on short-term missions are missing mark and possibly even doing more harm than good. While I do not argue many of the points they raise and all of us should be cognizant of our hearts and actions, my own heart ached a bit at this list of "don'ts".
In my own life I find things much easier to attain if I am working 'toward' something instead of trying to get away from something. So, in conjunction with the previously mentioned article, I came up with this:
24 Things I Wish North American Short-Term Missionaries Would Start Doing… :-)
- Sitting down with those they are visiting and listening to their stories
- Giving LOTS of hugs
- Laughing and crying with them
- Being careful to dress modestly and making others feel comfortable
- Asking people what they believe about God and quietly listening
- Sharing, not preaching, and only when appropriate, your own story of how and why you love God
- Trying very hard to learn some of their language. Even a few words can make a big difference.
- Play games with them. Games are universal.
- Sing with them in your language and theirs. Music is universal.
- Learn the names, carefully, of the people with whom you are working.
- Try to build at least one meaningful friendship. Get their address (if possible) and write them!
- Ask them if there is anything that they might want to do. (You'll be surprised what they might say!)
- Worship with them in their own church on Sunday
- While doing #13 - sit with them. (not in your own group)
- Share your own hurts and struggles. Be real! Let them pray for you! :-)
- Spend every morning in the Word and in prayer. Listen for God to speak before you start your "work".
- Go "local" (if possible). Eat with them, wear local clothes, etc. Let them see your respect for their culture.
- Be sure you have a truthful and meaningful answer if someone asks "Why are you here?".
- Bring a giving heart! Time, money, blood, sweat and tears. God can use it all!
- Look for the outliers. Those people on the edges. Sit with them. Talk with them.
- Bring a copy of your favorite verse in both languages. Learn to say it in their language and teach it in English too! :-) (then talk about it!)
- Go somewhere that has an established ministry and help them with their need and mission.
- Did I say to give out lots of hugs? :-)
- Remember, it's HIS mission, not ours. Find out what He is doing and be a part of that. It will be so much more rewarding.
Short-term missions can be a good and beautiful thing. Work 'toward' whatever God has planned and 'His' mission.
By reaching out in love, with caring attitudes and humble hearts we can be the face of Jesus on this earth - no matter where we go!
Matt
p.s. - I challenge everyone to add in the comments below a million more GOOD things we should be doing on these trips. The list should be endless. :-)
2 comments:
As my mission work is within the borders of the USA, specifically in the Appalachian region of eastern Kentucky I would add:
--"Don't be afraid to try something that you've never done before." I serve mostly on home repair and construction crews. Yo'd be amazed at how many folks don't think that they can use a nail gun or run a circular saw. But when they step out in faith, it is amazing to see God give them grace and skills to do that which they never were able to do before.
--"Do it the way the crew leader tells you to do it." Actually, folks in the construction trades back home are usually more of a hindrance than a help. Most domestic mission organizations have tight, tight budgets. It is amazing to see how much than can get out of an 8' 2X4. Back home if a contractor runs out of material he will buy more. In the missions field what you get is what you get and it is calculated out to the inch. If the crew leader says to do it this way and back home you do it a different way or a way that you think is better--do it the crew leader's way. He/She has done this over and over and knows how to stretch a board. On one job we had a guy who knew how to build a roof as he was a contractor back home. He ran out of material about 3/4 of the way through the job. When the crew leader return from running an errand you could tell that he was steamed. But he had the grace and strength to patiently tell the guy to rip out what he had done and start all over. But we had to go way over budget to get additional lumber.
Thanks Jim! Great comments. I especially like the "step out in faith" idea!
:-)
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