7 Reasons Why You Should Never Go On A Short-Term Mission Trip
by Editor - December 2nd, 2009.Filed under: News.
Considering the pros and cons of making a short-term missions trip? Beware! Don’t plan anything until you’ve prayerfully considered these consequences of exposing yourself to cross-cultural missions.
1. It will distort your perception of the world! Seeing it through the plastic lenses of our society is sufficient. They may be distorted, but you are used to them! Don’t needlessly mess yourself up.
2. You could get sick or robbed! It’s dangerous out there! Some places have a crime rate almost as high as American cities.
3. It will make you harder to live with! The way you view life and even your likes and dislikes are likely to change. Your friends and family probably won’t understand or appreciate your sudden changes.
4. Afterwards you will feel awkward at some of the jokes and comments you currently enjoy. They will not seem as funny when you have seen life from the other side.
5. You will experience sadness you haven’t felt before. After you see real suffering, you won’t pay much attention to your complaining about how hard you’ve got it. You are even likely to feel guilty and uncomfortable about the nice things in your house and the food on your table. Stay home and stay comfortable!
6. You might lead someone to the Lord. I know that is a laudable goal, but it tends to cause excitement and further interest in Christian service.
7. You could feel a pull toward going overseas again—for the adventure, of course. The problem is that you could slowly, subtly get sucked into thinking about being a missionary!
> 7 Reasons Courtesy of David Armstrong (www.shorttermmissions.com)
December 3rd, 2009 at 7:39 am
After five years of visiting Mexico for week-long mission trips, I have a new appreciation for what is most-important in this life. Jackie and Scott have a strength and talent that I could only aspire to have, and their mission truly shows God’s hand. Keep up the good work!
The Rochester (by way of northern California, southwestern Oregon and northeastern Washington state groups) guy…
December 3rd, 2009 at 12:05 pm
Jackie,
This awesome! Well done! I believe it will catch people’s attention. Merry Christmas to you and Steve!
Love, Ellie
December 3rd, 2009 at 7:36 pm
Yep, all 7 of those reasons apply–and we came back for more anyway!! Praise God, He gave us the desire to live our lives in a way we hadn’t planned. Debt-free soon, Lord–what is Your next goal for us???
We love you guys. Merry Christmas and Happy Trails to You!
David & Donna Araya
December 3rd, 2009 at 7:47 pm
When I came down last February, it did change my view of everything. Alot. I am so excited to come down again though!
Nice job guys
Love Alexis D
December 5th, 2009 at 6:47 am
Dear Jackie and Steve,
I thank the Lord for the passion that God has given you to forsake the the comforts of home and family in hopes of exposing others to the joy of serving the Lord in short term missions.
My prayer is that God will allow me to experience these 7 reasons every time I go out my front door and that He would ROCK MY WORLD because “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest fields.”
Matthew 9:37-38
I Love and appreciate you and may you, your family and all the staff at Welcome Home have a MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR
December 7th, 2009 at 9:53 am
this is so very true…captivated by the area myself almost 9yrs and 25 trips there myself! the day will come I can stay longer…just need to keep earning to keep giving right now…Had a fab time in 08 w a hair team and WH was on top of it all! Best of Gods favor to you all!