The truth about short-term mission trips
to poor, hot countries in the winter
They're a blessing to everyone!
By Ann Deveau
Some people say short-term mission trips are a waste of time and money.
The argument goes like this: it costs a small fortune to fly a group of well-meaning North Americans to a poor, hot country (in winter, of course) where they run around with a checklist for a week, trying to complete make-work projects before they jet home – never to be seen again by mystified, but probably grateful local people.
Maybe it happens that way sometimes. But it wasn’t our experience as members of the Belize 2010 Missions Teams from Christ Church Cathedral in Fredericton. We headed to the Central American country in late February-early March to work at St. Hilda’s Anglican School.
It was certainly an investment of our time, energy and money. It meant months of prayer, training, cross-cultural preparation, vaccinations, logistics and fund-raising. We learned to be patient, humble, creative and flexible — to go to Belize as God’s servants and to leave our preconceived agendas behind. We also learned how generous our congregations, relatives and friends are — support was overflowing.
One team was made up of adults, most of whom didn’t know each other well at the outset. The other team was an existing youth group, the Cathedral Puppeteers. We went to Belize on back-to-back weeks. We put in long, physically tiring days and attended evening devotions and debriefing sessions. We evolved into tight teams, which made us effective, caring volunteers able to overcome obstacles and become more mature spiritually.
Some people had asked dubiously what could be accomplished in such a short time. We realized that we couldn’t change the world on deadline. But it was the cathedral’s third mission trip to Belize since 2005, and organizers had developed relationships with staff at the Anglican diocese, local school principals, and children there.
Consequently, our leadership knew better than to barge in and impose solutions, and we knew better than to pack up and vanish without a trace.
This approach paid off. We were amply rewarded every day with big smiles, many hugs, plenty of laughter, and endless expressions of sincere gratitude from the staff and students. The churchgoers at local Anglican worship services were enthusiastic and friendly. In fact, the friends we made in Belize, and among ourselves, were every bit as important as the actual tasks undertaken.
The to-do list existed. Guided by a wonderfully patient Belizean carpenter as our foreman, we bought lumber and built 10 picnic tables and five bookcases for the school. We cleaned and painted a dark, shabby classroom to make it bright and inviting. Some taught in the classrooms, tutored children who had trouble reading, played with the kids, staged lively puppet shows, taught the art of puppetry, and shared information about New Brunswick. We patronized local shops to buy items recommended by the school administration, ranging from security lights, portable fans and a CD player to crayons, pencils, mops and buckets.
Everyone was reluctant to leave. We had fallen in love with the country and the people, and we had begun to see what it means to act as the hands and feet of Jesus in a hurting world. We were eager to continue. We enjoyed giving something back to those less fortunate — people who were nonetheless filled with joy and who shared easily what little they possessed.
Everywhere, we could see unmet needs at St. Hilda’s and untapped potential in the children who are eager to learn. Before we left for home, we began to talk about ways that we could follow up and how soon a team could go back.
Follow-up isn’t new. For the past three years, the cathedral congregation has been sponsoring a Belizean student to attend high school, which costs $750 annually. Now, the team of adults is developing a scholarship program to support another student through high school. Some resource books for teachers and school supplies have been shipped down recently, and e-mails are flying back and forth. A surplus of funds raised here will be invested in the school’s priorities. With the help of the principal and staff at the diocesan level, we are thinking of ways to involve the wider community, including the parents of St. Hilda’s students, in future projects.
Some team members, who described themselves as being on auto-pilot at home normally, returned as different people. We were empowered by serving globally, convinced of the power of prayer, excited about sharing God’s love. We couldn’t stop raising awareness and talking about our adventures, the strong teamwork, and the connections we’d made with people in Belize.
One more lesson learned: you don’t require special skills to go on a mission trip. You don’t have to be a saint. You just need to step outside your comfort zone, be open to serving and learning about the world. You just have to go.
So, are mission trips a waste of time and money? Definitely not! One missioner concluded: “If only every week in my life could mean this much!”
Diocesan Communications
04 May 2010
