"Don't Bother Going, They Are Going To Die Anyway".

As I sit in my comfortable chair in a small cafe have an overwhelming sense of discouragement.  It seems to me the trend lately is to criticize and condemn mission trips. Everywhere I look there is an article about: “Why I do not go on missions anymore”, “Mission trip < new profile picture”, or “The Problem With Little White Girls and Boys: Why I Stopped Being A Voluntourist”. Before I go further, the authors of those articles are respected by me for their opinions. This post is only to offer a humble rebuttal from someone who has a passion for other people and a small understanding of Interpersonal Intercultural Communication (mouthful I know).

This is my perspective without any Biblical backup, there will eventually be an entire post about why mission are important.I did this because not everyone agrees on the validity of the Bible.This is rebuttal is looking  at the articles above through a Communication lense.

While I have been preparing to leave for Tanzania,  people have told me how I will negatively impact the economy and society (long term). This is due to the fact this is not a yearlong mission trip, only 2 months.  I understand from a communication perspective the impact on the economy, society, and the potential relationship issues.  I understand that if too many people visit a certain area, people will develop attachment issues. I recognize the importance of stability and diversity. I even recognize how the money could be spent elsewhere. However, I know that no one should ever underestimate the power of a good deed. 

One needs to understand the ripple effects created from going on one of these trips.  The ripple effect that can occur because one person chooses to go on the trip can change the world. On my trip, we are feeding children and giving them clean water. Who knows what those children will go on to do with their lives, but by helping we are giving them more opportunities. By no means am I claiming to be these children's Savior or "America Superhero", I do not believe that if I Americanize them that I will save them. I am merely a humble servant. A servant who understands that if I do not go help, who will? 

I understand that I will make relationships with these people, get back on a plane, and return to my life. However, does that mean it was not worth my time? I believe that it is such the "american mindset" to think that if I do not get anything out of this, then why invest or why waste my time? Truth is: I may never see those children again. But was installing a water filter that will last 150 years worth it? You tell me. If I make relationships with them, give them hope, and give them resources that help  them have "normal" life ..... is that time wasted? 

One of my biggest frustrations is the judgment from other people when it comes to short term missions trips. Just because the mission trip is short and the team did not see an outcome, does not mean they did not have an impact. I find that in American society of instant gratification, we want to see results ASAP. We have this mentality that if we do not see an immediate outcome then it does not count. Sometimes the fruit of hard labor does not come until years later. It is foolish and prideful to think one needs to see an immediate action. 

Going on trip like this can open your eyes to those around you and give you a passion for the world. I often find those who are cynical have had their heart broken by the poverty. Poverty is a huge undertaking and is overwhelming. There are many days that I would love to bury my head into social media to forget the pain. The pain is so real because the faces now have names, I hear their laughter, and I see their smiles. As much as I want to, I can no longer turn my eyes away.  Missions will break your heart, because they expose you the harsh realities outside the U.S. and make you question everything. Often times people experience “reverse culture shock”, when they return home and this causes them to shut down. Reverse culture shock is like a slap in the face, because you really realize that you have changed. What used to be normal, now feels unusual. In fact, when entering back into American culture one is almost in shock, because of the excess. Aside from reverse culture shock, many people struggle with guilt. This is due to falling short of their own expectations or over sensitive conscience. Since consciences are learned in culture, one may feel guilty for many thing that have nothing to do with sin. If these things are not dealt with properly, then one will become derisive and pessimistic. Those realities will shape your view on missions and ultimately decide if you take another trip. 

Mission trips are not to be dealt with lightly and that is something we can all agree on. However, I do not believe we should all 
abandon going. Going on a mission trip is more than just a profile picture change and a few vaccinations—it’s more about what will 
you do when you come home. Will that mission trip change you 
forever? Will you become an advocate? Will you think twice before you throw away that extra food?  Will return back to life as if you never went? How will that trip alter your life? If you do not change, then it is all in vain and everything those people wrote is true. Create a ripple effect. 


Everyone Matters. 

"Remember there's no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end"

-Scott Adams