Recording the Impact of Your Mission Trip

This photo is in Nepal. I am sharing the Gospel using the Evangecube. Six children in this small group accepted Jesus as their savior that day. The Evangecube is a great tool for presenting the Gospel in an organized, understandable fashion. Those who normally would shy away from learning about Jesus are curious when they see it and want to know how it works. If you are interested in more information on the cube go to e3resources.org.

Track what happens on your trip.

You will make memories for a lifetime. You can count on this trip marking your life in many ways. How can you track or record these experiences so you won’t forget the impact when you get home? Let’s explore three ways you can record and share your experience: taking pictures, keeping a journal, and telling about your experience after you return home.

1. Taking Pictures, for most Americans, is one way to record and relive the moment. You will cherish the pictures you take on your trip forever. Your pictures will hold memories that will trigger precious times of learning and significant growth in your life.

However, a side note to remember is that it can be very disconcerting to your hosts to face flashing cameras throughout the days of your stay. It may feel like an invasion of privacy. Be sensitive. One tip to consider is assigning one photographer to take pictures on a particular day (with the permission of your host). Then when you get home, get the reprints of the photos you desire.

Besides the memories of new friends and new experiences, God has much more in store for you. He will be working in and through you in new ways. Your influence on your host will remain. You will have learned much about the culture you lived in. It may mark a new beginning for you in the way you think or the direction your life will go in the future. You won’t want to lose any extraordinary moments of learning and insight.

2. Keeping a journal is an effective way to capture the experiences. Record your feelings about your daily encounters: the stories about friendships with nationals, the way God intervenes in your day, what God is doing in your heart, new insights you learn about missions and doing God’s work.

In the Bible we are encouraged to record and retell the things that God has done. The whole Bible is actually a compilation of the stories of God’s people written by many authors who were God’s inspired journal keepers.

The Psalms are filled with encouragement to remember all God has done. Read Psalm 78:1-7, and understand the far-reaching value of keeping a record of God’s work. In Psalm 77:11-15, the writer is remembering all God has done. From verses 11-12, write out the verbs that tell us to focus on what God has done. In versus 13-15, what are we reminded about God?

3. Talk about your experience when you get back home. Telling your stories to friends and family will be very important to you. Relate how God worked in your heart. Those close to you will want the long version. However, it is good to remind yourself that sometimes those who ask about your trip may just want a short review. You also may be called upon to speak at a church function. God may even open doors for you to share your faith with someone who has never heard. In every case take time to prepare your presentation.

God will honor the preparation you have done for your short-term mission trip. It will be exciting to record what you have learned. You will be grateful that you prepared your heart before you packed your bag.