Which is better, a vacuum cleaner or a broom?

Today's photo is from Romania. These cows were trained to walk down the road and even open their own gate and go into their barn. They would never survive on our roads here in the US. This picture is a good example of today's study in preparing for a mission trip.

“Heads up!” is an expression of warning commonly used when someone is about to get clunked by a flying object. Well, here is a “heads up” about a common cross-cultural issue that often clunks short-timers and makes them fall.

Most Americans are great workers and up a high priority or value on doing a task with utmost efficiency. Remember the “hard-working” stereotype? There is an old adage that one doesn’t play until the work is done. Most Americans actually enjoy getting a job done…and the faster, the better!

Let’s look at an example from our culture: the floor is dirty. The smartest, easiest, and most efficient method of cleaning the floor has been invented – the vacuum cleaner. Every year there are newer and better vacuum cleaners on the market. The new ones are lighter, have more suction, and now have directional lights…all to clean your carpets easier, faster, and more efficiently. This is important to us. Investing in a product to do the job quicker and better than the old method is a no-brainer.

Now let’s consider the people in the country where your team is going. Possibly the thousands of years, the floors have been cleaned in the same way: with a broom. No one’s complaining. No one seems to be looking for a better method. Would anyone in these countries want the vacuum cleaner that was just described? Probably not.

The broom-users are happy to sweep and may choose to spend time talking with a friend who just dropped by while they are sweeping. Efficiency may never have crossed their minds.

Many cultures value their relationships higher than anything else and put little value in doing a task most efficiently. Now here is the “heads up”. If we are to be servants with the humility and love of Christ, we need to show openness and acceptance to the way of life of our hosts. When it comes to doing a task, you may be tempted to think and act more like an American than a Christian. When you’re tempted to ask the typical American question, “How can this job be done better or faster?”, you need to stop and remind yourself that this culture is operating with different values and that your question might be inappropriate or even disrespectful.

Demonstrating your acceptance of the way things are done in other countries shows honor, respect, and the love of Christ.

So remember:
Be open to learning why your hosts do things the way they do.
It may not be important to introduce them to your favorite higher technology.
You are trying to build relationships that honor the Lord, whom you represent.
You have come to serve in whatever capacity is needed.
You have come to learn from your new friends.
You have come to accept and love brothers and sisters in Christ who are different from you.

Read Philippians 2:3-4. Paraphrase these verses to concur with the points listed about. You may find this passage helpful to memorize.

So what are you so afraid of?

Today's picture is from Tanzania again. We are doing a Bible study outside and the children are playing on a large piece of fabric that was laid out for them. Many times the team has to make due with what is available. We have little control over the details in remote areas but God takes care of them.

Facing a group of women, I informed them of a new twist in the plans for their first mission trip. We were going to be staying in the homes of nationals from the church we were serving in the barrio…instead of a downtown hotel. I saw a wave of panic wash over their usually enthusiastic faces. New fears had been born in an instant; fears of eating weird foods, of sleeping who knows where, of scary bathroom facilities. Things had taken a sharp turn off the highway and onto an unknown, curvy road.

There are all sorts of fears that sneak up on us when we’re preparing to serve in another country. It is a good idea to acknowledge some of these fears before the trip. Some are more severe than other, but they can be paralyzing.

One person may fear whether the plane will land on time. Another will be worried about whether the plane will land at all. There are bugs and things that go bump I the night and there may be little things that are secret fears, like getting homesick or having a bad hair week. We all have them. Let’s start with identifying some of your fears.

Jot down a few of your own fears, including your secret ones.

Remember that many fears will dissipate as you learn about your geographical setting, ask questions of your hosts, and begin to understand the circumstances that can induce those fears. Remember that your hosts may be having some fears of their own regarding you. After all, you are a stranger to them, too. So the first step may be to ask good questions to get to know each other and allay some of your fears that way. However, you may still be burdened with some fears.

One of the most common saying of Jesus found frequently throughout the Gospels is “Fear not.” You may be asking yourself how it is possible to not feel fear about the things that will confront you on the trip.

In Luke 12:22-31, Jesus reasons with His disciples about the things that concern them. Read this passage, and summarize in your own words the concerns mentioned in verses 22-23.

Write down what Jesus teaches about common worries. From verses 24-26

From verses 27-31

The passage in Luke gives us God’s perspective on some physical worries and fears. There are other kinds of fears as well. In Philippians 4:6-7, Paul gives us another means to finding God’s peace over our fears. What are we encouraged to do?

Learn Their Story - Tell Yours

Today's photo shows some of our interpreters in Tanzania. They are pastors and members of the church there. Today our study for preparing for a mission trip is about telling your story. Some people are great storytellers by nature. Others have to work at it. But one thing is sure, people love to hear a story. Telling stories is a way of life in many cultures. When you show interest in the story of someone you meet from another culture, you may win a new friend. Find an interpreter, if you need one, and listen to people’s stories. Then be ready to tell your own.

When you visit other cultures, people are curious and will want to know why you have come. How will you answer this? “To work on a building” or “to teach a class” may be appropriate answers, but perhaps there is a better answer. Maybe this is an opportunity to articulate more than the obvious. Maybe this is an open door to share the spiritual dimensions of your answer. Sometimes telling your story may include how Christ has motivated you to serve.

Another situation that may occur as you visit a church is that the pastor may ask you to “give a greeting.” Your group might be tempted to stand up, wave and nod, and then sit back down. However, in most places, this request if for far more than that kind of greeting. It means that someone from your group will be expected to go up front and speak. How are you going to respond to this opportunity? The best response would be to count it the perfect time to not only bring a greeting from your country, but have someone share his/her story or testimony.

Read 1 Peter 3:15, and write out the encouragement from Paul.

In 1 Timothy 4:12-16 Paul challenges his young disciple, Timothy. In what ways was he supposed to be an example?

Take some time over the next few weeks to work on your story. It may be about how you first came to Christ or possibly some later event in your journey of faith. It is always good to think of your audience. As you begin to work on your story, think of the things you have in common with those you are going to serve. There are many universal aspects to life like family, school, work, marriage, etc. There are also the universal themes of life like the pursuit of happiness, peace of mind, individual dignity, security, etc. There are negative themes that plague all of us, like the host of sins that we deal with or feelings like fear, anger, or disappointment. These matters touch everyone…regardless of your place on this planet.

So, as you reflect upon your life, you will want to ask the Lord for wisdom and help you as you write your unique yet universal story.

Some questions to answer as you work on your story:
· How did I realize my need for a Savior or how did Jesus meet me in my time of need?
· How can I clearly explain how to accept God’s love and forgiveness through my story?
· What difference have I experienced in my life because of accepting God’s love and forgiveness?
· What are some of my negative attitudes, actions and motivations that have changes?

Practice your story and ask for feedback. Keep it simple, don’t use exclusively Christian or popular jargon that won’t translate, and practice speaking in short phrases since you may be giving your story through an interpreter.

Preparing for a Missions Trip - Day Six

Today's photo was taken during recreation time at the VBS in Romania. The children were orphans at the VBS and it took a while for the children to trust the team members. Today is day six of our study to prepare for going on a mission trip.

Are you an American first or a Christian first?

How can you really get to know the people you’re going to serve? It can take years to really understand people from a different culture. You know you won’t be there for very long. Let’s press the pause button and consider this approach first. The experts tell us that understanding other cultures can begin with having an understanding of our own culture.

First we have a few words that represent some positive stereotypes or traits of North Americans.
*friendly*outgoing* hardworking*generous*well-educated*reliable*confident

Sounds great! Makes you proud to be an American! In fact some of these qualities may be among your personal motives for wanting to go on a mission project in the first place. These qualities may have their roots in your cultural heritage.

Take a moment today to ask someone to describe an American. What terms did he or she come up with?

There are other not-so-positive stereotypes attached to North Americans:
*materialistic*wasteful*domineering*arrogant*disrespectful of authority*

These more negative traits come from the darker side of our culture. They come from sinful patterns through the years. This may be an important time to look a bit deeper within your self. Is your life influenced by some of these negative traits? Ask your self a probing question, are you an American first or a Christian first?

Much of the success of fitting in and serving those in another culture will be related to how we deal with these negative stereotypes. As we accept and grapple with these harmful traits, as Christians, there is good news…we do have the power not to be controlled by them through Christ.

We know that God is in the business of transforming our lives as we give ourselves to Him. In Romans 12:2, Paul pleads with Christians not to be conformed to this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Therefore, let’s get some help from a powerful passage in Philippians.

Read Philippians 3:7-21. If we desire to become everything God wants us to be, what encouragement do we find in verses 12-16?

We read in verses 18 & 19 that some have their minds saturated with the attitudes and values of today’s culture. Yet verses 20 & 21 remind us that as Christians, our citizenship is in heaven. What does that mean to you personally?

Traveling outside your comfort zone

Today I have posted another picture of the Romanian church during worship. This time it is during a VBS called "Who's your hero?". The answer, of course, is Jesus! Robert Elkins and David Gentiles are leading the worship. The children loved it!

Today is day five in our study preparing for a mission trip. It’s a good bet you’ll pack your favorite remedies for common ailments on the trip. There’s that pink lotion for bug bites and the other pink medicine for when you’re “intestinally challenged.” But what are you packing for culture shock? Have you heard of that ailment?

What is culture shock anyway? To help understand it, let’s imagine this scenario: When you arrive at your site, the warm weather feels so lovely, the little village seems quaint and friendly, and your hosts are so interested and neighborly. But…after a few weeks or maybe even days, you feel your attitudes shift. The honeymoon is definitely over. Suddenly the heat is stifling, the tiny village is closing in on you, and your hosts won’t give you a moment to yourself. On the last two missons trips I have taken I just couldn't get used to the heat. The local people were not bothered at all by the heat. In fact, sometimes they had jackets on when I was sweating. I ended up buying a box fan in both countries. One was in South America and one was in Europe but they were both different from my home. Is that culture shock? Let’s start with a definition.

Culture shock is the disorientation that results from unfamiliar surroundings and unmet expectations.

Culture shock has begun. Nothing is predictable, and daily living is filled with an uncomfortable feeling. Now you find yourself critical and complaining…and disappointed for even feeling this way. You may even feel like going home.

Just remember that these are all very normal feelings for anyone who travels outside his or her own culture. So even though you may expect to experience some degree of culture shock, let’s look at it carefully and see if it can be a bit less electrifying.

What happens when living outside of one’s own culture? After the initial honeymoon stage, one of the first things to creep in is a judgmental attitude. If things are different from one’s own customs, values, and behaviors, they are, well…just wrong or intolerable, or at least, just plain weird.

Think about this. It’s even true when you get close to another person or family here at home. When they do something differently than you do, it’s common to thing that you do it the right way and they do it the wrong way.

Think of an example from when your own experience of another person or family doing “it” wrong, and write it out.

In every culture we can find unbiblical practices. But experts say that people from every culture around the world think their way is the right way. This is called ethnocentricity. It is very important to learn early that the social behaviors of another culture are not necessarily wrong; they are just different from yours. They can be appreciated and enjoyed. Try to memorize this phrase, and remind yourself of it often. “IT’S NOT WRONG; IT’S JUST DIFFERENT.”

The famous short-term missionary Paul lived in and out of many different cultures. Read in 1 Corinthians 10 about Paul’s dealing with an agitated group who thought eating certain meat was wrong. In verses 23-33, he addresses this issue. Write out two principles that you want to remember from verses 31-33.

“How” is more important than “what”

Yesterday my photo was of people worshiping in Columbia. Today in the photo above people are worshiping in Tanzania. First Baptist Euless partners with E3 on mission trips to Africa and South America. On the trip to Tanzania last year over 3,000 people came to know Jesus as their Savour.

Today is the fourth day of a study posted on my blog for preparing to go on a mission trip. Many mission projects are about providing some kind of construction work, like building a house. Some projects involve ministry at a church, like a Vacation Bible School. It’s easy to look at the kind of activity you do as an end in it self. Moving a family from a house of cardboard to a new cinderblock home or teaching about Jesus are worthy goals and important accomplishments in the name of God.

But let’s look deeper that the “what” of a project and explore the “how.” We know that God cares deeply about our attitudes. It’s about more than just doing something worthwhile. It’s about serving: serving with a right attitude, one that exemplifies Christ.

Jesus was on a mission when He left His home in heaven and came to earth. He had much to accomplish. He healed the sick, helped men catch fish for their livelihood, and taught the lost that He was their Savior. But let’s also look at “HOW” He did these things.

Read Philippians 2:1-8. Then write out the instructions Paul gives us in verses 3-5.

Looking at verses 6-8, trace the steps Jesus took as He left heaven, came to earth, and eventually died for us. Write out the steps He took. Next to each step, write how He did it.

Having an attitude of humility is easier said than done. We, as North Americans, are not known for our humility. North Americans often have more of an attitude of selfishness and even superiority. To look out for and serve others before ourselves is very difficult. It is the opposite of what we are taught by our peers. Being a humble servant does not come naturally.

Whatever the tasks of your mission project, whether digging a ditch, taking care of the sick, or doing mundane chores, your attitude will mean the most. God wants to build the qualities of a humble servant into your character.

Jesus spoke about an attitude of superiority in Mark 10:42-45. What do you those who act superior do? What is the great paradox of servant-hood?

Considering the environment and the work you will do on your trip, what are some practical ways you can be a humble servant and avoid acting superior?

Read the promises of Philippians 1:6 and 2:13. Write out the phrases that give you confidence that you can have a Christ-like attitude.

What’s in this for you? What’s in this for them?

This is a photo of the church in Cartegena, Columbia during worship. A friend from our church named Brian Massey is the IMB missionary there. His gift is music and teaching and he does a wonderful job there in Columbia.

Today post will be the second post in a series concerning steps for preparing for a mission trip. It’s amazing how many people benefit from a short-term mission trip. One church group came up with 37 distinct benefits of sending a mission team. These benefits will flow in three different directions: toward those you serve, your group, and yourself.

Some benefits to those you serve:
• You bring fresh energy, willing hands, and encouragement to your hosts, both the missionary and the national.
• You provide the resources or know-how to fulfill a need.
• Your host experiences community with the larger body of Christ as you worship and work together.
• Some may come to Christ

Some benefits to your group:
• What you learn in another culture shapes and brings new perspectives into the group.
• Leadership abilities grow and become stronger.
• Others are encouraged to grow by stepping out of their comfort zones through observing the group in action.
• People live out newly examined values in light of a larger worldview when they return to their home church.
• The group gains a new vision and enthusiasm for serving at home.

Some personal benefits:
• Make new friends with your team and hosts.
• Be challenged to grow spiritually.
• Use your gifts to build the body of Christ.
• Grow a larger heart for the lost and needy.
• Learn to live and love in the diversity of another culture.
• Experience fulfillment as you strive to learn, love, and serve I the name of Jesus.

That’s a pretty impressive list, isn’t it? Yet when you return home from your trip, you will add some benefits of your own. Looking at these lists can also be a little intimidating. Can God do all this through you and in you? You’re likely to experience dependence on Him in a whole new way. You will need to depend on His power, not your own.

Look at the list of benefits and mentally put a check mark by the ones you get most excited about. Pray for these things to become a reality. In the book of Ephesians, we find some real encouragement about depending on God. In Ephesians 3:14-21, we see what God’s power can do. Record three ways that His power can help you.

Now take some time to write out a prayer about your need to depend on God’s power and not your own in light of your responsibilities on your mission trip.