[serialposts]Summer is only one flip of the calendar page away, and you know what that means: beach days, icy lemonade, water fun, and mission trips.
Churches everywhere are preparing to send teams of people out on summer mission trips, and for the month of May, the SERVE column here at BibleDude.net will highlight missiony (yes, a totally made up word) topics.
This series will dabble on topics related to both long-term and short-term missions.
Upcoming posts include the following:
-What’s the Long-Term Impact of Short-Term Mission Trips?
-Six Ways to Ruin a Mission Trip
-Five Ways to Keep Your Mission Supporters Involved in the Mission
-I’m Home, Now What?
Since we are looking for expert advice, I have been scouring the internet for smarties on mission related topics, and guess what? I found a few (with the word few meaning a whole crazy load) of missionaries out in the world shaking it up for God.
As I read the blogs below, I sucked into their stories. Peek around. You will find yourself engrossed too. You may discover yourself pouring over inspiring pictures and new places, and you may just ignore your kids for an entire evening. You know, hypothetically speaking, of course.
On to the links from some long-term missionaries:
- A Life Overseas: The Missions Conversation
- Jessica Bowman and crew from Bohemian Bowmans.
- The Owens Family over at Owens to Africa.
- Ruthie at Journey of Faith, Uganda and Beyond.
- Troy, Tara, and family from Live Say Haiti Weblog.
- Kayla over at Rice, Beans, and Love.
- The Dodsons from Along the Way.
- Ginny who blogs at Ginny in Haiti.
- Todd and Amy at Building the Blocks.
Join us this month each Thursday as we delve into the topic of serving through missions.
Tell us about your favorite missionary or missionary family. Feel free to leave links. We want to visit them. Have you ever been on a mission trip or spent time as a missionary? Let’s hear it!
Awesome can’t wait to read some of these 🙂
Thanks, Lisa. Excited to share.
I went on a month long mission trip to Honduras as a teen. It was life-changing, which I know is a typical answer. It wasn’t until I recently read several articles about how these short-term mission trips might hurt more than they help that I ever thought about their downside. The thought never even occurred to me. I’m still not sure how I feel about it, to be honest. I would love to hear your side of the story on that. Hint, hint 🙂
Yes! The long-term, short-term mission debate! Oh, and I remember the Honduras trip. I still can’t believe you did that, but I do remember how it impacted you.
Thanks so much for the mention! I look forward to this month’s missions posts. 🙂
(Ruthie at http://www.journeyoffaith11.blogspot.com)
Ruthie,
Of course! Thank you for sharing like you do online.
Exciting!
Thanks, Duane! I think so too!
So glad you included the Livesays and my very good friend, Kayla Grooters. Great roundup, Amy. And thanks for your persistent and consistent dedication to mission. Your work makes a difference out here on the big ‘ol Internets!
Jennifer,
Thank you for pointing me to some people doing some really cool things, inspiring!
I went to Peru last summer. It had been over ten years since my last mission trip. I had forgotten what it was like to get out of my comfort zone. I wont wait ten years again.
Getting out of our comfort zones is tough, especially when it’s so easy to live in that place where we know everyone and can predict what’s going to happen. I’d love for you to take a peek at some of the people who are listed about. They will push you to think hard about comfort zones. Thanks for reading!
Thanks for highlighting us at A Life Overseas. 🙂
You know it!
You know I love this topic 🙂 I look forward to reading as well. We sent our first team to a border town in Costa Rica over Christmas and have plans to return. We will partner with them to provide a food/clothing center in their church. It’s pretty exciting. I devoted a lot of time to the value of short-term missions in the 2013 version of my book that you saw. It’s a good question, and one should be discussed.
Jill,
You have loads to contribute to this topic! Excited to hear you chime in.
We moved to Honduras 14 years ago and helped rebuild a church. It was a life
changing event then that has been with us ever since. It originally short term but has been ongoing. We had a friend from our church in Indiana who now has come each year for 3-4 months for 13 years now.
Larry,
Thank you for sharing part of your story here. I wonder how many people intend to do short-term mission trip, and end up staying over a decade?
I’m excited to read the “I’m home, now what?” post! the few mission trips i’ve been on have been awesome, life-changing, mountain-top experiences. but it is definitely jarring come back to your normal life and knowing how to adjust. can’t wait!
Renee,
Well, then stay tuned! We have one of my favorite voices writing that particular article. Thanks for reading.