How do you feel about missions trips?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If more people went to places like the Highlands of Guatamala and saw the poverty there there might be less Trump supporters. Its hard to have empathy for people fleeing those types of lives unless you have seen it first hand.

+1.

And that empathy does not evolve out of blindly sending money to people supposedly already "on the ground". Those people on the ground hopefully have empathy, and hopefully are fiscally responsible, but all it does for you is give you something charitable to talk about at your gala events.

So people can only be interested in something they have witnessed firsthand? And you shouldn't donate to charities just because they have produced a compelling plan, a record of success, and detailed financial records showing that they can do something for people you'll never meet?

[Anonymous]

I've never been on a mission trip and generally agree with the critiques. But PPs are being really harsh about it. A lot of people are acknowledging that it benefits the participants in deep ways, perhaps more so than the actual aid to communities. So... What? A lot of people get that and are grateful for the experience. You all do tons of crap in your everyday life to make you feel like you're a good person that doesn't actually help anyone, too. Everyone does. It's like you reserve some special disdain for someone doing a mission trip over spring break that you wouldn't have for someone going to Cabo. Does that really make sense? This charge of "hypocrite" seems to elicits such visceral reactions. But lots of things are worse than hypocrisy. Like not trying to even caring at all. Trying imperfectly (exception for the orphanage stuff that does real harm) is not reprehensible to me.

[Anonymous]

^^^ not trying or even caring

Again, I'm not an evangelical, have never done one of these trips, and get that it's problematic. So is lots of stuff. If your criticisms came from a place of genuine attempt to persuade and communicate, they'd be a lot more effective than when they come from a place of smugness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tim Kaine did exactly the same type of missionary work.

Do you find him obnoxious too?

NP.

As a matter of fact, yes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If more people went to places like the Highlands of Guatamala and saw the poverty there there might be less Trump supporters. Its hard to have empathy for people fleeing those types of lives unless you have seen it first hand.

+1.

And that empathy does not evolve out of blindly sending money to people supposedly already "on the ground". Those people on the ground hopefully have empathy, and hopefully are fiscally responsible, but all it does for you is give you something charitable to talk about at your gala events.

So people can only be interested in something they have witnessed firsthand? And you shouldn't donate to charities just because they have produced a compelling plan, a record of success, and detailed financial records showing that they can do something for people you'll never meet?

Witnessing something first hand gives another dimension to your appreciation of an issue. Ideally, you would get that in a sustained way -- I studied abroad for two years and volunteered throughout to do that. But sometimes that's not feasible and a short trip is the best alternative. I hope these critics aren't the same people that mock people for not having a passport and never having left the country, too...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm astonished by these responses. Have you actually been on any of these trips?

I am not religious and have never been, but was raised going to a church semi-regularly. My church partnered with others and went to Mexico every year for upwards of 25 years to build houses for homeless people in 2 specific towns, then a hospital and a school. I went on those trips for many years, starting at age 13, and they absolutely formed the person I am today and created a global, humanitarian perspective that I hope to pass on to my children. We would work alongside the soon-to-be homeowners pouring cement, raising roofs, installing windows. We developed real relationships with families and the community that continued for many many years.

Sadly, the dangers of the drug cartels stopped the trips about 5 years ago, but many participants have gone back on their own dime for short visits to maintain those friendships.

I can only hope that I'm able to offer similar experiences to my kids when they're older.

Perfect example of the rationalization that missionaries are steeped in. Because it helped YOU, it must have helped them. Not true.

I can say unequivocally that those families would disagree with you. It's amazing the difference having a solid roof over your head, instead of taped together refrigerator boxes, will do to help your present and your future. Once they had homes, nearly every single one of those families was able to have at least one member hold a job and be a productive member of his/her community. Nearly every single one of those children was able to go to school. Several of the kids I personally knew went on to college. Because they helped to build the houses and school, they were personally invested in their success. They were able to help their neighbors. They were able to feel pride in home ownership (surely something DCUM can understand). Tell them our combined efforts did not significantly better their lives.

You could have done better for those families by sending money to employ local laborers to build the houses. Then, not only would some folks have houses, but other folks would have jobs. These trips badly distort local economies by putting local builders out of work, and allow the cost of supplies to be unreasonably increased. Sure, it might work for the 3 families who get a new house, but it's overall very bad for the community.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tim Kaine did exactly the same type of missionary work.

Do you find him obnoxious too?

NP.

As a matter of fact, yes.

Please grace us by telling us you're role models then. Are they infallible? I'm curious.

[Anonymous]

^^^ your

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tim Kaine did exactly the same type of missionary work.

Do you find him obnoxious too?

NP.

As a matter of fact, yes.

I don't find Kaine as obnoxious, since he stepped into an established charity that was integrated into the community. He also stayed about a year, which is very different than these 10 days junkets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm astonished by these responses. Have you actually been on any of these trips?

I am not religious and have never been, but was raised going to a church semi-regularly. My church partnered with others and went to Mexico every year for upwards of 25 years to build houses for homeless people in 2 specific towns, then a hospital and a school. I went on those trips for many years, starting at age 13, and they absolutely formed the person I am today and created a global, humanitarian perspective that I hope to pass on to my children. We would work alongside the soon-to-be homeowners pouring cement, raising roofs, installing windows. We developed real relationships with families and the community that continued for many many years.

Sadly, the dangers of the drug cartels stopped the trips about 5 years ago, but many participants have gone back on their own dime for short visits to maintain those friendships.

I can only hope that I'm able to offer similar experiences to my kids when they're older.

Perfect example of the rationalization that missionaries are steeped in. Because it helped YOU, it must have helped them. Not true.

I can say unequivocally that those families would disagree with you. It's amazing the difference having a solid roof over your head, instead of taped together refrigerator boxes, will do to help your present and your future. Once they had homes, nearly every single one of those families was able to have at least one member hold a job and be a productive member of his/her community. Nearly every single one of those children was able to go to school. Several of the kids I personally knew went on to college. Because they helped to build the houses and school, they were personally invested in their success. They were able to help their neighbors. They were able to feel pride in home ownership (surely something DCUM can understand). Tell them our combined efforts did not significantly better their lives.

You could have done better for those families by sending money to employ local laborers to build the houses. Then, not only would some folks have houses, but other folks would have jobs. These trips badly distort local economies by putting local builders out of work, and allow the cost of supplies to be unreasonably increased. Sure, it might work for the 3 families who get a new house, but it's overall very bad for the community.

You could do better good by getting off DCUM and going to give a sandwich to a homeless person right now but you're here enjoying being mean because it makes you feel good. Oh well, we're all human.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm astonished by these responses. Have you actually been on any of these trips?

I am not religious and have never been, but was raised going to a church semi-regularly. My church partnered with others and went to Mexico every year for upwards of 25 years to build houses for homeless people in 2 specific towns, then a hospital and a school. I went on those trips for many years, starting at age 13, and they absolutely formed the person I am today and created a global, humanitarian perspective that I hope to pass on to my children. We would work alongside the soon-to-be homeowners pouring cement, raising roofs, installing windows. We developed real relationships with families and the community that continued for many many years.

Sadly, the dangers of the drug cartels stopped the trips about 5 years ago, but many participants have gone back on their own dime for short visits to maintain those friendships.

I can only hope that I'm able to offer similar experiences to my kids when they're older.

Perfect example of the rationalization that missionaries are steeped in. Because it helped YOU, it must have helped them. Not true.

I can say unequivocally that those families would disagree with you. It's amazing the difference having a solid roof over your head, instead of taped together refrigerator boxes, will do to help your present and your future. Once they had homes, nearly every single one of those families was able to have at least one member hold a job and be a productive member of his/her community. Nearly every single one of those children was able to go to school. Several of the kids I personally knew went on to college. Because they helped to build the houses and school, they were personally invested in their success. They were able to help their neighbors. They were able to feel pride in home ownership (surely something DCUM can understand). Tell them our combined efforts did not significantly better their lives.

You could have done better for those families by sending money to employ local laborers to build the houses. Then, not only would some folks have houses, but other folks would have jobs. These trips badly distort local economies by putting local builders out of work, and allow the cost of supplies to be unreasonably increased. Sure, it might work for the 3 families who get a new house, but it's overall very bad for the community.

You could do better good by getting off DCUM and going to give a sandwich to a homeless person right now but you're here enjoying being mean because it makes you feel good. Oh well, we're all human.

Joke's on you. I'm literally typing this from the developing world, where I'm handing out grant money to local organizations, since they are better situated to assess local needs and are better stewards of the funds than foreign missionaries.

No lie. Jeff can check my ISP. So, you see, I come by my smugness naturally.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm astonished by these responses. Have you actually been on any of these trips?

I am not religious and have never been, but was raised going to a church semi-regularly. My church partnered with others and went to Mexico every year for upwards of 25 years to build houses for homeless people in 2 specific towns, then a hospital and a school. I went on those trips for many years, starting at age 13, and they absolutely formed the person I am today and created a global, humanitarian perspective that I hope to pass on to my children. We would work alongside the soon-to-be homeowners pouring cement, raising roofs, installing windows. We developed real relationships with families and the community that continued for many many years.

Sadly, the dangers of the drug cartels stopped the trips about 5 years ago, but many participants have gone back on their own dime for short visits to maintain those friendships.

I can only hope that I'm able to offer similar experiences to my kids when they're older.

Perfect example of the rationalization that missionaries are steeped in. Because it helped YOU, it must have helped them. Not true.

I can say unequivocally that those families would disagree with you. It's amazing the difference having a solid roof over your head, instead of taped together refrigerator boxes, will do to help your present and your future. Once they had homes, nearly every single one of those families was able to have at least one member hold a job and be a productive member of his/her community. Nearly every single one of those children was able to go to school. Several of the kids I personally knew went on to college. Because they helped to build the houses and school, they were personally invested in their success. They were able to help their neighbors. They were able to feel pride in home ownership (surely something DCUM can understand). Tell them our combined efforts did not significantly better their lives.

You could have done better for those families by sending money to employ local laborers to build the houses. Then, not only would some folks have houses, but other folks would have jobs. These trips badly distort local economies by putting local builders out of work, and allow the cost of supplies to be unreasonably increased. Sure, it might work for the 3 families who get a new house, but it's overall very bad for the community.

You could do better good by getting off DCUM and going to give a sandwich to a homeless person right now but you're here enjoying being mean because it makes you feel good. Oh well, we're all human.

Joke's on you. I'm literally typing this from the developing world, where I'm handing out grant money to local organizations, since they are better situated to assess local needs and are better stewards of the funds than foreign missionaries.

No lie. Jeff can check my ISP. So, you see, I come by my smugness naturally.

And this is the best most high use of your time? Talking to me? I don't think so. Good for you that you work in development... I guess. I'm aware of lots of critiques about how the grant/NGO model of development also distorts the local economy. There are critiques of that, as well. But you're trying. So I'm not going to point my finger and laugh and call you a smug hypocrite. Best of luck in your work. Others may choose to engage in the world in their own ways.

[Anonymous]

It's funny that these posters think criticizing mission trips is "mean".

I think it's "mean" to destroy communities, family relationships and cultural traditions just so that you can 'see first hand' how other people live.

It's selfish and mean to do harm to others so that you can act like you are bettering yourself. But wait, that's not even how mission trips advertise. They advertise that you are "saving others" that you are doing good for the the poor and poverty stricken.

So which is it? If mission trips are simply about selfish experience then advertise them like that. Something like, we are collecting money so we can go see what poverty is like in the highlands of Guatamala, thanks for the donation.

It's not like that though is it? You're going with these high horse ideals of harvesting "poor lost souls". These groups are disingenuous. That is mean.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's funny that these posters think criticizing mission trips is "mean".

I think it's "mean" to destroy communities, family relationships and cultural traditions just so that you can 'see first hand' how other people live.

It's selfish and mean to do harm to others so that you can act like you are bettering yourself. But wait, that's not even how mission trips advertise. They advertise that you are "saving others" that you are doing good for the the poor and poverty stricken.

So which is it? If mission trips are simply about selfish experience then advertise them like that. Something like, we are collecting money so we can go see what poverty is like in the highlands of Guatamala, thanks for the donation.

It's not like that though is it? You're going with these high horse ideals of harvesting "poor lost souls". These groups are disingenuous. That is mean.

Wow you're very righteous -- probably as righteous as the stereotypical missionary you think you're above. I'm the person who used the term "mean." I was criticizing one PP's posts, because they were mean. I don't think criticism in general is "mean." You're are seriously generalizing mission trips. They don't all advertise that they're saving souls. Many are cognizant of the impacts of short-term visits on the local community and seek to partner with established missions that are long-term in the country. I'm not sure why it's so hard for you to understand that religious people are not devoid of critical thinking skills. We have them. We use them. Many of us try to make our trips as impactful as possible. We also recognize and acknowledge the benefits the trips give to us.

[Anonymous]

I think it's great, as long as they are not trying to convert people.