Short Term Missions Trips - Observation 1

Early in His ministry, Jesus had already began to have quite a number of people following after Him. Some followed because of His teaching - this may have been the first time that they were hearing that God loved them and wanted to have a relationship with them. Others followed because of the miracles - that pesky water into wine thing, the lame walking, the blind seeing and the sinner forgiven. But there was another reason.

After feeding the 5,000 men which could easily have been a crowd of 15-20,000 with women and children, Jesus crossed over to the other side of Sea of Galilee by foot! The next day the people went looking for him.

When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, "Rabbi, when did you get here?"
Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval." John 6:25-27 NIV

Here in a word of wisdom for you to consider on your next short term missions trip.

My first trip into Mexico was in the summer of 1975. I ended up taking a bus ride from Brownsville, TX to Uruapan, Michoacan, Mexico. It took about 36 hours! On the ride. I had a chance to see the countryside for the very first time and, even though the poverty in Mexico today is overwhelming for Americans, back then the sight of adobe huts on the hills and young children running around barefoot in tattered clothing was heartbreaking. But as mile after mile of this scene passed by my window and the same adobe hut and raggedy children could been seen repeated almost without number, the Holy Spirit spoke something very clearly to my heart.

"The presence of a need is not the indicator that you are to meet that need."

In other words, just because these people were and are poorer that me, or have less food than me, or have tattered and torn clothing, or have a one room house with no plumbing - just because the need exists, does not mean that I am to meet that need, that I am to provide clothing or food or housing for the whole of this country. What is does mean is that I must not lean on my own understanding, my own reasoning, what seems right to me. I mean, after all, look at this poverty, surely God wants me to alleviate their suffering!

No!

The people who followed Jesus after being fed had originally followed because of the miracles He had performed.

Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the miraculous signs he had performed on the sick. Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. The Jewish Passover Feast was near. John 6:1-41 NIV

However, the next day, they went looking for Him because their bellies had been full.

Therefore, when you are next in a foreign land, whether it is the inner city for you suburbanites, the mountains of Appalachia for you city folks, or outside the comfy borders those United States of North America, do not assume that you know what needs are to be met nor the manner in which they are to be fulfilled. Ask the locals - the indigenous peoples or the missionaries - where the real needs are and how best to meet those needs. Otherwise, you may draw a crowd by handing out food items which makes great pictures to put up on your missions bulletin board or really impresses the church board so that you can have more money for the next trip. but did not accomplish the Father's desires, His will for you and those to whom you are called.

We must decide which is more important the glory of the seen and lauded which fades with our photographs or the glory of the unseen which is hidden and eternal.

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Cor 4:18 NIV