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Church mission trips to Central America.
Posted on 7/27/14 at 9:00 pm
Posted on 7/27/14 at 9:00 pm
These seem to be the hot thing lately. People spend a few thousand bucks to travel to Honduras or Guatemala to play paddy cake with some central American orphans and post all over Facebook.
My question is this:
Unless a person has a very specific set of skills, like being a minister or a carpenter or a plumber, wouldn't it be better if you donated that 1500-2000 bucks you spent traveling directly to the orphanage rather than taking some excursion down there to "witness firsthand"? I see these pics of whole groups going down to "volunteer" their time, but lots of it winds up looking like a jungle adventure wrapped in self-righteousness. Tell me where I'm wrong. Pile on the hate.
My question is this:
Unless a person has a very specific set of skills, like being a minister or a carpenter or a plumber, wouldn't it be better if you donated that 1500-2000 bucks you spent traveling directly to the orphanage rather than taking some excursion down there to "witness firsthand"? I see these pics of whole groups going down to "volunteer" their time, but lots of it winds up looking like a jungle adventure wrapped in self-righteousness. Tell me where I'm wrong. Pile on the hate.
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Posted on 7/27/14 at 9:04 pm to wmr
I have a couple of Baptist friends who go to Guatemala every year. Husband is a surgeon. Wife is a former teacher, now a kinda sorta nurse. He performs non-stop surgeries on arrival. So yeah... you're wrong. 
Posted on 7/27/14 at 9:05 pm to finestfirst79
Well, they fall into the "very specific set of skills" exception. I'm talking about the chubby girl who works at the marketing firm, for example.
This post was edited on 7/27/14 at 9:06 pm
Posted on 7/27/14 at 9:08 pm to wmr
I think some people think about becoming missionaries or go overseas to do that type of work. It gives them a taste of how life would be.
Posted on 7/27/14 at 9:09 pm to wmr
It's their money. Why so angry over how others spend their own money?
Posted on 7/27/14 at 9:10 pm to wmr
Yeah, I got that. But I don't see the harm in Joe Blow going. We all waste money on LOTS of things. For instance this Bourbon I'm drinking right now.
Posted on 7/27/14 at 9:11 pm to PrivatePublic
quote:
It's their money. Why so angry over how others spend their own money?
I think he's started this same type of thread before. He's angry that Christians are giving up their money and vacation to give back to others.
This post was edited on 7/27/14 at 9:12 pm
Posted on 7/27/14 at 9:12 pm to PrivatePublic
I'm not angry about how others spend their money. I just see it as misdirected in some instances.
Its the same way I feel about Jr. High football teams raiding Academy for pink socks and sweat bands to "support breast cancer awareness". If they really GAF about breast cancer awareness, why not send the $40 you just spent on pink accessories ($4 of which goes to cancer research) directly to the charity?
I'm just pointing out mindless behavior that I view as attention-seeking and misses the point.
Its the same way I feel about Jr. High football teams raiding Academy for pink socks and sweat bands to "support breast cancer awareness". If they really GAF about breast cancer awareness, why not send the $40 you just spent on pink accessories ($4 of which goes to cancer research) directly to the charity?
I'm just pointing out mindless behavior that I view as attention-seeking and misses the point.
Posted on 7/27/14 at 9:14 pm to diddydirtyAubie
quote:
He's angry that Christians are giving up their money and vacation to give back to others.
Actually, no. I'm just stating that it is probably not the most efficient use of $$$ if you are flying chubby sister McChrister down to Honduras, when $2000 would probably build a school building or something down there. Of course, you can't get all the righteous CREDIT for helping orphans if you don't go, sleep in a hammock and post it all over Facebook.
Posted on 7/27/14 at 9:16 pm to wmr
I think more people need to see just how good we have it here in comparison to some other countries.
I had a coworker who just went on a mission trip to Guatemala. She went down to work with special needs students (she's an ECE assistant here) at a camp they had for about two weeks. Said it was one of the best experiences she had in her life. And feels like it helped honed her teaching methods by dealing with kids in a different culture and working with other special education teachers. While they were there they also built some water purification systems for the village and helped in the construction of a kind of community center/health clinic for them. So the village definitely benefitted from their experience there.
So yeah, I gotta disagree. I'd love to at some point travel to an area where some of the kids I work with are from just to get a feel for their culture/way of life.
I had a coworker who just went on a mission trip to Guatemala. She went down to work with special needs students (she's an ECE assistant here) at a camp they had for about two weeks. Said it was one of the best experiences she had in her life. And feels like it helped honed her teaching methods by dealing with kids in a different culture and working with other special education teachers. While they were there they also built some water purification systems for the village and helped in the construction of a kind of community center/health clinic for them. So the village definitely benefitted from their experience there.
So yeah, I gotta disagree. I'd love to at some point travel to an area where some of the kids I work with are from just to get a feel for their culture/way of life.
This post was edited on 7/27/14 at 9:18 pm
Posted on 7/27/14 at 9:17 pm to BluegrassBelle
quote:
I think more people need to see just how good we have it here in comparison to some other countries.
That's valid.
Posted on 7/27/14 at 9:19 pm to wmr
I've been to Mexico, Aruba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela on missions.
I agree that sometimes the people would benefit more from a specialized trade. But most often the time is spent just socializing with the people. It's actually amazing how much weight that has in those countries.
I've done a large variety of trips ranging from construction, medical, door to door, revivals, camps for youth, VBSs, you name it.
To me, relational and service trips are by far the most beneficial in my opinion.
I agree that sometimes the people would benefit more from a specialized trade. But most often the time is spent just socializing with the people. It's actually amazing how much weight that has in those countries.
I've done a large variety of trips ranging from construction, medical, door to door, revivals, camps for youth, VBSs, you name it.
To me, relational and service trips are by far the most beneficial in my opinion.
Posted on 7/27/14 at 9:19 pm to wmr
quote:
Of course, you can't get all the righteous CREDIT for helping orphans if you don't go, sleep in a hammock and post it all over Facebook.
Maybe they're posting it on Facebook because that's what people do. They post pictures of what they do on Facebook.
Why aren't you angry at people taking beach pictures? Wouldn't their money be better served elsewhere?
Posted on 7/27/14 at 9:21 pm to diddydirtyAubie
quote:
Why aren't you angry at people taking beach pictures? Wouldn't their money be better served elsewhere?
Because they're just taking a vacation.
I've just noticed a few people in my circle who seem to be taking a vacation but doing it under the auspices of "charity". Good discussion.
Posted on 7/27/14 at 9:22 pm to wmr
quote:
Because they're just taking a vacation.
their money could be used for a better purpose though.
Posted on 7/27/14 at 9:26 pm to diddydirtyAubie
quote:
their money could be used for a better purpose though.
Sure, but that's not the point.
Posted on 7/27/14 at 9:26 pm to wmr
Can you link the other thread you started on this same topic a while back? Your crappy username makes it hard to google search it.
Posted on 7/27/14 at 9:27 pm to diddydirtyAubie
No, because I've never started a thread on this topic. You are awfully sensitive to this one, though. What gives?
Posted on 7/27/14 at 9:27 pm to wmr
quote:
I've just noticed a few people in my circle who seem to be taking a vacation but doing it under the auspices of "charity".
I'm just curious as to what's wrong with it though. Even if they're volunteering small services to these villages, every little bit helps.
Of all the things people attention whore about on Facebook, this is probably the least bothersome thing to me.
Posted on 7/27/14 at 9:28 pm to wmr
quote:
Sure, but that's not the point.
Yes it is. you're angry about people using their money to go to central america to volunteer, but not at people going to the beach.
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