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re: Church mission trips to Central America.
Posted on 7/27/14 at 9:30 pm to BluegrassBelle
Posted on 7/27/14 at 9:30 pm to BluegrassBelle
quote:
Of all the things people attention whore about on Facebook, this is probably the least bothersome thing to me.
No that's a good point. Its a particular person who has posted a bunch of orphan selfies and who I know doesn't have any particular skills to offer in a third world country. I just view the travel as wasteful. I question would a person such as this one donate $2000 directly to the effort to alleviate suffering if there wasn't an adventure involved.
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Posted on 7/27/14 at 9:30 pm to wmr
quote:
No, because I've never started a thread on this topic. You are awfully sensitive to this one, though. What gives?
I have several friends that are full time missionaries. I'm a big believer in missions no matter how long they last.
Posted on 7/27/14 at 9:30 pm to diddydirtyAubie
I'm sorry you can't follow diddy. There are other threads available to you on this board with less complicated themes.
Posted on 7/27/14 at 9:31 pm to wmr
Because sometimes the people going get more out of it than the kids themselves. I visited Puerto Rico on a mission trip a couple of years ago. We formed a baseball team and played against kids all over the island. We shared the gospel with them after the games. I know for sure that it had a huge impact on my life. To answer your question, most people go to see their money at work in person. Plus, no one goes just to go. There is some goal or task that they plan to achieve.
Posted on 7/27/14 at 9:32 pm to wmr
quote:
I just view the travel as wasteful.
why is it wasteful?
Posted on 7/27/14 at 9:33 pm to diddydirtyAubie
quote:
why is it wasteful?
Because if the point is to alleviate suffering, and you don't have any particular skills to offer, your travel money would be better spent on supplies and materials than on your touristing of poverty.
Posted on 7/27/14 at 9:33 pm to wmr
How do you know they have nothing to offer? Are they Christians? If so, than they have something to offer. /Thread
This post was edited on 7/27/14 at 9:34 pm
Posted on 7/27/14 at 9:34 pm to wmr
quote:
Because if the point is to alleviate suffering, and you don't have any particular skills to offer,
You seem clueless to the long term effects it might have on a person.
Posted on 7/27/14 at 9:37 pm to wmr
quote:
No that's a good point. Its a particular person who has posted a bunch of orphan selfies and who I know doesn't have any particular skills to offer in a third world country. I just view the travel as wasteful. I question would a person such as this one donate $2000 directly to the effort to alleviate suffering if there wasn't an adventure involved.
Usually though on those trips they don't just visit with the villagers there. Pretty much all of the ones I've seen, especially through churches, they're typically doing some kind of construction as well.
IMO it would be kind of like bitching about people taking the opportunity to travel to NOLA with Habitat for Humanity to experience the city but to also contribute to it being rebuilt. I know a few people with no carpentry, plumbing, or electrical skills that did this but they still contributed while having an enriching experience for themselves.
I mean sure people could just donate money, but why do that when you could have a potentially life-changing experience?
This post was edited on 7/27/14 at 9:38 pm
Posted on 7/27/14 at 9:38 pm to BluegrassBelle
quote:
IMO it would be kind of like bitching about people taking the opportunity to travel to NOLA with Habitat for Humanity to experience the city but to also contribute to it being rebuilt. I know a few people with no carpentry, plumbing, or electrical skills that did this but they still contributed.
I did the same thing in West Virginia while in high school. I didn't have any real skills, but I was able to scrape paint off a wall.
This post was edited on 7/27/14 at 9:39 pm
Posted on 7/27/14 at 9:41 pm to diddydirtyAubie
quote:
You seem clueless to the long term effects it might have on a person.
Maybe so. I welcomed your hate in the OP. Thanks.
Posted on 7/27/14 at 9:44 pm to wmr
quote:
Because if the point is to alleviate suffering
Definitely not the point of all missions. Thanks for caring.
Posted on 7/27/14 at 9:46 pm to PrivatePublic
quote:
Definitely not the point of all missions. Thanks for caring.
No?
Posted on 7/27/14 at 9:48 pm to diddydirtyAubie
quote:
I did the same thing in West Virginia while in high school. I didn't have any real skills, but I was able to scrape paint off a wall.
I've never traveled far to do so, but I did some similar work in Appalachia here when I was younger on a long weekend. Knew how to use a hammer and a screwdriver and that was about it.
It really is what you make of it. Sure, you could give them the money you'd spend on the gas to get there or the plane ticket to get there, but that doesn't equate life experience for the person going or the people you're helping. That IMO you can't put a price tag on.
Posted on 7/27/14 at 9:49 pm to wmr
Meh, their time and their money. Who am I to tell them how to use it?
Posted on 7/27/14 at 9:49 pm to wmr
Sometimes major suffering can't be alleviated, so people target the more realistic problems that can actually be solved.
Posted on 7/27/14 at 9:49 pm to wmr
quote:
No?
Most missions also benefit the person going, duh.
Posted on 7/27/14 at 9:51 pm to Roger Klarvin
Fwiw, since I have kids now we don't travel without them much. I'd love to take them on mission trips, but they just aren't traveling age yet.
We spearhead a $20k citywide garage sale that has gone to churches in Lebanon, Ukraine, and Rwanda.
Sending the money is no better or worse than going.
We spearhead a $20k citywide garage sale that has gone to churches in Lebanon, Ukraine, and Rwanda.
Sending the money is no better or worse than going.
Posted on 7/27/14 at 9:51 pm to BluegrassBelle
quote:
I've never traveled far to do so, but I did some similar work in Appalachia here when I was younger on a long weekend.
I edited my OP prior to posting. I was going to ask why more missions don't take place nearer to home as that would cut down on what I perceive as touristing behavior and also wouldn't cost as much in travel expense.
Posted on 7/27/14 at 9:52 pm to diddydirtyAubie
quote:
Most missions also benefit the person going, duh.
So you're saying it is self-centered?
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