Central and Eastern Kentucky
(2009-08-19)
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LEXINGTON
(WEKU) -
Schools are re-opening across Kentucky. And, inevitably, some students will write about their summertime activities. Many compositions will describe family vacations, but, others will focus on mission trips.
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Many young missionaries lend a helping hand in Appalachia, but, others travel overseas to nations like Guatemala. Organizers seek a balance between fun and ensuring a safe and productive week of service to others.
A sizeable number of Americans, both young and old, travel overseas as summertime missionaries.
"It's been quantified that about 2 million US Christians annually go on mission trips."
Reverend Marian McClure Taylor, who's Executive Director of the Kentucky Council of Churches, adds, at least 60% of those trips are to central America and the Caribbean. Flying to there takes just a day, making them, according to McClure, a popular destination for summertime missionaries.
McClure-Taylor says no one should feel pressured into such short term mission trips. But, once a commitment is made, and the volunteers arrive at their destination, they should defer to their local hosts. The Reverend says they are the people who are native to the community and understand its needs and politics.
They're also the people who must live with the consequences when a missionary is overly zealous.
"I know of people in their teens and twenties wanted to strike out and do something more heroic out of conscious driven protests for violence or injustice and who needed to be reigned in by their host so they can be there for the long haul."
And an extended relationship is a major objective, says McClure-Taylor. Such relationships benefit both the people who are served and the people providing the service.
"That these not kind of be a one shot deal in and out parachute like trips but that long term relationships are formed cause that's where mutuality a kind of evangelization if you will, starts to happen."
Reverend Patsy Jacobs is minister of missions at Lexington's Calvary Baptist church. Last June, Jacobs traveled with a group to Rio de Janiero. The missionaries assisted in the construction and renovation of churches, and provided medical care. But, Jacobs says, the longest lasting results don't necessarily come from construction projects.
"You don't have to be working every second to be on mission as well, to sit and talk with someone who is a resident or something and sit on a front porch and drink a glass or lemonade and get to know somebody is as important as hammering nails or you know doing the bible school or other things to build relationships and get to know somebody is as important to me as doing the quote work of the trip.
Probably the most important word to remember on any mission trip is flexibility,'" Cravens said.
Cravens says the best laid plans don't always fall right in line. She believes going with the flow' can still produce positive results.
When on missionary trips, Jacobs has not felt concern about health or security. During this most recent trip to Brazil, the director of missions said a local pastor guided the group through the slum area. She said she never felt threatened, but instead, welcomed in town.
While there are many existing needs inside the United States, in the inner city, on Indian reservations and Appalachia, Jacobs says an overseas trip can be a life changing experience.
"We can all that at home why do we have to go to Brazil and spend a week of our time to serve and to give and to do what God wants us to do and I think the answer is because we're changed as a result of it."
Jean Cravens, who volunteers with Habitat for Humanity, also visited Brazil this summer. As she has traveled the world, the Lexington woman found people very welcoming, adding we're all alike in so many ways.'
And once back home, Cravens says, there is the opportunity to share the experience.
"Knowing that we came back safely we did have a good experience we show pictures we tell people and not only does that help support people that are wanting to go but it helps support our mission projects too people giving money for these particular missions for our missionaries for projects that are going on.
Cravens says it helps one realize money can do some things, people can do some things, but you really must have both.
Reverend Marian McClure Taylor, meanwhile, hopes such short term mission trips promote interest in longer trips. She says there are many organizations, some centuries old, which need missionaries willing to spend years overseas.
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