Reentry
Short-term mission trips are life-changing. They open our eyes to see what Jesus sees, to feel in your heart what he feels. Short terms open our minds to the great need - and the great opportunity - to reach the lost with the love and message of Jesus Christ. So, what should we do when we return home?
- Cultivate a compassionate heart.* Don’t go back to sleep after a wake-up call. Develop your compassion during the short term and when you get home. Compassion keeps us awake. Give. Give more. Sometimes in our desires to make sure we’re not being ripped off or supporting something bad, we deaden compassion. God wants soft hearts more than efficient remedies; a compassionate heart gives us eyes to see and keeps us awake to the world.
- Share your enthusiasm with others. This is much harder than it sounds. It’s difficult to express something that means so much - and is so foreign to so many people. Don’t get discouraged. Your excitement could spur others to participate in missions. And don’t forget to thank all of your friends and supporters who helped you to make it to the mission field.
- Take action.* God wants his people involved in the solution. Keep eyes and ears open; don’t ignore the issues on short-term programs. You will encounter poverty on your trip. There’s poverty all over the world. People have to live in rusty, old shacks made of scrap metal and rotten wood. Look at the forces that cause people to live that way. Tell the stories of the people you encounter on your trip. Funnel your emotions into something positive. Get involved with ministries or outreaches where you live. Or start your own program. Don’t become complacent. Don’t become comfortable again. Be a doer.
* These ideas are found in the terrific book on short terms, Mack & Leeann’s Guide to Short-Term Missions.
