You say your final goodbyes and begin gathering your things for the long trip home as the mission trip nears an end. You ask yourself, “Am I leaving anything behind?”
Passport? Check. Suitcase? Got it. Vision? Well, that is something you definitely want to leave behind.
Vision gives direction. Vision gives purpose. Vision gives hope. Vision creates action. Vision moves people to attempt great things.
You may be leaving behind some great tangibles like a new building, a water well, medical clinic, etc. You may be leaving behind some intangibles, like love, hope, encouragement, training, etc. Whatever the purpose of your mission, be sure that it also includes imparting vision. You may discover in the long run that the vision you impart to national workers and leaders may have a more profound impact than even the work you did during your trip.
Note that vision isn’t always your vision. In fact, when it comes to cross-cultural situations, it’s best if it isn’t yours, or at least not yours alone. It’s their vision—the vision of the nationals with whom you are working. Vision must be owned. Vision must be relevant. Vision must be personal or it is ineffective.
When nationals catch vision as a result of your trip, amazing things can happen. The short amount of time you spend with them is multiplied. You become the catalyst for ministry that lasts long after you are gone from the field.
Many people, even leaders, are not particularly visionary. This is especially true in places where there are enormous pressing needs—like a lack of food, shelter, clean water, etc. Vision for the future is muffled by a focus on surviving the present. Yet it is often this vision for the future that enables leaders to overcome the immediate. When you see where you want to ultimately go, it makes you think about what it will take to get there, and that translates into action today.
Here are three suggestions for imparting vision on your next missions trip:
1) Listen. Listen to expressions of hope and dreams. Listen to personal stories and how it is that the person ended up where they are at the moment—working with you.
2) Question. Ask big picture questions like why they do what they do. Where do they see themselves in three to five years? What motivates them? What are they most passionate about?
3) Dream. Ponder “what ifs” with them. What if you had unlimited resources, what would you do? What if you had more volunteers, then what? What if the opportunity you are praying for actually comes to fruition, then what?
It’s true that some will never get it. They will never see beyond the immediate. But there are those who will. There are those who will not only catch the vision, but who will work tirelessly to fulfill it. In the process, they will lead others to accomplish more than they ever thought possible.
A little time spent in focused, intentional conversation about the future may reap eternal rewards. Do this and you will quickly discover that vision is the greatest thing you can leave behind.