Archive for May, 2010

« Older Entries
Monday, May 31st, 2010

Intentional Mission Trips: A Powerful Discipleship Tool

Stories abound of people whose lives have been profoundly impacted by volunteer mission trips. Many career missionaries are serving today thanks to their earlier involvement with a short term team.

Yes, the nature of the mission trip itself is impactful—leaving one’s comfort zone, stepping out in faith, ministering cross-culturally, and so on. But what if mission trip leaders were more intentional in using their trips to grow people? What if they saw it as an extension of their call to “make disciples,” not just overseas but also among their team members? Could the long-term impact of these trips be even greater? Most likely, the answer is yes.

In Robert Coleman’s book The Master Plan of Evangelism Jesus’ methods in making disciples are outlined. The book, originally written in 1963, has been reprinted and updated numerous times. It has impacted many people over the years, and is quoted in 100 books currently for sale on Amazon. In it, Coleman shows eight things that Jesus did to model disciple making: selection, association, consecration, impartation, demonstration, delegation, supervision and reproduction.

What if those same eight elements were done in conjunction with volunteer mission trips? With these components, the trip could easily become one of the most effective discipleship tools available.

They key, however, is being intentional. Let’s face it: there is a lot that goes into running a mission trip. Everything from recruiting a team, planning logistics, training participants, preparing national workers, budgeting, and the list goes on. Being an intentional disciple maker may not fall high on the list—but it should. Incorporating Coleman’s eight elements into your next trip can be done with a little forethought ahead of time and some focus during the trip. In our next couple blogs, we’ll break down what those eight elements mean and what they look like in the context of a mission trip.

In the meantime, we welcome your thoughts on the subject. Please join the conversation at the discussion tab at Facebook.com/MinistryTravel or at the Ministry Travel Group on LinkedIn.

Posted in Missions, Travel Tips | Comments Off

Friday, May 28th, 2010

Taking the Pulse: Managing Short Term Mission Teams (Part 2)

There was a team in Romania getting ready for their first day of work. As their translators arrived and Romanian church members joined them, everyone on the American team was excited—except for one. The team leader noticed that one lady was standing back from the rest of the group. She also didn’t seem to have the same excitement as everyone else. The leader went over to check on her and quickly discovered that she was scared. This was her first trip and she had never done this type of ministry before. All she wanted was to go back to her hotel room!

The leader spent time encouraging her, and then he matched her up with a veteran team member who was more than happy to mentor her. By the end of the day, she was just fine and went on to have an incredible week. By observing his team and being sensitive to their needs, this team leader was able to ensure a successful project and a great experience for everyone.

We began in our last post talking about the importance of working on your short term mission team not just in it if you are the team leader. We continue that discussion today as we focus on taking the pulse of individual team members.

During the course of the trip, you will want to observe every person on your team. As you do, ask yourself some questions about them. How can I help maximize their potential? Would the person’s skills and gifts be better utilized by doing a different aspect of ministry or by working with a different group? Do they need extra encouragement? Are they struggling?

In addition to looking for team members that may be distressed or confused, the leader should also watch for personality conflicts. Changing up work teams or room assignments when conflicts first arise may be the best way to maximize the limited time that you have. You want the team to be focused on the work at hand not on personality issues.

One other thing to watch out for when evaluating team members is fatigue. You may need to make some schedule adjustments and build in some “down time” so that your team gets adequate rest. What you give up in time you will probably make up in productivity.

The key for the short term mission team leader is to be proactive. Ask questions of your team and national workers. Make sure they are doing well and that they have the resources they need. As you do this and constantly check the team’s pulse, you will help ensure that your trip is a success.

We would love to hear your thoughts, ideas or suggestions on this subject. You can post your comments here, on the discussion tab of our Facebook.com/MinistryTravel page or on the Ministry Travel Group page of LinkedIn.

Posted in Humanitarian | Comments Off

Wednesday, May 26th, 2010

Taking the Pulse: Managing Short Term Mission Teams (Part 1)

A consultant friend is often quoted as telling ministry leaders that their primary role is to work on their ministry not in their ministry. As leaders, they have to make sure the entire ministry is functioning properly. It is up to them to set direction and evaluate progress. This means that they have to give up some of the “direct” ministry that the organization is known for so that they have time to lead effectively.

The same can be said of those who lead short term mission teams. Whatever the tasks or functions that your team has traveled to do, those should be the primary focus of the team members, not the leader. While the leader certainly will be engaged in doing ministry, his or her primary role is to make sure that the over-all project is a success. The team leader does this by working on the ministry—checking the pulse and progress of the team while making necessary mid-course corrections.

The team leader should keep as flexible a schedule as possible during the outreach. If the team is scattered across different venues, the leader should try to spend the bulk of his or her time floating between the sites. This allows the leader to see the big picture and spot opportunities or problems in their early stages.

If the different sites have sub-leaders, then the leader should visit with each of them at the site. Take them aside and get their honest opinion of how things are going. What ideas do they have to make things better? What opportunities have they discovered that should be explored? What problems are they finding difficult to handle?

In addition, the short term mission team leader also has to evaluate logistics. Is the food safe and adequate? Are team members getting enough water? Do you have the right number of quality translators? Are there issues with the lodging that need to be addressed such as problems with the toilets, showers or excessive noise at night? Are there any unsanitary conditions that need to be avoided? Are there any dangerous or potentially dangerous situations? Is the transportation reliable?

We’ll continue this discussion in our next blog as we look at observing and evaluating individual team members. In the meantime, we would love to hear your thoughts, ideas or suggestions on this subject. You can post your comments here, on the discussion tab of our Facebook.com/MinistryTravel page or on the Ministry Travel Group page of LinkedIn.

Posted in Missions | Comments Off

Monday, May 24th, 2010

Speaking Through Translators During Mission Trips

They are your voice in a foreign land. They enable you to cross cultural and linguistic barriers to communicate with others. They are the translators who work with short term ministry teams as they travel abroad. In our last blog post, we discussed how group leaders can find translators and how to best utilize them for their teams. Today, we want to give eight tips for actually working with an interpreter.

Spend some time with your translator to get to know him or her. This allows them to understand your speaking style and patterns. It also gives you the opportunity to assess their skill level and ensure they clearly understand what you are saying.

When speaking through an interpreter, always speak in complete thoughts and then pause for the translation. You need to give the interpreter enough information to be able to grasp what you are saying, but you don’t want to give so much that they forget what you said. Usually the equivalent of about a paragraph at a time is appropriate.

Avoid the use of slang and jargon. Even if the interpreter speaks excellent English, he or she may get stumped by these. Plus, they can be difficult to accurately translate.

If you are speaking to an audience and plan to share stories to illustrate your points, be sure to discuss these in advance with your translator. One American preacher speaking in Haiti preached a whole sermon using the illustration of being deep in a cave with no light. The problem was that Haiti is on an island and there are no caves there! The audience was not familiar with the concept. So the first time the speaker used the word “cave” it caused a lengthy explanation by the translator.

Speak at a normal pace, not too fast or slow. Also, be sure to clearly pronounce and articulate your words. Pay special attention to this if you speak with an accent.

Check in with your translator to see how they feel it is going. After they have translated some conversations or talks for you, ask them if they are comfortable with the pace and if there is anything you need to do to make their job easier.

Remember that translating is mentally exhausting. Give your translators frequent breaks! This also means not keeping them engaged in constant conversation with you.

When you speak to someone through a translator, look at the person you are speaking to, not the translator. Remember, you are carrying on a conversation with them, not the translator. The translator is a “tool” to make that happen. Also, don’t talk louder. (You would be surprised how many people instinctively raise their voice when talking to a non-English speaker). If they don’t understand English, talking louder won’t help anything!

Hopefully these tips will enable you to better use your translators to effectively communicate your message cross-culturally. Do you have any suggestions or stories? Share them on the discussion tab on the Facebook.com/MinistryTravel page or on the Ministry Travel group page on LinkedIn.

Posted in Humanitarian, Missions, Travel Tips | Comments Off

Friday, May 21st, 2010

Recruiting and Organizing Translators for Mission Projects

Many short term ministry teams working abroad utilize local language translators to help in their work. Some groups seek to have one translator for each team member, while others may only need one for several team members. Here are some thoughts on how to find translators for your team and how to ensure a quality experience with them.

Local universities are excellent places to look for translators. Your national contact can connect with English professors and let them know that your team is coming. Many professors welcome the opportunity for their students to interact with native English speakers and even give extra credit to those who do. For the student, working as a translator, even if it is only for a few days, is an invaluable learning experience.

Also consider using mature high school students as translators. In many countries, children start learning English in the school systems at an early age. By the time they get to high school they actually are quite fluent, and even know a lot of slang as a result of watching American movies and using the Internet.

Foreign exchange students who spent time in the U.S. or another English speaking country also make great translators.

Always determine in advance if these translators need to be paid or if they are volunteering. Even if they volunteer, you may want to consider giving them some kind of an appreciation gift. You also want to make sure that you cover any expenses they incur as they work for you. Things like bus fare, meals, cell phone calls, etc. are typical expenses that they might have as they support your team.

As possible translators are discovered, it is ideal if they can be screened by someone you trust who both understands what your team will be doing and is fluent in English. If your team will be doing talks or presentations of a religious nature, make sure that your translators are familiar with religious terms. Many will not be unless they have a church background. If you find that you can only recruit translators like this, then have someone create and translate a vocabulary list of common terms that your group might use. The translators should be briefed on the list and have the terms explained to them.

Once you pair up a translator with a team member or group of team members, try to keep them together during the duration of your time there. Continuity of translators is best for everyone. Don’t have a translator work with different people each day unless there is a personality or other conflict. Let the translator and team member(s) develop a relationship so that they can learn how to best work together.

Following these few ideas could make a real difference in the quality of your communications as you minister abroad. Do you have tips, suggestions or thoughts on using translators for international missions or humanitarian projects? We invite you to share them on the discussion tab of our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/MinistryTravelor at the Ministry Travel Group on LinkedIn.com.

Posted in Humanitarian, Missions, Travel Tools | Comments Off

Wednesday, May 19th, 2010

The Mission Team Leader’s Field Notebook

You have your passport in hand, your bags are all packed but there’s one thing left to do as a leader of a short-term mission team: grab your field notebook.

The leader’s field notebook is an integral resource that he or she will want to keep with them throughout the entire trip. The field notebook allows the leader to access critical information quickly. While a lot of the materials could be kept on a laptop computer or smart phone, it is best to have printed copies as well.

So what goes into a field notebook? Here are some ideas:

  1. Contact information for all team members (including emergency contacts) as well as national leaders with whom you will work.
  2. Travel information, including team member flight itineraries, airline contact numbers (including local numbers within the countries you will visit), ground travel arrangements, U.S. consular or embassy, and travel insurance.
  3. Team information, including room assignments, work assignments, passport copies, visa copies, minor travel release forms, medical release forms, and health information forms.
  4. Financial forms, including forms to track cash as it’s spent and a copy of the trip’s budget.
  5. Reporting forms as required by your organization.
  6. Cultural information, key phrases, etc.

You may want to have a folder that can be pulled out of your notebook. The field notebook could be kept in your room, but the folder you would keep with you at all times. It should contain medical release and health information forms on all your team members, as well as emergency contact numbers and your travel insurance information. All of these are critical if someone gets injured or sick. Your travel insurance information should include your policy number and the phone number to reach the insurance company’s on-call medical professionals. Not all travel insurance policies include this service, so be sure to check before leaving home.

The field notebook is the place to keep all of your important documents organized, and you will find yourself referring to it continuously throughout your trip. It also is an invaluable tool in case there is an emergency.

Posted in Humanitarian, Missions, Travel Tools | Comments Off

Monday, May 17th, 2010

Exploring Singapore

Many travelers to Asia often try to spend a day or two in Singapore as they travel into or out of the region. Singapore is a land of many contrasts, and a delight for all the senses.  To the first time visitor Singapore may look dull and sterile, but under the surface there is a bustling culture and a unique heart and soul. 

Visitors who are used to the hustle and bustle of other Asian, African and European countries may be surprised at what they do not find when they visit Singapore. The country is largely free of the traffic jams, graffiti and general chaos that mark many large cities. The absence of these marks of city life can be quite a culture shock to many first time visitors.

Singapore is renowned for many things, from mouthwatering foods available nowhere else to a wealth of outdoor activities to help you work off those extra calories. Whether you want to walk, bike or play on the water you will find plenty to see and do in this island city-state.  Singapore also has a thriving arts scene, with many fine museums, art galleries and theatres.  Art lovers should be sure to leave plenty of time for gallery hopping.

When to Go

In addition to its beauty and its culture, Singapore is also known for three less pleasant attributes – namely heat, humidity and moisture.  Torrential rains are possible any time of the year, but the wettest months generally occur between November and January.

The driest months in Singapore are from May to July, although those downpours are still a possibility.  The good news is that even the most torrential downpour is often followed by bright sunshine, and the ever present heat tends to dry things off rather quickly.

Getting There – Getting Around

Getting to Singapore is no problem at all for most visitors, since most major airlines have frequent flights to and from this popular Asian destination.  This is, of course, home to Singapore Airlines, a perennial favorite among flyers. Visitors will generally have an easy time getting around, thanks to the excellent public transportation.

This public transportation center is made up of an intricate web of bus and train routes.  Nearly every major tourist site is accessible via this web, and in many cases the bus and train stops are literally located right in front of those attractions.  Maps are available at all of the major stations, and first time visitors are definitely advised to take advantage of those guides.  The extensive transportation system makes site-seeing easy, an extra benefit for those on a airport layover.

Practical Considerations

Visitors arriving in Singapore should be sure to locate an official money exchange center and change their cash for local currency.  Visitors should not need to carry large amounts of cash, since ATMs are everywhere.  These ATMs accept any bank card that uses the Plus or Cirrus system, as well as Master Card and Visa.  Credit cards are widely accepted as well.

A trip to Singapore is always a delight, and many visitors find the place so charming and hospitable that they return as often as they can.  Visitors are enthralled by its beauty, vibrancy, and of course the warmth and hospitality of the people.

Posted in Humanitarian | Comments Off

Friday, May 14th, 2010

The Morning Meeting & Short Term Mission Teams

“Breakfast is optional, but the morning team meeting is not,” the veteran short term mission team leader told his group shortly after arriving at their mission site. He discovered early in his tenure as a leader that the daily morning meetings were critical to the overall success of his trips. The meetings helped make sure that everyone was on the same page as they began their work for the day. The larger the number of team members, the more important this is.

Here are some tips to making your daily team meetings more effective.

Be concise. Daily meetings or “briefings” should be planned and concise. In other words, stick to the point and keep them moving. Don’t let these meetings drag.

Start and end on time. Make sure everyone knows ahead of time exactly when you will be starting and where you will meet. If you have sub-team leaders, they should be recruited to make sure that everyone in their group attends.

Consider doing your meeting over breakfast. This lets you “kill two birds with one stone.”

Preview the current day plus one. Review the schedule for the day, any changes that the team needs to be aware of, and any miscellaneous items of business. Also, remind the team of the logistics for the day. Highlight the next day’s events, but don’t go beyond that. Don’t overwhelm your team with too much information, especially if isn’t needed right then.

Prayer and Worship. If the purpose of your trip is religious in nature, then you certainly want to start each day with a time of corporate prayer and worship. This really sets the right mood for the rest of the day.

Devotional or inspirational message. These don’t have to be lengthy, but they go a long way in setting people at ease and helping them focus on the importance of what they are doing.

Process the previous day. Are there some brief stories that people would like to share about their experiences from the previous day? What did the team learn that day? What was the day’s most memorable moment?

Daily team meetings can be an oasis in the midst of a busy mission trip. They keep people informed and they help team members process the trip as they go. Do you have ideas about better daily team meetings? Share them on the discussion tab of our Facebook page at Facebook.com/MinistryTravel or on the Ministry Travel Group on LinkedIn.

Posted in Missions, Travel Tips | Comments Off

Wednesday, May 12th, 2010

Using Your Short-Term Team There and Here

For months, your international ministry team prepared for its short-term mission abroad. They learned about the people, culture and needs. They learned how to work in a cross-cultural environment. Finally the trip came. The experience was incredible, and the team learned so much more than they ever thought possible. They also probably began to develop a love for the people with whom they worked.

But what if they could continue that ministry while at home? What if they could put their training and experience to continued use? They could by working with their targeted people group or nationality within the United States.

Mission strategists estimate that there are as many as 586 “unreached” and “underserved” people groups represented within the United States. There also are large groupings of nationalities in various metro areas of the U.S. Think Cubans in Florida, Iraqis in Michigan, Romanians in Ohio and so forth. Depending on where you live, you may find that there is a large group near you. What if your team spent a couple weekends or even an entire week serving them after your trip abroad?

Next month, the nation’s largest Protestant denomination, the Southern Baptist Convention, will consider a proposal to have their International Mission Board assist with ethnic work within the U.S. The thought is to utilize current and retired missionaries who have an expertise with an international people group to also work with representative groups within the U.S. While using career missionaries differs greatly from using short term participants, the principle is the same: use the experience you gained abroad to help people at home.

So where do you start? If you are with a church or a ministry that is part of a denomination, check with your denomination for a list of ethnic churches and ministries. You might be able to partner with one of them. If you are not part of denomination, ask around. Ask your contacts abroad—they probably know of organizations in the U.S. that could direct you. In fact, your answer may be next door. Our neighbor, for example, is from Ethiopia and attends an Ethiopian church in the area. With America truly the great melting pot, you probably won’t have to look long or far.

We would love to hear your thoughts. Have you done something like this with your teams? Know someone else who has? What are the pros and cons? What suggestions would you have for others? Go to the discussion tab on our Facebook page at Facebook.com/MinistryTravel, or to the Ministry Travel Group page on LinkedIn to share your insights.

Posted in Humanitarian, Missions | Comments Off

Monday, May 10th, 2010

Pre-Trip Orientation Meetings, Part 2

In our last blog we noted that the value of orientation meetings is much deeper than the information dispersed. It really lies in the relationships that begin to develop and in the confidence that grows for the team’s leadership. Here are five tips to make your orientation meetings more impactful.

Be prepared. Remember, the orientation is a reflection of the leader and for many participants it is their first real exposure to the leader’s abilities. All of your orientations should be well thought through. Don’t just “wing it” but have a plan and follow it for your meetings. Also, your handouts and other materials should be organized and ready to go when the meeting starts.

Put yourself in the rookie’s shoes. You may have done this trip 20 times before, but you have to remember it probably is the first time for someone on your team. When you plan and conduct your orientation meetings, consider what it would be like for someone who has never done a trip like this and has never traveled internationally. What would they need to know? What concerns would they have?

Encourage interaction. Orientation meetings should not be lectures. They should be a chance for people to get to know each other and to ask questions.

Have fun! Don’t let your orientations be dry and boring. Have an ice-breaker activity. Turn the information part of your meeting into a game like Family Feud or Jeopardy. Laugh together! 

Include all of your team members. Sometimes you have team members scattered in other locations. Do conference calls, video conferencing, make audio or video recordings of the sessions—do something that will allow everyone to feel a part of the team. This may mean encouraging Facebook connections, pen-pals, or other things that will allow everyone to connect. In the case of the 5th grader going to Europe that we mentioned in our last blog, her group actually met up with a group from another state and they toured together as one team. The other group had a leader and their own orientation meetings, but the two teams found a way to get to know each other before leaving. They made sure that each group knew the names of the others, and the participants exchanged posters telling about themselves and where they lived.

Orientation meetings set the tone for the entire trip. Take them seriously and put a lot into them by incorporating these five tips. You will be pleased with the outcome!

Posted in Humanitarian, Missions, Travel Tips | Comments Off

« Older Entries