An Ecuadorian Mission Experience

Hey there folks!

Now that nearly a month has passed since we returned from Ecuador, it is time to really unpack our experiences and explore how we might bear fruit. This was our third experience in Ecuador with Youth World as a church, although each year we've had new folks join in. We have definitely seen a growth in maturity each year with regards to our team and to our approach towards mission. It has been a blessing to be a part of these experiences.

This past Sunday night, our team (minus two because of vacation and college orientation) gathered at the Miller house to fellowship, cook, eat, laugh, share stories and unpack our experiences. The food was amazing! It included: empanadas, llapingachos, a pork dish, a shrimp dish, fruit, a beef and plantain soup, fried plantains, Ecuadorian white rice, arroz con pollo, watermelon juice and so much more. Some of the most fun was had during the preparation of the food. Many of us hung out in the kitchen laughing, telling stories, reminiscing, and having an amazing time together. The kitchen is just an great place to fellowship.

After dinner, the team gathered to unpack our experiences and explore how we might bear fruit from our experiences. We started out sharing our favorite memories, partially to jog our memories, but also to share in the blessings of how God moved in the midst of our time in Ecuador. Some shared how they loved getting to go into small groups in the homes of church members from Iglesia Zoé, and being blessed with the opportunity to share our faith, hear their testimonies and then pray together. Some remembered our own goofiness and laughter and how awesome of a team that we had. Another remembered the joy and smiles of the children that we served amongst at parks and schools. Another shared how it made a huge impression on him that Pastor Josué's church (Iglesia Zoé) did not have walls (either figuratively or literally). And a few youth shared that they loved their time with the youth of Nueva Jerusalen. We spent a whole day traveling and ministering with 20+ youth from their youth group, and much time (hours!) was spent laughing, singing, joking and sharing on the bus. This was the first time in three years that we were able to really building relationships with local youth that we felt would be sustainable.

Next we shared our successes and struggles in transitioning back to life at home. There were some struggles and some eased in pretty naturally with very little to no struggles. Some folks dealt with illness, bringing a little bit of Ecuador back home. Some struggled with going from being busy with work and ministry on a day to day, moment to moment basis to then having nothing to do back home but just hang out. Some were so excited to see family that they had very little trouble transitioning back home. Some struggled with the excess that surrounded them after being in the midst of poverty and life in a developing country. Some folks didn't have a chance to rest of have down time before they wisked away on another adventure. Everyone had unique transition experiences.

Last, we shared how we believed we may be able to bear fruit from our experiences. This is the most important aspect of mission in many ways. This is how we determine success on many levels. How is God moving in your life and how are you going to bear fruit? And it was exciting to hear the potential and the things already in motion. One person is being lead to be more attentive to God's call in his life. Some are feeling moved to help get camera equipment donated to Casa Gabriel (a street kid ministry of Youth World). Many of the youth feel more confident in their faith and want to be more open with sharing their lives and faith with others. A couple youth want to return to Ecuador to give a full summer of volunteer time to Youth World, and then maybe pursue a year internship at some point. One person is beginning to wrestle with a possible calling to fulltime mission service. A couple folks feel called to help sell jewelry that helps young women get rescued from the sex trade industry. The potential and depth of the fruit is amazing! I can't wait to see it all come to fruition. These are things that won't just be one time events. These are things that will be cultivated over years...that is exciting!

And so it is, here we come to the end...which is really just a beginning. The onfield experience of 2011 is over, but we will see the fruit for years to come. Thank you so much for following us. Thank you for your patience. I cannot say enough thanks for your support and prayers. I hope you have enjoyed this blog and the experiences of this team. May Jesus bear fruit in your life through these experiences and stories!

Now, I'd like to leave you and challenge you with a few words about...

MISSION

Mission is a pretty hot topic on the blogosphere lately. There is a great discussion going on over at Jamie The Very Worst Missionary (she's awesomely hilarious!). She serves in Costa Rica, I believe, as a fulltime missionary. I've also had many discussions with my friend Cameron, clergy, and other youth ministers. Short Term Missions are a multi-million dollar industry (maybe even multi-billion!). That's insane! How and when did missions become an "industry"?

So, as a person in charge of the spiritual formation of a community, it brings to mind LOTS of questions. Are we doing the right thing? Is it all worth it? Are we doing good? Are we spending all this money the right way? Is it better to just write a check and not go? Are we being a blessing? Is it more about us? Is it more about the people we are serving? Are we bringing Jesus to them? Is Jesus already there? Are we doing it right? ....I mean, really, I could go on and on. This is tough stuff!

We could discuss theology and the Great Commission. We could look at the history of missions. There are lots of angles that we could approach this from, but for the sake of time and to make certain points, I want to focus on two particular pieces of the puzzle.

The first is how we talk about short term missions. How often do hear someone say that they just went, or are going, on a short term mission trip? What do you think about when you hear the word trip? I think of vacations and fun and things that are all about me. I think of tourism, sight-seeing, and stuff like that. When we use the word trip attached to short term missions, it can be very innocent, but the connotations can deeply affect the way we approach and do mission. When it is a mission trip it can be more focused on ourselves. It is something we go and do. It has an end. We leave it behind. It can easily become about what we are doing and what we are getting out of it. It tends to be more self-focused when it is a trip.