I just came back from our spring break mission trip. I could write a book about all of the God sightings throughout the week! But, instead, I am going to try and share my thoughts and ideas on the mission experience and how you and your group can have God sightings of your own! I will start by saying that I'm no expert. I have been leading spring break trips for the past 6 years, as well as bringing my group to a summer trip the past 2 years. What I am sharing is what I have learned, usually the hard way, and what works and doesn't work for me and for my group.
Why spring break? It started out of necessity due to my other job when I started. But, it has become known and all of my youth plan their spring break knowing we will be going on a mission trip. It works for our area since most wouldn't be going anywhere otherwise. For areas that are wealthier, this may not be the case. But, with so many things happening in the summer, camp, vacations, summer school, etc, the spring break trip has the most likelihood of youth being available. And, after our long winters, we are all ready for a trip somewhere a little warmer, which adds to the excitement about the trip!
Before I went on my first mission trip, I decided to do a 4 year cycle. I think it's important to know that ahead of planning. I know groups who go to the same place every year and have built very strong relationships with the people they see yearly. I think that's a great idea. For my group, I decided they needed to experience different aspects of culture and poverty and ways to serve. So, we do a 4 year rotation of a rural community, a unique culture (Appalatian, Native American, etc), an urban community, and local. The 2nd year is very vague and can go in many directions, I suppose, since they could probably fit in either rural or urban communities. I think knowing ahead of time that this is the plan helps me figure out what needs to happen on the current trip and build excitement for the next one.
The good and bad part of a spring break trip is that there are very few places that offer a packaged experience. I say this is both because if you are unsure and want that planning done for you, it may not happen. But, there are so many places that still offer mission opportunities and they are often much cheaper because they don't have as many extras. But, it's not hard to create those yourself! It may give some of your leaders a chance to shine when they wouldn't if it was being run by someone else.
I lucked out on my 1st year with googling mission trip ideas. I don't recommend this even though it has worked out. I have chosen Methodist mission opportunities for all of mine, so I felt like I had a lead on where to go. But, I think the best plan is to talk to people who have gone on trips and get their opinions on places they have gone.The first year, I offered 2 places to my youth. They voted on the one I really didn't think was right for our group. When I contacted them, I realized it definitely wasn't right and then had to back track and explain to the group that their vote didn't work out. They luckily understood, but it could have been a very negative thing. Since then, I've decided where we would be going and made a big announcement. No matter where, they've always been excited! I chat in general about places with the group and get their feedback that way. And, then, I pray and trust God will lead us where He needs us. That is the key! Twice out of our 6 years, our plans didn't work out. Once way ahead of time and once a few days before we were supposed to leave. There is one key to that working out. Trust God! He will put you where He wants you! And, it's all in how you present it to your youth and their parents. When our plans changed a few days before leaving, I explained to my group that God was in charge and it would all work the way He wanted it to. And, it did. And, I had no complaints about the last minute changes. But, if I had canceled or taken a "this is terrible and it will never work out" attitude, they would have taken on the same attitude. Don't get me wrong, I stressed some and probably vented to some, but not anyone who was directly involved in the trip.
Think about your group and their gifts. Most trips are physical or service. If your group loves hands on building projects, make sure you choose something they can use their gifts for. If they are into serving at a soup kitchen, visiting elderly, or working with kids, then choose something that uses those gifts. My group is varied and we have done all kinds of projects. The trip we just came back from involved both. For us, I think I have found the key to success for them. But, every group is different. I have a group that is very adhd and loves doing lots of different things. But, they have enjoyed working with people the entire week and getting to know the people they help and building a relationship with them. So, my goal for next year is to combine those 2 philosophies. I will be looking for a building project we can work on as a group every morning. After lunch, we will do service projects like serving a soup kitchen, visiting a nursing home, and doing activities with children. This is where spring break trips that we do on our own help that because I can customize it to my groups personality.
So, in choosing to do a spring break mission trip, consider these things. 1) Do you want to go to the same place yearly or to a different place every year? 2) Do you want to search for a packaged trip or customize a trip? 3) What are your groups gifts and how do you see them using them? And, above all, trust in God's plan for your trip.
Why spring break? It started out of necessity due to my other job when I started. But, it has become known and all of my youth plan their spring break knowing we will be going on a mission trip. It works for our area since most wouldn't be going anywhere otherwise. For areas that are wealthier, this may not be the case. But, with so many things happening in the summer, camp, vacations, summer school, etc, the spring break trip has the most likelihood of youth being available. And, after our long winters, we are all ready for a trip somewhere a little warmer, which adds to the excitement about the trip!
Before I went on my first mission trip, I decided to do a 4 year cycle. I think it's important to know that ahead of planning. I know groups who go to the same place every year and have built very strong relationships with the people they see yearly. I think that's a great idea. For my group, I decided they needed to experience different aspects of culture and poverty and ways to serve. So, we do a 4 year rotation of a rural community, a unique culture (Appalatian, Native American, etc), an urban community, and local. The 2nd year is very vague and can go in many directions, I suppose, since they could probably fit in either rural or urban communities. I think knowing ahead of time that this is the plan helps me figure out what needs to happen on the current trip and build excitement for the next one.
The good and bad part of a spring break trip is that there are very few places that offer a packaged experience. I say this is both because if you are unsure and want that planning done for you, it may not happen. But, there are so many places that still offer mission opportunities and they are often much cheaper because they don't have as many extras. But, it's not hard to create those yourself! It may give some of your leaders a chance to shine when they wouldn't if it was being run by someone else.
I lucked out on my 1st year with googling mission trip ideas. I don't recommend this even though it has worked out. I have chosen Methodist mission opportunities for all of mine, so I felt like I had a lead on where to go. But, I think the best plan is to talk to people who have gone on trips and get their opinions on places they have gone.The first year, I offered 2 places to my youth. They voted on the one I really didn't think was right for our group. When I contacted them, I realized it definitely wasn't right and then had to back track and explain to the group that their vote didn't work out. They luckily understood, but it could have been a very negative thing. Since then, I've decided where we would be going and made a big announcement. No matter where, they've always been excited! I chat in general about places with the group and get their feedback that way. And, then, I pray and trust God will lead us where He needs us. That is the key! Twice out of our 6 years, our plans didn't work out. Once way ahead of time and once a few days before we were supposed to leave. There is one key to that working out. Trust God! He will put you where He wants you! And, it's all in how you present it to your youth and their parents. When our plans changed a few days before leaving, I explained to my group that God was in charge and it would all work the way He wanted it to. And, it did. And, I had no complaints about the last minute changes. But, if I had canceled or taken a "this is terrible and it will never work out" attitude, they would have taken on the same attitude. Don't get me wrong, I stressed some and probably vented to some, but not anyone who was directly involved in the trip.
Think about your group and their gifts. Most trips are physical or service. If your group loves hands on building projects, make sure you choose something they can use their gifts for. If they are into serving at a soup kitchen, visiting elderly, or working with kids, then choose something that uses those gifts. My group is varied and we have done all kinds of projects. The trip we just came back from involved both. For us, I think I have found the key to success for them. But, every group is different. I have a group that is very adhd and loves doing lots of different things. But, they have enjoyed working with people the entire week and getting to know the people they help and building a relationship with them. So, my goal for next year is to combine those 2 philosophies. I will be looking for a building project we can work on as a group every morning. After lunch, we will do service projects like serving a soup kitchen, visiting a nursing home, and doing activities with children. This is where spring break trips that we do on our own help that because I can customize it to my groups personality.
So, in choosing to do a spring break mission trip, consider these things. 1) Do you want to go to the same place yearly or to a different place every year? 2) Do you want to search for a packaged trip or customize a trip? 3) What are your groups gifts and how do you see them using them? And, above all, trust in God's plan for your trip.
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