Are you headed on a volunteer missions trip sometime in the coming months?
It’s time for a pop quiz.
– Are Ziploc bags always OK to use for packing?
– What’s the best way to get rid of pesky gnats at a construction site?
– Should you wear patriotic clothing on the trip?
Nope — leave it at home, says veteran missions team leader Martha VanCise. And don’t use Ziploc bags to carry anything powdered and white — it might cause suspicion at the airport.
And the gnats? The best prevention is to spray insect repellant on a cloth and stick it in your shirt pocket or under the edge of your hat band.
VanCise, who has worked with missions teams for more than 20 years, compiled these and many other tips for missions volunteers in her book, "Successful Mission Teams: A Guide for Volunteers."
On her first missions trip in 1976, VanCise "realized that some non-Christians, who fell into the category of ‘world travelers,’ performed better as volunteers than some of the Christians."
"Their ability to communicate cross-culturally surpassed mine, even though I was a committed Christian, had a Bible college education, and had some mission experience," she wrote.
"World travelers" sometimes have the edge over Christian volunteers who are less experienced simply because they know the ropes of functioning in other cultures a bit better, according to VanCise. The key to ministering while traveling is being prepared, she explained.
Reggie Quimby, director of the office of global partnerships and volunteers in missions for the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions, agreed that preparation is everything. "It is important to the volunteer to be prepared as much as possible for their missions journey because what they do in preparation before the project can affect the outcome of the project either positively or negatively. Your preplanning will prepare you for any surprise that will certainly come on your missions journey."
According to VanCise, the first thing a potential missions volunteer can do to head off issues is decide what kind of trip best fits his or her capabilities.
She pointed out some things to consider:
– Decide if you want to use your particular expertise (construction, medicine, music, etc.) on the trip or if you want to do something different as a break from the norm.
– Be realistic about your age and physical abilities. "Don’t let physical limitations keep you from going, but do choose a tour that you can handle," VanCise wrote.
– Choose a trip with accommodations you can deal with. "Modern" accommodations are comfortable, generally in a guest house or hotel with electricity and hot water. "Semimodern" can be dorm style with limited electricity and cold or hot showers. "Primitive" housing can mean tents or pallets, outhouse facilities and bathing in a river or camp shower. "Don’t choose something you simply can’t handle," VanCise wrote. "Recognize your tolerance levels to inconvenience, but be willing to be stretched."
And once you decide what you can handle and choose a trip, pack in such a way that will help you avoid as many issues as possible once on the field, she added.
For instance, take items like:
– A hat. "If you’re fair-complexioned or bald, take a hat," she wrote. "Hats may be purchased in any country, but you may not go shopping for several days."
– Washcloths. "North Americans use washcloths. In other countries, you won’t always find washcloths in hotels or homes."
– Toilet tissue. "If you find toilet tissue in a public restroom, it will probably be poor quality," VanCise wrote. A tip, she added, is to keep the last third of rolls of toilet tissue, smash them flat and pack them in sandwich bags to carry with you.
– Talcum powder. "If you do manual work in hot, humid climates, you may have a problem with chafing," she explained. "In tropical areas you may not wear socks all the time. Sprinkle powder in your shoes to keep feet drier."
But despite being as prepared as possible, there will be things that can’t be altered about the situation once you arrive, VanCise noted.
After departing for your trip, it’s important to be flexible and go with the flow; not to mention, be sensitive to your surroundings, she added.
"In whatever uncomfortable situation you find yourself, you will have to make a conscious effort to accept the circumstances and stifle your complaints during the duration of your stay."
Some tips for coping include:
– Women, simplify your beauty routine. This helps lessen crowded bathroom accommodations, VanCise wrote. "A simple hairstyle that doesn’t require a blow-dryer … is best. Be able to shower, do hair, and apply makeup in a half-hour. Settle to look good, but not great."
– Just try it. "Try at least a bite of new foods. No one will force you to eat more," she noted. And think before you speak, she added. "The cooks are doing their best. Cooking meals for 15 to 20 people, with a limited food budget, substandard food products and semi-modern conveniences is difficult. Keep the cook’s feelings in mind when making comments about food."
– Don’t make negative statements about religious organizations, doctrines or politics.
– Plan to get acquainted with everyone. "Lifetime friendships often develop on mission tours. … [A]void sitting with one person, one couple, or close friends all the time."
– Finally, VanCise wrote, "rely on God for strength, calmness, patience and wisdom."
For more information about VanCise’s book, visit www.wmustore.com. (TAB)
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