Has anyone done a short-term Mission trip?

[EdiePA]

I'm thinking about doing a medical mission trip to an orphanage in Costa Rica. I've never done anything like this before, but it has always been a dream.

Has anyone done anything like this? Can you give me some of the pros and cons? What to watch out for?

Thanks,
Edie

 

[Miss Jasmine]

I did a short-term mission trip to Mexico to assist with construction of additional facilities at two children's homes. Actually I was an "adult" advisor as this was a high school mission trip. We actaully slept in Texas but made the trip over the border every day (which was sometimes exciting because of my mexican heritage and I didn't have a passport at the time ).

It was one of the most rewarding experiences in my life. The kids were AMAZING. We brought toys, school supplies, clothes, etc. for them and I truly learned the meaning of sharing. There was no fighting over any of the things and nearly everyday we say a different child with one of the toys. I also learned how do some carpentry and I even framed in a door. Not bad for someone who previously could not even hit a nail in straight. We would work on building in the morning, then after lunch we would help the kids with their school work, play, etc.

This was only a one week mission. It seemed too short to me.

The pros:
Loved working with the kids, both the ones we were serving and getting to know some of our youth group members even better!
Exposed to a different culture.
I have memories to cherish forever.

The cons:
The federalies nearly put a big damper on our mission.
Too short.
It broke my heart to leave all the kids.

 

[budbeerlady]

I have done a couple, including 1 to honduras (this was for 3 1/2 weeks). It is hard but very rewarding work. Each trip I traveled with my church or school.

Be very careful what you eat, even as careful as I thought I was with what I ate and drank I got a nasty stomache viris. You dont want to get that when you are using an outhouse. Pack your immodium!

I lived out of 1(!!!!) bag for 3 weeks. The other bag spaces were taken up by boxes of medical supplies, we took down 27 boxes and then only had to pay shipping for 23 as they counted as luggage.

Most days there wasnt running water or electricity. We walked everywhere. Everything was taken care of with bribes there. You wanna drive down this here windy mountian road? Give the officer/ soldier/ man with a gun some cash. (Probley not a problem in Costa Rica) You want your luggage to clear at the airport with customs so you can enter the country, give them some cash.

You might run into some odd situations if you go out on the town. You as an american must be rich as you could afford to come to their country. Prices might be higher for you than for their fellow country man. I wanted a coke from the tienda in town, so I walked up there and paid my 10 lems that she asked for, no big deal and I walked back. (Exchange rate was $1 for 17 lemprias) The next day I said I was going for a coke, one of the younger boys offered to go get it. You guessed it, the cost was really only 5 lemp. Stuff like that is going to happen. (You need to bring back the bottles, the stores pay for the glass bottles so dont take them home or if you really want one to take home pay for your bottle) In Mexico they would pour the soda into a bag and give you a paper straw, that way they kept their bottles.

It was very hard to leave, working hard and long hours with the others on the trip will give you close friends. If there are kids involved it is worse when you have to leave. You really dont look at your world the same way again. Also I wanted to improve life for them, I came back telling family and friends about my trips and how diff their lives are. They dont get it because they havent been there or seen it for themselves. Just know that when you come back others will listen politley but they wont get it.

Give it a go, maybe get a friend to go with you. A week is a good way to start.

 

[minkydog]

DH & I went on a medical mission to Jamaica 10 yrs ago I know what you're thinking--Jamaica, what kind of mission is that! We stayed in Montego Bay at a little run-down motel and commuted by bus 2hrs up into the mountains every day to deliver meds, doctors, nurses, dentists and opthamologists to some very isolated people. While the families waited in line for hours to be seen, some of our youth entertained the kids with Vacation Bible School activities, puppets, songs and games.

It was the most rewarding "vacation" we've ever been on. It totally changed my outlook on my own life and the lives of people in the Caribbean. I had never seen real poverty before--prepare yourself for that. DH helped the dentist--they pull teeth there rather than do preventative care(too expensive for most people). I didn't see a single adult with a full set of teeth.

Be very aware of how you dress. In a lot of central American/Caribbean countries the dress is a little more formal. You don't see women wearing pants and sleeveless shirts in Jamaica, unless they are very young. Spaghetti straps and shorts would be offensive to nearly all the population and the men might get the wrong idea entirely.

Be careful what you eat and drink. We brought our own water, but a helpful local added some local water to our container when he saw it running low. As a result me and another worker came down with vicious stomach cramps, vomiting and diarrhea. Unfortunately, as the only nurse in my group I had to go up the mountain anyway. I thought I would die, and I lost 15lbs that week.

Be sure you have some kind of insurance because unlike the U.S., they arent required to treat you regardless of abilitiy to pay. One of our doctors suffered a kidney stone and had to be transported down the mountain to the ED. The FIRST QUESTION they asked was if he had a Visa credit card.

I never saw a parent smack a kid or speak harshly the whole time. I also never saw a single toy, not even a ball. Some of us brought crayons and coloring books to give to for the kids waiting in line and they were snapped up quickly. If I were doing it all over I would pack only half the clothes and more art supplies/toys(crayons, paper!, scissors, nerf balls, flattened soccer balls)

I hope you go on a mission trip. Your eyes will be opened not just to what you can do for them, but what they will do for you. It is a grueling experience and disorienting at first. But it will leave you breathless for more. I miss going on mission. Since DH has been so ill it has been impossible, so now we supply money for others to go.

 

[missypie]

I've never been on a mission trip but I have been to Costa Rica. If I were you I'd drink only bottled water. Of our family of 5, two of us got sick and three didn't; I wouldn't risk it if I were you.

Costa Rica is the most beautiful place I've ever seen.

What month of the year are you considering? Our normal summer is their "green season" which means LOTS (lots! ) of rain. I've heard that the mornings are good, but the afternoon can be hours of downpours. Also, there is daylight from 5:45-5:45, pretty much all year round.

Finally, be very careful when swimming. Some of the mission trip and school groups (i.e., groups on a lower budget, rather than true "vacationers" staying at the nice resorts) swim in the ocean "whereever." There are lots of places with very dangerous tides. There are lots of safe places, too. Just be careful.