Sign of the Tough Economy or A Great New Fundraiser???

[leadfootlevi]

I've never gotten a letter like that, but this thread reminded me of this young man knocking on my door, showing me a picture of this adorable baby (saying it was his), talking about how he was from the inner city and doing this program (I forget the name of it) that helps develop business skills in inner-city kids, trying to raise money for college. He was selling magazine subscriptions. Overpriced magazines. When I declined he started talking about how some people just GIVE him money - a one-time donation. Even as little as $5. He was real smooth - a good talker. When I said no to that his whole tone changed. He said "You mean to tell me you can't even afford $5?" What nerve! I can toss a letter, but this guy made me nervous. For a minute I thought "Maybe I should just give him the $5 so he doesn't come back and harm me or my property" It was kind of scary.

 

[*disgal*]

Well, considering that many mission trips are to areas where the governments are totally corrupt and the money would never reach the people it is meant for, I would bet that the village would prefer to see the kids.

Corruption aside, a mission trip is a blessing to both the people being assisted and the missionaries. If you could give the money straight to the village, you will have eliminated to opportunity for the missionary students to receive blessing for their charitable work.

You also have to realize that money means nothing if you have no means to access the things that you need to buy. Small pox vaccines aren't exactly the kind of thing you can buy when you go into the one big city nearest to your village. And if you can, you will pay many times more for it than the missionary would pay to bring it to you.

Lastly, mission work provides a person-to-person experience that opens both the giver and the recipient to new worlds. Whether it's for the purpose of spreading the Word, or enhancing the good will of your country, you can change the way someone thinks about things by showing them that a real person cares enough about them to leave their comfortable life behind in order to make their life better.

So that's why I would rather give to the mission than give directly to the village.

thank you, I was trying to say the same but you put it much better.

 

[Ephany]

If you want to go on a trip, don't beg, find a way to earn the money. DD and I went out to eat at a local restaurant the other night and the bus boys were all 10-12 year olds and were bussing the tables to earn money for an upcoming trip for their youth group. I'm more than happy to help kids who are out there looking for ways to earn the money they need, but have no interest in helping those who want that money to be handed to them.

 

[sk!mom]

Whether it's for the purpose of spreading the Word, or enhancing the good will of your country, you can change the way someone thinks about things by showing them that a real person cares enough about them to leave their comfortable life behind in order to make their life better.

I respect your belief and was raised in a religion that believes as you do. However, I still feel that if you want to go on these trips then you should pay your own way.

As I said upthread, my DD15 will go on a Mission Trip in June. I want her to have the experience of helping others who have much less than she does. I want her to continue to develop as a person who cares for others and the world around her. I just don't think that it's right to ask anyone else to pay for her trip.

In my experience, the person who gets the most out these trips is the Missionary, not those that they are helping.

 

[The Pluto People]

Well, considering that many mission trips are to areas where the governments are totally corrupt and the money would never reach the people it is meant for, I would bet that the village would prefer to see the kids.

Corruption aside, a mission trip is a blessing to both the people being assisted and the missionaries. If you could give the money straight to the village, you will have eliminated to opportunity for the missionary students to receive blessing for their charitable work.

You also have to realize that money means nothing if you have no means to access the things that you need to buy. Small pox vaccines aren't exactly the kind of thing you can buy when you go into the one big city nearest to your village. And if you can, you will pay many times more for it than the missionary would pay to bring it to you.

Lastly, mission work provides a person-to-person experience that opens both the giver and the recipient to new worlds. Whether it's for the purpose of spreading the Word, or enhancing the good will of your country, you can change the way someone thinks about things by showing them that a real person cares enough about them to leave their comfortable life behind in order to make their life better.

So that's why I would rather give to the mission than give directly to the village.

High school kids are not going to be giving small pox vaccines. I think they are going to be ditch digging for a few hours a day before being bussed back to their hotel. Sight seeing is included. This girl's brother took a "missionary" trip to China. His pictures of the Great Wall were beautiful. If you can afford to pad your college application this way then fine. But don't ask others to finance it for you. Perhaps she could give up her I phone and designer purses.

 

[The Pluto People]

If you want to go on a trip, don't beg, find a way to earn the money. DD and I went out to eat at a local restaurant the other night and the bus boys were all 10-12 year olds and were bussing the tables to earn money for an upcoming trip for their youth group. I'm more than happy to help kids who are out there looking for ways to earn the money they need, but have no interest in helping those who want that money to be handed to them.

I agree!

 

[RitaE]

I agree with the above. I have no problem with those youth mission trips and my son went on one. They did many good things, had a blast, and it was beneficial all around.

I strongly feel though that the entire process where the 15 to 20 kids or whatever came together, made a budget, planned how to earn the money ... and then paid the travel bill themselves was a HUGE part of their spiritual and emotional growth. I could have just wrote a check to pay for his part but I really think that if I had it would have taken something of the experience away from him.

That was HIS trip from start to beginning, at one point he was mowing 4 to 5 lawns a week. He cleaned out an old yucky basement for a Senior Citizen that was moving to a Condo, he served breakfast at the Church Sanctuary on Sunday mornings for tips. He was pretty much doing something to earn trip money every weekend for nearly a year.

There is a huge sense of pride that comes from knowing that not only did he do a Mission trip to help others, he actually did much more than just pack his suitcase, grab his sleeping bag, and show up.

 

[crisi]

I'd rather get the letter than the person selling junk I don't want. You can say no to both. We usually do.

 

[1hero2princesses]

My DH's cousin, a 23 year old adult, has twice sent out letters in the last 2 years asking for donations for his mission trip. His first time he wasn't even working and living at his parents house. He was literally sitting home, completely able bodied and asking his friends and family to fund his mission trips. Sorry but if you want to do something for charity then get your butt a job and fund it. And no, it was not because he could not get work, he had quit his job as a waiter because he didn't like it. He could have worked in a store, mcdonalds, starbucks somewhere to make money but it was easier to ask others for donations. Sorry totally not appropriate.

 

[*disgal*]

I respect your belief and was raised in a religion that believes as you do. However, I still feel that if you want to go on these trips then you should pay your own way.

As I said upthread, my DD15 will go on a Mission Trip in June. I want her to have the experience of helping others who have much less than she does. I want her to continue to develop as a person who cares for others and the world around her. I just don't think that it's right to ask anyone else to pay for her trip.

In my experience, the person who gets the most out these trips is the Missionary, not those that they are helping.

well, I guess I don't understand why the person can't mail them out. You might not want to give and throw it in the trash, which is perfectly fine. The mission trip letters that I get are very well worded as not to give offense to anyone...they just give people the opportunity to give (or just pray) if they want.

But I really want to be mailed these letters, sometimes to have the privilege to give and other times to just be informed and pray.

People have the freedom to give and people have the freedom to throw it away.

 

[crisi]

Regarding mission trips - our church doesn't do them. We do youth trips and we do service trips. We also do community trips (bike riding, camping). These are funded by church members and/or the participants - I wouldn't dream of raising funds for those sorts of things from people outside my denomination.

 

[*disgal*]

Regarding mission trips - our church doesn't do them. We do youth trips and we do service trips. We also do community trips (bike riding, camping). These are funded by church members and/or the participants - I wouldn't dream of raising funds for those sorts of things from people outside my denomination.

yeah, those sort of trips are likely a lot less expensive than going overseas or something. I think that's great that your church does that. Sounds like a great opportunity. And I think sometimes we overlook what needs there are in our own backyard.

Oh, and I just wanted to say that I in no way think someone shouldn't put some hard effort in if they want to go on a missions trip or whatever. On the contrary, I would require my child to do something to earn some money. I just also like to give since it's not unusual for these trips to be expensive.

 

[IMALOVNDISNEY]

The teens in our Church have an annual trip they take with Fr. And they raise the money themselves by hosting a pasta supper night, a talent show Sell plants, have a tag sale. My point here is they have to work for this money. And they expect to as well. No one is just handing it to them. In my opinion it builds character. And makes them more appreciative of what has been accomplished.

Just to add to my previous post. Our office does still give to those children that are going on mission trips. Not all groups or Churches think like we do. So when any child/teen is willing to do for others we will always help.

 

[crisi]

yeah, those sort of trips are likely a lot less expensive than going overseas or something. I think that's great that your church does that. Sounds like a great opportunity. And I think sometimes we overlook what needs there are in our own backyard.

Oh, and I just wanted to say that I in no way think someone shouldn't put some hard effort in if they want to go on a missions trip or whatever. On the contrary, I would require my child to do something to earn some money. I just also like to give since it's not unusual for these trips to be expensive.

Well, our service trips have been known to be overseas. But they are self funded or funded through a UUSC grant. And the UUSC only raises money from UUs.

And they are service trips, not tours. i.e. I think the one being planned involves building homes in Guatemala. You fly in, you get on a bus, they drive you eight miles into the jungle, you work 14 hour days building better houses while living in a tent and eating corn mush, after eight days, you come back.

 

[snow88]

I have friends who do mission work and I know how expensive those trips can be. I've helped with fundraisers and given donations. Stuff like People to People...well unless you are a close relative, I won't help financially. My niece did People to People twice as a "sports ambassador". She sent out the letters, explaining that this was a "once-in-a-lifetime" opportunity and asked for donations or for people to purchase items required for the trip. The first time I bought her first aid kit. The second time I don't think I donated anything. I won't fund two "once-in-a-lifetime" trips in less than 2 years, even if you're my niece and I love you!

I worked my brain off to get good grades to be eligible to study abroad, was selected from a small pool of students to go to university in England, and paid my own way. It was a wonderful trip, hugely educational, and I don't regret going for a moment. I think the experience meant more to me because I had to work for it rather than it being given to me.

As a teacher I'm constantly getting "invitations" to select students for various awards and trips, all that cost the student several thousand dollars to attend. I could write down the names of every student in my school, they would get a letter saying they were "specially chosen" to represent XYZ, and only had to raise $3,000 to attend this educational trip to DC or where ever. It's really quite crazy. I want to recognize my deserving students, but not when it will cost them thousands of dollars!

Both of my sons got these letters about being "specially chosen" with a deadline like 2 weeks away. For my oldest son, I eventually got sponsorship from our local bank but for my other son, the letter was sent to the wrong address and the deadline had passed so I was unable to do anything. It's not only the attendance, the airfare was expensive as well.

 

[snow88]

I haven't gotten any letters instead we have fundraisers like talent shows (medical bills), washing cars (church groups), food sales (most popular & everyone does it), etc.

The school has some sponsorships like for walk-a-thons, etc. I really don't like those because the parents have them @ the shops or wherever they work and you feel guilty for not signing up.

 

[MoniqueU]

My kids have asked for donations and we donate to others who are rundraising as well. Once my kids are off on their own I hope to be in a far better position to donate even more to friends and family that are raising money for any kind of trip or extracuricular. I am happy when any child gets to have a life changing experience!