If you scroll down you will find a post with 10 reasons why you should visit a missionary. I think everyone can benefit from visiting a missionary at least once in their lives.
Now I'd like to address 10 things you should remember when (not if) you visit a missionary.
1. Make sure your visit is convenient for the missionary. Each missionary will have different responsibilities or special dates you should consider. Just as your life has demands, due dates, work schedules, and responsibilities, so does the missionary's.
2. Discuss arrival/departure times and arrival/departure location(s) with the missionary before purchasing a ticket. What may seem close and convenient in the States may not be so close or convenient in a foreign country. Often countries charge heavily for highway toll stickers and frequently getting to an airport requires use of these highways. Also consider the price of gas. In some foreign countries gas is much cheaper, but in others it is double the cost. There can also be the difficulty and time involved with crossing some country borders.
3. Determine ahead of time how you will get the money you need. Ask the missionary for advice if needed. This can be different for every country, but you should have at least two ways to get cash and/or make needed payments. Credit card use may be common in some countries, but there will be exceptions. One example is that you can only pay for gasoline with cash here. Keep in mind that if you visit different countries, there may be different currencies.
4. Learn polite phrases in the host language. It is not difficult to learn things such as, "please", "thank you", and "excuse me" when you remember the missionary has spent years learning a completely new language. This will not only help you earn respect with the nationals, it will also help you feel more comfortable.
5. Keep in mind that you will not be an expert on the culture with a one or two week visit. Even repeat visitors do not always fully understand the culture. You can make observations, but you should not draw conclusions or make broad generalizations after a brief visit. You can prepare yourself for your visit with the "Culture Shock" series. They have books for various countries and these can be very useful in preparing yourself and preventing you from making common cultural mistakes.
6. Be flexible. You may need to be flexible for the missionary's sake, but you may also need to be flexible due to circumstances beyond everyone's control. There may be a sudden ministry need, someone (including you) may get sick, or there may be travel complications. You may or may not get to do all of the things you were hoping to do or see all the things you were hoping to see.
7. Be willing to serve. This may be as simple as helping with meal prep, dinner clean-up, or watching the missionary's children so they can go on a (probably rare) date. If you would like to have a more specific role, ask the missionary for ways to serve in the ministries they are involved in such as camps, English, Bible studies, special music, or even giving a testimony in church. Opportunities to serve will be different in every country and with every missionary.
8. Ask the missionary if there is something you can bring to them. There could be items they could ship to your home and you could deliver. There may be food or toiletry items they can't normally get. Consider a small gift or treat for the children. If there is an upcoming holiday, bring along a few special items they can enjoy after your visit. They may need some homeschooling supplies or textbooks. The cost of bringing one extra suitcase one way (find a cheap suitcase at a second-hand store) generally costs about the same amount as sending a package (depending on the airline) and can hold up to 4 times the amount of weight. Conversely, ask if there are any letters, cards, or items you could take back to the States for them. Shipping can be expensive and is not always reliable.
9. Don't complain, compare, or criticize. Just because something is different than what you are used to does not make it bad or wrong. It will not be the same as your home, your town, your bed, your country. You may miss your family and friends. There may be things that make you feel uncomfortable. Some things may seem strange. Remember, the missionary lives there for years at a time and this is their new home. They love the people and culture they have been called to serve. Also, you do not want nationals to hear your comparisons or criticisms, just as you would not want to hear someone speaking negatively of your homeland.
10. Be financially prepared. It is your responsibility to fund your missions trip. If they fund every person who visits them, they will quickly find themselves short on finances. Visiting historical sites can become pricey, especially if the missionary visits them several times with visitors. You do not necessarily have to cover their cost, but you certainly should not expect them to cover yours. It would be polite to consider covering part of their costs or offering to take them out for dinner. Perhaps you can give them some funds to cover the cost of gas and food.
Hopefully these ideas will help you be a blessing rather than a burden to the missionary you choose to visit.
No comments:
Post a Comment