Last night we had a chance to host the follow-up meeting to the July mission team that went down to Haiti. After each trip that goes down we try to do a meeting after a few weeks to reflect on what God has done and is doing in each of our lives through the experience. So the members of that team, mostly made up of young adults from The Crossing, came to our home for the meeting.
The July team was a special team, and it has given me a chance to reflect on what makes a good short-term mission trip. Below are a few things this team did well:
1. Prayer- This team was a praying team from start to finish. They did a great job of praying before the trip started, recruiting people to pray for us while we were gone, and praying throughout each day while we were there. Not only that, but the times of prayer were focused and meaningful and vulnerable.
2. Personal investment- People really embraced the opportunity to give of themselves and be pushed beyond their normal comfort zone. For example, I had asked each person to prepare a "talk" for the youth, and this was a stretch for some of them. Even those who were comfortable talking to groups got a sense that God was calling them to speak on something challenging, so all of us had to give of ourselves in a sacrificial way. Then add to that the level of physical exertion we maintained as we hiked through the mountains, and people went to their limits and beyond as the Holy Spirit empowered them...and yet no one ever complained.
3. Group unity- From the start this group took on a sense of deep care and concern for one another. I'll never forget how we spontaneously began to share our testimonies with each other in the airport on the way there. Most teams spend that time soaking in as much comfort as they can before they give it all up for the week, but this team used the time to grow closer to one another. Another great memory is when we confessed our sins to each other before praying for Rosemonde to be set free from demon possession. I think it was this unity that allowed us to make a positive impact in the youth group meetings, the medical clinics, and all of the interactions we had with the people of Haiti that week.
There are other aspects of this team that made it effective and enjoyable, but those are just a few that stick out for me this morning. There is a lot of debate about the effectiveness or lack thereof of short-term mission trips, but I think in this case God did some powerful things in the lives of everyone involved. So if you are reading this and wondering what is next for your personal faith journey, consider going on a mission trip! And if you are friends with us, the Grimm family, know that at some point in the years to come we will probably recruit you to use your talents, passion, and faith to impact the people of Haiti!
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