Last month, I was privileged to go on a short-term mission trip with my employer, OneHope, to the Dominican Republic. And the good news is I didn’t break the country! Along the way, I learned a few lessons from a mission trip.
I have been on a few mission trips over the years. Whenever I am on a new experience, I keep my eye out for new lessons. Some of them may be new. Others reassure me past lessons are still valid. On this trip, three lessons stood out to me.
Be a Blessing
When you embark on a journey to serve in another country, remember that your purpose is to be a blessing. This may seem straightforward, but it can test your commitment when you face the first inconvenience. However, the joy of blessing others, even in small ways, is immeasurable and deeply fulfilling.
I have been working on learning Spanish for at least a millennium. I had it in high school and college. And I’ve used Duolingo since Duo was an owlet. But when I was around native speakers, about the only phrase I could muster was «¿Dónde está el baño?». The person who could point me in the right direction was an immense blessing to me.
The local team who worked with us and interpreted for us was also a huge blessing. It can be humbling when you rely on others to get where you need to go and keep you from danger or an awkward situation.
The least you can do in such a situation is to be as accommodating as possible, and it is to be a blessing to those around you.
Besides, if you have a great message to share, how you present it matters. Good news won’t get through if you appear gruff, unpleasant, and perturbed.
Culture Shock is Good For You
How many of us feel uncomfortable in new experiences? That’s a good thing! Discomfort is a catalyst for growth. We often prefer our comfort zones, but discomfort pushes us to learn and evolve. It’s the discomfort that keeps life interesting and inspiring.
I tried mofongo, or mangú, on this trip. I discovered that instead of «Hola,» Dominicans prefer to say «Que lo que» (Well, at least our group preferred that). I now know Dominican coffee comes in small cups but tastes fantastic; quality is far more critical than quantity.
Visiting another country and immersing in a different culture is a transformative experience. It opens our minds to new perspectives and ways of life. You might find something in another culture that resonates with you or gain a deeper appreciation for your own. Either way, culture shock breaks the monotony and keeps us adaptable and open-minded.
Look For Stories
Everyone has a story. Facts and figures have their place. But it’s the story a person experiences that makes them who they are.
One pastor described his struggle to keep his storefront church open on this trip. At the same time, developers want to evict them and gentrify the neighborhood. Another pastor revealed he was a homeless seven-year-old when another pastor took him under his wing and adopted him.
You can read statistics about the rate of gentrification in a city or abandoned children in a country. But stories bring life to statistics. They help you see what makes a person who they are.
Lessons Learned
I had a great time getting to know the people and the culture of the Dominican Republic. I see so much potential in the children and youth. And the OneHope Dominican Republic team is first-rate. They were great hosts and kept us safe. Plus they gave us a great taste of the country’s culture.
Those are my lessons from a mission trip. The biggest lesson is that it can be challenging to be the bigger blessing when such a great local team is blessing you!
