Over the last few weeks I have had several conversations with Dick Rutgers and Pat Duff. Each of us works with teams from the States and each of us have had both very positive and very negative experiences in those interactions. Out of these conversations have come a list of things we hope and pray for from the groups who come to work alongside of us. If you are considering a short-term trip to assist missionaries in Guatemala or anywhere, please take time to read and pray through this list to prepare for your work.
Please note that even in our negative interactions it was not a case of bad people with impure motives. In each case, they really wanted to help. But good intentions can still do much harm.
So without further ado, I present to you the list of what your friendly neighborhood missionary needs from their short-term workers.
1) A Humble Attitude
If you ever see a confident American in Guatemala you know they haven’t been here long enough to know that they should be very confused. While Guatemala is a wonderful and beautiful place, it is also a country filled with cultural taboos and can be dangerous if you don’t know what to do and where to do it.
Occasionally we will get a team member who is very confident about what they think they know. Maybe they have never been out of the US but they believe themselves to be a good leader and, therefore, need to lead. For those of us who live and work here, this can be a nightmare because the people and ministries with which we work often judge us by the people who are with us. An offensive word or action can permanently damage a relationship that has taken years to build.
What we need are people who are humble, realizing that they don’t have the answers. As a result, they are ready to listen and ask questions. They realize that, while the missionary with whom they are working still doesn’t have all the answers, they do have more knowledge regarding the culture and the needs than a short-term worker. As a result they are slow to speak, have a teachable spirit, and follow the instructions they are given.
And, as they do this, they realize that the trip was less about them coming to change Guatemala and more about allowing God to change them.
2) The Heart of God (not the heart of America)
We all have filters through which we see the world. This principal holds true for Americans who visit another country. It is easy to look at another culture and judge them by the standards of our own. We observe their standard of living and shake our heads in pity. We look at their parenting and get irritated. We find ourselves frustrated by what we perceive as inefficiencies within their society. And we do this because our own culture has dictated to us what is right and best.
This became apparent recently with one American (not one of our team members) who observed a father holding his two year old daughter while riding a bike. “What a horrible father!” In actuality, he looked to be a very loving dad who smiled and talked with his daughter as he rode. Guatemala is not safety obsessed like the US, and sights such as that are common here. Families are close, with three or four generations living together in the same home. But the way they live, work, and love will not look the same as in other cultures.
We need team members who will love and respect he people and the culture with the heart of God, not the heart of America. This means looking past surface issues and personal preferences and seeing these people and this country the way the God who died for them does.
3) Compassion with Intelligence
It is easy to come to Guatemala with a pocket full of money and think the answer is to throw money at the problems that we see. Well meaning people come with a “savior complex” thinking that they will change the country. They pass out money to every beggar they encounter and are tempted to make long term promises of financial support.
They forget that the beggars they are passing will be in that same spot in the months and years ahead, and we will have to walk by them day after day. They forget that the missionary they leave behind will be judged by the promises they made. And they forget that money very seldom solves anything.
Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that we should never give money, just that we need to do so carefully and strategically. Most long-term change results from long-term relationships and wise encouragement, not through a passing hand-out. We need people who seek the Lord for His heart and respond and act accordingly. We need intelligent compassion instead of an impulsive, emotional reaction.
4) Sacrifice and Flexibility
While most teams are wonderful and easy to work with, occasionally we will have one that is more challenging. They come with strong expectations and are quick to complain if they aren’t met. In those instances I feel more like a babysitter and tour guide than a missionary serving the Lord.
It is easy to spot these groups even before they hit the ground because they are telling us what they want to do and what they are not willing to do. When they arrive, there tends to be frequent complaints. These complaints vary and include everything from cold showers to frustration with the ministry they have to do. They want more time for sightseeing. They are uncomfortable in their work at a specific ministry. They want to do something else. They leave me with the impression that they came for a vacation, not a ministry trip.
We need people who come with a heart of sacrifice and service instead of an agenda. One of the greatest blessings for any missionary on the ground is when they hear a team ask, “What do you need us to do?” That attitude of service gives us the freedom to focus on ministry instead of babysitting. It allows us to work on what is most needed instead of the peripheral issues.
One young man came out in the morning after getting ready for the day and I asked him how his shower was. “Cold, but that’s good! It helped wake me up and remind me of why I am here! Let’s go love people!” I gave him a high five and a big hug.
5) Committed people of prayer
In recent weeks, through interaction with other missionaries here and through my own experiences, I have been reminded of how great the spiritual warfare is that surrounds us. Both those that serve and those that are being served are being attacked by the enemy with severity and frequency. And that is where a short-term team can provide long-term assistance to us.
We need people who will come and see first-hand both the opportunities and obstacles that we face. We need them to experience the warfare up-close. And we need them to go home and pray…and pray…and pray!
There is nothing greater or more crucial that can be done for us and the people of Guatemala.
All of the missionaries on the ground appreciate the teams who come to work alongside us. They are such a blessing and we realize that sacrifice that is made by the team members who do so. These are just some ways you and your team can make the experience better for both you and the missionary with whom you serve.
Good afternoon from San Antonio Aguas Calientes!
Daryl, Wanda, and the Crew
