Trip Journey The Trip is over but not the Journey Are you a Mission Tourist? Or are you becoming a Global Citizen?

From Culture Fatigue to Culture Grief  Feeling dismay over what we find at home  Feeling misunderstood by our family and friends  Feeling like our lives were more meaningful while we were away  Feeling like our relationships with people and with God were deeper there than they are here

The common re-entry process Fun Flight Fight Fit Fruitfulness

Debriefing  Was anyone especially helpful in your debriefing and reflection on your trip?  What did they do that was helpful?  What are the most helpful questions you were asked?

 What are the qualities of a good missionary?  What should be the roles of missionaries from the north who have a vision to serve in the south (two-thirds world)?  What are the most important contributions short-term visitors can make? Role of Missionaries

 What did you learn about relationships and community among the people you visited?  What are you doing to maintain any relationships that developed?  What did you learn about effective inter-cultural team work?  What is your experience of community-life like now? Community

“If there is a single key area of faith and practice that divides Northern and Southern Christians, it is this matter of spiritual forces and their effects on the everyday human world.” Philip Jenkins, The Next Christendom p. 123  What was your encounter with spiritual powers like?  How has this impacted you?  What impact did your experience have on your spiritual life then? now? Spiritual Power

“Christianity is flourishing wonderfully among the poor and persecuted, while it atrophies among the rich and secure.” Philip Jenkins, p. 220  What evidence do you have to support, or question this statement?  What thoughts do you have about your lifestyle, values, vocation and experience of suffering as a result of your trip? Power, Suffering, Affluence

When you return The trip may be over But the journey goes on

12 insights to remember 1. It is not the Church of God that has a mission in the world, but the God of mission who has a Church in the world 2. That which is yet to be done in the world is far less than that which has already been done!

3. People are more alike than their cultures 4. Love is the universal language 5. Short-term mission is a treasure hunt 6. In cross-cultural encounters we are meeting long-lost distant relatives

7. God goes before you—you are catching up on a conversation that God has already begun 8. God does not send us to be critics 9. In the treasure-hunt of grace, our encouragement and affirmation of people may be our most significant ministry

10. Our privilege is to ‘lift Jesus up’ in deed and word 11. The quality of our love as a team, and our incorporation of new team members may be our greatest witness 12. God will not call us to do something without also giving us the resources to do it