OVERVIEW
Introduction to Mission Trips 101-Christian Self-improvement 101

Welcome to new adventures and possibilities for life-transforming experiences in "going forth" into short term missions. If traveling to sections of the developing world that have large populations below the poverty level (formerly called "third world"), you will most likely be in for some heart-wrenching, and even temporarily depressing/emotional encounters with many suffering children and adults. But you should also become "more aware" of your potential to help others and more "alive" --or attuned to life, by going out of your "comfort zone" and venturing into new areas of service in ministry to others in greater need than you may have ever personally experienced yourself! Imagine being greeted warmly by a whole village of natives happy to see you!

SHOULD you go on a mission TRIP? If so, what type of TRIP should you take? Certain trips are NOT for everyone! Certain persons should RECONSIDER even thinking about going with certain teams or trips. YOU need to ASSESS for YOURSELF whether you can function effectively and BE A BLESSING to the TEAM and to THE PEOPLE TO BE SERVED! DON'T put that decision on your pastor, team leader, or others--whether you should go or not! Maybe you need to consider whether your personality or outlook will do more harm to the team and purpose?

Now, on the other hand, you must also be willing to grow and change and be willing to take on new adventures and challenges. So GOING on a trip may be the BEST thing you could ever do to "recharge" your Christian life and experience. This should be YOUR decision, with respect to your Pastor and group leader, and your obligation to prove this to them, BEFORE you are accepted for any particular trip! This course, if you allow it to fully impact you, should prepare you to make a more informed decision.

This course should help you assess your gifts/talents, your ability to function as a team member, the type of mission trip that you should consider--and types of trips that you should NOT consider. You will also be able to check your life views and certain attitudes that could be a hindrance to understanding other people and other cultures. Many will even discover that they have certain points of view on many topics that are very "uninformed" and "outright wrong" concerning mission approaches. Whether traveling with a team of friends, or with a group mainly from your own church, or, if you are joining a group composed of persons from various churches or professional backgrounds, this course should help to prepare you to "roll with the punches" and sometimes "constantly changing" situations that you may encounter in your mission experience. Hopefully, you will acquire some skills and needed information that can help you with ANY trip ANYWHERE in the world, and help you to grow in your faith and daily walk with God.

What you personally gain from your mission trip experience, and how you allow it to shape your future life and service for God, will be determined greatly by your own attitude and reactions to the new experiences and environment and people you will serve. AS you freely give to others, of yourself, your gifts, and sacrificed treasure (financially and otherwise), you will be transformed.

Depending on where you go and your personal reactions to what poverty/tragedy you witness, you may return home with a sense of "hopelessness" for the overwhelming needs that cannot possibly be totally met or easily resolved. We hope to give you some helpful suggestions on how to overcome "counter-culture shock" and how to convert it into productive response that will truly do some good for those you "hurting" over and to help you find greater fulfillment in your personal faith experience by it!

We suggest this course for you, and for anyone who might consider going on a mission trip anytime in the future. We also suggest that it may be taken by veteran missionaries and ministers to give them encouragement and more insight into the nature and purpose of mission trips. And we suggest this course for ANYONE and EVERYONE who may be interested in expanding their personal spiritual growth and to help expand and open their minds to other persons and other cultures.

There are exercises, tests, quizzes, and other valuable tools and tips--that you will NOT find anywhere else, that can help you gain fresh insight and vision for your daily Christian walk and for a renewed fervor and devotion in service to God and others! There is NOW NO CHARGE for the course! The instructor will also E-MAIL you a certificate of completion AND, for a limited time only, a personal evaluation for Christian self-improvement for a $35 donation to our organization (worth well over $75 in many organizations), based on your final exam.

LIVE COURSES WITH INSTRUCTOR FOR SELF-IMPROVEMENT, TRAVEL PREPARATION FOR PERSONAL OR TEAM TRIPS, AND THIS SAME COURSE AVAILABLE FOR GROUPS--SEE "LIVE SEMINARS" LINK AT LEFT AND THE "ITINERARY" LINK IN THE "NEWSLETTERS" LINK AT WWW.ABBAPERU.ORG - ALL MATERIAL IS COPYRIGHTED & MAY NOT BE DUPLICATED FOR PUBLIC USE WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION BY AUTHOR!

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