I returned home 2 day ago from a short-term mission trip to Latvia with Camp Hope (http://www.hffworldwide.org) and I am just beginning to process what I experienced.
I have been asked, “How was the trip?” numerous times and I have been able to share some initial memories and ideas. I haven’t, however, been able to give a response that comes to close to capturing even a small percentage of how much God impacted me on this trip.
I remember having this same feeling during my high school years when I returned from short-term urban mission trips to Philadelphia, Chicago and Jackson. My youth pastor Mike Flavin had equipped the families and friends, however, with specific questions to ask the mission team members when they returned home. I recall having deep conversations about my encounters with God as I processed those trips.
Today, I find myself searching for words to describe the seemingly infinite feelings that are rushing through me as I consider my time with Camp Hope Latvia. I will be sharing these feelings in the coming days on this blog as I seek to process what I experiencing on the other side of the world.
The team leader, Amy Foley, provided a set of debrief questions for the team while we were still in Latvia. I worked through the following questions for our team debrief:
- What was the best thing about the trip?
- What was the hardest part for you?
- What did God teach you?
- What are you going to do about it, and when?
- Share an answered prayer
- A good goal is to be able to effectively describe your experience in a sentence or two. How would you describe your experience?
These questions are excellent questions to ask someone who has returned from any short-term mission trip.
If you know someone who just returned from Latvia then I recommend asking some of these questions as opposed to simply, “How was the trip?” I recommend that you seek to schedule an hour (or more) with that person and ask them these questions. Simply sit and listen to the responses. Perhaps you will enter into the window that person’s encounter with God on the trip. I anticipate that you will be encouraged and challenged by what you experience in that conversation.
I am struggling to find words to describe what I experienced but I will try in the coming days. Thank you for being willing to listen. I would love to hear from you if you have any questions for me regarding what I experienced with the team of Latvians and Americans on this life-giving trip of service.
Firebuilder 