Would you let your child go on this trip?

This morning, a missionary visited our church and talked about an upcoming mission trip to Hondorus next summer. It's going to be a huge event. Our church is planning to send a team with them. I already knew about this trip because a group from our church went with this mission group to Ecuador this summer and came home talking about it. My first reaction to dd14 was immediately no, you're not going to Hondurus.

However, after hearing the speaker today, she can hardly contain herself. She wants to go so badly. Now, I'm not so sure in my no. I think it would be an amazing experience for her, but the mom in me is hesitating. Of course, I don't have the final say. Dh had to work today so he hasn't had a chance to weigh in with what he thinks.

So, what do you think? She'll be nearly 15 1/2 when it's time for the trip. Do you think that's too young? What if this is something that she's meant to do and I (we) stand in her way?

Help!

 

Oh man...I have been following your other post, so I noticed this one. I would defiantly do ALOT of research about that area then start praying about it. My dh just got an offer to do a huge side job in Guatemala, and we had to decide on that one. But after looking at the troubles they are having over there, we decided it would be to great a risk to take the family into the midst of it all. God gave us brains so make sure to do the homework and also pray.

On the age question, I don't think that is too young if she is mature (self dependant, common sense, good at making quick descisions) ???

 

Here's the link for the mission http://www.1nation1day.com/vision

Our pastor is very good friends with the man in charge, Dominic Russo, and has been on several trips with him as well as worked with him on some other projects.

The amazing thing is that Dominic has actually worked with the President of Honduras (I learned how to spell it ) to make this happen and has the government's support.

But yes, I will be doing more research and praying before we make a decision. And, of course, if DH says it's a no, then that's the end of that...

 

Send her, send her, send her!

When I was 12/13, my mom let me take an extended missions trip to Mexico (Tijuana... without her). I was there nearly a year with only one visit home during that time. It was the single greatest event of my pre-kid life. Seriously. I learned more and grew more in those months than in all the rest of my pre-teen/teenage years combined.

Ok, that being said, only you can decide (between you and the Lord) if she is supposed to go.

 

I would pray about it and make the decision based on faith and not fear. That being said, if you pray and feel that God has a reason that she should not go, then don't. It is really hard for an outsider to say.

 

I would certainly be praying... God entrusted me with my (his) children and entrusted me to use my best judgement with them. For our family, it would most likely be a no. Are there domestic mission opportunities available to the youth in your church? For me, something domestic would feel more comfortable.

 

It would be very hard for me to let Emily go on a trip like the one you are talking about but I hope I would be brave and at least look into it and pray hard about it. I still don't know if I could do it but if she felt called to go I guess I would have to consider it. Nobody ever said being a parent was easy but does it have to be so scary sometimes?

 

Jackie could give you some personal input. I would suggest Deena too but I don't know if she passes this way anymore lol.

 

Yes, I agree with cabsmom40 to not live in fear. But I also believe that putting yourself (or loved ones) in harms way without a clear sign from God is foolish.

I just wanted to send you the link to the website we looked up when considering Gautemala (which is right next to Honduras-by the way).

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1135.html
scroll down to the "crime" section


That said I am sure there is better safety in numbers and it looks like there are going to be LOTS of them (from th website link you posted). It sounds AMAZING! and I hope it really does put an end to the problems they have been having over there.

 

My friend's child went on a mission trip to Honduras a couple of years ago, at around the same age as yours will be when the trip happens. It was great, and a huge blessing in her life. My personal opinion is, you have like a year to plan, so plan WHILE seeking God's true will on the question, with the understanding that the plan could come to a screeching halt at any time if God speaks clearly.

 

Well, just as I suspected, DH said no. He didn't even hear her out to the end before he said she's too young to leave the country. I will say that I am a bit disappointed that he didn't even listen to her or take any time to consider it. She took it very well. I had already warned her that I was sure he would say no as his first reaction.

I did, later, give him the rest of the details of what the mission is about, without saying anything about her going. The more time I have to think about it, the more I lean toward letting her go. I won't do it against his will or try to nag him into changing his mind, but I'm going to continue to pray about it and see if God changes his heart.

It's hard because, although DH is a believer, he is still a little shaky in his faith. He doesn't have the same perspective about missions as I do. In his mind, he still thinks, "Why should we go all over the world helping people when there are people right here at home who need help?" But lately I've been watching a listening to Dd14 and I'm starting to get a feeling that is exactly what she's going to be doing, rather she starts now or when she's older.

If you would, please continue to pray with me about this trip. It's still a long time until we have to make definite plans (I think the first half of the money has to be in around the first of the year).

 

If you truly feel that is what the Lord is grooming your daughter for, then how about looking into missions that are stateside? Where are some areas NOW, local, that she can serve and witness for Him? I have found with ALL missionaries that I've met, that location has very little to do with it....it's mindset. It's looking at the world and seeing the lost, knowing they need a saviour and having a burden and a heart to lead them there. If it is truly where God has gifted her, she can do that no matter where she is....Honduras, or right in your back yard.

I say this because I feel, too, that my son (who's only 10 right now) has a very special calling on his life. I'm not 100% sure it's missions, but he has a way of loving the unlovable that truly shows the love of Christ through all he does. Some days it's hard to find ways to cultivate that gift. My evaluator reminding me, it is not for ME to cultivate the gift, but allow him the opportunities to use it when it presents itself. To get out of God's way, so to speak.

HTH. Praying.

 

My comments are colored by my strong opinions about mission trips. I've visited about 70 different countries around the world, and I've heard more than one story about mission trips from the US that have set back the local church big time. The Biblical model is for the local church to evangelize the local community. If they need financial or other help, their elders approach the elders of churches elsewhere. It's not for churches elsewhere to take it upon themselves to go on a mission trip - which, in many respects, is a vacation of sorts.

In this case, put the missionary aside for a moment: Is this project being led by a local church in Honduras? Does its elders have control and the final say on everything? Are others giving them the finances needed to organize it and without strings attached? Do they have a long-term evangelism effort into which this mission trip fits well? Is the program based on local needs and culture and language - even when they conflict with the way we do things in the US? If the answer to any of these questions is "no,", I'd seriously reconsider.

Evangelism is a lifelong and "local" mission. Foreign churches can often get in the way: They come in, create a "mess", and leave the local church to pick up the pieces. Quasi-church organizations, including mission organizations, can undermine the importance of the local church.

 

I find your response interesting, Steve! Both of my girls have gone on trips; they were with organizations that work WITH the local church. They helped with construction projects, and ran VBS and Sports (soccer) camps. They also had evening meetings in the church. The local church helps determine what the kids do.

Having said that, first of all I would NEVER go against what my husband has decided. BUT I think it's an awesome opportunity, and 15 is NOT too young if you know and trust the leaders of the trip. If you really feel strongly about it, I would pray about it and ask God to speak to your husband. I would also suggest to your daughter that if she felt strongly about it, then SHE should pray and also ask God to speak to her father. I wouldn't let her know that you'd be doing this; I'm afraid it would sound to her too much like "you and me against Daddy", which is NOT what we want to do!!! I would tell her that if God wants her to go, He will open Daddy's heart to the idea WITHOUT her "additional" help of nagging, etc. If nothing else, this will teach her a positive response of how to respond to a husband she disagrees with. My friend once told me that God will talk with her husband, and he'll come to her complaining, "YOU'VE BEEN PRAYING AGAIN, HAVEN'T YOU?!?!?"

 

My opinions on this topic are in part based on our local church's teaching but also on experience overseas. A decade or so ago, in Vietnam, the local churches were sometimes unimpeded but at other times had to go underground. Unfortunately, occasional mission trips organized and run by churches in the US - without consulting local churches - were sometimes the catalyst for a government clampdown. (I learned about this when visiting believers in Singapore.) Also, in Romania, where a lot of American churches work hand in glove with local churches, a "rogue" mission trip organized from the US once caused problems - which it took the locals many months to overcome. Indeed, some things done short-term by the visiting mission church undermined long-term initiatives underway locally. These things wouldn't happen if we trust local churches and let them lead - and not just muscle our way in from the outside.

Participants on a mission trip are there for just a few days. They don't have to deal with any repercussions their work may cause. The local church, however, is by definition local, and they face those repercussions - even though they were not the cause. Also, there's a certain amount of 'safety' going on a mission trip, because no one knows you and you can 'escape' home afterwards. It's much harder to witness to those with whom we live, work, and share a community - but that's our primary mission, right?

 

That's why I love YYAM's method:

They have a constant presence in the location in the form of a permanent base. They work with permanent churches. When one group is getting ready to wrap up their work and head home, another group is already training to pick up where they left off. In other words, the majority of the faces change, but the work is continuous.

At least that's how it worked in TJ, Mexico when I was there.

 

Steve, what about :

Mark 16:15-20
King James Version (KJV)

15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

&


Acts 1:8
King James Version (KJV)

8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

 

Jesus said this when no one except those in his immediate vicinity knew the gospel message. There were no local churches. Where there are no local believers, yes we are to reach out to that population. Today's situation is very different. There are believers virtually everywhere, and local churches in all the places where mission trips are taken. These verses don't apply in the same way as they did when spoken. (Actually, maybe there are places where Jesus' words apply today: Saudi Arabia, Iran, and North Korea, for example. How many mission trips travel to these places?)

I don't mean to sound a down-in-the-mouth about mission trips. As others have stated, many are planned carefully in conjunction with local churches, and believers in the US go to provide help and support that would otherwise not be available. IMO, the problem lies with rogue organizations that bypass local churches and do things their own way.

And missionaries are not exempt from this. I mentioned Romania earlier and remember another story from that country. A young married couple went there from Britain as missionaries, completely bypassing the local churches. Their work caused considerable frustration among the local Christian community, and it took years to undo the damage that was done.

 

These are the words that would most concern me. This sounds more like a large-scale campaign and not humbly supporting the work of the local church.

 

There must be places still to go , because :

Matthew 24:14
King James Version (KJV)

14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.