Short-Term Missions, But Long-Term Fixes - Part 4

As I work with teams this summer, I know people are coming to help the Guatemalans. They see poverty and are hurt by it. But how can we help in the best way possible? I think one of the most important things to think about when helping to alleviate poverty is sustainability. Is the item you're giving the impoverished widow going to sustain itself? Will it help her for a few weeks, or for years? Will she be able to make real use of what you gave her?

Often on a short-term missions, people give out stuff. All sorts of things. They'll give food, and clothes, and money. But do these things last? Whatever you give them, if you're truly trying to help alleviate poverty, it needs to be sustainable. World Vision is an example of a big organization that has great ideas for sustainable gifts. They give animals. Animals produce something that people in poverty can either use, eat, or sell. They also reproduce so that they can constantly have an income or something of use from the animal. Now, only one thing stands in their way: the food. Although animals do provide an income, they also cost money because you have to continue feeding them.

Another example of a project many missions complete is building houses. A home is wonderful as
long as they can use it. In America, we like big, grand houses with lots of space. However, in other places, they might like small, practical houses. Most organizations that do this type of project have

Construction is hard work, but it also pays for families.

this part down. However, there are other things that come with building houses. If you build the house, will you help upkeep it? Will you check in on it, and help build a new one when this one is falling apart? Often, this is the job of the long-term mission. Short-term trips can't go back a few weeks later and make sure it's working properly; however, missionaries can. Another thing to think about with building houses is the job itself. Construction work, including building houses, is a career for a lot of impoverished people. Sure, it's hard work, but it provides money for their families. For each team that comes and builds a house, are you stealing someone's job?

As you can tell, with each idea, there is a good side and a bad side. I'm not saying either of these projects are bad ideas. In fact, they are good. However, I believe when going into projects like these, we need to consider both sides of the issue. We need to think about how we will affect not only the family we are giving to, but also how we will affect others in the community. We need to think about how long our gifts will last. We need to think about how we are helping, but also how we could be hurting someone. Yes, these thoughts and discussions take time. It makes it more difficult to feel like you're getting true results as a short-term team. However, it also helps create the most lasting results. A well-thought out trip doesn't hurt anyone unintentionally in the process.

Short-term missions do many different types of projects. Before you go on one of these trips, I encourage you to think about these things. Think about how you can help them in a lasting way, while also not hurting anyone else. There are many ideas out there, both good and bad. Short-term missions can be beneficial to many impoverished families, as long as we take some time to think about what we are doing.