Take-Aways from a Mission Trip
Lessons from My First International Mission Trip in Eight Years
I started pastoring in 2001. For the first fifteen years of shepherding, I guesstimate going on mission trips at least two times a year. Sometimes more. After leading a team to India in 2016, however, my global travel died down. Until June 2024. The Pearson five recently returned from a week long mission to Belize, Central America. As I have reflected on the impact of such trips, I have a few take-aways. In other words, upon reentry into the USA I have asked, “Why are mission trips important to take?” Here are several thoughts:
First, breaking away from routine is critical.
I was in Belize for about 30 minutes when it hit me how I had been doing the same thing - day after day after day after day. Get up. Do the pastor thing. Go home. Go to sleep. Repeat. There’s nothing wrong with this. But when “forced” out of the normal routine, I was reminded that there are things I don’t have to do. I don’t have to eat four handfuls of Cheez-Its before bedtime. I don’t have to sit in front of the television every night. I don’t have to check email every 10 minutes. I don’t have to have constant internet access. I can go to bed earlier and fall asleep while reading a book. I can get up and serve with energy I didn’t know I had. You get the idea. Breaking out of the routine shocked my system, so to speak. It allowed for me to experience a significant (and much needed) “reset.”
Second, going to a third-world country brings necessary perspective on life.
After our final day of ministry in Belize, one of my children said, “I feel sorry for these kids. They are amazing at soccer, but will never have the same opportunities we have.” Staying in the North American (Williamson County!) bubble blinds us from real perspective. Millions upon millions of people simply do not have access or opportunities to move beyond the cycle of poverty. This is not to say that we “wealthy” Americans are better than the “poor” people in other countries. Not at all! Most of them were happier than we might ever be! It is simply an observation of perspective. Getting out of the bubble brings a much needed and necessary angle on the world. It bring reality to light and in living color.
Third, I was reminded the kingdom of God is going to be just fine.
Jesus’s parables about small things are remarkably accurate. Salt. Light. Leaven. Mustard seed. Small, unseen things that are working and making a massive impact. People no one knows about with their hands on the plow refusing to look back. I met people last week I’d never heard of. People who I wouldn’t run into at the Southern Baptist Convention. People who aren’t asked to speak at the big, fancy conferences. People who aren’t arguing minute theological points on Twitter (X) or whether or not women should be in the ministry. No. I’ve been around people who are simply getting the work done. Loving and ministering and sharing and offering hope. Getting dirty and sweaty and stinky. Risking little sleep and sickness and eating bizarre foods. Mustard seeds, almost invisible to the naked eye, working until it’s the largest of the trees. One can try to have their voice heard on social media; or one can forget all that and be the obscure, but necessary leaven that works its way through all the dough. We don’t have to fret, church. The kingdom of heaven will be just fine. The question is not whether God’s will will be done on earth. The question is, will you join Him in what He’s doing? God doesn’t need us. But He does invite us to participate with Him.
Fourth, I remembered what Jesus smells like.
Dust. Heat. Humidity. No grass. All dirt. Sweat. Children. Poor children. Unbathed children. Sweaty children. Feet. Children wearing unwashed clothes. Children climbing all over you. Children wanting you to hold them, throw them, and give them rides on your back.
There is a distinct smell that comes with a combination of the above. I cannot describe it in words. It’s a mixture of body odor, dirt, sweat, breath, and thick, hot air. And I am certain it is what Jesus smelled like when He walked the earth. Kids loved him. The sick and poor and lame flocked to Him. Dirty. Dusty. Sweaty. Breath. Unbathed bodies. Pungent. The aroma of Jesus.
It had been way too long for me to get a whiff of that scent. You cannot miss it. You know it when you smell it. It’s not pleasant. It’s not a scent you strive for in life. But when you smell it, there is something inside of you that knows you are in the thick of what it is to live like Jesus. Can you get this smell in the states? Of course. Get close to the third grade boys after rec time at VBS. But there is something unique and biblically clarifying about smelling it in a third world country.
Are there other and additional reasons to participate in a international mission journey? Of course. Many. My list doesn’t even mention lostness and the work of ministry. But these four have bubbled up to the top for me upon re-entry into the states. What about you? What would you add to the list?