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Transform: mission tourism or making a difference? – 6 Oct 2009

Every summer, countless Irish people head off to developing countries to build houses for the poor, to work in an orphanage or to help in some way. It has almost become a rite of passage for Christian teenagers, part of their growing up experience before they head off to college and then get a job. Do these overseas trips benefit the poor or are they a form of mission tourism?

Reuben’s story

My first experience in a developing country was when I travelled to Mozambique aged 17 to spend a month with a missionary group. When I was growing up I had heard exotic stories about Africa and seen slideshows of the enormous poverty. I was excited to think how I’d be able to really make a difference in the lives of the people.
When I arrived after an ardous journey via the dusty roads of Zimbabwe I was disappointed that the missionaries didn’t seem over-joyed to see me, in fact they didn’t seem to know what to do with me. What could I do? I spent a few days shadowing various people until they decided to set me a simple task. I was to build a fence around their school. The first time I placed the posts in the concrete they fell over. The second time the same thing happended. Finally the third time I had success and my fence remained standing. I was really pleased with myself.
I left Mozambique feeling somewhat disillusioned. It had been expensive to travel there and the only thing I had achieved was to build a fence which a local person could have done cheaper and faster. Being passionate wasn’t enough, I needed skills which would enable me to make a real difference in the lives of the poor.
It was the beginning of a journey that lead me to specialise in public health and would take me to the refugee camps of Darfur, to post-conflict Liberia and finally bring me back to Ireland to manage the work of Tearfund. That summer I didn’t make much of a difference in the lives of the Mozambiquans but it transformed my life forever.

Today’s transformations

This summer a small group of Irish students from Grosvenor Road Church travelled to Peru to work with Tearfund church partner AGAPE for 2 weeks. Established in 1992, AGAPE is an organisation that works with street children in Lima, to provide legal, psychological, social and pastoral support to victims of child abuse. image

“I think the biggest impact for the team was meeting some of the families suffering from poverty that Agape are seeking to serve. In twenty minutes we leave for the airport, but it is a great joy to know that God is staying and the work he is doing through Agape will continue.” Excerpt from Andrew Gill’s blog.

The Grosvenor Road students have come back with their faith strengthened and their understanding of poverty deepened and our partner Agape are encouraged to know that Christians in Ireland were supporting and praying for them.

Overseas trips do not always bring immediate benefits to the poor but they can lead to transformation in the lives of the people who go overseas; changing the way they view the world and impacting the future course of their lives. For a trip to be more than mission tourism I believe that we need to go prayerfully asking God if this is the best use of our resources, with real humility realizing the limited skills that we can bring, in true partnership standing alongside the local church, and committing to ongoing prayer and support for their needs.

If your church or youth group is interested in working alongside a Tearfund partner overseas then check out our Transform website. The trips are a journey of discovery where you will learn about God’s heart for the poor and how the church is responding. 
It doesn’t matter what age you are. Transform offers a variety of trips both short and long term, volunteering with Tearfund in some of the world’s poorest communities. It looks a little bit complicated but persevere because it will be worthwhile. Start planning today!

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