stopover.ca

When it comes to international work, many novices feel that good intentions and a positive outlook are all that is necessary to accomplish great methods and outcomes. While intentions and positivity re very, very important … there are other necessary considerations to keep in mind when planning an international team experience.

A tool I have used for many years is the very helpful EFC Code of Best Practices. The code helps to set a minimum standard of preparation for teams and individuals engaging in international mission.

When I began training, and then later found this resource, I realised I was sadly lacking in many areas. I started small, worked on improving what I was doing well, as well as adding the most important elements I realized I was missing at the time.

Check them out for yourself, examine your own preparation process against the standards, and email or call me for assistance if you want to begin better preparation!

Section 1: Aims and Objectives
1.1 A Short-Term Mission program will have a defined purpose within Christian mission.
1.2 A Short-Term Mission program will have clear and realistic aims and objectives, which include viability, expectations of outcomes, and consideration of how the program serves the long-term objectives of all those involved.
1.3 The benefits to, and responsibilities of, the participant, the sending organization, the sending local church, the host organization and the host local church will be clearly defined and communicated.
1.4 Partnerships will be established, as far as possible, with host local churches and communities. These relationships, in the context of unity love, will be defined in terms of agreed-upon priorities, ownership, and expectations.
1.5 Appropriate sending local church involvement will be sought. A partnership will be developed, as far as is feasible, between the agency, participant and sending local church.
1.6 There will be a commitment to the participant to provide opportunities for personal and spiritual development throughout the experience.
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People in other countries sometimes go out of their way to communicate with English-speaking tourists. Here are several signs, seen in locations around the world.

Cocktail lounge, Norway:

LADIES ARE REQUESTED NOT TO HAVE CHILDREN IN THE BAR

At a Budapest zoo:

PLEASE DO NOT FEED THE ANIMALS. IF YOU HAVE ANY SUITABLE FOOD, GIVE IT TO THE GUARD ON DUTY.

Doctor’s Office, Rome:

SPECIALIST IN WOMEN AND OTHER DISEASES

Hotel, Acapulco:

THE MANAGER HAS PERSONALLY PASSED ALL THE WATER SERVED HERE.

Information booklet on using a hotel air conditioner, Japan:

COOLES AND HEATES: IF YOU WANT CONDITION OF WARM AIR IN YOUR ROOM, PLEASE CONTROL YOURSELF.

My favourite is next … Continue reading »

Travellers are well aware that Heathrow in London, England is often the hub through which you connect to the rest of the world. Often the stopover is several hours, or a day.  What do you do with a short term mission team? Several team leaders and friends have asked my advice on how to spend the day in London, here is the itinerary I put together … enjoy your next Stopover!

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     “Would you like to know what it is like to do mission with North Americans? Let me tell you a story,” said David Coulibaly, a ministry leader in Mali, West Africa.
Elephant and Mouse were best friends.  One day Elephant said, “Mouse, let’s have a party!”
Animals gathered from far and near.  They ate, and drank, and sang, and danced.  And nobody celebrated more exuberantly than the Elephant.

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I just added a link to my Facebook profile as well as a link to ReliefWeb into my blogroll (links on the right).

From the Pithy to the Profound

My friend Matt at the STM Network recently put together a few Dangerous STM questions … I responded to this one … #2 in his series …

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