1. The Lord commands it! "Go ye into all the world...."I know many of you have heard or even spoken on the principles of friendship evangelism. What better way to impress upon others the love of Christ than by our freewill giving of not only our money, but of ourselves. Often, people in a community will stop by to see "who are these gringos that work hard, but for no pay".

2. Being a servant to others is fulfilling!  One of the most rewarding things in life is to see the appreciation on someone’s face when they see you working, sweating, and giving of yourself.  A servant’s heart and attitude is a prerequisite for an enjoyable mission trip.

3. Seeing others with so little (material possessions) but so rich (spiritually) is a blessing!  Many times, sights from a mission trip make us appreciate the stuff we take for granted.  Seeing a woman happy, praising God with her hands lifted high is wonderful. While at the same time knowing she lives in a house built with nothing more than pallets and tin that would be relegated to the dump here in the United States is humbling. This my friend makes us ask, "Where are our priorities?"

4. It is an adventure! Most all of us have a desire to "live a little and see the world". However, if you were blindfolded and suddenly dropped in some popular destination, would you really be able to notice any difference from one souvenir shop, beach, or tourist trap from another a thousand miles away. On a mission trip, you work with the locals, worship with them and eat their traditional foods to get a true feel for their culture. Never fear though, there is always a McDonalds nearby for the "not so bold" among us.

5. Make new friends! One of the best ways to get to know someone is to work with them. Sharing the load in your job is also the perfect time to share your heart with each other. Not only will you meet new people from within our conference, but you will develop relationships with someone from another land that will last a lifetime.

6. Conference mission trips are safe! All of our mission trips are researched in advance by our missionaries on the field to insure a safe and pleasurable experience. Mission trips include not only hard work, but at least one day of touring local points of interest such as volcanoes, beautiful beaches, rainforests or historical locations. And yes, ladies (and guys), there is always plenty of shopping available.

7. Learn new skills! Don't worry if you have no construction experience or medical training. There is always plenty to do for everyone and you will probably find you can do more than you thought possible.  Anyone want to be a dental assistant for a day?

8. Conference mission trips are economical! You will not find a foreign mission trip at a better price than right here in our own conference. Many trips are in the $800-$900 price range and include airfare, lodging, ground transportation, insurance and most meals.

9. Our trips are versatile! A sample or our destinations include: Belize, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Peru, Thailand and Eastern Europe among others. Most of our trips are open to both men and women depending on the destination and available resources. Trips may be construction, medical, evangelical or any combination.  Trips oriented for youth are often available through our CEM department.

10. Open new windows of opportunity! Some sources have estimated that more than 75% of the people that go on short-term mission trips will become involved in missions in some way for the rest of their life. Pastor, perhaps that member you encourage to go will be your next mission director. Maybe, he will return with a burning desire to reach the lost and develop new outreach programs in your church. That businessman may return with the desire to fund that project or turn your church into a mission-minded church.

A short-term mission trip is an event that will change your heart. If you feel God calling you for an adventure like this, or just want to spend a vacation doing something different with a purpose, contact our mission department at 540-674-4131 ext 202 or feel free to contact myself at krh58@frontiernet.net. Go ahead! Do it! Be blessed!

Kerry Helmandollar

Construction Team Leader