May 3: Assumptions

The ones I disagree are:

• We must not go overseas to do something we aren't already doing in our neighborhood...
• We cannot truly serve those we do not know and love.

In the first one, I just think that it is not necessary to go overseas when you have so much you can do in your surroundings. The word "must" makes it a little harsh. It almost sounds like a rule. So if I decide to go overseas and do something and have done nothing in my country then it's wrong? That's more or less the feeling that is giving me. And in my opinion, there is call for everyone in specific. Some are more easily adapted traveling so those people can do that even if they haven't done that much in their own country. It would be good to have set something, as a starting point, to gain experience and truly understand what God is wanting from us. But at the end, it is what God is making them feel they should go and minister.
About the second one, I have to say that I disagree because we can serve people that we dont necessarily know personally or love because eventually there could be created a relationship out of love and disposition and people would get to know each other. Plus, God will be among them as well. Everyone needs of the Lord and of people willing to sacrifice their time to share about Him even if one knows the other or not.

Agree:

• Most short-term participants report having life-changing experiences, including their own culture's consumerist values, and being challenged to a life of missions, but revert to their old ways within 6-8 weeks...
• Our mission trips usually assume we have something to offer the churches and communities we visit, but there is much to learn from them as well.
• We tend to think that church is church wherever we go.

I have never been in a mission trip before but I kind of get that of having these amazing changes and then eventually they are lost because they were left at the place. And from what we've been discussing it seems like it happens pretty often. So what we are doing now it's good for us. To keep our minds in the purpose and be ready for everything that we are going to expierence. The time that we are going to have to journal and reflect during and after the trip is an excellent thing to do as well so we can have our time to calmly see the changes and results in the place, in the people and ourselves.
I think we always have something to learn from others. It is not all about us as individuals, is about others too. So seeing their experiences, their lifestyles, their daily life is a good way to understand who they are and what things they see important in life.
I agree with the last one too because I believe that is something we mostly think since we know that the church is not necessarily the building but is composed by God's people. So it's like if I go here or there, it doesn't make a difference because the people are the ones who make up the church. In this case, I think it should be clarified that not all people could be following God in the right way, that it depends on how they live their life.