Motivation for Missions

Handouts and relief work make us feel good, but don't actually accomplish much.

For the last 20 years or so missions and charity work has been mostly based on what makes us feel good as the giver. Unfortunately after years of this we've expended an absurd amount of energy, money, and thought without accomplishing much in the realm of moving communities beyond poverty... but we definitely feel good about it.

Maybe what feels good to us is actually causing apathy and disinterest among the people we are trying to help. It's holding them back from owning their own communities and being the change they want to see. What's the point? If I work hard I can save money and paint my own house. If I do nothing but sit around and wait and look poor enough some organization will come and paint my house for me.

Robert Lupton says it well in his book, Compassion, Justice, and the Christian Life,

"Doing for a community what it is capable of doing for itself is charity at its worst." (PG 31)

The focus has to be on community members seeing themselves as the solution, not some government program or outside group that is going to be their salvation.

The richest man in the world is a Mexican. He doesn't believe in charity for some of the same reasons.

Without teaching capability and responsibility all the money and good intentions in the world won't end poverty.

Little By Little

So this afternoon I was planning on visiting a few (more like 10) families.  Just wanted to check in and say hi to a few people before we headed up to the states for Thanksgiving.  Of course I underestimated how much time this would actually take. 

First stop was our friend Alicia.  We started talking about 'Dia de Pavo' (Turkey day).  It was actually quite a challenge trying to describe all the yummy Thanksgiving foods to someone who speaks a foreign language and has never even tasted turkey.  We decided that I need to make a full Thanksgiving dinner for them so they can really experience all the delicious traditional Turkey day foods.

Next stop was Elena's house (which was just built this past weekend).  They have already moved, rearranged, and reconstructed their previous pieced together home to fit better with their new 2-room casita.   Elena had such a peace about her and seemed so content, that chatting with her in her kitchen, which just 5 days ago was her bedroom, was surprisingly calming (which is rare because communicating in Spanish usually stresses me out).  

From there I went around the corner to Marlen and Jesus'.  They're just great and I always love hanging out with them.  They told me my Spanish is getting so good and I'm understanding so much.  That was real encouraging, until some neighbor ladies came up and they all started chatting...it was so fast and so much Spanish...I don't think I understood a thing.  Ugh...  Poco a poco, right?  With each conversation, each time I stop by just to chat, I'm learning just a little bit more.  A little bit more Spanish, a little bit more about these families, and a little bit more about my friends way of life.  

Today was a good day.

Community

Over the last year One Mission has done and been through a lot. We're excited to say that we've built over 30 homes in the last year.

What really gets us going (and why we do what we do) is the community we get to create. At our last job site there were 18 American volunteers but 57 people on the job site. Those were neighbors, friends and family members building up their community. Angelica (who received the home) not only slept in a nicer house that night but she also became more connected to her community. Her community came together and helped her in her time of need. Its an exciting thing to get to be a part of.

To see neighbors who previously didn't trust each other laughing, eating, and working together is absolutely inspiring.

Thanks to CCV Adult Ministries Staff for coming down and spending the week with us building for Angelica and her community.