Are mission trips for charity or for your conscience?

It’s all too familiar nowadays. We see a friend go on a trip — maybe to a South or Central American country, or if they really want to “make a difference” Africa. They spend their time in a village, supposedly “saving lives” which could mean anything from playing with children to donating supplies and come back a new and rejuvenated person.

I’m here to say I think it should stop.

It’s not a knock on who you are, really. I’m just asking, is the picture of your smiling face among the unfortunate children whose lives’ you’ve illuminated by simply gracing them with your time and presence being posted on your Facebook wall for their sake or to make you feel better?

Really think about it. A trip from Florida to Central America can cost $500 for airfare alone, if you throw in the money you need to exchange currency, buy food, clean your water, and wherever you decide to lodge for the duration of the trip, you could be spending around $1,000. Imagine what just giving the $1,000 to an organization or orphanage could do instead of essentially spending all of the money on… yourself.

I’m not trying to make anyone who has been on a mission trip feel bad, because you’ve actually done a great thing. But just evaluate the reasons behind your actions. And what about the children? You spend time with them only for them to get attached to you and then you leave, back to first-world society where your biggest issue is when your Wi-Fi isn’t fast enough.

Think about the best way to make an impact. If their biggest need is supplies, then spending money to send yourself on a trip to a foreign country probably isn’t super efficient. Now, if you’re a medical student and their biggest need is basic medical care, then maybe you are actually making the biggest impact.

Next time you think about a mission trip, just make sure the mission is in the first thing in mind.