Re-entry Resources
Team Events
Team Reunions: If you would like to have a team reunion, but need some help contacting your team members, please email us at oai@openarmsinternational.com and we would be happy to help you facilitate a reunion.
Creative Memories Storybooks
Want to do something fun with all the photos you've taken on your Open Arms outreach?
Kris Wolverton is a Senior Consultant with Creative Memories and has software that creates beautiful hardbound Storybooks using digital photos. Instead of hiding your outreach memories in your camera or computer hard drive, why not create a keepsake Storybook and share it with your family and friends?
If you've already been on a trip or would like to create your own Storybook, you can learn more about the software by contacting Kris or visiting her Web site.
Kris Wolverton
Phone: 503.244.0810
Email: kgwmom@jbkproperties.com
Web: www.mysmsite.com/kriswolverton
Returning home from your OAI outreach experience
Applying the New You to Your Old Culture: When a street criminal goes to jail and then experiences a religious conversion, there's a new challenge upon release as they return to the street where the previous experience there had been one of crime. While you're not a convict, your experience may be every bit as dramatic. In fact, you may have undergone a religious conversion yourself during your short-term mission trip.
You're not the same person you were when you left home. Your mission trip has altered your entire view of life. You've made changes because of your recent experience and the environment in which it transpired. Once you get back home, there is likely to be dissonance as the new you is thrust into the old environment.
Some people give up their changes and return to their previous lifestyle and perspective, leaving their short-term mission experience as a faint or distant memory. Others take the opposite extreme and try to convert everyone in their old environment to be exactly like the people in their short-term mission environment. Neither extreme is appropriate or healthy.
The standard of living issue is one of the most difficult to integrate once you return home. In many parts of the world, there are two classes of people: the few rich and the masses of poor. If you were able to go on a short-term mission trip, you're probably a middle class North American. As a result, you compare poor lifestyles to middle class living. You don't want to give up all the conveniences of middle class living, which seems to only add to your feelings of guilt for being so rich in comparison to your poor mission trip hosts.
Many simply let such conscious-pricking tensions dissipate as they resume their middle class living, immersed in consumerism and being constantly reminded that others have more than you do and you are inadequate until you get still one more product. How much better it would be to identify the principles of simplicity, giving, receiving, sharing and stewardship. Such principles are encouraged to be applied to one's middle class living back home rather than copying the exact applications of similar principles from the mission trip location.
Periodic personal evaluations might be needed to prevent participants from being totally swallowed up in their previous lifestyles. Some have found it necessary to participate in a short-term mission trip at least once a year just to renew their commitment to what they believe are proper Christian lifestyle principles for their middle class situation. Instead of feeling poor in comparison to the millions who have more, they are reminded of how rich they are in comparison to the billions who have less.
Relating to People Back Home: Some people are so enthusiastic about their experience that they actually become offensive in the way they relate to people back home. It's almost as if they communicate an attitude of superiority compared to those who didn't go on the trip. Indeed, you should share your experiences with enthusiasm, but with the spirit of a fellow-traveler in the Christian walk.
Remember, many of the people who didn't go were your financial and prayer supporters. Telling them they "have to go" or "they're out of it" or “a failure in their Christian walk” denies the team spirit of the Body of Christ - some members sending others so that all are working in unity. As the one who physically took the trip, you have the responsibility to share the benefits with your supporters back home, not to denigrate them for not taking the trip themselves. Because of the intensity of a short-term mission trip, those who actually went on the trip will have a shared history that others will never have with them. A brief allusion to "the blue door" might bring squeals of laughter as an inside joke about the primitive outhouse at the job site, but those who weren't present don't understand these abbreviated comments. Unless you were present, there's no way you can fully appreciate exactly what happened.
As a result, those who were present can sense a certain element of exclusivity which actually inhibits the reception of what they share with others. Some group members may even try to protect this special relationship in an attempt to preserve their mission trip experience or to avoid relating to life back home. Seek to take others into your experience rather than protecting it. Realize that others will never be fully able to appreciate it and your experience can never be taken from you. That's not something to hold over others, but to appreciate as one of the benefits of your participation and commitment to your mission trip.
Relating to Your Local Culture: It is good for everyone to be reminded of the need for cultural sensitivity back home. While some are eager to indulge in long, hot showers and to pig out at Taco Bell or Pizza Hut, others are offended by the blatant materialism, busyness and seeming lack of spiritual commitment.
Expect culture shock on your return, just as you experienced culture shock when you first arrived at your project. Each culture has within it both good and bad elements. The war between good and evil rages in all cultures. You will be sensitized to your home culture after living in a different one.
Utilize this as an opportunity to discuss the positive and negative aspects of your local culture. You should realize that just as many who didn't go on your short-term mission trip will be blind to obvious deficiencies you can now easily spot, you are probably still blind to other negative elements within your culture. Rather than attempting to heal and convert others to your new sensitivity, channel your energy into making positive changes in your culture with others who are sensitive with you. Then you will have a base upon which to invite others to join your crusade for the right.
How You're Different: Hopefully you really are different as a result of your Open Arms outreach. Most people are profoundly impacted, but it's not guaranteed. What changes have you undergone that make you different now? For many, the increase in cultural sensitivity has changed previous stereotypes. This needs to be generalized to other stereotypes individuals have been blind to in the past, such as ethnic and gender stereotypes, as well as religious and cultural images.
Another change is the appreciation of a simpler lifestyle. Some may lament the rat race back home with so many pressures and demands for their attention. Although the work on the trip might have been physically strenuous, life in such situations is more simple and focused; plus the multitude of responsibilities back home has been suspended temporarily.
Many obtain a fresh glimpse of God's activity through the simple faith of people more compelled to rely on the Almighty than self-sufficient North Americans. For many, being part of an active faith community that lives, works and worships together is different than "church" back home. Seeing tangible results of one's efforts can be more rewarding than the full-time task of being a student back home--preparing for the day when one can make an observably significant difference.
There may be a special relationship that has developed for the group as a whole because of what they experienced throughout this concentrated short-term mission trip. Even if they attended the same school or church before, they now have a shared history that makes their relationship unique, something even their close friends back home don't share. A personal inventory will yield other differences that have come about through the rich motivational changes spurred by an Open Arms trip. Each participant should take stock and reflect on the personal changes from their own experience. Sometimes verbalizing these brings greater awareness and understanding of the changes that have taken place or are in process at the time.
How You're the Same: In spite of the obvious and acknowledged changes, in many respects you are still the same person after the short-term mission trip. You still go by the same name and you're back in touch with family and friends you had before the trip. The reality of school, schedules and work jolt us back to the reality that some things haven't changed. Although it may cause you to long for the "good ol' days" on the worksite, these unavoidable realities actually help you overcome the unhealthy extreme of being so overly affected by your short-term mission trip that you're unable to relate to life back home.
If you function as exactly the same person you were prior to your life-changing mission trip, you've taken an extreme response of denial to your mission trip. While some try to compartmentalize their lives to neatly manage separate components, the process of maturity demands integration. This is part of the wonderful, on-going challenge of returning from a life-changing experience.
If you've been on previous mission trips, you're already familiar with this. How will you deal with it this particular time? Just as each short-term mission trip is unique, returning to the mainstream each time is a unique experience, too.
When the Feelings Fade: The "high" from a mission trip is something nobody wants to lose. Frequently it's even more intense than a spiritual retreat "mountain top experience". You can make a guarantee to your group regarding the "high." THEY WILL LOSE IT. Those who deny it will face increasing frustration as it evaporates until nothing is left. Some will try to bolster it by replaying their experience but not integrating it into their return. Still others will deny any "high" in hopes that they won't be disappointed like they have been in the past when a spiritual "high" seemed to dissipate.
Try this, bask in the "high" with a realization that it is to be celebrated while it lasts. Then create it in a new form, such as the "high" that can be realized in local community service activities. Time doesn't stop. They have been part of an eternalized moment that they are likely to carry with them forever. This equips them to join another opportunity that will be eternalized, but in its own way. No two experiences are identical.
So, celebrate the "high" as long as it lasts. And make plans to be of service in a variety of other ways as you anticipate a number of ups and downs, including additional "highs," as you live your Christian life of service.
As long as you continue to receive religious input (such as church services and classes) you will need an outlet of service or else your spiritual life will become stagnant. As long as you continue to serve, you will desire additional religious input, especially input relevant to meeting the needs of others and making sure your own contact with God is vibrant.
Mission trips are "high" points along the path of service. Stay on the path and look forward to other "high" points to share in your future.
Remember, many of the people who didn't go were your financial and prayer supporters. Telling them they "have to go" or "they're out of it" or “a failure in their Christian walk” denies the team spirit of the Body of Christ - some members sending others so that all are working in unity. As the one who physically took the trip, you have the responsibility to share the benefits with your supporters back home, not to denigrate them for not taking the trip themselves. Because of the intensity of a short-term mission trip, those who actually went on the trip will have a shared history that others will never have with them. A brief allusion to "the blue door" might bring squeals of laughter as an inside joke about the primitive outhouse at the job site, but those who weren't present don't understand these abbreviated comments. Unless you were present, there's no way you can fully appreciate exactly what happened.
As a result, those who were present can sense a certain element of exclusivity which actually inhibits the reception of what they share with others. Some group members may even try to protect this special relationship in an attempt to preserve their mission trip experience or to avoid relating to life back home. Seek to take others into your experience rather than protecting it. Realize that others will never be fully able to appreciate it and your experience can never be taken from you. That's not something to hold over others, but to appreciate as one of the benefits of your participation and commitment to your mission trip.
Relating to Your Local Culture: It is good for everyone to be reminded of the need for cultural sensitivity back home. While some are eager to indulge in long, hot showers and to pig out at Taco Bell or Pizza Hut, others are offended by the blatant materialism, busyness and seeming lack of spiritual commitment.
Expect culture shock on your return, just as you experienced culture shock when you first arrived at your project. Each culture has within it both good and bad elements. The war between good and evil rages in all cultures. You will be sensitized to your home culture after living in a different one.
Utilize this as an opportunity to discuss the positive and negative aspects of your local culture. You should realize that just as many who didn't go on your short-term mission trip will be blind to obvious deficiencies you can now easily spot, you are probably still blind to other negative elements within your culture. Rather than attempting to heal and convert others to your new sensitivity, channel your energy into making positive changes in your culture with others who are sensitive with you. Then you will have a base upon which to invite others to join your crusade for the right.
How You're Different: Hopefully you really are different as a result of your Open Arms outreach. Most people are profoundly impacted, but it's not guaranteed. What changes have you undergone that make you different now? For many, the increase in cultural sensitivity has changed previous stereotypes. This needs to be generalized to other stereotypes individuals have been blind to in the past, such as ethnic and gender stereotypes, as well as religious and cultural images.
Another change is the appreciation of a simpler lifestyle. Some may lament the rat race back home with so many pressures and demands for their attention. Although the work on the trip might have been physically strenuous, life in such situations is more simple and focused; plus the multitude of responsibilities back home has been suspended temporarily.
Many obtain a fresh glimpse of God's activity through the simple faith of people more compelled to rely on the Almighty than self-sufficient North Americans. For many, being part of an active faith community that lives, works and worships together is different than "church" back home. Seeing tangible results of one's efforts can be more rewarding than the full-time task of being a student back home--preparing for the day when one can make an observably significant difference.
There may be a special relationship that has developed for the group as a whole because of what they experienced throughout this concentrated short-term mission trip. Even if they attended the same school or church before, they now have a shared history that makes their relationship unique, something even their close friends back home don't share. A personal inventory will yield other differences that have come about through the rich motivational changes spurred by an Open Arms trip. Each participant should take stock and reflect on the personal changes from their own experience. Sometimes verbalizing these brings greater awareness and understanding of the changes that have taken place or are in process at the time.
How You're the Same: In spite of the obvious and acknowledged changes, in many respects you are still the same person after the short-term mission trip. You still go by the same name and you're back in touch with family and friends you had before the trip. The reality of school, schedules and work jolt us back to the reality that some things haven't changed. Although it may cause you to long for the "good ol' days" on the worksite, these unavoidable realities actually help you overcome the unhealthy extreme of being so overly affected by your short-term mission trip that you're unable to relate to life back home.
If you function as exactly the same person you were prior to your life-changing mission trip, you've taken an extreme response of denial to your mission trip. While some try to compartmentalize their lives to neatly manage separate components, the process of maturity demands integration. This is part of the wonderful, on-going challenge of returning from a life-changing experience.
If you've been on previous mission trips, you're already familiar with this. How will you deal with it this particular time? Just as each short-term mission trip is unique, returning to the mainstream each time is a unique experience, too.
When the Feelings Fade: The "high" from a mission trip is something nobody wants to lose. Frequently it's even more intense than a spiritual retreat "mountain top experience". You can make a guarantee to your group regarding the "high." THEY WILL LOSE IT. Those who deny it will face increasing frustration as it evaporates until nothing is left. Some will try to bolster it by replaying their experience but not integrating it into their return. Still others will deny any "high" in hopes that they won't be disappointed like they have been in the past when a spiritual "high" seemed to dissipate.
Try this, bask in the "high" with a realization that it is to be celebrated while it lasts. Then create it in a new form, such as the "high" that can be realized in local community service activities. Time doesn't stop. They have been part of an eternalized moment that they are likely to carry with them forever. This equips them to join another opportunity that will be eternalized, but in its own way. No two experiences are identical.
So, celebrate the "high" as long as it lasts. And make plans to be of service in a variety of other ways as you anticipate a number of ups and downs, including additional "highs," as you live your Christian life of service.
As long as you continue to receive religious input (such as church services and classes) you will need an outlet of service or else your spiritual life will become stagnant. As long as you continue to serve, you will desire additional religious input, especially input relevant to meeting the needs of others and making sure your own contact with God is vibrant.
Mission trips are "high" points along the path of service. Stay on the path and look forward to other "high" points to share in your future.
