What I Learned On My Trip To Haiti

This past Friday I returned from Haiti with a group of adults and students.  It was our church’s first intergenerational international missions trip.  It was also the largest group we had ever taken.  But, despite all these firsts it was a huge success.

One of the reasons the trip was so successful is because of the hard work put in by Brian Crook and our Missions Department at Nativity.  As one of the participants (And point person for the youth) it was clear that the success was due to the leadership understanding that:

PREPARATION CANNOT BE UNDERESTIMATED

You need more than just a logistical meeting and a team building event.  If you are traveling with a group of people to an area that is unknown or unfamiliar you need to have trust.

To build that trust you need to make sure you are giving people time to meet to discuss and ask questions about:

• Expectations on what they might discover.

• Emotions that could arise during their experience.

• Situations they might occur and how to respond to them.

• Strengths and weaknesses of each team member.

While more gatherings can seem tasking they can be helpful to making sure your team has a solid foundation.  To avoid redundancy be creative with how you meet and make it relational.  The hard work will pay off.

THE LEADER NEEDS A TRUSTWORTHY TEAM

Our point person was competent and a great leader, but what allowed her to succeed was a team she could trust. When building your team make sure you surround yourself with people who can:

• Allow you to play to your strengths.

• Give you insight on what they are seeing.

• Encourage you to make tough decisions when needed.

• Pray for the team’s success.

Find people that you love and trust.  Build a relationship with them beforehand and don’t be afraid to utilize them during the trip.

HAVE A CLEAR PLAN BUT REMAIN ADAPTABLE

Make sure your leadership team knows the plan well and that the rest of the participants have a sense of the agenda.  When people have clarity it allows for strong communication, which build faith in leadership.

While following a plan is key you need to also remain flexible.  Things will happen (i.e. someone getting sick) during your trip which will force you to adapt your plan.

During times of change communicate, communicate and communicate.  Make sure people are on the same page before you move forward.

CONSISTENTLY DEBRIEF

Missions work is exhausting.  It can not only wear you out emotionally and physically, but spiritually as well.  Give your team a chance to reflect on what they’ve witnessed each day you serve.

As the leader don’t dominate the conversation, but instead encourage sharing, keep people focused and praise people for their contribution.  When people debrief it allows them to release the tension that can be formed and take on the next day with a clear mind and heart.

REST IN THE LORD

Prayer is such an important part of the experience.  God has lead you and your team to this trip and you cannot forget to include Him.  Make sure your prayer is proactive by building in time to pray as a group and individually.

Mission trips are powerful because they deal with relationships and life change.  While anything can happen don’t underestimate the importance of preparation, planning and building a team you trust with your life.