One of our most important core values for our organization is honor. We want to honor ever single person that we come in contact with, knowing that they are sons and daughters of God. I wrote this post on my website about how God has been dealing with my heart regarding the way that we speak about the people we serve in missions.

One of the biggest things that we have seen in missions that has changed from one generation to the next is communication through the internet. In Peru, anyone can access the internet for 35 cents per hour in an internet cafe (a little room full of computers where you can pay to use the internet.) This gives them the ability to Facebook friend anyone, follow anyone on Instagram and Twitter, and read anything that short term or long term missionaries ever post. This is a big deal. 

It’s a big deal because we want to honor those that we serve. It’s a big deal because we want to represent Jesus well online. It’s a big deal because there is no longer “us” and “them.”

As we all work to honor and love people well, I want to share a unique perspective with you and encourage you to ask yourself a very important question: What is my motivation for writing/saying/doing this?

…..

She lives in a plywood home, high up on the mountain. Every day her Mom sells rice from the side window in their house where she has a small store. She dresses for school in her uniform and makes her way down the long, winding steps that are cut into the mountain. After school, she walks to the market and buys chicken for a late afternoon family lunch. She helps her Mom cook over a small, one burner cooker. Later, she rinses her plates using water from the 50 gallon drum that her family uses to bathe, cook, wash clothes, and boil for drinking.

…..

This is a typical day in the life of many of our friends overseas. This is a drastically different lifestyle than what we, as Americans, are used to and naturally, it is shocking to see for the first time on a mission trip. We come with pure motives and hearts to serve people just like this girl but sometimes we can end up hurting and causing shame unintentionally.

Something that the Lord is really convicting me of lately is my motivation. Specifically, I am asking myself “What is my motivation?” behind each action that I take. For example, what is my motivation behind this Facebook post that I am about to publish? What is my motivation for posting this Instagram photo? What is my motivation for writing this comment online for the world to see? What is my motivation for giving this speech or teaching this Bible study?

I’ve done it myself. Posted a picture of myself climbing up to a friend’s mountain home and then written a caption like “serving the poor” or “hanging out in the slums” without thinking about the effect that will have on that person’s heart if they were to read it.

We have worked with hundreds of people who come on short term mission trips and one thing that always happens is that all of the Americans connect with all of the Peruvians on Facebook. Last time we were working with a team, some of the Peruvian girls were even writing the American’s names on their arms so that they could look them up online. Because, listen, a group of really cool white people come to visit and they may or may not personally know Justin Bieber and suddenly you have a brand new role model. Which is really awesome. Role models are awesome and new friendships are awesome and Facebook is awesome. Until the girl from the orphanage reads a translated Facebook post (because google does that for you now) that talks about how the New American Role Model visited a group of “poor” and “abandoned” girls. That draws a huge line in the sand between “us” and “them” and defines a person as something other than their true identity in Christ.

You may have done it. I’ve definitely done it myself. Written things before thinking. Because it may be a truthful statement. Because you don’t think they can read English and you forget that google can automatically translate stuff now. But, guys, it is so easy to change our wording and redefine that moment so that when those we serve read our posts, the only thing they feel is honored. 

Let’s have pure motives. Let’s ask ourselves how this will effect each person who reads it. Let’s always seek to represent Jesus well in our lives and on our social media pages. Let’s change our wording so that everything we say and write lines up with the truth of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Testimonies are powerful. Truth is important. Third world life can be extremely difficult, abuse is rampant, poverty is a reality, education is often lacking, and these are all truths that need to be shared so that the body of Christ can work together to change the world. Please be inspired today to post and share with a mindset of giving honor to the children of God and bringing glory to Jesus. Whether you have been on mission trips, plan to go on one, or have a Facebook page where people read what you post, it is so important to examine our hearts and ask ourselves “what is my motivation?” In every circumstance, there are words that cause shame and there are words that breathe life into people. Let’s work together so that everything we say and write online brings honor to those we serve, sponsor, connect with, have influence over, and befriend.

 

Super thankful to be on this journey with you,

 

Ellyn Hunt