As expected, our time at Summit VII has been empowering, encouraging, overwhelming, educational, and exhausting. We are at a large church in Louisville that is home to 25,000 people!
One main theme that keeps popping up in the sessions I am attending is “best practice” in international orphan care.
Thoughts:
- We (westerners) do not have all the answers and our way is not the only (or even best) way.
- In our enthusiasm to help, we often miss the opportunity to serve and, therefore, make a positive difference.
- If you decide to partner with an indigenous church (which you should at least consider), make sure you take time to listen.
- Short term missions should not be about what you DO. It’s about who you ARE and the relationships you can create.
- Find the balance in planning so “best practice” can be implemented but not having analysis paralysis is key. As one African women stated, “While you guys are planning, people in my country are dying.”