It’s almost like by
default we are expecting many visitors in the summer time. This year
was no exception and we are in the middle of a very busy mission trip
season. Here at Smiles, we’re always ready to take our friends to see
all of our projects, as hearing is one thing, but getting to see the
reality is so much more relevant. And this is exactly where the
perceptions and opinions will start to be very different, which is to
be expected as we are all very different to each other.
Those
who have been to Romania before with Smiles, will feel very much at
home. They know the projects already and they are not subject to that
first shock anymore when seeing despairing situations, or at least not
so much. Being used to the difficulties we encounter on a daily basis,
working with challenging people, they understand how and why it’s not
always easy to show tremendous progress in our work, but they will be
very happy and feel rewarded themselves when they see even little
progress. And that is indeed very encouraging for us too.
There are then the
first time visitors. For them everything is very new, as they do not
know what to expect and most of the time what they find here is
shocking and disturbing, very powerful and makes a huge impression. We
had so many in tears when seeing how hard life is for the most
vulnerable we serve. And because maybe it’s the first time when they
get such a strong perspective on how hard life can be, this is often
the eye-opening experience, as many visitors have called it.
All
of those that come on a mission trip will no doubt enjoy it, one way
or another. From the moment you land in Budapest and get off the
plane, we will welcome you (granted Budapest is not Romanian
territory, but the driver is Romanian and so is the bus registered!)
Once you get to Cihei, the accommodation is comfortable, the food is
great, the pool will help the fight against the merciless 40 degrees
of heat! Each day has its own programme and the experiences will be
varied and interesting. But as all good things, one week of Mission
Trip is just that, seven days, and they pass by so fast! And the
question is what do you take with you when getting back home?
Many would have liked
maybe to squeeze in the luggage one of the sweet kids they met during
the week – this of course must be a joke, they’d be heavier than the
allowed weight on a personal bag! Then some others will get some nice
Romanian souvenirs with them (I hope not those made in China!) and
this will remind them about the enjoyable time spent here… I am sure
some others will take many pictures back with them, great shots of
"exotic" Romanians maybe or beautiful places they’ve been to… But you
see, the most precious memories you’ll be able to take back are those
that will stay in the heart, not only in the mind!
And
this is what indeed happens with pretty much everybody when they
leave.
A "hands on mission
experience" (HOME) will first and foremost give you a new perspective.
We all feel we could do better, in various areas of our life, we feel
we deserve more and we are often unhappy with what we are. But you
see, this is only because we all the time compare with those higher
than us! A mission trip experience will help you realise there are so
many wonderful things in life that we should be nothing but grateful
and thankful to God for! We are not doing that bad! There are so many
other people much worse than us!
Then, once this is the
realisation, another thing a mission trip will do is to make you aware
of the need to do something. There must be a reaction that we can do
something to help around us! One can only remember how wonderfully
Jesus said it in the Bible:
We
are very happy to have friends all over the world, but of course most
of the visitors are from the United Kingdom and America. We welcome
all to Romania and we’ll be ready to present our work and the
challenges we have and then we are very encouraged to see how the time
spent here will often result in long-term relationships that will only
become stronger and deeper in time. And in the process, we are so
blessed to receive support for serving those in need, which makes us
truly one single team that works together for the glory of God!
We call it Partnership.