Why is everyone looking for US trips?

[David]

Of the first 5000 searches on this web site, 27% searched for trips in a specific country. The top 5 countries searched for, in order, were:

United States
Mexico
China
India
Russia

So why are so many people looking for mission trips in the US? China and India and Russia I understand, but what is with the US being on the top? Are they youth groups looking for inner city ministries or rural ministries? Are they looking for American Indian opportunities? I realize that the US is pretty close and less expensive, and for a spring break, you can get there and back in a week! But I'm still a bit puzzled. . . . ?

What are people looking for in the US?

[Tim Heaton]

Why the US? Here's a quick answer that might not answer your question. Maybe they're just really poor at Geography....now for a serious answer. : )

From my limited experience of 4 different trips, 2 of them were to an Indian Reservation to work with a local church. Those two were very cheap compared to the 2 in Mexico I went on.

Aside from being cheap and close, it was kind of nice to help our "own" people so to speak. Also, it gives more of a missions reason. In going to an Indian Reservation we went to help them, not ourselves. Often, when groups go on a missions trip they go more with a purpose of desiring their walks with Christ to increase, and (as a side issue) for the youth group to have a good time. Sometimes they even try to get kids who would normally not even desire involvement to come along, wanting them to hear the gospel. These seem to be a bit selfish compared to going to serve others and share the gospel. i.e. Going for the side effects of a missions trip rather than for the purpose of the mission. (This might say it best.)

Maybe there are groups now looking to go on a missions trip with the purpose of it being a missions trip rather than for the good side effects it can have on the group going.

[Mike Snyder]

In my experience, we have about 875 churches - with about 1/2 who are just getting into this short term missions culture....OFTEN, finances and experience are the two main issues. I get more requests than I am able to handle from churches who desire a truly cross cultural experience for their youth without having to cough up $20k to send 10 kids internationally. Other churches require their youth to 'prove' themselves stateside before allowing them to join an international team. Good question, though - and if anyone out there has suggestions on solid stateside opps, I would love to hear from you!
Mike Snyder, Director of Short Term Missions - Baptist General Conference
(bgcworld.org)

[David Armstrong]

The first of January YouthMinistry.com did the following poll of people who hit their site:

Question: What type of outreach/missions project are you planning for your youth group this next summer?

Out-of-country evangelism 11.5%
Out-of-state evangelism 9.6%
Local evangelism 5.8%

Out-of-country service project 3.8%
Out-of-state service project 13.5%
local service project 9.6%

Out-of-country workcamp 0.0%
Out-of-state workcamp 25.0%
local workcamp 1.9%

we are not planning an outreach project 3.8%

We would like to do a service or evangelism project, but need ideas. 15.4%

Total votes 52
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That isn't a lot of votes or people surveyed, but these are interesting contrasting categories and may reflect what we saw in the 10,000 searches.

These imply a need for getting the word out better about our opportunities and especially in US type ministries and projects!

What do you see in the above in comparison to the results of the 10,000 searches?

[Tim Heaton]

Mike,

When I was in High School, our church did two stateside trips. Both our stateside trips were to the Yakima Indian Reservation in Washington State. Our youth group of about 30 kids went on our chruch bus, and met a Frontier Missions Representative. We helped paint a church, and gave out blankets and coats to Indians on the reservation. We also did Vacation Bible Schools with the Indian kids at a local church.

Frontier Missions is based in Portland Oregon, but they do outreaches all over North America; US, México, and Canada. All their missions are to Indian Reservations. You may need to do most of the planning, and contact with the church you send your missionaries to, but it would be worth it. You may even get some cross cultural work.

It was great for our youth group, and didn't cost a ton of money; just a few hundred dollars for the entire group ( my bet would be between 700 & 1000 dollars). Of course this would depend on how close ones church is to the Reservation you go to. It would also depend on what project you take on.

I hope you find some good trips.

[Mr. Joy Stevenson]

I think the reason people are looking for US for the mission is that there is great opperunity to learn and to come in contact with people who can be a blessing when that person goes back to his own home base to involve in the work of the Lord.

[Scott]

The United States is a nation in great need!

Out of all the trips I have been on, the stateside ones changed me the most, I beleive. It is selfless abandonment and a wakeup call. The one that effected me the most was over Spring Break in High School. We brought a team up from El Salvador (reversed role) and did a missions trip to my home town (we have a large Spanish speaking population).

[Alisa]

I think it's because of cost.

[Standing4Him]

I am looking for a mission trip in the US because we are wanting to leave soon and that doesn't allow enough time for us to get passports. Some don't have their birth certificates, would have to order or find them, and some need immunizations. None of those things are necessary if we take a trip in the US. Also, we are looking to go to inner-city kids and teach the Word.