It was near sundown when we reached the dusty Laotian village, two vanloads of wide-eyed American visitors.
The decision to bring us here was, to me, a cost-benefit conundrum. Laotian Christians are often persecuted for their faith, and it's hard to bring Americans into the rural rice fields of Laos without drawing attention from the police or Communist leaders. At more than six feet tall I towered over the Laotians and my white skin was like a beacon. My sunglasses alone cost more than these people make in a month.
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Multiply me by 15 and there was our group. No doubt, we were high profile. So I wondered if this trip was worth the risk to the Laotian Christians. Aren't we going to endanger these people?
Life for the Laotians
Most Laotians believe in a mix of Buddhism, animism and ancestor worship--they bow to idols and consult witch doctors. It's a Communist country that pays lip service to the religious freedom we enjoy in the United States.
By the time we reached this particular village we had already talked to about a dozen Laotian pastors and many other believers who had been imprisoned for their faith. The Laotians spoke with chagrin about the ways they were detained: ankle stocks; metal thumb clamps and tied hand-to-hand in a row with other prisoners. One woman's husband had been martyred for the faith.
The charge was always the same: propaganda--spreading the religion of the enemy.
So again, I wondered, is it really a good idea for a bunch of Americans to show up at a Laotian church? It's like putting a target on their backs.
God answered my question, and used the experience to show me some things about short-term mission trips. I was reminded of the importance of humility and authentic partnerships with local indigenous Christian leaders. And I learned that in some cases, we American Christians should worry less about being qualified or "useful" to be involved in short-term missions. Sometimes God asks for little more than our presence and prayer.
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Source: RoundTripMissions.com
