Top 10 Mistakes I’ve Seen Volunteers Commit:
#10. Call the female of a missionary couple “the missionary’s wife”
I actually remember a volunteer asking a female missionary if she would take a picture of him with “all the missionaries,” meaning all the male missionaries. The IMB appoints both husband and wife as missionaries, and they both truly are missionaries.
#9. Sing unprepared at a worship service
Somehow people think that since they’re singing in a foreign tongue people won’t notice how bad their singing is. Nationals love to hear volunteers sing in English, but they should never present something they would be embarrassed to present at their home church.
#8. Allow team conflict to jeopardize the mission
Conflict is inevitable on almost any mission trip. A wise team leader will address the issue in an appropriate way with the appropriate people and do everything possible to prevent the conflict from poisoning team spirit.
#7. Mistreat their interpreter
This one really gets under my skin. I have seen volunteers embarrass their interpreter in public by openly showing frustration or even correcting them. Others have treated their interpreter like a personal servant, sending them on errands, asking to carry their bags, etc.
#6 Disregard strict warnings
Volunteers sometimes place themselves in life threatening situations because they feel the rules do not apply to them. Others have greatly jeopardized the success of a project and/or the on-going mission work by their insensitive actions. One of the worst is smoking on the field. Christians in most other cultures do not smoke, and believe it to be a major sin. Even though volunteers have signed a contract agreeing not to use tobacco products on the field, some will do it anyway. Don’t be one of them!
#5 Not dedicate themselves to the mission
From time to time some volunteers are so preoccupied with other interests that their effectiveness on the field is impaired and their behavior even distracts other team members. This can come in many forms like over concern for business or family back in the US, shopaholics, photography, sightseeing, or even laziness.
#4 Create dependency or practice inappropriate gift giving
Most often volunteers are warned of this mistake in orientation but disregard the warning because they see so much need and want to do something about it. This is commendable, but most often throwing money at a need only complicates matters and can in the long run make it even worse. Always trust in the missionary’s ability to know what is best for his area and respect his or her opinion. If there’s something you want to do, discuss it with the missionary before making promises to the nationals.
#3. Judge/criticise the host country
Nothing is more embarrassing for a missionary than to have his guest insult his host country in front of nationals. Americans have a tendency to think their way is the best way. Leave the criticism at home and focus on winning others to Christ.
#2. Place themselves in a questionable situation with the opposite sex
An innocent and unintentional thing like a volunteer going over a sermon alone with their interpreter, or engaging in any culturally inappropriate behavior can create a potentially devastating circumstance.
AND THE #1 MISTAKE VOLUNTEERS MAKE IS . . .
Go unprepared to witness and share personal testimony
This is the “worst” mistake in my book and unfortunately, of all the other nine I’ve listed here, it is the most common. EVERYONE on a mission team should not only be capable of witnessing, but also well trained, prepared, and anxious to share their faith.
