GOING TO MISSION

1
GOING TO MISSION

• A LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCE

2
MISSION IS A PROCESS

• We go from what we know
• We go to some place completely different
  
• We see our world differently when we return
  

3
WE GO WITH PERSONAL QUESTIONS

• What are we going to do?
• Is it safe where we are going?
• Will they understand me?
• Will I be able to relate to them?
• What happens if I get bored?
• How long will I have to be there?

4
STOP!! NOTICE THE CENTER OF INQUIRY AND CONCERN
5
MOTIVATION FOR MISSION SOWHY DO WE GO?

• Jesus crossed a border, left his world to journey
  into ours.
• By my baptism, I have been configured to Him.
• Jesus calls me and sends me forth, just as he
  went forth.
• My faith motivation is to be a witness to what I
  have personally heard and seen and experienced.
• My goal I go in humility, with an open heart, an
  open and critical mind. I go as a seeker, to
  journey with others, to listen, to be with, and
  to share my faith, compassion, and love.
• My responsibility I come back to serve my world,
  to open others to my life changing experience, to
  be a better witness.

6
MISSION REQUIRES REFLECTIVE THINKING BEFORE WE GO

• Reflective thinking is a process which starts
  with ME. Before I go to mission I must identify
  and examine my thoughts what are my faith
  values, my biases, my prejudices?
• Why do I want to go to mission? What do I expect
  to experience? What do I know about the people
  and culture where I am going?
• What important questions should I address during
  my mission experience regarding my faith,
  regarding the people I will encounter?

7
MISSION REQUIRES CRITICAL THINKING WHEN WE ARE
THERE

• People who think critically approach mission from
  the virtue of humility and attentive listening. 
• They work diligently to understand the host
  culture and the people.
• They realize that at times they make mistakes
  resulting from prejudices, biases, distortions,
  uncritically accepted social rules and taboos,
  and self-interest. 
• While on mission, they strive to be in solidarity
  with the people.
• They avoid thinking simplisticly and focus on the
  rights and needs of others, especially the poor. 

8
MISSION REQUIRES AN ENGAGED SPIRITUALITY
DISCIPLESHIP, DISCERNMENT, AND ACTION WHEN WE
RETURN

• Mission and Spirituality Meet in the Human Heart
• Mission and Spirituality Meet Where the Cries of
  Humanity are Perceived
• Mission and Spirituality Meet in the Frontiers
  and Borderlines
• Mission Spirituality is Engaged Discipleship
• Mission Spirituality Discerns in Changing Times
• Mission Spirituality is Concrete in Action

9
TODAYS MISSION CHALLENGE ASK THE RIGHT
QUESTIONS ENCOUNTER WITH OTHERS THE ANSWERS

• What do you see?
• Who are present?
• What do they say?
• What do they think?
• What is the dynamic underlying what you see?
• What are the causes?
• What do you feel?
• What do you think God thinks about this?
• Who did you encounter?
• What change do you seek?
• What is God calling you to do?
• What will you do when you return?

10
BRINGING IT BACK! USE IT OR LOSE IT!

• Recovering experience (see) Have I examined my
  learning? what was important? What
  relationships affected me? What were the
  successes? the failures?
• Gospel learnings and values (judge) What does
  Jesus think? what does the Church say? What am I
  being called now to look at?
• Involvement (act) How do I transfer my
  experience into concrete action? What needs to be
  done? What am I being called to do? What
  creative ideas will keep my experience alive?
• Evaluating my action (evaluate) Is what I
  planned coherent with my experience? Did it
  involve new relationships, gospel values,
  listening, solidarity? Does it deepen my
  humility?
• Celebration (celebrate) Have I ritualized and
  celebrated with others my experience? Has my
  recalling been energizing? Have I formally
  shared it with others? Have I given witness to
  Christ?