A quick rant from a missions student --
I know that I am no expert in the world of missions. I know that I only have a Bachelors of Arts in missions. I know that I have only about 10 months total of experience living and serving overseas. I know that I probably will never serve long-term overseas. But that doesn't diminish my passion for missions or my desire to read as much as I can to grow my knowledge and understanding of missionary life. And as a recent college graduate and missions intern there is something that I feel like everyone should seriously know about and consider how they can help.
With most colleges (Christian or otherwise) requiring that their students complete an internship (unpaid,paid, or on raised support) pertaining to their degree program, some people may not realize how much stress that adds to the student. Speaking from experience.... being a missions major and trying to juggle multiple jobs which pay for the school bills, completing senior level classwork, attending class, keeping up with ministry/service hours and trying to fundraise and finalize plans for an internship is one heck of a stressful time. It's awful to be woken up at night thinking about the details that need to be set in stone for travel plans or the fact that certain deadlines for internship payments are coming up fast yet the money hasn't come in. It's really hard to manage time when you have 3 major senior projects due all on the same day but need the weekend before to travel to churches and meetings to talk to them about partnering with you in your internship. It's really hard to find time to rest (and I mean actually rest... like take a nap, spend the day not doing anything stressful, etc.) when the pressures of doing well, keeping up with grades, still having friends and fundraising are hanging over your head. It's a lot to juggle and a lot of times it really wears a student down.
So what does this have to do with how you and others can help? Well, let me tell you...
1. When you personally or your church get letters from students asking for support (whether financial or prayer) and a response card is included... don't put it off til a later date to actually respond. You may be thinking you are going to support but are going to wait a little longer til it's closer to the internship date or til you have finished paying off that latest credit card bill... but for that student, it's torture not knowing for sure whether the money is going to come in on time. Even if you can't send a check at that time or you can't support them financially at all, send the response card or an email so that at least know one or way another what they can expect and what they can't.
2. Understand that while you are waiting to decide what you are going to do, the student is frantically working extra hours and worrying to no end, which isn't physically healthy and takes a big toll on the student. If you can just send that response card and ease some of that worry, a lot of stress will slip away.
3. Missions organizations have timelines on which things have to be done... Airplane tickets have to be bought, visas have to be applied for, housing arrangements need to be made and that all depends on the funds that come in. That's why almost every missions student will put a specific date in their letter that they need their funds by. Don't just disregard that date when you are reading their letter.
4. The response cards for prayer are just as important as the response cards for finances are. It is amazing how much encouragement can come to the student when he or she knows that people are praying for them at very specific times or on specific days. Especially when they feel like they aren't going to get that paper finished or that important visa payment isn't gonna come through. Prayer supporters are huge and the student needs to know that you are praying for them.
Okay. So I know most of the above is focused on the financial side of helping a mission student (or any intern needing to raise their own support). But honestly, it's a pretty big deal. It causes a lot of heartache, a lot of stress and a lot of worry. And trust me, I am speaking from experience. Some students can handle it all way better than I ever did. But I know that whether they will admit it or not there is always that little voice of worry in their mind keeping them up at night wondering whether they are actually going to get to their field and be able to complete such a big piece of their degree program.
Also, a lot of the above pertains to those who are out of school and heading to the mission field full-time. They have the same time constraints, worries, stresses, prayer needs and sleepless nights. I would bet that it weighs even heavier on their hearts since they are committing to at least 3 or more years of service and their costs are higher. Missions is a tough ministry to commit to, whether you're a student or a long-term worker. And these stresses are very real. So, please, don't just throw that letter or request to the bottom of the pile thinking you'll get to it later. It's too important.
Okay... I am done with my rant now. Perhaps I'll right later about something a little more happy and light-hearted. :)
With most colleges (Christian or otherwise) requiring that their students complete an internship (unpaid,paid, or on raised support) pertaining to their degree program, some people may not realize how much stress that adds to the student. Speaking from experience.... being a missions major and trying to juggle multiple jobs which pay for the school bills, completing senior level classwork, attending class, keeping up with ministry/service hours and trying to fundraise and finalize plans for an internship is one heck of a stressful time. It's awful to be woken up at night thinking about the details that need to be set in stone for travel plans or the fact that certain deadlines for internship payments are coming up fast yet the money hasn't come in. It's really hard to manage time when you have 3 major senior projects due all on the same day but need the weekend before to travel to churches and meetings to talk to them about partnering with you in your internship. It's really hard to find time to rest (and I mean actually rest... like take a nap, spend the day not doing anything stressful, etc.) when the pressures of doing well, keeping up with grades, still having friends and fundraising are hanging over your head. It's a lot to juggle and a lot of times it really wears a student down.
So what does this have to do with how you and others can help? Well, let me tell you...
1. When you personally or your church get letters from students asking for support (whether financial or prayer) and a response card is included... don't put it off til a later date to actually respond. You may be thinking you are going to support but are going to wait a little longer til it's closer to the internship date or til you have finished paying off that latest credit card bill... but for that student, it's torture not knowing for sure whether the money is going to come in on time. Even if you can't send a check at that time or you can't support them financially at all, send the response card or an email so that at least know one or way another what they can expect and what they can't.
2. Understand that while you are waiting to decide what you are going to do, the student is frantically working extra hours and worrying to no end, which isn't physically healthy and takes a big toll on the student. If you can just send that response card and ease some of that worry, a lot of stress will slip away.
3. Missions organizations have timelines on which things have to be done... Airplane tickets have to be bought, visas have to be applied for, housing arrangements need to be made and that all depends on the funds that come in. That's why almost every missions student will put a specific date in their letter that they need their funds by. Don't just disregard that date when you are reading their letter.
4. The response cards for prayer are just as important as the response cards for finances are. It is amazing how much encouragement can come to the student when he or she knows that people are praying for them at very specific times or on specific days. Especially when they feel like they aren't going to get that paper finished or that important visa payment isn't gonna come through. Prayer supporters are huge and the student needs to know that you are praying for them.
Okay. So I know most of the above is focused on the financial side of helping a mission student (or any intern needing to raise their own support). But honestly, it's a pretty big deal. It causes a lot of heartache, a lot of stress and a lot of worry. And trust me, I am speaking from experience. Some students can handle it all way better than I ever did. But I know that whether they will admit it or not there is always that little voice of worry in their mind keeping them up at night wondering whether they are actually going to get to their field and be able to complete such a big piece of their degree program.
Also, a lot of the above pertains to those who are out of school and heading to the mission field full-time. They have the same time constraints, worries, stresses, prayer needs and sleepless nights. I would bet that it weighs even heavier on their hearts since they are committing to at least 3 or more years of service and their costs are higher. Missions is a tough ministry to commit to, whether you're a student or a long-term worker. And these stresses are very real. So, please, don't just throw that letter or request to the bottom of the pile thinking you'll get to it later. It's too important.
Okay... I am done with my rant now. Perhaps I'll right later about something a little more happy and light-hearted. :)
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