CULTURAL SENSITIVITY
As we go to serve God in the mission eld, our desire is to become less, so He can become more. In
order to serve Christ in the most effective way, it’s important to go into the local community with open
hands and open hearts. That means being willing to listen, learn, and in some cases, adapt. Here are a
few expectations you should understand as you dive in.
CLOTHING
Appropriate dress can vary from
culture to culture, and inappropriate
clothing can be anything from a
distraction to offensive to the people
you’ll be serving. Don’t allow your
clothing to be a barrier between you
and God’s mission. With that in mind,
shoulders should be covered, and
shorts should be well past ngertip
length for all participants. Please look
your best for church, bring one-piece
swimsuits to swim, and closed-toed
shoes for safety at all work sites.
DONATIONS
While on your trip, please do not
hand things out directly to the public
(including candy, small items, sports
equipment, etc.). It is important that
ALL donations go through the local
church, and here’s why: the church
and pastor are typically the center of
the community, and have a deeper
understanding of the true needs of
the area. Donations given through
the local church enable the church
and pastor to engage in outreach
opportunities, and provide a chance to
impact the community on your trip, as
well as after you leave!
FOOD
The cooks on our trips go above and
beyond to keep our teams healthy
and full. Food may be different, be
served at a different time, or come in
portions you may not expect. Please
keep in mind the work and love that
went into creating the meals, and
express gratitude to your cooks.
Remember, those serving you are
often the same people you’re there to
serve.
LANGUAGE
We certainly encourage you to learn
some key words and phrases before
your trip, but remember, words are
only part of how we communicate.
Playing sports, or dancing with kids,
playing games with youth, or simply
smiling at an adult are all ways that
you can communicate on a trip
without knowing the local language.
Actions can speak louder than words,
especially when the words are in
another language. While on your trip,
look for new ways to communicate
with those around you. You will be
amazed by how God can use even
small gestures to make a big impact.
PRE-TRIP
CAMERA & PHOTOS
When you embark on a mission trip
with PPM, remember you are entering
a mission eld that is rooted in the
everyday lives of those you’re there
to serve. To keep our new friends
from feeling like you’re only there to
observe them like a zoo exhibit, it’s
a good idea to limit photo ops. Take
the time to develop relationships with
those around you, and take photos
with new friends towards the end of
the week.
TIP: It’s a good idea to designate a
group photographer that will take
pictures throughout the week.
That way, everyone can focus on
relationships and there will still be
pictures of the entire week.
*Remember, it is imperative that you
have permission of the person to be
photographed before taking their
picture and before sharing it with
others.
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