<p>"The absence of skill isn't the only issue; donating $ for local initiatives stimulates the local economy (hiring local carpenters to built houses) and self-sufficiency and is therefore of far more value than hosting a group of well-meaning unskilled teens."</p>
<p>This attitude reminds me of the criticism aimed at the woman who "wasted" a bottle of expensive perfume washing Jesus' feet. I think it's important for young people to actually go and physically help the poor--even if it's just a week-long trip. A lot of churches emphasize this kind of trip for youth, and it has nothing to do with college applications.</p>
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<li><p>One can go/see/help the poor closser to home (New Orleans, for example).</p>
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<li>I don't think any of these posts are about church sponsored programs or adult service programs, both of which have a much higher service quotient that the expensive teen "service" programs.</li>
<li>As for the perfumed oil, that story teaches (1) nothing is "wasted" on the son of G-D and (2) the poor are always with us (isn't that when Jesus ssid the poor are here even when I am not?); it has nothing to do with waste or efficiency in general.</li>
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<p>Although I realize this is an exercise in futility...</p>
<p>foolishpleasure: using your logic, no one in say, North Carolina, should have left their homes to go help out in New Orleans because there are needy people in North Carolina.</p>
<p>The $ spent transporting & supervising well-meaning, unskilled teens to serve in third world countries, which have no shortage of manual labor, is the issue. Isn't charity about serving the poor first? Determining how best will they be served with any available money should be the priority, not how moving, or life-changing the experience will be for a teen. A doctor with medical supplies and a generator will serve the needs of the poor far better than a busload or planeload of eager teens. Money spent on transporting & housing & supervising these teens is money taken away from a more critical need.</p>
<p>StickerShock, It's not all about the money. I know two teens (17 and 18) who returned to Africa last year (both had been several times before) with no adult supervision, other than being picked up at the airport by African support staff and dropped off at a remote village. For three weeks they ran half-day camps for 300 children. These "well-meaning, unskilled teens" required no supervision. Their work was valid, needed and appreciated. The organization they volunteered with provides one meal a day for children orphaned by AIDS, helps pay for their schooling and provides basic clothing. So, by many African standards their physical needs are taken care of. But the kids have other needs - love, affection, playing time, language skills, sex education, instruction in basic first aid, and on and on...</p>
<p>"As for the perfumed oil, that story teaches (1) nothing is "wasted" on the son of G-D and (2) the poor are always with us (isn't that when Jesus ssid the poor are here even when I am not?); it has nothing to do with waste or efficiency in general."</p>
<p>I think it also has to do with not criticizing people with good motives, even if you have (or think you have) a better idea of how they could be using their time and resources.</p>
<p>My kids have been doing mission trips through our church since they were in 5th grade. They started in country: Savannah, GA and Miami, FL. As they got older, they've moved out of country: Bahamas (orphanages and schools, not beaches), Brazil and Canada. Our kids have had to earn their mission trip money. The church pays 1/2 because of how the congragation supports missions for youth, but the students are to raise the other half. So, my kids have gotten jobs, dug post holes, done yard work, baby sat, whatever's needed to earn their 1/2 of the money (even though we could pay for them). So, not only have the kids been helping people for years, but they've also learned that they need to be committed enough to the trip to pay their own freight. But there's a sense of community service already instilled in them for when they're not on these trips. I remember talking to my D about Bright Futures ... a means that Fl. kids can earn scholarship money by doing community service (along with grades and test scores.) Both she and my son were surprised that what they'd been doing for years would count for service hours. Seemed really weird to them. </p>