Mission Trips

My daughter is going on her first missions trip this summer. There are 15 people going on this trip to a native reserve a few hours north of us. They were told it would cost about $70 per person. One of the teens wrote up a statement that was read at all the masses a couple of weekends ago informing the congregation of the missions trip and that $800 was needed for this trip. Donations and prayers were asked for but prayers were stressed more than the money. My daughter read that statement at one of the masses and people were looking for her after mass to give her money. (She had also been altar serving at that mass and was helping put out candles and such and forgot that she should be at the back of the church to "answer any questions"). By the end of the weekend, after 4 masses, they had raised well over $1,000 by parishioner donations. I think members of the parish are more inclined to donate money when they know exactly where it is going and especially when it is a teenager up on the pulpit making the announcement and "plea". The Lifeteen group is going on this mission and it was members of Lifeteen who read the statement at each of the masses. An adult making these types of pleas, I believe, would not get the same response. When my older daughter was going on a trip to Puerto Rico to participate in the Junior Pan American games, I emailed all the church members I had on my email list. I am the leader of the Lector Ministry so I have a lot of names on my list. I was selling angel ornaments and not only did I get a lot of responses for purchases, I received cash donations as well. This was not a church event but we are part of a wonderful church community. Most of us are actively involved in the church so we are well known and, I guess, liked. For the Puerto Rico trip my daughter also went door to door in her Taekwondo uniform asking people to help pay for her trip. She raised all the money she needed; we didn't have to pay anything. When we were told to ask people to donate money for the Missions trip we were told just a two dollars here and there. People were donating $20 or more! Good is good.

How certain are you that your daughter would be safe? Christian Churches generally have a tarnished record in this regard. I wouldn't allow my daughter out of my sight at Church, let alone on a 5 day trip! Sounds like your Church is money hungry! Would you trust this Church with the welfare of your daughter?

I actually think that God would not even care if they went on missions or not and I certainly don't think he'd care if they had money or not.

Good morning, doesn't seem fair to me. Children should not be singled out like that. They can't help their families don't have the money to send them.The church should make allowances for kids like that. I hope her & the boy get to go.