Debriefing Short-termers

Hier is baie handige riglyne vir die terugkeer gesprekke met korttermyn uitreikers.

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Source: Marti Smith, Caleb Resources

As a mission mobilizer I'm both pleased and a bit worried at what Steve Moore calls "the punkification of missions." You know: here's a chord, here's another chord, now form a band! Or here's an idea, here's an opportunity, form your own mission.

The more I think about it, it the more I see the value of keeping things simple and easy to pass on to others. Maybe those who have been doing this sort of thing a little longer should just try to share the chords they've learned along the way.

When it comes to short-term mission trips, one essential chord is debriefing. The debriefing process is often skipped, slighted, or squeezed. Even teams that meet weekly for months before the trip may confine debriefing to a Saturday morning with donuts, but no follow-up or accountability. It doesn't have to be that way.

Anyone who is willing to listen can help debrief a short-termer or short-term team.

Asking the Basic Questions

If you have just one debriefing session, try this. On paper or in person, in a big group or one on one, ask your short-termers 3-6 basic questions:

- How was your trip?
- What was the best thing about it?
- What was the hardest part for you?
- What did God teach you?
- What are you going to do about it, and when?
- Share an answered prayer.

Taking the time to think through these questions and topics will help short-termers process what happened. Plus, they will be better able to give a meaningful answer when others ask the same questions. It pays to be prepared. A good goal: be able to effectively describe the experience in a sentence or two.

Add a few more sessions to your debriefing plan if you can, especially if you're debriefing a whole team.

Remembering What God Has Done

Have each team member spend 20 minutes journaling:

"What have you seen God do for you on this trip? Think about the miracles, answers to prayer, and the ways God worked above and beyond your expectations. Don't forget how he got you here, prepared you, and brought in your support."

Ask team members to share their answers with the group so everyone can thank and glorify God for what he has done.

Working through the Hard Stuff

Many troubling things can come to the surface on a short-term mission trip. Short-termers may come face to face with their own weaknesses and failures. They may feel disappointed or disillusioned about their team or their hosts.

Try to provide a safe environment to discuss things that were difficult, especially if these struggles reinforce lies they may believe about themselves, the world, God, or other people. One-on-one "debriefing interviews," conducted by someone who was not part of the team, can also help identify conflicts and relationship problems that still need resolution.

Locking in the Lessons

Use this handy worksheet  to help short-termers identify and "lock in" the lessons they are learning and prepare to share them with others. It's a simple, step-by-step process that any of us might find helpful for making sense of a potentially overwhelming experience.

Staying Connected

Chances are good that the ministry your short-termers were involved in did not begin and end with them. So take a long-term view and ask: "What are the ongoing needs and opportunities? How can you, your family, or your church continue to contribute or stay connected with this ministry?" If you spend time talking about next steps, make sure to include an invitation to stay connected with the field.

Other debriefing sessions might focus on reentry and reverse culture stress, team affirmation and prayer, mobilizing others, preparing a presentation, evaluating the program, or having short-termers write themselves letters to be mailed in six months.