Entry Training
Gateway: Field Service Objectives
1. To apply principles and concepts presented and discussed in class in order to increase awareness and deepen understanding
2. To put a “face” on the “Poor and Needy”
- Build relationships with locals
- Understand more accurately life challenges in the developing world
- Break down personal walls of fear, suspicion, biases, prejudices, and preconceived generalities.
3. Discover and deal with personal issues.
- Experience the look, feel, and smell of poverty
- Face issues of the heart
- Adjust to discomforts, lack of independence, community life, etc. prior to going to the ship and adjusting to ship life, a new job, etc.
4. To assist partnered communities by building on the work laid by others.
- See first-hand the challenges and slowness of doing developmental projects versus faster paternalistic projects.
- Bring greater empowerment to local communities.
EXPECTATIONS FOR FIELD SERVICE
The Field Service gives us an opportunity to apply principles and concepts discussed in class. It also is a time to focus outside of ourselves and make a difference in the lives of other people. This can be done in a variety of ways including: serving, working alongside, befriending and reaching out to those we work with.
It is also a time to examine ourselves in the light of areas God reveals to us. Living and working in a developing country where the comforts, conveniences, and even standards of behavior that we are comfortable with are often missing, can bring out responses in us that might surprise us. We get stretched, we see God’s faithfulness, and we leave the field service better for it. Pride and other stumbling blocks are subtle and can be a hindrance to the process. Pray that God prepares you to become an incredible tool for His Kingdom.
Some of our hopes for the team during this Field Service are that we:
1) Enter the new location as a learners and not fall into a Western mindset of coming to “fix” someone else (“Let me show you how you do it”)
2) Practice humility.
3) Guard against becoming frustrated with ourselves or others with whom we work.
4) Practice stamina - Not become overwhelmed with circumstances or situations to the point of giving up or withdrawing
5) Focus on communicating with God and discovering how He wants us to be involved
6) Realize that we are living and working in another culture and “different does not mean wrong”
7) Realize our capacity for adjusting outside our comfort zones
8) Experience the joy of ministry as a team
In the end, our hope is that God receives the glory and that the work we accomplish and relationships that are formed will continue to have value long after we are gone.
