POLICIES
ANSWER From: <WScottW@aol.com> Lake Ave Church in Pasadena has specific policy re short term projects or maybe to be more accurate, how we determine the involvement (read support of) our congregants participation.. You can probably get a copy of their materials. Also might try Grace Chapel in Lexington, Mass., they have a well developed program under Paul Borthwick.

ANSWER From: Neal Pirolo <Neal_Pirolo@eri.org> ..Emmaus Road, International, has a Manual for Planning, Executing and Evaluating Short-term Trips. Unfortunately, it is still in "draft" format. BUT, if you would be willing to read it, give some suggestions, and help us on our way to publication, we would be happy to send you a copy of it.

LANGUAGE BARRIER
QUESTION From: NE: The idea...was originally...a joke... However, I am now wondering if it just might work... Due to the short term problem (and how we can get them to be more productive on the field) and world missions networking... what would happen if Wycliffe/SIL or another language agency designed a language that could be easily learned and used (in months, instead of years), so that short termers could easily help the pastors etc. in their field and be of greater help?

ANSWER From: gdaily@gwe.net (Galen Daily) I asked Dave Tabor, former YWAM national leader about the question. Dave responded like this. "In missions, languages are often the most difficult and frustrating obstacle to overcome. It can be very trying to want to communicate to someone about the gospel and be relegated to hand gestures and feeble attempts at single, mis-pronounced words of another tongue. A couple of situations in our 14 years in Papua New Guinea stand out as examples of the Father's humor and his ability to transcend the language barrier. The first incident was in 1990 at the commonwealth games in New Zealand where the King's Kids from Papua New Guinea (PNG) were working with a group of New Caledonians... Our whole team as well as the New Caledonians struggled to communicate...until one day one of the New Caledonia girls overheard a couple of the PNG girls talking in Neo-Melanesian... the trade language of PNG... (Tok Pisin). The New Caledonians had learned a similar "Pidgeon" from their contact with people from Vanuatu. After "the discovery" of a common Language we were able to communicate with the French speaking New Caledonians in pidgin... Many missionaries are in PNG from many nations. Many of which are not english speaking nations. So it was not uncommon to have a meeting and have in attendance in that meeting German, Finish, Danish, Swedish and English speakers communicating, in Neo-Melanesian (pidgin) to get the job done." Dave adds that pidgin is easy to learn and can be picked up by anyone in 6 months.

ANSWER From: Jim Au <immx@integrityonline.com> It seems that God has already taken care of that problem to a great degree. That language is called "English". In addition to "English": In much of the southern Pacific Rim, you can use Pidgin English to get around most of the time and in many places; I know friends who have picked up this language variant in a matter of weeks. Other languages are also quite useful, ones which we all learned or could learn in school. French allows you to speak to over 200 million people in the world, including in many African nations. Spanish covers all of South and Central America. Almost everywhere else is adopting the use of English as a necessity. That leaves as major blocs (or "blocks") languages such as Chinese, Russian, Hindi, etc. When I'm in a jam in these areas, if "English" doesn't work, then "sign" language works remarkably well. And that's no joke.

ANSWER From: jfuller@parrysound.net (Fuller,Jonathan)
...looking at language purely as a barrier can be dangerous and misleading. Learning someone's language is an act of love and respect as much as a means to communication. It is the most significant gateway to mutual understanding. We westerners always think in terms of 'truth' and how to get it across, where the majority of the world thinks in terms of 'relationships' - not what you know but who you are. "No one cares what you know unless they know that you care". Being a short-term missionary doesn't negate any of this. If we see language learning as part of the incarnation - an act of love then having a short-termer work at language makes sense. Our experience has been that short--termers who try to learn get farther with people and have a lasting impact. We have nationals learning another group's mother-tongue even though both groups can use a common trade language. This act of love has broken down century-old walls of hate and suspicion and allowed Christians to live in communities where they normally could not even visit. Language is an opportunity not an obstacle.

CONFERENCE: National STM conference 1998 Announcement
Once again its time for me to beat the drum for the National Short-Term Mission Conference, now in its 9th year. This year's conference features a mix of STM-basics (training the leader, training the team, effective debrief and followup, etc.) and several hot-button workshops (Serving the earth, serving the poor; 2/3-world women and STMs; prayer journeys; etc.) More than 30 workshop choices, plus keynotes by Doug McConnell of Wheaton College and Rev. Emilio Battz, an indigenous pastor who has worked with dozens of teams in his remote Guatemalan village.
WHERE: in San Diego at the HanaLei Hotel
WHEN: Friday, January 30, 7 pm, until Sunday, Feb. 1, 2:00 pm
For More info: call 1-800-636-3334 From: KJHurst@aol.com

BOOK: The Short-Term Missions Boom
A Guide to International and Domestic Involvement The local church's first comprehensive guide to planning , training volunteers, and enjoying the excitement of successful projects. Missions experts cover projects for "short-termers," from teens to retirees. From: Baker Book House 1-800-877-2665 <www.bakerbooks.com>

INSURANCE
QUESTION From: Ranandwen@aol.com (Randy&Wendy Anderson) 04 Mar 96 We are putting together a short term missions manual for our church. We could use some help in the following area: 1)What kinds of medical [records we should keep] 2)Is it reccommended to use a medical release of any kind (any examples?). 3)Are there any insurance companies that cater to the short term ministry market? 4)Forms to identify gifts, strengths, & abilities as well as the identification of any physical limitations...

ANSWER From: ChrisBushnell@XC.Org (Chris Bushnell) As far as insurance: we use Overseas Insurance Consultants for our PATHWAYS interns. It is underwritten by Mutual of Omaha. 1995 rates were: 0-14 days $35.00 | 15-30 days $62.00 | 31-60 days $88.00 | 61-120 days $140.00 | 121-180 days $175.00 This is the high-option (better coverage). You can call them at 404 663-0114.

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