The Lived Experiences of Students and Faculty of a Christian College who Participated in a Short-term International Mission Trip

Abstract

Short-term international mission trips (STIMTs) are increasing in popularity. Likewise, educators and health care workers are increasingly concerned with obtaining an understanding that improves culturally competent care. The purpose of this study was to investigate the lived experiences of participants of a Christian college who travelled on a short-term international mission trip (STIMT). One openended inquiry guided the interviews: How would you describe your experience as a participant who travelled on a STIMT? An in-depth, oneon-one interview of participants occurred until data saturation was reached. Colaizzi’s strategy was used to analyze and organize the data. Leininger’s sunrise model was used to guide this study. Themes that emerged from this study included cultural adaptation, relationships, spiritual factors, and personal gain. Participants from Christian colleges who have returned from STIMTs often report their life was impacted by a broadening of their outlook on culture and diverse levels of poverty, while also having their own self-awareness increased (Swartzenruber, 2008-2009). Priest, Dischinger, Rasmussen, and Brown (2006) addressed mission trips as rituals of intensification, where goals are chased, physical and spiritual challenges are faced, and personal transformation can occur (p. 434). In a study of the faith-based short-term medical mission trip, Harner, Mann, Whitten, Abraham, and Gillum (2019) illuminated seven themes and pointed to the importance of pre-trip planning. In the current study, a personal transformation that may have occurred TEACHR