It’s hard being a young guy who desires to pursue something other than the status quo. Our culture tells men they need to find a career as soon as possible, make as much money as they can, and not stray too far from “the path”—whatever that is. And no doubt about it, IMMERSION is a divergence from some of these expectations, but it’s so worth it.
To encourage all the young men out there to do something radical and adventurous with their lives, we asked 3 male team members—Clay, Easton, and Gaylon—from our current 6-Month Caribbean team to list out the experiences their trip has allowed them to have that are outside of the traditional view of mission trips and why more guys should pursue an IMMERSION program. Here’s what they said:
1. Learn a new language.
IMMERSION gives you the chance to brush up on your high school Spanish. Or to learn the clicks and rhythms of tribal dialects in northern Namibia. Or practice Arabic vocabulary with a tutor in the small town of Bethlehem. You may be surprised by how much you can learn and communicate in only a few months.
2. Challenge yourself to lead.
Often, the communities where IMMERSION teams live and serve are male-dominated cultures where women aren’t always seen as equals. As a guy, you have the ability to set a new tone and honor the girls on your team—acknowledging them as capable and deserving of respect. It’s a small but meaningful way to impact the perspective of others.
3. Shatter traditional gender roles.
Being humble and teachable is a skill all IMMERSION team members need, but as a guy, you have the unique opportunity to overcome traditional gender roles by helping with chores around the house. Tasks, like cooking meals or doing dishes at the river or watching over younger children, are often reserved for women in the community. But by jumping in and working alongside your host family, you’ll show the importance of serving through everyday life moments.
4. Enhance your soccer skills.
Sports are a great way to connect with kids, teens or even adults in communities where IMMERSION teams stay. Whether you’re playing a pickup game or organizing a camp, you’ll discover that anything can be turned into a soccer ball! (And the locals are almost always better than you!)
5. Go off-roading.
Whether you’re packing 15 people into an 8-passenger van for a quick trip into town or traveling the backroads to the plantain farm in the bed of a pickup truck, you never know where the road will take you. As they say in Haiti, “There’s always room for one more!”
6. Slaughter your own dinner.
IMMERSION makes you get your hands dirty! Whether you’re working on the farm to put dinner on the table or learning how to actually slaughter your own dinner (chickens! pigs! sheep!), you’ll appreciate the meal at the end of a long day and have a great story to tell.
7. Make every day an adventure.
Living in a new country and navigating a new culture will always come with challenges. But as you embrace the adventures and unscripted moments each day, you’ll be surprised by how much you learn about yourself, your faith, and the world. Saying YES to the unknown isn’t always comfortable, but it’s always worth it.
The 6-Month Caribbean IMMERSION team just transitioned to Belize, their 3rd and final community. Keep living your mission every day, Clay, Easton, and Gaylon! Thanks for challenging others to join you.
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