Where Am I Giving: A Global Adventure Exploring How to Use Your Gifts and Talents to Make a Difference

3We Aren't the Heroes (Kenya, 2010): Toxic charity / Fair trade travel

GOING INTO THIS TRIP WITH A CHRISTIAN NONPROFIT, I knew that faith would be front and center and, at some point, mine would be called into question. I had this idea that faith-based NGOs dangled food in front of the hungry and said, “Pray to our God and we'll give you seconds.”

I had actively avoided missionaries since meeting a retiree at an Internet cafe in Honduras. He was from Florida and came to spread the Word after his wife died. He ran a school for girls, was getting ready to head back to Florida, and was faced with the tough decision of which 18-year-old he was going to bring back to the States to marry. Nice, huh? Not bad for an old man, huh? He didn't say this, but that was his demeanor. I hated him.

Since then I had traveled to several remote places where the only foreigners were soldiers for a God or a government or greed – all on missions I wanted nothing to do with. I'd cross the street to dodge a conversation.

So, yeah, I was prejudiced toward missionaries, but somehow decided on spending a week with them. Were they missionaries? If so, did they think I was too?

I wasn't sure what to do. Do I stay in the closet and hope I'm not called on to bless the food or share some spiritual insight? Or do I step off the plane, drop my bags, strike my best smiling, pointing, winking Buddy-Jesus pose, and announce, “The heathen has arrived!”?

The days were hot and exhausting, but it was always the moments ...