Short/Long Term

I was recently blessed to be part of a short term medical/missional brigade which came to the Copan area. They went to several aldeas (villages) in the area to work with local health and building projects. In one particular village is where they built a church. I was so thankful for the group to come and it was a nice break from school (although I only went one day of the 5 they were working).
I was reminded through this group of my constant belief that short-term trips over-seas...which I might consider anything with a time line (such as one week, one month, one year, etc)...are so much more self-gratifying. It's not a bad thing really. It gives a chance for the people on the team to see "how the rest of 'em live" and do some good in the process. I think that people can learn a lot from only serving for one week in a third world country. However, for a lasting impact I'm increasingly convinced of the need for permanent missionaries and just servants in general. I give mad props to missionaries who have been in one location for years and years at a time. Now, I don't mean servants like the one that spit-shines your floor...I just mean someone willing to help anyone and everyone that they can.:)
My grandma gave me a book on tape (cd actually) about Roberto Clemente a couple years ago that was amazing. Clemente was such a maverick (for lack of a better term) and was passionate about serving his "family" in Latin America. He died in a plane accident while attemping to take relief supplies to earthquake struck Nicaragua. Roberto Clemente said, "Any time you have an opportunity to make a difference in this world and you don't, then you are wasting your time on Earth." I love that quote.
This is a little bit "distraido" (distracted), but I think that the point I'm trying to make is my same-old same-old. Be willing to serve those around you, far from you, and in between the two. Because whether you're in a location far from home or at home, for one week or one life...when you have the opportunity to make a difference and you waste it, you're wasting your time.