Always on a mission trip?

Upon returning home from yet another wonderful mission trip to the Dominican Republic and recent conversations pertaining to mission trips and the like, I have been pondering several things.

 

1) What really is a mission trip and what do they look like?

2) Do I/we forget that we are always on a "mission trip"?

3) How can we maintain the feelings that we have while being on the mission field in another place, country, or with other people groups and then stay in that mode at home, work, and wherever we are?

4) why is the transition coming back home so hard?

I don't know why, but its been so good for me to sort through and examine myself with these questions. To pretty much rethink and retrain my motives and think about why we do things the way we do. 

The idea of transitioning into coming back home has had me really thinking. Probably because that's exactly what I'm trying to cope with just coming back home only a few days ago. And through this "transition" process it has made me reflect on the other 3 questions.

But why is the transition coming back home so hard? Why even should we or shouldn't we have to go through this? Why even is there this struggle with emotions? Is there a need for transition?

Yes, I am fully aware that things are different in America than 3rd world countries and sure, there is adjustments to made with cultural aspects, the weather, living conditions and so on. But it seems when we get back to the states, things we've just been working on in another country, and the way we build relationships is different here. It seems there is almost this shift in our spiritual life. And it just gets me, because that is not the way Jesus has taught us in the Bible. 

>Because missions isn't just a "trip" that ends, or  that we do a couple weeks out of the year. It is the life-long purpose of every follower of Jesus. It is the one job we can do no matter where we are, until the day He returns. <

        

So my wondering is this: why does it seem easier to be about the Fathers business in other places than at home, work, or school? Do we act different on a mission trip verses at home? Why can't we have the same joy, happiness, relaxed spirit, patience, love for others, desire to serve, "put everything into perspective", "reconnect with God" attitude at home too? 

> Are we to sensitive of who we are in our homegrown surroundings or of what people might think?<

{A mission is a special duty that a person is sent out to do. In this case by Jesus. And when we become a Christian we are automatically commissioned. No place or person is to great or to small. Everything we do and every task God gives us is a sacred duty. Because we are continually in His presence (everything we do think and say is in the presence of the living Holy God. He is in everything everywhere) and are His temple! And the things we do on a daily basis are just as holy as the time we spend in the Word, because God is in them!}

Is then, this idea of transition necessary? When we always remember that we are continually on a mission trip while we are passing through this life, we will have the same "mission" mind set where ever God uses us.