I've been blogging about The Upstream Collective and their Jet Set Tours happening this Spring over the last few months. In case you missed it, here's an explanation from Upstream Collective.

The Jet Set Tour isn't your typical mission trip. Then again, the people you'll meet won't be your typical missionaries.

Jet Set Tours, hosted in various cities in Europe, provides a week-long opportunity for you to experience a European culture, not only through tourism, but by learning about the people. Prayerwalk the streets of Barcelona's Gothic neighborhood. Meet with artists in Rome. Talk to a Christian businessman about what church is like in Zurich. Ask a professor in Madrid about the worldview of the students he teaches.

Because the point of Jet Set Tours isn't that you come in and present the gospel to the masses. The point is that you first listen, then learn, then live out the gospel as you meet individuals - much as you would if you were to move to Europe yourself.

Jet Set Tours will feature a variety of activities to help you catch the vision for the host cities: prayerwalking, orientation to local worldviews, interaction with local believers, introduction to formal and informal ministry already being done, and plenty of time to enjoy the attractions, but with the same purpose in mind. Everything during your time overseas with Jet Set is to help you envision how God would have you, your church and individuals from your church participate in His work overseas in a first-person, hands-on way.

Sound good? You should sign up for the tour and join me, Darrin Patrick and others. Today I want to pass on a few words from a missionary on the field right now in Rome that demonstrates why we're going.

The eternal city of Rome is a city full of life, a city rich in culture and history. Tourists flood the city every day huddling around the great triumphs of history: the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, and Vatican city to name a few. Behind the glamor of fashion and the awe of ages past lies a city in poverty and spiritual emptiness. Latest estimates say that 25% of Italians are in poverty, and the government has few social programs and no long term answers. Spiritually the reality is worse. Much less than .01% are evangelical Christian. On the other hand immigrants see Italy as the land of opportunity, a place to start over, a place to raise a family and find work. When they arrive after risking everything they are met with the reality of a nation without jobs and severe discrimination. Because of this reality many turn to crime and prostitution to survive.

Though they are prejudiced against the immigrant population that streams into Italy from Eastern Europe and Bangladesh, they share the common struggle of poverty and hopelessness. We believe that the hope and love of Jesus is a cool drink of water that these people need. But at the same time they don't need just words, they need physical help.

We are working to help students prepare for and find jobs, helping Italians with English skills so that their resume is more attractive to employers, we also dream of a day when we can reach the immigrant poor, and homeless population of Rome. At the moment our work is small and our help to little we do what we can but at best our efforts are a like pouring a bucket of cool water on desert sands.

What will it take for the people of North America to realize that Italy is not the cradle of Christianity and riches but a poor, starving nation full of people who have never heard of the love of Jesus, this is the question we ask ourselves and God everyday.

For more information on how to connect with work in Rome write larry@theupstreamcollective.org