When families talk about dream vacations, they usually don’t involve remote villages or working 10-hour days. Yet many of the hopes and dreams people have for their families only materialize when they get out their comfort zones to generously serve others together.
As founders of HOPE International, Jeff and Sue Rutt and their extended family are no strangers to global ministry. But now, as grandparents with three adult children, their spouses, and seven grandchildren under the age of 10, serving God together has taken on a whole new meaning.
On their recent trip to Zimbabwe and Zambia, they worked with vulnerable families in savings groups as well as children in Tomorrow Clubs International (and enjoyed a bit of fun and adventure).
Learn from the Rutts about how a family giving adventure like this can be transformative for all ages.
1. From self-centered to something much bigger
One of the most important changes Jeff Rutt (the family patriarch) has noticed is the shift that happens when their family focuses on serving a bigger purpose, instead of themselves – a posture that has promoted a much healthier family dynamic. “We’re all less cranky and in a better place when we’re focused outwardly than when we’re focused on the sinful desires of our hearts,” Jeff says. “If you’re three, that could mean less bickering with your sibling, or if you’re an old guy like me, it could be less bickering with someone who has a different opinion.”
“Just like when churches are focused on outreach, they’re always healthier. A family focused on outreach is healthier, too,” he says.
2. From privilege to perspective
Jeff and Sue’s son, Ben, and his wife, Rebecca, took their four children – ages four, six, eight, and 10. Ben remembered meeting children around the world who were his age when he went on similar trips with his family. They were smart, talented, and hardworking but lacked opportunity. “They helped me understand how blessed I am and really think about how I should steward that,” Ben says.
Ben and Rebecca’s deep desire to give their children this same gift of perspective overshadows any fears they might have had about going. “When we’ve talked with people about these trips, there’s a lot of fear,” Ben says. “Fear of danger, fear of what the kids might see, fear of the unknown.”
“Well, we have a fear, too – the fear that our kids are going to grow up without realizing the place they sit in the world and how blessed they are to be living with what we’ve been given. We’re looking to break that down by giving them the antidote of God’s perspective, his love, and value for every human being.”
3. From comfort-obsessed to purpose-led
Alisa is the Rutts’ oldest daughter. She and her husband, Clark, were on the trip with their three girls, ages one to five years. While they found traveling with such young children wasn’t easy, the experience was invaluable.
“We live in a world of convenience,” Clark says. “And we are afforded so much at our disposal that to be inconvenienced is a humble reminder of what affluence and blessing we have.”
“I just think there’s so much value in getting out of your comfort zone as a family,” Alisa says. “You can go down the street or go across the world. But outside your comfort zone is where the growth happens.”
Their goal goes beyond generosity just for the sake of generosity; it’s generosity for the sake of the gospel. “Ultimately, we want to get out of our comfort zone, not just because it’s a good thing to do, but to get the focus off ourselves, to point us outward and, most importantly, upward.”
4. From distant to connected
Leah, the youngest in the family, made the trip with her husband, Brett. It was Brett’s first time experiencing the ministry and meeting the families they support firsthand. They were both moved by the deep connection they felt with the people they met.
One of Leah’s highlights was spending time with Jaqueline, a woman she met at a savings group. “As we were walking, she grabbed me by the arm and said, ‘I cannot wait for you to see my house.'” What Leah discovered when she got there was a farm where Jaqueline runs businesses she started herself. “She had a lot of joy and pride in her life and her kids and her husband. That reminded me that our lives are more similar than we sometimes think,” Leah says.
Brett was moved by the commitment the people he met had to one another. “Even with limited means, they’re so invested in others. It inspired me to do the same,” he says.
5. From entitlement to contentment
Perhaps the most lasting takeaway for every family member has been the contentment and generosity of their friends in Zimbabwe and Zambia. Sue’s thoughts on the trip echo Brett’s.
“The whole experience of seeing families there so content with what little they had and so willing to share it with us is something we’ll never forget.” Sue says. “It really touched me, my kids, and my grandkids to see that.”
As grandparents, Jeff and Sue are amazed to see how their grandchildren have returned home to see their lives with new eyes. “In our culture at home, I see a lot of focus on comfort, which can lead to complexity, which leads to complacency,” Jeff adds. “And I think generosity, in all its forms, is a great antidote for that.”
When they got home, Ben and Rebecca’s kids decided to give up their family’s Friday night tradition of going out for pizza in favor of a simple meal of rice and beans at home. Now, the family takes the money they would have spent on pizza night and adds it to their Giving Fund at NCF.
“Is it a large amount of money? No,” Rebecca says. “But it’s a symbolic step of solidarity with our brothers and sisters across the world.”
What does God have in store for your family?
The Rutt family believes generosity binds them together like nothing else can. And even though they’re still learning, they pray other families won’t let anything stand in the way of following God on their own adventures in generosity.
“Sometimes you can get really trapped in all the logistics and questions,” Rebecca says. “Like, ‘What vaccines do you need if you’re going abroad?’ or, ‘Is it safe if you’re going to a different part of town?’”
“But as you consider the opportunities you have available, wherever God has placed you, I would encourage you to not get wrapped up in the fear. Take a step of faith and consider what an experience like this might look like for your family, because it’s totally worth it.”
Find more resources for giving and serving together as a family in NCF’s Generosity Library.
Photo and video courtesy of the Rutt family
