Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Missions trips'

Thesis (M.A.P.S.)--Catholic Theological Union at Chicago, 2001.
Vita. "[A] method for education for a high school or college age service trip with the backdrop of an experience in Appalachia."--P. 3. This is an electronic reproduction of TREN, #033-0579. Includes bibliographical references (leaf [90]).

Short-term international immersion travel connects participants from educational and religious organizations with distant suffering to build solidarity and motivate transnational civic action. It is a distinct form of transnational social action that produces a personalized, embodied experience of transformation. Despite increasing popularity, and increasing evidence that this form of travel can facilitate civic action and activism, the mechanisms behind the production, experience, and outcomes are not well known. This research examines these issues through a focus on multiple cultural processes. The research site is BorderLinks, a faith-affiliated organization that promotes immigration awareness through travel along the U.S.-Mexico border. I use participant observation with different groups (colleges, seminaries, churches), pre/post surveys with 180 participants, and interviews with participants to examine why individuals participate, how transformative experience is produced, how group styles stabilize this moment of unsettledness, the difficulties of solidarity formation, and the specific patterns of outcomes. Short-term international immersion travel is a cultural strategy of transformation that provides participants with identity shaping experiences and fits the goals of feeder organizations that prioritize personal transformation and social engagement. Recruitment through feeder organizations creates groups with distinct demographic profiles, motivational repertoires, and emotional orientations: the "toolkits of travel." An immersion trip sits in a liminal space of culture, yet the institutional origins of groups generate group styles that guide groups through this unsettledness (Eliasoph and Lichterman 2003). Some groups "sleuth" while others "story build," resulting in different imaginations of possible future action. The encounter with migrants addresses a central question of how solidarity between international travelers and distant suffering is formed. I show the importance of two strategies of solidarity, one relational and one imaginative. Through a hike in the desert, I show the conditions for producing evoking symbols that moralize the experience into the future. I examine change in economic behavior, attitudes, and some civic activity. I use Qualitative Comparative Analysis to show which aspects of immersion travel are most responsible for change: emotional intensification, moralized situations, cognitive awareness, and/or group affiliation. For participants' narrative construction, differences in group use of reflexivity resources affect the moral extension into the future.

This mixed- assembly space is designed as a permanent mission trip training and housing facility. Predominately the space will be used by middle school and high school youth. By creating a modern experience, teens are given a better opportunity to engage in a space they can relate to. It becomes a space where young people feel encouraged to share their feelings, beliefs and desires as they journey into a closer, more intimate relationship with a higher being. The space is intended to serve a transient population. A large portion of the first floor is devoted to communal gathering which provides a space dedicated to praise and worship as well as an adjacent space for dining. The space also features lounge areas, a welcome center, restrooms and locker rooms, and spaces for lodging. This project is an exploration of story-telling and how it can both impact and encourage a space. The idea behind the project is to help teenagers focus on something they cannot see or touch. Design strategies including connections, interactions, processions and transitions become very influential to the space.

This research explored how mission trip volunteers assume various roles throughout their volunteer experience. By seeing the various roles that emerge in mission volunteer work, the identities that they construct based upon these roles are revealed. Discovering the ways in which these roles and constructed identities affect the way that mission trip volunteers could potentially help colleges improve their recruitment messages and distinguish themselves from other institutions. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to obtain data from the participants, and the data were analyzed through a thematic, constant comparative method. Findings revealed the types of stories heard from other mission trip volunteers prior to serving, the impact of those stories on decisions to volunteer, the various identities that emerge while serving on a mission trip, and how mission trip volunteers make sense of their experiences after serving. This study applies several well-known aspects of organizational communication to the context of mission trip volunteers, offering new and interesting data. This study also provides practical implications for mission trip coordinators and individuals who might be interested in being a mission trip volunteer.

Little research has been conducted to show the relationship between short-term study abroad/mission experiences and the faith development of those who engage in them. Christian colleges and universities utilize these experiences to help develop their students' faith. This research analyzed the relationship between a Christian college student's experience in a one-month study abroad/mission experience and his or her faith development and maturity.The research was conducted with 171 students from a Christian university, including 72 students (study group) who spent one month in the university's study abroad/mission program and 99 students (control group) who took classes on campus during the same time period. The development of the student's faith was measured by three instruments: 1) a six question qualitative survey given to the study group; 2) the Faith Maturity Scale (FMS) published by the Search Institute; and 3) Growth in Mature Faith Index (GMFI) published by the Search Institute.The quantitative data analysis indicated no significant differences between pre- and post-scores for the FMS and GMFI; but the research did find changes that were significant on some of the question items between the two groups, such as the SAM participants becoming more accepting of people with different religious beliefs. Inflated research alpha levels (for multiple testing) were of concern for the researcher, as was the ceiling effect (pre-trip levels above the highest national levels for any age group) with the Christian college student population. Qualitative data indicated that the Study Abroad Mission Students developed in their relationship with God and their service to others.
School of Continuing Education and Public Service

Background: Medical mission trips that go to developing countries are becoming more popular worldwide and there is need for rigorous quality assessment of the care that these trips provide. Current scrutiny of these trips stems from the lack of established metrics to assess these programs’ quality and from the dearth of literature that attempts to evaluate these trips’ care quality. In developed countries, however, the structure, process, and outcomes paradigm is commonly used to comprehensively assess care quality and many tools exist to evaluate each of these respective quality categories. In this study, we apply these assessment tools to evaluate the structure, processes, and outcomes of Operation Walk (Op-Walk) Boston’s medical mission joint replacement trips to the Dominican Republic (D.R.). Methods: For Op-Walk Boston’s medical mission trip to the D.R., the structure and process elements of care quality were assessed using the Blue Cross/Blue Shield’s (BCBS) Blue Distinction criteria. Full points were given for criteria that the program replicates entirely and zero points were given for criteria that are not replicated entirely. For non-replicated criteria, Op-Walk Boston’s clinical and administrative teams were asked if they compensate for failure to meet the criterion, and they were also asked to identify barriers that prevent them from meeting the criterion. To assess the outcomes quality category, Op-Walk Boston’s patients completed Western Ontario and McMaster Universities’ Arthritis Indexes (WOMAC) and Short Form (36) Health Surveys (SF-36) preoperatively and at 12-month follow-up. Patients were stratified into low, medium, and high scoring preoperative groups based on their preoperative WOMAC function scores. We then examined the associations between these groups’ baseline functional status and two outcomes—improvement in functional status over 12 months and absolute functional status at 12 months—using ANOVA with multivariable linear regression. Results: The structure and process assessment revealed that Op-Walk Boston’s program scored 71 out of 100 possible points, exceeding the 60-point threshold needed to qualify for Blue Distinction. The program met five out of eight “required” criteria and 11 out of 19 “informational” criteria. It scored 14/27 in the “general” category, 30/36 in the “structure” category, 17/20 in the “process” category, and 10/17 in the “outcomes and volume” category. The outcomes assessment revealed that patients’ functional status and pain levels improved greatly after surgery and that those with the lowest WOMAC functional scores preoperatively made the greatest gains in function and pain relief following their joint replacement. Conclusion: Our analysis shows that Op-Walk Boston’s medical mission trip provides high quality care across all care quality categories. An analysis of the program’s structure and processes reveals that Op-Walk Boston scores well on the Blue Distinction criteria’s structure and process categories. In addition to demonstrating high quality structure and processes, the Blue Distinction analysis identifies areas of programmatic improvement and identifies targets for future quality improvement initiatives. Furthermore, the analysis shows that many Blue Distinction criteria can only be met by hospitals operating in the United States (U.S.), so future work should focus on creating criteria that are applicable to total joint replacement (TJR) mission trips in the context of developing countries. Our analysis of the program’s outcomes shows that all tertiles in the Dominican cohort exhibited substantial improvements and high absolute scores at one-year follow-up, demonstrating that the program achieves high quality outcomes. Similar to cohorts from developed countries, Op-Walk patients with poorer preoperative functional statuses improve more than patients who had a higher preoperative level of function. Contrasting developed country cohorts, however, all Dominican tertiles had similar one-year follow-up outcomes regardless of their baseline WOMAC function status, suggesting that poor preoperative function may not limit absolute scores at one-year follow-up. Additional research is needed to confirm these findings in other developing countries and to understand why these associations vary between patients in the D.R. and patients from developed countries.

L'objectif scientifique de ce travail de thèse est d'améliorer l'estimation des flux d'eau à la surface des continents, à l'échelle saisonnière et interannuelle (de quelques années à décennale). En particulier, il s'agit d'étudier l'apport de données satellites, notamment de la future mission SWOT (Surface Water and Ocean Topography, lancement prévu en 2021), pour l'étude de la partie continentale du cycle de l'eau à l'échelle globale, à l'aide du modèle global de surfaces continentales ISBA-TRIP (Intéractions Sol-Biosphère-Atmosphère/Total Runoff and Integrating Pathways). Dans ce travail de thèse, j'explore le potentiel des données d'altimétrie satellitaire, pour corriger certains paramètres du modèle de routage de rivière TRIP et aussi pour corriger ses variables d'état. Pour ce faire, une plateforme d'assimilation de données virtuelles SWOT, mais aussi de données d'altimètres nadirs actuels a été mise en place. Mais avant l'assimilation de ces données de télédétection, il a été nécessaire de faire une analyse de sensibilité du modèle TRIP à ses paramètres, pour déterminer quels paramètres ont le plus d'influence sur les observables SWOT et qui donc pourront être corrigés. L'analyse de sensibilité (ANOVA) a alors été menée sur les principaux paramètres de TRIP. L'analyse de sensibilité a été menée sur le bassin de L'Amazone et les résultats ont été publiés. Les résultats ont montré que les hauteurs d'eau simulées sont sensibles aux paramètres géomorphologiques locaux exclusivement tandis que les débits simulés sont sensibles à l'ensemble des paramètres amont (selon le réseau de routage TRIP) et surtout au paramètre lié au temps de résidence des eaux souterraines. Enfin, les anomalies de hauteurs présentent des sensibilités similaires aux hauteurs d'eau mais avec des variations temporelles plus marquées. Ces résultats nous ont permis de faire les choix algorithmiques dans le cadre de l'assimilation de données. Ensuite, je me suis concentrée sur le développement de la maquette d'assimilation de données consistant en un Filtre de Kalman d'Ensemble (EnKF) et permet de faire soit de l'estimation de paramètres, soit de l'estimation d'état. La maquette en " estimation de paramètres " est testée et validée par une série d'expériences jumelles. On a assimilé des pseudo-observations de hauteurs et d'anomalies d'eau le long des traces du satellite SWOT, afin de corriger les coefficients de Manning du lit de la rivière, avec possibilité d'étendre à d'autres paramètres. Les premiers résultats montrent que la maquette est capable de retrouver la bonne distribution des coefficients de Manning en assimilant les hauteurs d'eau et les anomalies. Pour l'estimation d'état, on réalise des étapes d'assimilation journalières pour corriger le stock d'eau initial (condition initiale du modèle), en assimilant des débits estimés à partir de séries altimétriques de côtes d'eau ENVISAT. A partir de courbe de tarage hauteurs d'eau-débits calibrées sur le bassin de l'Amazone avec le modèle hydrologique MGB-IPH, les côtes d'eau ont été transformées en " débits altimétriques " que l'on assimile alors dans la maquette. Ces expériences d'estimation d'état nous permettent de sortir du cadre idéalisé des expériences jumelles en assimilant des données réelles, mais nous permet aussi de tester l'apport d'un premier jeu de données de débits provenant de mesures satellites, qui préfigure le futur produit de débit SWOT. Les résultats montrent que les erreurs sur le débits sont globalement améliorées : le run libre donne un RMSE de 2,79x103 m3/s (73,6 %) par rapport aux données in situ disponible sur le bassin et le run corrigé un RMSE de 1,98 x 103 m3/s (53,9 %)
Scientific objective of this PhD work is to improve water fluxes estimation on the continental surfaces, at interanual and interseasonal scale (from few years to decennial time period). More specifically, it studies contribution of remotely-sensed measurements to improve hydrology model. Notably, this work focuses on the incoming SWOT mission (Surface Water and Ocean Topography, launch scheduled for 2021) for the study of the continental water cycle at global scale, and using the land surface model ISBA-TRIP. In this PhD work, I explore the potential of satellite data to correct both input parameters of the river routing scheme TRIP and its state variables. To do so, a data assimilation platform has been set to assimilate SWOT virtual observation as well as discharge estimated from real nadir altimetry data. Beforehand, it was necessary to do a sensibility analysis of TRIP model to its parameters. The aim of such study was to highlight what are the most impacting parameters on SWOT-observed variables and therefore select the ones to correct via data assimilation. The sensibility analysis (ANOVA) has been led on TRIP main parameters. The study has been done over the Amazon basin. The results showed that the simulated water levels are sensitive to local geomorphological parmaters exclusively. On the other hand, the simulated discharges are sensitive to upstream parameters (according to the TRIP river routing network) and more particularly to the groundwater time constant. Finally, water anomalies present sensitivities similar to those of the water levels but with more pronounced temporal variations. These results also lead me to do some choices in the implementation of the assimilation scheme and have been published. Therefore, in the second part of my PhD, I focused on developing a data assimilation platform which consists in an Ensemble Kalman Filter (EnKF). It could either correct the model input parameters or directly its state. A series of twin experiments is used to test and validate the parameter estimation module of the platform. SWOT virtual-observations of water heights and anomalies along SWOT tracks are assimilated to correct the river manning coefficient, with the possibility to easily extend to other parameters. First results show that the platform is able to recover the "true" Manning distribution assimilating SWOT-like water heights and anomalies. In the state estimation mode, daily assimilation cycles are realized to correct TRIP river water storage initial state by assimilating ENVISAT-based discharge. Those observations are derived from ENVISAT water elevation measures, using rating curves from the MGB-IPH hydrological model (calibrated over the Amazon using in situ gages discharge). Using such kind of observation allows going beyond idealized twin experiments and also to test contribution of a remotely-sensed discharge product, which could prefigure the SWOT discharge product. The results show that discharge after assimilation are globally improved : the root-mean-square error between the analysis discharge ensemble mean and in situ discharges is reduced by 28 \%, compared to the root-mean-square error between the free run and in situ discharges (RMSE are respectively equal to 2.79 x 103 m3/s and 1.98 x 103 m3/s)

Le bassin versant du fleuve Niger est directement influencé par les fluctuations de la mousson africaine, qui impactent les ressources en eau et entraînent des évènements extrêmes tels que des inondations ou des sécheresses. En retour, les forts taux d'évaporation observés dans le Delta intérieur du Niger, large région annuellement inondée, impactent le climat, au moins à l'échelle régionale. Une meilleure compréhension des processus hydrodynamiques de ce bassin ne peut cependant être obtenue sans un réseau d'observations ayant une couverture spatiale et temporelle suffisante. La mission SWOT fournira des cartes 2D de hauteurs et pente des eaux de surface avec une résolution encore jamais atteinte en altimétrie (50 à 100 mètres). Cette thèse s'inscrit dans le cadre de la phase de préparation à la mission SWOT et se propose d'offrir des perspectives d'utilisation de ces données satellites pour l'amélioration des modèles d'hydrologie globale. Dans un premier temps, le modèle hydrologique du CNRM, ISBA-TRIP, incluant un schéma d'inondations et un réservoir simple d'aquifères ajouté durant cette thèse est évalué sur le bassin du Niger à l'aide de multiples observations in-situ et satellites. L'étude montre que le modèle simule de façon cohérente l'évolution des eaux de surface, des zones inondées, et les anomalies de stock d'eau sur le bassin. Ensuite, un schéma d'assimilation de données est mis en place afin d'optimiser un des paramètres clés en hydrologie, le coefficient de Manning. Ce coefficient, décrivant la propriété du sol à 'retenir' les flux d'eau, influence fortement la dynamique des eaux de surface, et notamment les hauteurs d'eau et le débit. L'assimilation des données SWOT est appliquée dans le cadre d'une expérience jumelle, qui consiste à considérer une simulation de référence, appelée 'vérité', de laquelle sont issues les observations virtuelles de hauteur d'eau SWOT. L'étude montre que l'assimilation des hauteurs d'eau SWOT permet l'optimisation du coefficient de Manning, distribué spatialement, malgré l'hypothèse d'équifinalité. Les hauteurs d'eau et les débits sont considérablement améliorés, et on obtient une meilleure simulation des anomalies de stocks d'eau sur le bassin ainsi que des zones inondées sur le Delta intérieur du Niger (occurrence, intensité). Enfin, le potentiel des données SWOT pour améliorer les prévisions hydrologiques sur des périodes plus longues que celle de la phase d'assimilation est mis en évidence
The hydrologic and hydrodynamic processes of the Niger basin are largely influenced by the West African monsoon variabilty. In the last 3 decades these variations have resulted in an increase of extreme events such as floods and droughts. Retrospectively, the climate might be impacted by the evaporation fluxes from the inner Delta flooded region, at least regionally. A better understanding of the Niger basin water cycle is a crucial issue for water resources management but requires observation datasets with a large spatial and temporal coverage. The SWOT satellite mission will provide 2D global maps of water level and slope at an unprecedented resolution (50 to 100 meters). Within the framework of the preparation of the SWOT mission, this thesis aims at proposing a SWOT data assimilation strategy for the improvement of global scale hydrological models. First, the ISBA-TRIP hydrological model from CNRM is evaluated over the Niger basin. This model includes an inundation scheme and simple aquifer reservoir. The model diagnostics are compared to an extensive set of in-situ and satellite observations. According to its relative simple physics, the model is able to simulate in a realistic manner, the continental water dynamics : discharge, water levels, floods, total water storage variations. Sensitivity tests are also performed to determine the most sensitve ISBA-TRIP parameters. Among them, the Manning coefficient has a key role in the flow dynamics but its estimation is difficult and usually based on geomorphologic relationships. The second part of this work consists in setting up a SWOT data assimilation strategy for the optimization of the ISBA-TRIP parameters. Since the SWOT observations are not available yet and also to assess the skills of the assimilation method, the study is carried out in the framework of an Observing System Simulation Experiment (OSSE). The corrected parameter is the Manning coefficient, spatially distributed over the river. The assimilation allows a good improvement of the relative bias of discharge and water level over the river. The Manning coefficient is also globally improved and tends to an optimal value. Moreover, the water storage anomalies and flooded fraction are also better simulated. Finally, the study shows that the method is useful for hydrological forecasting over longer time periods than those of the calibration

Short-term volunteer mission trips account for an important aspect of global health care. The demand and desire to attend a mission trip has grown over the past decade. Self-fulfillment, altruism and philanthropy are said to be the motivating factors behind mission trips. In the present study, the motivation behind abroad short-term volunteer mission trips will be further researched and reported on. Mission trips to third-world countries, providing volunteer healthcare and oral health education have gained much popularity across the United States since their start in the 1980s. These trips are seen as selfless yet self-fulfilling opportunities. The benefits of these short-term volunteer mission trips will be evaluated in this thesis.Some characteristics that make mission trips valuable include the benefits experienced by patients, who would normally not have access to care and also by volunteer participants, who are able to give back to marginalized populations. More recently, the roles of physicians (and dentists) have been studied. Along with studying clinician’s roles on the trips, students’ educational experiences have been examined. Information on various perspectives have been written and are accompanied by a considerable amount of supporting information. Of these arguable points, many consist of discussing the enlargement of educational opportunities. By being a part of these mission’s trips, students can gain valuable skills for their future careers. Cross-cultural experiences during the trips are another alluring aspect for students. As supported by evidence, cultural awareness in the medical and dental field has had a great impact on volunteers. So much so that access to clinical experiences while abroad balances out the needs for the community while serving as a unique educational opportunity to students. The increasing popularity of volunteer trips providing third-world countries with access to healthcare has come with both advantages and disadvantages. The pitfalls and risks of volunteering abroad will be discussed including the drawbacks that include ethical dilemmas. In addition, issues with the infrastructure and framework of the visited country’s health care system are considered. This literature review takes a comprehensive look at medical/dental mission trips of all healthcare fields and proceeds to evaluate associated studies in which patients’ benefits, cross-cultural experiences and providers’ and students’ roles are affected by them.

Since 1992, the number of short-term mission (STM) travelers has exponentially increased for more than a decade. The purpose of STMs is to spread religious messages to local residents. In order to spread the word of God, STM travelers attempt to interact with local residents. They want to communicate with local residents in the host community and build a relationship with them. Therefore, for STM travelers their relationship with local residnets really matters. Many tourism scholars have argued that hosts-tourists interaction heavily influences both tourists and hosts. In spite of the increased popularity and the importance of host-tourist interaction in the context of STMs, STMs have received relatively little attention from the tourism research field. Accordingly, the purpose of this study is to understand short-term mission travelers' interaction with local residents within four existing theories: the theory of leisure and tourist motivation, the theory of cultural hegemony, the gift-exchange theory, and the integrative theory of cross-cultural adaptation. To reach this research aim, this study used a qualitative research design rooted in the constructivist paradigm. A total of 43 STM travelers participated in the interview of this study. Considering the concept of the cultural distance between the participant's home culture and the host culture, American and Korean STM travelers who visited Cambodia or Thailand were recruited. Also, to understand the process of participant's relationship-building and cross-cultural adaptation, both pre- and post-interviews with 26 participants were conducted. The results showed that STM travelers sought personal and interpersonal rewards from the trip, which supports the theory of leisure motivation. Also, this type of travel had similarities with alternative, mass, and volunteer tourism in terms of tourist motivation. Regarding the theory of cultural hegemony, hegemonic power was exercised through STM travelers' work. STM travelers took advantage of an opportunity to provide what locals wanted as an opportunity to spread their religious message. Furthermore, identified conflicts between Christianity and the local culture support the existence of cultural hegemony. Concerning the relationship-building process of STM travelers, the results suggested that STM travelers built their relationship with local people and God by providing a gift to them and positively evaluating receivers' responses. In terms of the theory of cross-cultural adaptation, this study found support for this theory as successful intercultural adaptation led to a personal transformation in travelers. Finally, cultural distance was considered as a dimension of the intercultural adaptation theory. Regarding the perceived cultural distance, American mission travelers reported cultural distance with the host culture whereas Korean mission travelers expressed a cultural similarity to the host cultures rather than cultural difference.