The Next Cure For Boring

“These trips are all the same. And there’s one every week. It’s boring.”

These words from a friend confirmed what I already suspected to be true. Blogging trips are boring.

These Trips Are All The Same

For five years Compassion Bloggers has been taking bloggers overseas to see the ministry of Compassion International and write about it. And every trip, like computers in the 1980s, looks the same. The size of the group is always the same. The schedule of each day during the trip is always the same. The things we see and write about? The same. The reactions by the bloggers to seeing poverty for the first time? Same.

And There’s One Every Week

Compassion International was the only non-profit partnering with bloggers in 2008. But not anymore. Today, there are at least thirteen organizations similar to Compassion International who have launched blog marketing programs like ours. A lot like ours. These programs seem to be using Compassion Bloggers as their template at times.

So not only is Compassion Bloggers making beige boxes. So is everyone else.

It’s Boring

Apple invented the personal computer. And by 1993 the world was flooded with them. An engineer could tell you what made each one different but to the consumer? All the same. And all boring.

When I was in college I read an article about an experimental computer being tinkered with at Apple called the iMac. A round computer in a rectangular marketplace. A brightly colored machine in a world of boring beige. Steve Jobs decided it was time for a computer that was intentionally and obviously different. Apple believed it had superior technology that deserved to be noticed.

I bought Apple stock when I was 19. I made a down payment on a house when I sold it years later. “Think different” kinda worked.

What’s Next For Compassion Bloggers?

Compassion Bloggers is evolving in 2014. Slowly but surely. Starting with our trip to Uganda January 27-31.

No more beige. Instead of one kind of trip, we’ll have at least three. They will be different from each other and different from anything anyone else is doing too. Because what Compassion is doing in the lives of children around the world deserves to be noticed.

How You Can Help

If you have ideas, criticism or encouragement for us as we evolve, you can email [email protected]. Our best ideas have always come from you. Thank you.

8 comments on “The Next Cure For Boring”

Elizabeth says:

Shaun,

It was that trip to Uganda several years back that got my attention. Of course, Sophie’s monkey trap story had tears of laughter rolling down my cheeks. But as I continued to read the stories the tears weren’t from laughter anymore.

As soon as we could find some wiggle room in our budget (we are missionaries, ourselves) we decided to sponsor Mohammed Ibrahim in Bangladesh. He was my Christmas present! 🙂

Unfortunately in our consumeristic society, things have to constantly be “new and improved!” to get anyone’s attention. I pray that yall find just the right mix of genuine storytelling and shiny packaging to continue to engage people’s hearts and get as many precious children sponsored as possible!

Jolanthe says:

Cannot wait to see what is in store to share the lives of those being touched by Compassion around the world. Praying for you all. 🙂

Christine @ Glory to God says:

I hang on every word. Every time. They are never boring to me. Thank you for your commitment to these precious children and their families.

Yvonne Reynolds says:

Just got home a couple of days ago from my first Compassion Sponsor Trip to Mexico, and I can say that our trip was definitely not boring! I love reading about everyone’s experiences on these blogger trips! These bloggers have the opportunity to make more people aware of the wonderful work that Compassion is doing through the local churches in the 26 countries that Compassion is partnering with. These churches are working to change lives by sharing the hope of Jesus, how can that be boring? The children definitely don’t think it is boring! Oh, and have you ridden an hour in the back of a cattle truck through the rainforest in Chiapas yet? If you haven’t, it is the best way to see the jungles down there!