has anyone done this to you?

Question

So today I came home to see a letter from my husbands aunt and uncle. They live far from the rest of the family so we only ever see them on thankgiving and the grandparents birthdays. In the letter they said that their daughter (21) went to Haiti on a mission trip 2 years ago and loved it so much and fell in love with the kids and the work and she told them that they HAD to go. So finally they decided to go as well and are leaving this July for about a week. In the letter they ask for prayers ( a numbered list of things they'd like us to pray for them for- weird in my opinion but then again I am not religious at all ) and on top of that they told us EXACTLY how much the trip would cost them (1,652$) and in the letter they included an smaller, addressed envelope and asked us all to donate towards their charitable trip. 
I found this not shocking but just plain weird. 
They're adults with 2 full time jobs. Both their kids are adults and out of the house. Why are they reaching out to their family members and asking for money for a trip they didn't have to take?? I mean yes they're going there to do some good but honestly that isn't even that much money?? (I took my husband on a week long snowboarding trip in CO and in total it cost me 5 grand for everything and I managed to save up that money in 2 months along with paying rent and all my bills) 
But the other thing is last year my husbands great uncle (so mother/aunts uncle. Grandmothers brother) passed away and left a HUGE inheritance to every blood relative. All the grand nieces and nephews were left 35k EACH and all the nieces (my husbands mother and 3 sisters) and each of their husbands were left 50k EACH! That's 100k per couple. 100,000$!!! 
So I KNOW they have money. At least they did at some point. Maybe it's saved. Maybe it's invested. Maybe they paid off their house and have none left. Who knows! But they for sure had money to set aside for this trip so why are they barking up our tree trying to get OUR money when they damn well have their own? 
I haven't said anything to my husband because what could I possibly gain from attacking a family member 🤷🏻‍♀️ also I don't think it's productive to say negative things about my family or his. We both just sort of ignored it but in my head it's been sort of bothering me and I just had to get it out. What're your thoughts?

*not sure this is. Controversial but I wasn't sure where else to put it as it may cause controversy *

Edit: I'm probably just ~upset~ about this (for lack of a better word) because I just bought a house. Am due in July and am going back to school in august! I ain't got no goddam money!! Lol back off!!

Answer

Are they going on a mission trip with a group/ church organization? This is pretty customary in that type of situation and many donate as a charitable tax write off. It's not meant to offend and it is not obligatory, I can see how it can be taken out of context given the amount of money they have come upon, but I wouldn't read too far into it. It's very likely the trip will come out of their own pocket, but it's a great way for others to be a small part of a great cause! Not everyone can drop everything and go, but it allows for the opportunity to participate in some good!

Answer

Not exactly that, but when I was in high school a girl I knew whose father was a pastor went on one of those European cultural trips and told everyone it was "mission work" she got the entire thing funded by the congregation.

I thought it was pretty gross, although I did have the pleasure of explaining to her that no, those "bathroom water fountains" weren't for washing her clothes in as she'd done.

Answer

Pray for them for sure (if you believe). Send them a dollar in their envelope 🤷🏼‍♀️

Answer

That's not weird at all. Lol atleast they are asking for something good. Thats usually how it goes. Atleast they had the decency to do a personal letter instead of a gofundme.

Answer

That is pretty weird. The whole situation and what they did and how they did it. Smh lol are you guys close to them?

Answer

The prayer list is pretty normal, especially for a mission trip. The money thing is normal if you are a high school or college student, but in this situation asking for money is just plain weird.

Answer

It's very common for people to ask for donations for those trips. I personally find it distasteful so I don't give them money.

Answer

My aunt and cousin do this. I think it's weird and I don't send money. I would rather donate to a local cause.

Answer

Seems weird and I'd genuinely think some scammer knew my relatives name somehow and send a money grabber through the mail. 😂

I get friends/family on long term trips with a blog they update and paypal where you can buy them a meal but not asking for money for whole trips.

Answer

I think that is wrong for them to ask if they have or had so much money if they wanted to go on this trip they should've gone when they had the lump sum. I don't understand and I wouldn't contribute to their vacation. When I was reading this I didn't think it was going to go this route I thought they invited y'all to come with and we're paying lol man was I wrong! Hahaha

has anyone done this to you?

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