We are very thankful for new missionaries and their support teams. It takes
a lot of work to learn the language and the culture. It takes a large
support team to believe in them, and to pray for them, and to support
them financially.
Missionaries live fairly transparent, public lives (less
privacy). People come here to serve, but for the first couple of years
they can hardly even talk to anyone. Then slowly things start coming
into focus and making sense, kind of like a baby whose eyes first see
her mother’s face, then they can focus across the room, then across the
yard. It’s kind of hard to get started. New missionaries are expected to
go to so many meetings where they don’t know what people are saying.
And they have to appear interested. You can imagine the challenge.
Missionaries are here to raise up local leaders, in the training arena of
the local church, and to eventually leave it running and growing under
its own leadership. We are so grateful to each new missionary willing
to obey God even to the point of living in a foreign land if God asks
them to do this. Many times the asking is not really clear. It is many
steps of faith, that are confirmed along the way. I realize it is
challenging in different ways to be disciple of Jesus in your home
country. The tests come in unexpected ways. It is also a walk of faith.
May God bless you as you walk with Him in obedience, faith, and
friendship.
