Missionaries

Picture: New missionaries, my niece Suzanne and her husband Bob

I grew up hearing about – and hearing – missionaries. My mother had a real heart for missions, and it was her strong desire that at least one of her children become a missionary. I think it was probably that strong desire that caused 3 of her children to believe at one time that they were called to the mission field, but never went. I have no reason to believe that they were called, then reneged on their call. Perhaps they were “called” in a way, but not to a foreign field.

Of the 3, her oldest son suffered brain damage as a child, and as an adult, this affected his mental condition, and eventually he was unable to live independently.

The next son pursued the intent of being a missionary for much longer – it was not until after he was married (I believe) that he no longer held to his call to a foreign field. I cannot believe that he reneged on a genuine call – he has five children and many grandchildren, and all his family are serving the Lord today, so I cannot believe he has lived outside of God’s will.

The second daughter actually tried to go to a mission field – Cuba – when she was 19 years old, but was not permitted to go by herself as a minor (the majority age was then 21). She continued in Bible school, but she did not pursue the foreign mission field again.

The youngest (5th daughter) went to high school at a Bible school. She was the “rebellious” daughter (no one would think that in this day and age!), but while she was in high school, she found the Lord, and returned home full of the intent to go to a foreign mission field, without the influence of Mom’s desire. She did go. She was in Mozambique at the time of the Communist revolution. She was later in Zaire (now the Republic of the Congo), then in Rwanda (before the outbreak of the fighting between the 2 factions). After her marriage (at the age of 47), she and her husband went on several short term missions trips to the Philippines, and they also spent some time in Brazil (where her husband grew up).

Now – my brother’s younger daughter is preparing, with her husband, to be a full-time missionary. They went on a short-term missions trip to the Czech Republic earlier this year, and as a result, they felt the Lord’s call to full-time missionary service. This month – starting the 15th – they are going to Kampala, Uganda for a 2-week “introductory” missions trip. They will be there over Christmas. Then some time next year they will go on a 4 to 6 month “exploratory” trip to the area. By the end of 2008, they plan to be there as full-time missionaries. My mother’s dream continues!

(Originally posted December 12, 2007)