The first piece of advice I remember hubby giving me when we got to the field nearly eight years ago was this, "We're not going to write anything negative back home."Did negative things happen? Of course! Did I write about those things and send them back home? Well, I did write about them, in big, long e-mails to my sweet, understanding mother-in-law. She is a veteran missionary, and surely she would understand. But I never sent those e-mails. So, why did I write them? Because just typing it all out in black and white seemed to help me feel better. I felt like someone knew... even if it was just the 'ole computer.
The Lord knew the hard times we faced because I certainly talked to Him about them too. And that is enough. Some of the things we have gone through will never be known. Why? Because those things are not of eternal value. Why do missionaries go through difficulties? Because the devil is against what we are trying to accomplish! Through my "Missionary Mondays," I am going to share with you some of the "real side" of being a missionary. You need to see that. But we are going to laugh together and stay positive! Because, to this day, I am following hubby's advice, "We're not going to write anything negative back home."
(And, by the way, lots of positive things are happening on the mission field too! Just read this blog on a regular basis and you will agree!)
Below you will find a stanza from a poem that I found online.
...So when you're on the mission field and things look very drear,
Remember there's a recipe to fill your heart with cheer.
Don't dwell upon the differences or the culture seeming wrong --
Get on your knees and pray to God and ask Him for a song.
And think of how God's only Son left Heaven up above,
Coming to a foreign culture to bring to man God's love.
And all of the frustration and the hardship you go through
Really cannot be compared with what He did for you!!
--Author Unknown
Proverbs 25:25 As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country. I have heard many pastors refer to this verse when trying to encourage their people to write and encourage missionaries. But, for me, this verse goes the other way: people want to hear good news from my far country... about the blessings and miracles that are taking place here on the mission field!