Missionary Confidential

I’ve been posting a series on how I became a full-time missionary to Western Europe. Click for “Part 1: My Backstory”, “Part 2: Ashes in My Mouth”, and “Part 3: Learning the Ropes”.

With our “marching orders” from God, we set out to begin the fundraising process and, at the same time, reveal our future plans to friends and family. Because of our denominational history and our family’s lack of encouragement in ministry or missions, we knew that this would not be easy.

I wish I could give a report of hugs, joy and excitement from those who knew us well, but you can probably anticipate that’s not part of this story. We explained God’s call, our heart, the (very) long-term nature of our ministry in Western Europe, and the fact that we were about to sell off or give away most everything that we’d accumulated during our marriage. Yes, everything: car, furniture, basically all you would find in a three-bedroomed house. I do not mention this out of pride but the fact is necessary to understand people’s shock and disapproval.

Friends received the news with polite looks of concern, you know, the pained grimace of a smile with the drawn out, “Well, if that’s what you want.” I know that they were quietly reviewing the other ministries we’d been involved in and (understandably) thinking that this was just another phase for which we were liquidating our life. Some felt we wouldn’t even make it out of the States. » Read the rest of this entry «

This week I’ve been posting a series on how I became a full-time missionary to Western Europe. Click for “Part 1: My Backstory” and “Part 2: Ashes in My Mouth”.

So the scary word “missionary” was before us. God had made it clear that this was what He wanted for us, and it was rather daunting. Unlike some Christians I have met, this had not been a goal for either of us at any point in our lives, before or during our marriage. We were not PKs (Pastor’s Kids) or MKs (Missionaries’ Kids), nor were we hyper-religious. We did not grow up reading stories of famous missionaries. While I believed in the Great Commission and had much respect for those in the mission field, it didn’t seem like it was for me. It seemed weird. And difficult.

The questions started swirling around: what will this look like, how will we live, what about funds and, most importantly, where will we go? Some of our lack of comprehension about missions was further complicated by the fact that the large denomination that we were raised in (they are not responsible for sending us here, by the way) sent and paid missionaries at the administration level, discouraging the fundraising process or individual churches sending missionaries. We had a missionary or two speak at our respective churches, but because the need to appeal for funds was absent it seemed that few were willing to talk to churches about what they did in the field. » Read the rest of this entry «

Today’s inauguration reminded me of a missionary-related incident back in September.  A couple who were raising support for a year-long missions stint in Slovakia were informed that, due to the wife’s public support of Obama, some people were reluctant to fund their ministry.  It appears that things still progressed despite this snag and they are now in Slovakia.  Welcome to Europe!

We’ve arrived back from taking a week off to celebrate a milestone anniversary. It was a great time of unwinding, disconnecting from daily tasks, and just plain resting. While we travelled a bit away from our home, it wasn’t so much of a sight-seeing trip but a get-away. Besides, the January weather of most anywhere in Europe just isn’t conducive to travel or outdoor activities.

But our supporters don’t know that we took a vacation.

Despite the fact that we only took four vacation days last year (it’s just so expensive for accommodation and travel in our neck of the woods), we risk criticism and support loss if we revealed we took a holiday or even some time off. Why? Because as we queried missionaries, pastors and supporters (before we began our mission) as to how they felt about vacationing missionaries (not on furlough), we were met with some disappointing responses.

» Read the rest of this entry «

One of the churches where we help out here from time to time was gifted with a large amount of brand-new desktop computers almost four years ago. The donor from the States took it upon himself to decide that the church needed not only computers for staff use but a computer lab was necessary. On the surface, this was a great idea that made the donor feel that their money was being well spent, plus it most likely sounded impressive and generous to those in his circle (I happen to know the specific donor and his personality would bear this out). Then the donor disappears.

Fast forward a couple of years later to us entering the service of the church and offering our technical knowledge to help with the computer lab which by then was, simply, a mess. What we found was an unsecured wireless internet, viruses (or is it virii?) running rampant, and at least half of the computers rendered non-functional. It took us quite some time to clean up and lock down each computer, and acquiring security/anti-virus software ended up costing the church. After some rudimentary training of the staff on computer security and maintenance, the church computers were in much better shape.

Fast forward one last time to 2009, and the computers are nearing their planned obsolescent end-of-life. The staff have become dependent on the office computers for ministry, so the lab computers have been slowly repurposed as each office computer gives up the ghost. In fact, the lab no longer exists because there are no more computers left for it. Meanwhile, several office computers are making the sounds and signals of impending failure. The church, already financially struggling, may not have the finances to replace any of the remaining computers.

The donor just made a timely reappearance, but instead of asking the church what it needed (replacement computers, or maybe even cash to pay the heating bill), they were “gifted” with banner printers. That need a supply of ink. And a computer to run them. » Read the rest of this entry «