Comments on: Should Missionaries Take Vacations?

By: C. Holland

C. Holland — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 07:00:54 +0000

@Tai: I wasn’t aware of Taiwan’s culture about rest and vacation. That would definitely not be understood in Western Europe!

By: Tai Fu

Tai Fu — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 02:31:22 +0000

The thing is for Americans who do take time off it’s still hard because Europeans takes more time off, but for those of us in Taiwan who is called to Europe, it’s worse because Taiwanese or any other Asians takes NO time off. I mean none, most people work over 15 hours a day, six days a week and they get at MOST, one week per year of vacation, and they are usually not paid. In Asian culture they see rest as a taboo and if anyone takes time off it is often seen as laziness. I do recognize that a time of rest should be mandatory after a period of stress, regardless of culture and unfortunately in Taiwan the general health of the people here shows what a long period of continuous work does. News stories of people suddenly dying from heart attack at the age of 35 or under is commonplace! Most of the time cause of death is overwork, they really work a lot.

By: C. Holland

C. Holland — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 07:31:49 +0000

@Grady: I understand. We take vacation in our mission field, and because it is such a small country where everyone seems to know or be related to everyone else, we’re conscious that in a way we’re still being “watched” as missionaries. We were in a shop just last week in another part of the country that we’d never been in, and the workers were whispering to each other. I clearly overheard our church mentioned (it’s an odd name), and they were staring at us.

However, I’ve been in my field for close to three years with no visits back to the States that I fear the severe culture shock if we should return.

By: Grady Bauer

Grady Bauer — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 22:40:08 +0000

It’s a little different for us because we’re fully funded by our organization. We’re allowed 4 weeks per year and I take every day of it. We need it as a family…and I need it personally.

The thing that people don’t understand is that in the US when you’re off of work…you can do and go anywhere you want…see family…go shopping…go out to eat…in a world that is comfortable and in English. On my days off I don’t see family…don’t get comfort foods and still have to do everything in the local language. It’s not the same….so I take the vacation time….I just don’t publicize every aspect of it.

By: C. Holland

C. Holland — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 21:43:36 +0000

@Greg: We don’t broadcast any time off, and we’re still getting used to the concept as we didn’t get more than a week back in the States at our secular jobs. But we’ll get there slowly.

@Adam: I agree completely, especially about the Sabbath. And it’s not like we went into missions for grandiose vacations. We, too, got some of the same sarcastic remarks, and we’re in a place that’s less than 1% evangelical Christian. Good point about missionaries judging the givers. I’ve definitely been guilty at times.

By: Adam

Adam — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 21:09:35 +0000

I have a few things to say as I am a missionary myself in Sweden. Of course you should be able to take a vacation and I would say if you are trying to adapt to the culture do so within the cultural context if possible. Swedes get 5-6 weeks paid vacation a year which most spend during the summer and guess what, they are some of the healthiest, at least physically speaking, people in the world for taking a break. God created our body for rest, we have to sleep 7-9 hrs a night, and God even commanded Israel to take a day off per week. If your supporters have something wrong with you taking a vacation, I would be gentle with them but lovingly explain that missions is not a vacation. When I tell many people that i’m going to Sweden they have a sarcastic remark, “oh that’s gotta be tough”. Live in a country where 2% of the population is Christian, and where you don’t see the sun half the year, it’s not a Ski resort. As far as saying a missionary taking a holiday that some of their supporters couldn’t afford, well I would honestly just say then there’s a possibility that maybe they are not managing their money as wisely as the missionary is. My grannie supports me, but she wouldn’t have the money to do some of the things I’ve had the opportunity to do nor would she want to. Missions support is supposed to be about a partnership of trust on both ends and not about judgement. I find myself sometimes in the same boat saying, okay this guy can go out and by a brand new motorcycle that he can’t afford, but he can’t give me $5 more a month? Us missionaries are guilty of judging the givers as much as the givers are about judging the receivers. I think if our supporters have a problem with anything their money is going to we should be able to talk with them about it. Show them your budget and explain why. If they still don’t like it, then maybe they are not suppose to support you any longer…. We as the receivers of financial support are to minister to those not just in the country we are in, but also to our supporters. Teach them, pray for them, encourage them. Sorry this was kind of long, just had a lot of thoughts about it. If you have any comments about what I said, feel free to let me know.

By: Greg in Mexico

Greg in Mexico — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 18:19:54 +0000

Wow! I say ditch the gringo mindset, contextualize & take that 28-day holiday! Just don’t so openly broadcast it… X-D

By: D. Simon

D. Simon — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 22:48:46 +0000

Fascinating ideas and also a very interesting comment from Liam about taking a holiday the supporters themselves couldn’t afford. Ultimately, I don’t think there can be a hard and fast rule. But why do we not have problems with our pastors taking holidays but for missionaries, it is a different story? And even though I haven’t been on a furlough, I cannot imagine that being very restful at all.

By: Liam Byrnes

Liam Byrnes — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 16:21:42 +0000

Interesting subject. I think that proclaiming 4 weeks as a ‘right’! communicates a mis-understanding in the fact that being a missionary is not a profession, its a vocation, but I firmly believe that those in ministry need sabbath days and extended sabbaths (read holiday, rest period etc).

Ive also wondered what peoples take on taking a holiday most of your supporters couldn’t afford, such as a ski trip, if it wasn’t mostly gifted to you?

Im finding great interest in your blog posts, Thanks!