The Missionary’s (unreasonable?) Frustration
So here we are, at the convergence of the past and the future. This week in particular.
We’re madly trying to finish all the year’s schoolwork, filling in end-of-the-year forms, asking final questions. At the same time, filling out registration forms and planning for next year.
We’re going over medical files from the past in order to plan for doctor’s appointments for the future. Preparing for future Bible studies, talking to a few different people about future long/short term ministry, while preparing for interns and teams coming this month. Planning meetings, taking care of van maintenance, updating paperwork, planning speaking engagements, complaining to customer service because they sent us the wrong item…
Missionaries around the world are frustrated. Not because they have to prepare for a Bible study or visit someone who is sick unexpectedly – those are very “spiritual” activities.
No, they’re frustrated because they have to find a new vehicle, apply for a visa, fix the leak, take someone in their own family to the doctor (again), go to the meeting, and carry the water up the hill.
You see, we just want to do “ministry”. No, not just because it looks good to to the family and friends back home (easy to fall into that trap), but also because it “feels good” to us. It feels like we’re doing something worthwhile.
Delayed paperwork, broken pipes and returning items to the store for the third time – these are more likely to be “attacks of Satan”, and reasons for discouragement.
I don’t think we’re entirely wrong here – Satan, the world, and the flesh certainly don’t want us sharing the Gospel. And these things can end up taking up far too much time if we let them, and sometimes when we’re doing all we can to not let them.
And missionaries are often dealing with an added level of complexity – language barriers, cultural barriers, and the expectations of many different groups of people.
But that being said, maybe sometimes – sometimes – we just shouldn’t get quite so worked up.
Remember those people back in your “passport country”? Guess what? They may be going through just as much – often far more. As believers, they want to serve the Lord too, you know.
And that goes for the people you’re ministering to “on the field” too. They just may have it a lot harder than you. Just like you, they have to balance the “spiritual” things with the mundane, the unexpected with the planned, the things that they are “gifted” in with the things that they “have to do”.
And let’s not forget Genesis 2:15. God made man – and put him to work right away! Doing what? Gardening. Farming.
Those forms and trips and meetings are very often about loving your neighbour, taking care of your family, improving the system. Without minimizing the importance of sharing the Gospel – sharing has to go along with all these other activities in order to be effective. All work – assuming it’s God-honouring – is “spiritual”.
The cross cultural missionary does have unique challenges. But it’s time we remembered that those “extra” things are only making us a little more like the rest of the world.
In fact, it may actually be helpful to remember: our specific tasks may not be the same as the tasks the people around us have. But they have to deal with health problems in the family, make sure their children are prepared for school, make sure they have the money to pay the bills – just like the missionary. Maybe if we can learn that God is in it all, and that we can serve God in it all, and serve the Church in it all … maybe we’ll be able to pass that wisdom on to someone else.
And now? I do actually have a Sunday School class to prepare for. 😉