Missionaries are Special People ...

A few years ago my niece ,who was 18 at the time came to me and asked if it was okay if she didn't want to be a missionary. She had just come from a 3 week missionary trip in India and had not enjoyed it at all.

This girl really loves the Lord, and she was feeling very guilty because at that point in her life, missionary work was not what she wanted to do.

"But I've been told that God needs missionaries, and we need to answer his call, " she said.

"Not everyone is called to be a missionary, my dear girl. It is a special calling, one that not everyone can do. Yes, we are all told to preach the gospel in season and out, but we are not all called to do this on the missions field, " I told her.

Missionaries are special people. They live hard lives. They live in dangerous places, some in places where their lives can be in jeopardy. They live with disease and illnesses. Diseases that can be easily diagnosed and treated in this country, but not where they live. Some live without electricity or running water. They have to learn new languages and gain an understanding of the country and cultures that they are living in, and then adapt to the culture while showing the love of Jesus to those that they serve. They are in the trenches for Christ and their lives are hard.

Missionaries are special people there are no accolades every time that they give a speech, preach a sermon, or write a book. I wonder though if accolades are being collected in heaven and being turned into crowns for the missionary to throw at Jesus feet.

Missionaries are special people. Not everyone is called to be a full time missionary, and I think that it is important that while we should encourage missionary work we recognize that not everyone is called to be a missionary.

I am blessed watching their endurance and perseverance as they serve Christ.
I am blessed watching God work in their lives. He is good to meet their needs and help them through difficult times.
I am blessed to be a part of it by being a missionary mom.
I am blessed as I grow in faith because I choose to give my family to God over and over again.

I am thankful that God loves me and my children.
I am thankful that God is Sovereign and nothing happens to me or my children that He doesn't allow.
I am thankful that because of the finished work of Jesus that I can draw near to the throne of grace, and when I don't know how to pray that Jesus sits at the right hand of God interceding for my missionary.
I am thankful that all things work together for good to those that love God and are called according to His purpose.

Missionaries are special people.

For those that read this blog, please would you pray for my missionary son.
He is really really sick again and they aren't sure what is wrong. His computer is still down, but we did hear from him as he wanted us to pray for him.

You are My Hope....Help Me to WAIT On You...

It has been a hard week for me. My family here is stuggling with financial woes due to the economy. Erik's computer broke down, so that we have not heard from him, and may not for a while. Last I heard he was sick with malaria. It is easier to cope with anxiety over my missionary family when we have some communication.
I find that when I'm anxious or concerned that I easily can get fearful if I don't choose to get into the Word.
Last week I shared praying the scriptures for my children, and I find that praying the scripture for myself, gives me comfort, reminds me who is in control, and allows me to walk in peace.

My Prayer: Lord, I know that my way is not hidden from you, and I know that though I'm not hearing from my children that their way is not hidden from you. I know that you are the everlasting God, the Lord, the creator of the ends of the earth, You neither faint nor grow weary, Your understanding is unscrutable. You, O God, give power to the weak and to those of us who have no might then you increase our strength.


Your Word, says that both young and old can be faint and weary, they can fall, and right now I am feeling very weary.


Help me Lord, to WAIT on you, because You say that You will renew my strength and I will mount up with wings of Eagles. Help me to run and not be weary, then I will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:27-31

Why are you so downcast oh my soul, and why am I so disturbed right now?
I choose to put my hope in You oh God, for I will yet praise You, my Saviour. Please..

Direct Your love toward me during the day, and let your song rest in my mind at night. Psalm 12:5,8

Help me to be strong and to take heart because my hope,(my expectations) are in You. Psalm 31:21


Strengthen my feeble hands and knees, Lord make me steady and devoted to prayer, I know that you hear my prayer and supplications, because You incline Your ear to me. Therefore I shall call upon Your name as long as I live. Psalm 116:1,2

Lord, You are my God, and I love You, You are my children's God and You love them. You are compassionate and You preserve the simple. You and You alone can save us.

Return to rest oh my soul, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with me. Ps. 116:5,7

Forever Oh Lord, Your word is settled in heaven, and Your faithfulness continues through all generations. Ps. 119:90

Yours O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty; indeed everything that is in the heaves and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O Lord, and You exalt Yourself as head over all.

Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all, and in Your hand is power and might; and it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone.

Now therefore, My God, I thank You and praise Your glorious name. IChronicles 29:11-13

I love God's Word...

I brings me hope and comfort.

I heard from Erik not long after this was posted and he is feeling much better.

Trip Shots...

I set up Shots for myself and Sage today.
Sage needs a Hepatitis A shot and a Typhoid shot.
I need Typhoid.
We will both be taking pills to prevent malaria.
We leave 2 months from now.
Wahoo!!!

Easter Boxes....

Mailing Boxes to my missionary family is one of my ways of keeping in touch and feeling helpful.
We are blessed because the mail system in Vanuatu is very good. Every package I have sent in the last 9years has arrived intact. I know that not all countries in the world are this way.


Usually my packages cost more to send than the contents in them.
Favorite things are suckers (Joel calls them Lolly's), razors, lip gloss, and batteries, these things are always welcome. Whenever I ask what they want special they ask for fig bars or my fudge. I found what the post office calls Flat Rate Boxes. These boxes can be used in the U.S. or Overseas. They can be packed as full as you can get them and with whatever. I am able to send books this way, and cans of food that are to heavy otherwise.
The going rate for the overseas box, right now, is $42.00

For Easter I usually send Easter baskets, candy, small gifts, and egg dye.
I am not sure they will have eggs in the village, but they will have dye if they can find them.
Eggs were $6.00 a dozen in the city last time I was there.

I am sending them out tomorrow it takes 2-3 weeks for them to get there.

PRAYER Update...

Please continue to pray for protection of family and village, mosquitoes are very bad right now.
Erik has gotten maleria this week. Pray for a quick recovery. It is a wicked illness.
Thank you for your prayers.

LORD, Show Me How To Pray....

Earlier I blogged about the importance of praying for our missionaries. Paul said, "I thank my God every time I remember you, always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, because of your partnership in the gospel."

Paul saw the importance and was thankful for those prayers and those who prayed for him and his work.

I wonder if prayer is not the most important service that we can render in the spread of the Lord's Great Commission? I have read that statement someplace, and I think that it might be true.


I know the importance of praying for the daily needs of the missionary, but I also think that it is important to pray for them and their families emotional and spiritual growth and maturity.

I was reminded of this again this week when I got an e-mail from Michele.
She told us of a death in the village, and the subsequent response of the people.
It had been a hard week with the people calling in a "witch doctor" for his wisdom on the spirit of the dead man.
Michele said that Erik had spoke to the people, and had clearly presented what the Bible had to say on the subject.

Long story short the people chose to respond in their normal way by spitting on one of the villagers so as to protect her from the spirit of the dead man.

I was heavy hearted for several days for the people, and I especially sensed Michele's discouragement over the whole situation.

How could I pray for her discouragement that would not be shallow or general? I asked the Lord.
Since I love to pray the scriptures for myself and others I started digging into the Word.

Here is what I came up with on the subject of encouragement and steadfastness. I share with you the prayers that I am praying over my missionary family.

I pray Lord, that you will be an encouragement and protection for Erik and Michele.
Father God, Help them to STAND FIRM. Let nothing move them or discourage them from doing Your work, that they would always give fully and willingly to the work of the Lord, help them to know that their hard work in You is not in vain." I Corinthians 15:58

Help them to remember that what was written in earlier times was written for theirs and the people they serve instruction. So that through perseverance and the encouragement of the scriptures they might have hope. Hope for change, hope for breakthroughs in "kastum". Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant them to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus.So that with one accord they may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accepting one another just as Christ also accepted all of us to the glory of God. Romans 15:4-7

Help my children to know the encouragement of Christ, and encourage them that Your righteous judgement will render to every man according to his deeds especially to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, and eternal life. Romans 2:6-7

Help them to remember that they will not overcome evil with evil, but they will overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21

I ask that they would not grow weary in doing good 2Thes. 3:13, but they would be sober in all things, give them strength to endure hardship, and do the work of an evangelist, fulfilling their ministry 2 Tim. 4:5

And finally Lord, Help them to keep on fighting the good fight so that some day they can say with all certainty ,I have finished the course, I have kept the faith. Help them to be comforted that if they do this that in the future there is layed up for them a crown of righteousness which You the righteous judge will award to them and all those others who have loved His appearing. 2 Tim. 5:7-8

Oh How I Love God's Word. I find that praying God's word over my family just blesses me, and I know that it is God's will for them.

New Prayer Requests...

I consider this to be rather urgent... Dengue fever has shown up in the village.
This might indicate that the mosquito's are in their area.
This fever can cause great sickness and even death, please pray for the protection of my family and the villagers.

200 copies of Acts were dedicated during the month of February!! How exciting.
Please pray for people hearing and reading God's Word.

Michele is teaching in a local school every Tues.
Pray for her and for the children.
Praise because of the children are now able to read the book of Acts!

Michele will be talking to local adolescent girls about sexual purity and God's plan regarding marriage.
Please pray for this sensitive but much needed talk. Please pray that it will be well received by all in the community.

Erik will be teaching 2 men from the translation committee basic computer skills.
Pray that they will learn and be able to accomplish what he teaches them. This will be something very new for them.

To those that are praying I thank you.