Missionaries are NOT superhuman, and 4 other insights about overseas mission
I was recently asked to review ‘For The Joy’, a book that documents the lives of 21 Australian missionary mothers, as they navigate the unique challenges of cross-cultural life and parenting. Being neither a mum or an overseas missionary, I was surprised by the impact that this book had on my heart. For most mornings over the past month, I have found myself surrounded by snotty tissues. The stories are surprisingly relatable, raw in emotion and offers valuable insight into the joys and despairs of motherhood and ministry, far away from home.
Here are 5 insights that I gained from the book:
- Missionaries are not superhuman (duh!)
Contrary to popular belief, missionaries are humans too. Being bulletproof is NOT a necessary qualification. I might be stating the obvious here, but I have always regarded missionaries – especially the ones overseas – as a different type of Christian. They are the ‘super’ Christians who are always smiling, can love God effortlessly and juggle a billion responsibilities without ever skipping a beat. I am not this kind of Christian and I was surprised that this book made me feel less alone in the challenges I face in ministry.
‘For The Joy’ also affirms the fact that signing up for full-time ministry doesn’t make anyone immune to the pain and sadness of serving in a broken world. I panicked with Dorcas when terrorists raided the missionary school that her children were enrolled in. I felt defeated with Michelle when she found herself excluded from social settings because of her limited language skills. I grieved with Julie when her 1-year old son suddenly passed away in his sleep. God chooses ordinary Christians to serve his mission and the qualification of a missionary, is faith in His power.
“I am angry that my son is not in hospital right now. I’m angry that we don’t have anything other than Panadol to ease his screams. I am angry his uncles, aunties and grandparents are so far away. I am angry I have to search for words in a different language to explain what happened. I am angry that this is the price of my decision. I am angry that God thinks I can handle this trial. I am angry at everyone who has ever called my faith a crutch that I use to ease rough times. This is no crutch.”
– Gabrielle serving in Indonesia
2. Overseas mission is far from glorious.
Many of the stories come with an emphatic admission: overseas mission is far from glorious. Prior to stepping onto the mission field, quite a few of the authors admitted to having an idealistic view of themselves and mission work. ‘For The Joy’ is not an idealistic or glorified account of overseas mission, as contributors admit to feeling crushed by weakness and inability when serving God far away from home, social networks, Centrelink and Medicare.
When I began thinking about mission work in my late teens, my dreams were so much more glorious and exciting than reality. I dreamt of whole villages being saved, churches planted, and of the many nations I would bring – not at all humbly – to God. I thought I would be happy to live in a hut, home school my children, grow our own food, live without friends and sacrifice everything, no matter the cost. Soon after moving to Chile, I realised that I hoped that none of these things would happen. Reality is a valuable teacher and is quick to expose bad character.
– Sally serving in Chile
3. God is the hero of his mission field.
What I love about each of these stories is the honest accounts of human pride and God’s subsequent humbling. I’ve been there. Once upon a time, I actually believed that I could change the world with my two little hands. In my optimism, I have actually believed that I’m big enough and strong enough to do it all without God’s power and enabling. Laugh if you may – I’ve been there.
In each of these stories, one thing is clear: God is the hero of his mission field and the strength of each woman’s ministry is in their humbling and awareness of God’s power in weakness.
“Looking back now, I can see the gentle transition that God worked in my heart…He slowly broke down the expectations I’d had for myself around what living missionally looked like, and he taught me the value of forming genuine friendships and unconditional love. Missional living wasn’t about me being a hero. It was about me walking humbly with God, allowing Him to set the priorities – kingdom and gospel priorities – for how I could respond to my family and community.”
– Penny in Nepal
4. Children of missionaries are NOT disadvantaged kids to be pitied.
I’m not a mother, but I can imagine that being a missionary mother can come with some mummy guilt – especially when well-meaning friends and family disagree with your parenting decisions. Bringing up ‘pastor’s kids’ in a world that hates Christians has always been an anxiety of mine but the stories in this book has been both a challenge and comfort to my fears.
Children of missionary parents may not grow up with the luxuries that ‘normal’ kids enjoy back in Australia but this doesn’t make them disadvantaged kids to be pitied. In fact, it is through difficulty and hardship that children mature and experience God’s provision, love and faithfulness in tangible and concrete ways.
“There have been some hard times. Times when sad little faces have said things like, “Mum I don’t fit in. Mum, why did my friends steal my bike? Mum, I miss grandma and grandpa.” But giving our kids a hug and answering these questions always gives them an opportunity to grow and hopefully see things through God’s eyes. He never short changes his people.”
– Red serving in the Northern Territory
“Despite taking my children to the mission field …they are clear about who God is. They have a realistic perspective about life and they are cheerful in service. This is not my work; God is answering my prayers despite my sin and failings as a mother.”
– Sally serving in Chile
5. The mission field is a training ground for personal holiness.
‘For The Joy’ affirms what I learned back in Bible College: the greatest gift to your people is your personal holiness. When I picture overseas missionaries, I picture super humans hitting the ground running in evangelising the world. And yet every story comes with an honest confession of a more important work: repentance of personal sin. For many of these women, the stress of a foreign environment brought out the worst in their character, and so the mission field soon became a training ground for personal holiness and growth.
“I was so culturally conditioned to find my worth and value in my achievements that when I had no visible achievements, I felt inadequate, ineffective and unproductive…In my dreams, I was competent and articulate, not an unintelligible recluse who was a burden to my husband. God began revealing my falsely placed self-confidence. My value was not and is not in what I can achieve or contribute. It is not in how competent or articulate I may or may not be. God can make me articulate or competent when or how He wishes, as He has “arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as He wanted them to be.” (1 Cor 12:18) To God I am valuable as His created child, and in this I can eternally have confidence.”
– Michelle serving in West Africa
‘For The Joy’ should be recommended reading for anyone considering full-time ministry or overseas mission work. It also serves as a remarkable encouragement to those who are in the thick of ministry, for it gives an honest – not glorified – account of what mission life is truly like. Such honesty points both the idealist and the weary to the power of God, and the only glory that matters. ‘For The Joy’ is also helpful reading for partners of missionaries, as the stories will bring colour and form to experiences that may seem foreign and far away.
To the 21 contributors and my sisters in Christ – thank you for sharing your story. Thank you for braving the mission field with courage and faith. You may be far away from me, but I look forward to the day when I will hear your stories in person, whether it be in this life or the next.
Purchase ‘For The Joy’ online:
Feature image supplied by Anglican Aid
