What are missionaries? They are those partially crazy, super-Christians who sell all of their earthly possessions and move to third-world countries to help the poor, right?
That might not be the typical “Sunday School” answer, but nonetheless, that is what most of us think of the people with the label of “Missionary.”
I was no exception.
I had seen the strange people with radical faith come visit my church, talk about life in the mission field, share heart-wrenching pictures, and tell amazing stories. I looked at them like they were some sort of eccentric celebrities, following GOD to the ends of the earth, because HE told them to…
How crazy is that? GOD, the Creator of the Universe, told them to do something, outside the normal, with their lives! HE told them not to live the average first-world-Christian lifestyle.
They always quoted Matthew 28:19 in all of their sharing sessions.
I heard what it said, but I didn’t really listen.
“GOD won’t call me to sell everything and move to a foreign country. I’m a fairly normal person. I’m not an ultra-mega-Christian. I’m just a kid in youth group, attending a medium-sized congregation, primarily concerned with good grades and hanging out with my friends. I’m not missionary material…”
I didn’t really want to be. I was content to do a bit of ministry now and then, just enough to ‘get by’, and sit in the pew every Sunday and Wednesday.
My world was turned upside down when my family was called to Kenya, Africa.
How dare GOD, the GOD who created me and knows everything about me, decide to make plans that differed from mine??
I was angry; angry at my Maker for telling me something I didn’t want to hear. I had friends, family, a church, a home, an entire life right where I was… Did HE not care about any of that? I want to laugh and cry at the same time as I remember my thoughts and behavior at that time, at how wrong I was… Because GOD never stopped having my best interest in mind. HE never asked anything more than to love HIM and trust HIM.
And I always thought I was strong in my faith.
I was granted the opportunity to go on a short, ten-day trip a few months before we were scheduled to move.
My perspective was completely changed. I realized that there are other people in this world. People who have so much faith in CHRIST, that mine seemed like a joke. People who were so joyful when they had nothing, I began to see just how much I take for granted. People who have such love with no prejudices. I felt right at home in a puddle of sewage.
I fell in love with these people. I went there to teach them and help them, but they ended up teaching me! And it was amazing!!
My dad, mom, four brothers, three sisters, and I moved in late September of 2013, a few days before I turned sixteen years old. I was ready and excited for the new adventure GOD had in store.