The Good and the Bad

 Another question we get asked is what is the best part, or what is the hardest part of being on the mission field? Let's start with the hard part and end on a good note.

  There are a few hard things. One of the main ones is being away from family and friends and our church family. Especially over holidays and birthdays, camping trips and celebrations. I don't think I need to explain this one real far. I think everyone can understand what it is like to miss loved ones. Sometimes it is tempting to say, is it worth it? I miss my family so much, why do I do this to myself? Then we need to remind ourselves of God's calling. So if you know a missionary or anyone living away from their family, send them a message that you are thinking of them, especially at this time of year. God called them, but it isn't always easy.
   And this is a bit of a bunny trail but I want to acknowledge the fact that it isn't easy for the family and friends back home either. Especially parents/grandparents. No matter how much they want their family to serve God where He calls them, it is hard to say Goodbye and leave them go.

                                             

  The next hard thing is seeing needs and not being able to fix them. I know so many situations that I would love to fix. So many women that need a helping hand because their husband doesn't support them, children who are hungry (there aren't many people actually starving in Ghana, but there are people that are hungry), health problems because of lack of good nutrition and money for medicine. I want to make their lives easy. I want to hand out food and money and fix them. But it isn't what they truly need, and it would only fix it temporarily. So we talk and pray, teach and show. The victories are few but God has promised that all we need to do is sew seed.   

                                      

  Another thing that is a real struggle, and I am convinced is one of Satan's favorite ways of attacking us, is in relationships. First of all between missionaries. We are working, and over the years have worked, with some amazing people and count all of them as dear friends, but at some time, I think all of them would agree with me, there were bumps in our relationship. Missionaries tend to be a determined group of people. Determined to serve God wherever He calls. Determined to do His will at whatever cost. But when determined people rub shoulders every day, it often causes friction. So we pray for grace and love and God is faithful. He provides and we move on as a team. Relationships with the natives are hard as well. We learn to know someone and slowly build trust. But when that person acts in a way we think they shouldn't, does something we thought they knew not to do, or just outright breaks our trust, it's difficult. Not only to find your way in that relationship but also in the next one and the next. We need to step back sometimes and remind ourselves why we are here and that relationships are worth it. This is definitely an area we covet your prayers in. My verse in any relationship struggle is, ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6:12‬ For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. If we can remember who our enemy is, we can have victory.

                               
  And what are the best parts of mission work?
   The people! Hands down! Laughing over something with a friend. Greeting "Grandma" on my walk. Trying Fante words to see their eyes sparkle. Eating fufu and discussing life. Singing just for the joy of singing together. Comforting a small child. Seeing their eyes light up when you round a corner and then having three people try to hold your two hands. Having men tell me to greet Mr. Ken for them. Returning from furlough and having an old woman ask how I found my father, mother, sisters, and brothers.

                                               
  Then there are the many visitors that come through our doors and bless us. Youth full of energy and passion. Young men and women that ask good questions, are willing to be stretched and work hard. Older men and women who bless our lives with their wisdom and experience, maybe not on the mission field, but in life. People our own age who all have a story and something to teach us. They add to our lives and hold up our hands so we can go on.
  And of course our fellow missionaries. They become our family, our school, our church, our friends. We laugh together, cry together, and have hard conversations. When the family changes and new people come, we grieve a bit, but also rejoice that the work keeps moving on. The ones from the past understand you and encourage you, the new ones bring fresh inspiration and energy. Most of us have barely crossed paths before and to be thrown into life together is a wonderful, but also strange thing.

  There are many other things that we dislike; the bumpy roads, the dust, the heat, oatmeal with bugs in it, and water that tastes like moth balls. And there are other things we love; palm trees, beaches, the heat, kuntumeri stew, and Fan Ice. But the ones above are the important ones.