so a question someone might ask is “what is it like to be a missionary?”, let me tell how i’ve seen it.
To be honest, sometimes it’s absolutely awful. Sometimes you feel alone. I have great family here, but they’re just not the same as friends from home. Sometimes i get frustrated when i’m trying to tell something to the locals and they just don’t understand because our cultures are so different. Sometimes i get sick, like when you eat a fried egg and then find out that it has been sitting out for 5 days before it was cooked. Sometimes i have a twenty hour bus ride next to some Africans who really don’t smell too good and i ate the nasty egg the day before. Sometimes i get heart broken when i see a street kid who is begging me for money but i have to turn the other way to try and keep them from depending on white people for money. Sometimes i have to act harsh to people who come up to us on the streets to keep the rest of the team safe. Sometimes i get ticked off when i get charged five times extra to purchase something just because i’m white. Sometimes i get so irritated at something and then i have to come to the point where i realize i’m the one with the problem and i have to let God fix it. Sometimes i’ll see a family who can barely afford their food for each day, but they’re having to pay for their child to be in the hospital where there is a good chance they won’t make it. Sometimes i have to watch a man die right in front of me. Sometimes i miss being comfortable. but let me tell you the rest of it.
i’ve gotten to live with complete strangers who are now my family. I’ve gotten to tell dozens of people about Jesus and what He did for us. I’ve gotten stretched to limit to grow and learn more ever day. I’m surrounded by people who pour into me daily. I’ve seen beautiful places that a camera can’t capture the beauty of of. I’ve seen miracles happen right in front of me. I’ve heard from the Spirit countless times. God has spoken wisdom through me that i’ve never even known. I’ve seen the smiling faces of hundreds of children who love to play with us. I’ve gotten to meet a little girl so precious i wanted to adopt her on the spot. I’ve seen what it means to be open for everything. I’ve learned to drop my expectations and simply let God have control. I’ve learned what it means to share Christ with others. I’ve learned how to truly live even though i’m not quite there yet. I’ve learned that i don’t have to be the greatest version of me in order for God to work through me. I’ve learned that God is always God and the lost are still lost until they are found, so no matter how tired or irritated i am, i need to show love, grace, and compassion and just let the spirit work though me.
So what’s it like to be a missionary? Well sometimes it stinks, but most of the time i wouldn’t have it any other way. Besides, what better place to be than right smack dab in the middle of where God wants me.
