When someone is a missionary, they are like special forces behind enemy lines….this goes for stateside missionaries too.
This past week I was one of 5 speakers for a luncheon. As I was preparing for the talk, Rob asked me what the topic was supposed to be; I said I was not sure if there was a theme. Then he asked how long do you have; again I said, I am not sure.
All I knew was that lunch was on Friday and I was the “stateside missionary” speaking.
As we were traveling to the conference we started the process of writing down different things, so that no matter what the topic was to be, I would be prepared.
We arrived at the conference, and found out that lunch was on Friday at noon, in the Marriott.
The conference started and our booth was bustling with people and I never got around to asking the 2 very important questions.
1) how much time?
2) what was the topic?
I arrived at the luncheon and decided now was probably a good time to at least ask how long and when do I speak.
Luckily, I was last and I had only 7 minutes. I can wing this, I said to myself. The MC gets up and says “now you will hear from our missionaries”. What no lead in, no question, no nothing….just tell us what’s on your heart.
It was finally my time to speak and as I stood up, I felt the lump in my throat rising. All I could think was, how am I going to speak for 7 minutes when I don’t think I am going to be able to say the first words with out the tears starting.
I was wrong, the tears waited for me to start talking and feel somewhat comfortable, then they started.
So’s why was this hard?
It was hard because the last week in ministry leading up to this event was extremely difficult.
We had a mom who was desperately trying to make ends meet, almost losing her housing. The price tag for that was over $1700. After all the pleas that went out and the mom putting in over 10% of her own money, we only raised $800 of it. So as a ministry we covered it in hopes that the money would come in to replace it. It hasn’t, but she has a roof over her head and a budget to stick to and they are NOT homeless.
We had a mom overdose and was being buried while we were away.
Then, the computer we use crashed right before the big presentation.
Usually, I would be able to get some time alone with the Lord, pray, journal, sleep and be refreshed the next day. This was not the case. Everyday seemed to bring even more darkness.
Then it hit me the notes from the car ride about being a stateside missionary. They were raw emotion being verbalized. For so long you just do and don’t think, but when you see things on paper they become real and even started hurting, especially because I was so tired and felt so alone.
Here are some of our notes and what I am realizing is that they are true for many stateside missionaries.
So if you or your church supports a stateside missionary please ask God how you might encourage them this year and for as long as they are on the front lines.
When you are a stateside missionary you do not get invited to speak at churches through out the U.S. when you come home on furlough, to be asked how’s it going, and how can we support you even more.
Most don’t acknowledge the work of a stateside missionary so therefore very few outside your own hometown support the work.
Stateside missionaries don’t get care packages.
One of the biggest challenges stateside missionaries have is that of resources. Sometimes we think it would be easier to do the work in a third-world county without the resources available, instead of knowing they are available but not being allowed to use them.
Stateside missionaries never get to go back home to take a break.
When wanting to help a stateside missionary, make sure that your idea is a help and not creating more work for the stateside missionary.
Most stateside missionaries feel isolated and alone, even living in a 1st world country.
This list is by no means an exhaustive list…these are just things that came quickly as we were brainstorming “what do you want the church to know about stateside missionaries“.