Tea Time Missionary Stories
Two of my sisters, Lois and Linda, hosted a tea this morning in honor of some of the ladies in our church who are here after having been elsewhere in missions for some time. The women and girls in our extended family helped provide the dainties and do the serving. Some of the family members of the missionary ladies also were invited. The white linens and china worked just fine on tables in Marvin and Lois' back yard, and we almost got finished before the heat became uncomfortable.
Linda had suggested ahead of time that each of the missionary ladies share something about one or more of the following things: 1) Something I miss while I'm away from my place of service 2) Something I enjoy about being here 3) Something I'd like for you to pray about.
Rachel misses the prayer and praise time in their Romanian worship service. Each Christian in the group prays aloud at some time during the group prayer times. Lillian misses having people stop by throughout the day (although she acknowledges that this is also part of what she was weary of on the mission field). Lois misses the tropical flowers of Paraguay. Edith misses seeing the intense longing after God that she saw in a few people in Belgium where where most of them came from a background of superficial religion. Twila misses the immediacy of seeing needy people constantly, and being able to interact with them redemptively. She has young twins, and hopes that somehow they can grow up with an awareness of a world bigger than the one they see here. F----, who has spent most of the last year in language study, misses the long stretches of quiet time she had been enjoying. She found it easier to spend time with the Lord during this time than she does now. Edith liked the simple foods and cooking practices in Belgium. People cooked and ate only one hot meal each day, so it was easy to have company for one of the other two "meals" when you knew they didn't expect a hot meal. All of the ladies miss the loved ones they left behind when they came here.
Many of the women tremendously enjoy the the "good old Mennonite singing" they participate in when they come home. They like seeing how the home church works together, even when not everyone agrees. They appreciate the interest people take in missions. They feel people's kindness, and treasure what is offered them. They love not having to do any cross-cultural work in this place. Here, they already know how to act so as not to cause unintentional offense. F---- loves home grown things from the garden. She likes Chinese food, but feels no urge to seek it out while she's here. Vegetables, fresh and unadorned, or cooked and unadorned are wonderful. Twila loves having been able to learn to know her husband's family.
When they mentioned prayer needs, these ladies often thought of far-away needy people who are now very precious to them. Marietta talked of a spiritual "son" who is gifted and has preached powerfully in the past, but now struggles with old addictions, and is unable to resist. F---- talked about her roommate whose mother is desperate for her to marry. She is unwilling to marry a non-Christian, but there simply are far fewer single Christian men in China than women. So she stays stuck between a rock and a hard place. Rachel talked about the challenges of her transition to a teaching job in a Romanian university--lesson plans, finances, and the details of living in a different place. Rebekkah requested prayer for her family, who had two married daughters recently move from Belgium to North America. Lillian talked about going back to a troubled church, and desiring godly wisdom for the challenges ahead. Edith requested prayer for her own walk with the Lord, identifying with F---- in finding it a challenge to have time to cultivate it in this busy church community.
We prayed together for the needs that were mentioned.
While no one there came for the purpose of sharing dramatic things (except maybe for my five-year-old niece, Diana, who recently broke the bone in the tip of her finger when she clanked together two dumbells with her finger caught between them), we all had a wonderful glimpse of important things happening in far-flung parts of the kingdom of God. To hear from our homegrown sisters who are part of this kind of kingdom work is a precious privilege.
Thanks to my sisters for planning this worthwhile time.
Linda had suggested ahead of time that each of the missionary ladies share something about one or more of the following things: 1) Something I miss while I'm away from my place of service 2) Something I enjoy about being here 3) Something I'd like for you to pray about.
Rachel misses the prayer and praise time in their Romanian worship service. Each Christian in the group prays aloud at some time during the group prayer times. Lillian misses having people stop by throughout the day (although she acknowledges that this is also part of what she was weary of on the mission field). Lois misses the tropical flowers of Paraguay. Edith misses seeing the intense longing after God that she saw in a few people in Belgium where where most of them came from a background of superficial religion. Twila misses the immediacy of seeing needy people constantly, and being able to interact with them redemptively. She has young twins, and hopes that somehow they can grow up with an awareness of a world bigger than the one they see here. F----, who has spent most of the last year in language study, misses the long stretches of quiet time she had been enjoying. She found it easier to spend time with the Lord during this time than she does now. Edith liked the simple foods and cooking practices in Belgium. People cooked and ate only one hot meal each day, so it was easy to have company for one of the other two "meals" when you knew they didn't expect a hot meal. All of the ladies miss the loved ones they left behind when they came here.
Many of the women tremendously enjoy the the "good old Mennonite singing" they participate in when they come home. They like seeing how the home church works together, even when not everyone agrees. They appreciate the interest people take in missions. They feel people's kindness, and treasure what is offered them. They love not having to do any cross-cultural work in this place. Here, they already know how to act so as not to cause unintentional offense. F---- loves home grown things from the garden. She likes Chinese food, but feels no urge to seek it out while she's here. Vegetables, fresh and unadorned, or cooked and unadorned are wonderful. Twila loves having been able to learn to know her husband's family.
When they mentioned prayer needs, these ladies often thought of far-away needy people who are now very precious to them. Marietta talked of a spiritual "son" who is gifted and has preached powerfully in the past, but now struggles with old addictions, and is unable to resist. F---- talked about her roommate whose mother is desperate for her to marry. She is unwilling to marry a non-Christian, but there simply are far fewer single Christian men in China than women. So she stays stuck between a rock and a hard place. Rachel talked about the challenges of her transition to a teaching job in a Romanian university--lesson plans, finances, and the details of living in a different place. Rebekkah requested prayer for her family, who had two married daughters recently move from Belgium to North America. Lillian talked about going back to a troubled church, and desiring godly wisdom for the challenges ahead. Edith requested prayer for her own walk with the Lord, identifying with F---- in finding it a challenge to have time to cultivate it in this busy church community.
We prayed together for the needs that were mentioned.
While no one there came for the purpose of sharing dramatic things (except maybe for my five-year-old niece, Diana, who recently broke the bone in the tip of her finger when she clanked together two dumbells with her finger caught between them), we all had a wonderful glimpse of important things happening in far-flung parts of the kingdom of God. To hear from our homegrown sisters who are part of this kind of kingdom work is a precious privilege.
Thanks to my sisters for planning this worthwhile time.
posted by Mrs. I at
8:48 PM
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