Rosilind Jukic's Blog, page 87
November 3, 2013
How to Plan an Effective Short-Term Mission
One of the greatest human limitations in ministry is the tendency to view God's call and the path to that call through our own personal filters.
Filters are created through culture, upbringing, personality and past circumstances; and often limit how effective we are in our careers, ministry and relationships.
When I was planning to come to Croatia, I had goals and dreams of what I was going to do. I had heard the call of God, I had a heart for a certain area of ministry, and from there I began to plan and build how I would arrive at that desired goal.
Nearly a decade later, I can assure you that nothing (and I do mean nothing) has gone according to plan. I planned through the filters of my own culture and ambition.
And in all of the planning, I failed to do what many missionaries fail to do.
I want to address this in the context of short-term missions, as we have discussed at length the unique challenges of long-term and life-time missions.
Short-term missions are very beneficial in 3 ways
1. They provide an opportunity for those who have a possible interest in missions to experience missions first-hand for a short span of time.
2. They provide local people with teams that can assist them in doing short-term projects more efficiently.
3. They provide local people with quality ministers who are able to mentor them face-to-face.
How can we make short-term missions be more productive?
Every culture has unique needs. And my experience is that even within the same country we will find that each region has it's own unique culture.
Take America, for example. What works in the deep south will not work in the Northwest. The approach a church-planter will use in the Bible Belt, should not be used in Oregon - one of the most unchurched states in the U.S.
If this is true within the borders of one country, imagine how true it is for foreign countries!
Given this fact, before we begin making plans to achieve our desired goal as a short-term missionary, we should sit down with a local minister in that country and allow him to share with us the unique needs of the people in his city and nation, lay aside personal agenda and ambition, and allow him to assist in formulating the best plan that would help meet those needs.
Perhaps that means that the missionary moves to a role of a facilitator of leaders, and not a leader.
In the end, our desire should be that the Lord get all the praise and glory, and that the Kingdom of God advance with speedily without the hindrance of human ambition.
This was the mistake I made while planning my mission. I allowed personal ambition to override humility that would have led me to sit down with church leaders and hear their wise counsel as to how I could most effectively serve the nation of Croatia. Unfortunately, the Lord had to take me to that place via The School of Hard Knocks - which is a much tougher road than necessary!
If you are planning a short-term mission, go to the Lord in prayer and allow Him to reveal any area of self ambition or personal agenda so that you are able to lay these aside and clearly hear and understand what the unique needs are of the culture you plan to serve. This will make your mission most effective for the Kingdom and allow you to freely minister without hindrance!
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Do you have a question related to missions? Feel free to contact me via email, comment below or visit my Facebook page to ask your question. It will be featured here during our fall Answer the Call series!
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October 31, 2013
Where Are You From - I'm an MK
I am so excited to share Jen's story with you today - another precious sister I have met through blogging. I pray her story will minister to you as it did to me!
The question of where I am from has to be the most difficult question to answer when I meet new people. I’m an MK, missionary kid. I’ve lived in Indiana, Wisconsin, Missouri, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, and even overseas in Papua New Guinea. I’ve left a little piece of my heart in each of these places, so deciding which to call my “home” is impossible! And usually when I bring up the fact that I’m an MK, a host of other questions follow, questions that are complicated to answer in a friendly get-to-know-you conversation. J
The truth is that being an MK is sometimes difficult. We left the States for Papua New Guinea (PNG) when I was fourteen years old. Prior to that, we had moved every 1-2 years, so saying goodbye was a part of life, a part that never got easier.
When we arrived in PNG, my sister, brother, and I faced other hardships, such as beginning at a new school, living apart from our parents in a family-style dorm, adjusting to life without modern conveniences, and handling less freedom (mainly for girls, as it wasn’t safe to walk about alone).
I was 14 years old when we finally moved to PNG, so you can imagine how the emotional turmoil was enhanced by normal teenage hormones. Making new friends at that age is always hard, but it was complicated by the fact that I was once again, the “new girl” in a school full of students who had mostly known each other all of their lives. Many of my friends were born in either PNG or nearby Australia and enjoyed dual citizenship. I felt out of place and alone at first, with my parents only accessibly by short-wave radio.
But by far one of the blessings of being an MK and moving to PNG was that I attended a small, Christian school run by other missionaries. Making friends was a little easier due to the fact that most of us lived together (on the school base), played together (sports like soccer, volleyball, softball, and basketball) and went to class together.
In fact, the blessings of life as an MK far outweigh the trials. I watched my parents live out their faith in a very practical way. I also lived alongside other godly examples: teachers, dorm parents, coaches, youth leaders, and other missionaries who had devoted themselves to the spread of the gospel.
I made friends who came from all over the world – Canada, Ireland, Australia, PNG, England and others – and learned what liv
ing in a third world country is really like. I learned a new culture and some of a new language, two in fact! I saw people go hungry, both spiritually and physically, a lesson I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life.
As an MK, I also had opportunities I never had in the States. I swam in the ocean and played on an untouched beach when our class traveled to a port city. I climbed Mt. Elimbari with my family and made it halfway up Mt. Wilhelm, one of the highest in the country. I jumped from a two-story cliff into a pool of water at Keia Falls, multiple times. I hiked in the “bush,” ate fresh tropical fruit, and experienced many “mumus,” feasts cooked in a large pit in the ground filled with pork or chicken , sweet potatoes of all varieties, greens, and sometimes corn, my favorite.
I even spent time in the tribe with my parents in our bush house. A small house of woven bamboo and pit-pit (a smaller reed) with a tin roof, up on stilts, on the side of a red-clay mountain range. The view was to die for.
Sometimes I really miss living in PNG. Life there was quieter, and slower-paced. We spent little time watching our tiny tv. We spent much time outdoors, enjoying the beautiful landscape. We played a lot of board games, even by kerosene lantern, and ate a lot of stove-popped popcorn.
The most important thing I could tell you about being an MK is that I wouldn’t choose any differently, in spite of the tough times. Because the best blessing I received during those years was better than every good opportunity I listed above. The best blessing was an opportunity to grow near to the Lord.
During those years in PNG, my faith became real and personal to me. The Lord removed all of my comforts, everything I leaned on (including my parents), to bring me into a deeper walk with Himself. At times, He even removed my health. But it wasn’t for naught. There was purpose in even the most painful trials.
He pursued me, all the way to Papua New Guniea.
He pursues me still.
So maybe the best answer to “Where are you from?” is to simply say,
“I’m an MK, so I’m from all over the place!
I don’t have just one home; I have many.
But I know Who I belong to.
And He’s been faithful all along the way!”
Jen is a work in progress! She rejoices in God’s grace for all sinners, including herself, and is learning to be confident in the fact that Christ will carry out the work He began in her until its completion. She spent her growing up years as a missionary kid, who eventually moved overseas to Papua New Guinea, and now resides in Indiana with her minister husband and four children, ages 4 through 13. She spends time serving in her own home and the church, and she also writes at Being Confident of This. Jen enjoys singing, reading, writing, gardening, learning, teaching, creating, fellowshipping with others, and playing games with family. Above all, she desires to help Christians understand their identity in Christ and to encourage God’s people to live out the love that He has bestowed upon us.
Do you have a question related to missions? Feel free to contact me via email, comment below or visit my Facebook page to ask your question. It will be featured here during our fall Answer the Call series!
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Mission Agape - FREE Intro Download - Limited Time!!
If you've hung out here for very long, you've probably seen my dad pop in and out from time to time. He is a regular guest here at R & R.
You also may remember that I reviewed his first book Discovering True Identity.
You can read my review here.
Simply Helping Him, Wholehearted Home, and Reading List also reviewed Discovering True Identity.
TODAY AND TOMORROW YOU MAY DOWNLOAD A FREE INTRO TO HIS NEW BOOK!
In December my dad's 2nd book Mission Agape will be out on the market.
You may learn more about his book in this interview I did with him recently:
To download a free intro copy of Mission Agape, visit his Facebook page (and be sure to "like" his page, so you don't miss more info about his books!!!)
A comprehensive list of my dad's guest posts:
Thanksgiving
The Story Behind Thanksgiving pt 1
The Story Behind Thanksgiving pt 2
The Story Behind Thanksgiving pt 3
The Story Behind Thanksgiving pt 4
Christmas
Should Christians Celebrate Christmas?
The Passover Lamb
Christ Revealed Through the Passover
Easter
Why No Easter Bunny?
Missions
When God Opens a Door
Don't forget to link up at this weeks A Little R & R Wednesdays - a linky party #26
Do you have a question related to missions? Feel free to contact me via email, comment below or visit my Facebook page to ask your question. It will be featured here during our fall Answer the Call series!
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October 29, 2013
Unlikely Servants + A Little R & R Wednesdays - a linky party #26
“You know, we honestly aren’t quite sure what to do with you all.”
Those were the words that we heard from the Mission’s Director in our home church when we were preparing to move to Nicaragua in the spring of 2008. We weren’t at all offended by that admission. As a matter of fact, we completely understood that sense of puzzlement because we were experiencing it somewhat ourselves. After all, we really didn’t fit the typical missionary profile. Thankfully, the Lord doesn’t seem to require much other than a willing heart and obedient feet.
My husband and I had both been divorced as non-believers and had not come to know the Lord until after we were married for several years. Neither of us had grown up in Christian homes and we each had lived lives of moral failures. We were far from being spring chickens with us both being in our fifties. We owned our own business and home and were very settled in our community. We were active and quite happy serving in various capacities in our church. Our grandchildren lived relatively close and we loved family time. We had wonderful friends and we were really pretty satisfied with life in general…until we began to take God’s Word seriously and acknowledge the burning that was beginning to happen in each of our spirits.
We did try to satisfy that sense of being called by going on short-term state-side mission trips, helping in various local outreaches, and even going as far as leading several teams to Nicaragua for week-long serving opportunities. But, the “call” began to weigh on us more and more and we finally realized that what we were doing was simply trying to pacify God instead of being obedient to Him. We also knew that if we did take this step of faith of going in to full-time missions, it would change our lives forever. What we didn’t know was how much we had to learn about trusting God. Moving to a third-world, socialist country, which also happens to be the second poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, has helped us greatly in that area!
To make a very long story much shorter, we had been offered a three-year position in Budapest, Hungary serving with our denomination’s international mission’s agency. It would have been a wonderful opportunity for us…a relatively short time for service, room and board, insurance and monthly salary all provided, language skills not required, paid moving expenses, travel expenses paid for a trip home during that time, etc. A great opportunity!! A person would be crazy to turn that down. Make that two people would be crazy to turn that down. But we did. We knew that we knew that we knew that Budapest was not where the Lord was calling us as tempting as that missionary package was. We also knew that if we were to move to Nicaragua, we would be funding that move and all that it encompassed out of our own monies. We also knew that if we didn’t make that move, we would be living in disobedience. The decision became much easier to make. The living out of that decision was a bit more difficult.
Five and a half years later, we are still here, by the Lord’s sustaining hand. We have lived through a pretty rough spell of illness, our home being robbed once with a second robbery attempt, learning a new language (which is not a piece of cake at our age, I might add), constant car problems, sweltering heat, dishonest “friendships”, tarantulas, scorpions, monsoon rains, tropical storms, mild earthquakes, high fevers, severe dysentery, skin fungus, parasites, bedbug bites, spider bites, countless mosquito bites, no see-um bug bites, homesickness, loneliness, discouragement, doubt, the loss of both of my husband’s parents, four moves, a near-depletion of our savings accounts, and so on.
We have also had the glorious privilege of being able to share the gospel with so many people through our words and our actions and to see the Lord work in ways we would never have seen if we had ignored His voice and His Word.
We currently live in the northern part of the country in a small typical Nicaraguan town which is nestled down in a mountain valley. Our home that we are renting is on the edge of town and is a semi-Americanized modest house, with flush toilets, electric showerheads for hot water showers, and screens on our windows. We also live with bars on all exterior doors and windows and with a high concrete wall that is topped with broken glass and razor wire that surrounds our property. Donkeys, cows, horses, pigs, roosters and dogs are frequent visitors on our dead-end road.
I teach English in a small, rural one-room government school two mornings a week and return in the afternoons to teach an English class that is open to the community. This is a very poor community with a very high dropout rate. We also oversee a feeding program for the elderly (a largely neglected part of society here) Mondays through Fridays where the folks receive a nutritious hot meal every day plus hear a daily devotion, have a time of singing praise and worship songs and a time of prayer. Jim has a Bible study once a week with three young men in a small village not far from our town. Those are the major areas of our ministry. But the Lord is faithful to provide daily opportunities to minister to the hurting, the hungry and the lost. It is not unusual to go to town to buy medications, shoes and food for others and get home and realize we forgot to get something for ourselves.
We laugh a lot. We cry a little. About the time we get to feeling a little puffed up and prideful, He is faithful to humble us in a way that breaks our hearts. Truthfully, neither of us could ever imagine living a life that looks any differently than the one we live. We love these people. We love Jesus. And we love this amazing adventure of serving Him in this way.
My final word is that although we are very unworthy and very unlikely candidates to be full-time missionaries, the reality is it’s not about us at all…it’s all about Him!!!
Jim and Lynne Curtis from Cassville, Missouri, grandparents of five and business owners, sold everything they owned in 2008 in order to go out as independent Christian missionaries. They currently live in Somoto, Nicaragua where they are challenged daily to trust God for His provision, His protection and His power. Their daily prayer is that others will see Jesus in them as they minister through English classes, feeding programs, Bible studies and meeting a myriad of needs. They love the Lord, hosting mission teams and swatting skeeters in their spare time. **********
And now for the party!!!!
Here are the "rules"
1. Link up as many posts as you'd like (even giveaways!)
2. Link up old posts you wish would have received more attention!
3. Link back here by posting my button in your post or sidebar - or with a link
4. Visit the post just before yours
The party runs through next Tuesday evening!
So have FUN!
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Do you have a question related to missions? Feel free to contact me via email, comment below or visit my Facebook page to ask your question. It will be featured here during our fall Answer the Call series!
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M: Motivation Monday, Gracelaced Mondays, Playdates at the Wellspring, Mom's the Word; Matrimonial Mondays, Momma Notes T: Time Warp Wife, Titus2 Tuesdays, Women Helping Women, Mercy Ink, Character Corner W: Women Living Well, Wisdom Wednesday, Wholehearted Wednesdays, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Deep Roots at Home, My Daily Walk In His Grace Th: Hearts For Home, Thrive at Home, Serving Joyfully, I Choose Joy F: Faith Filled Friday, TGIF Fridays, Faithful Fridays, Christian Fellowship FridayClick HERE to find out how you can receive a copy of my book 14 Days of Agape for free and purchase Worship the Father and Discovering True Identity .
October 27, 2013
Unique Challenges of a Missional Life
Nine years and 4 months ago I boarded a plane with 2 enormous suitcases, 2 bulging carry-ons, and pockets full of stuff that wouldn't fit in my luggage. Despite the weight of my bags, I felt like I was walking on air! I had dreams! I had visions! I had plans!
WATCH OUT CROATIA!
Sometime later the verse in 1 Corinthians 13 became all too true to me in a way that only life's experiences can teach accomplish: "we see through a glass darkly". It wasn't that I had "missed God". It was that my human understanding filtered His words through my cultural mindset and human ambition.
As we embarked on this series 2 months ago, my desire was four-fold:
1. Arm potential missionaries with useful information
2. Raise awareness of the nitty-gritty details of missions so as to assist "home-folk" in knowing how to better pray for their missionaries
3. Give missionaries a place to share their stories
4. Assist friends and family in finding creative ways to support and encourage missionaries.
Thus far we have examined who is called and how to know if you are meant to go on a mission or not.
I believe what is important to reiterate is that everyone is called. Everyone . And no matter where your foot lands, be that in your home where your children are your mission field, your school, job, grocery store, or neighborhood - you are walking on your own personal mission field.
And yet I know there are those who desperately want to reach out beyond those borders, and perhaps even beyond the borders of their town and country. I know single moms fit this category well - and are sometimes hindered by legal ties that prevent them from "going" physically. This is where I like to shine the light on an uncommon form of missions and mentoring missions. This opens up opportunities for us to serve beyond our own physical borders into realms that many have never before considered or explored!!
Click graphic to view a list of mission resources for your family!It is difficult to fully comprehend the unique lifestyle a missionary lives. From their dependence on financial support from friends, family or sponsoring churches to the tremendous stress of being separated from all that is familiar and "home". Add to that the added mental strain of learning a new language, the struggle to fit into a culture that is strange and ill-fitting, and the pressure to live up to personal or ministry ideals that God never intended. And all of the strain of square-pegged missionaries trying to fit themselves into round holes, we are tossed about through phases of cultural integration that at times leave us a little worse for the wear - which at times leads to strain, or at the very least unhealthy decisions in our relationships. This can also lead to a level of ineffective service or lifestyle decisions that hinder our ministry.
I think we can all agree that the life of a missionary is a life of unique sacrifice.
And as we quickly approach the holiday season, I would like to explore my fourth reason for sharing this segment with you all.
We will take a short time to explore short-term missions before we move on to examine ways that you - the family, the friend, or the missions coordinator, may best support and encourage missionaries.
In the meantime, we will continue to hear from these dear servants of God who have sacrificed so much for the kingdom and continue to fulfill Christ's command to leave behind all they have to follow Jesus!
In case you have missed any of their stories, you can find them here:
1. The Forgotten Mission Field - by Patsy from HeARTworks (Philippines)
2. Be a Rebel - by Gail from 1-Minute Bible Love Notes (Hungary)
3. Becoming the Worker You Have Prayed For - by Debbie from Telling of His Wonderful Deeds (Africa)
4. When God Opens a Door - by Dr. F. Dean Hackett - (Mentoring Missionary) 5. How Post-Abortion Guilt Led Me to Become an Uncommon Missionary - by Jennifer Perry - (Uncommon Missionary)
6. Celebrating as a Multi-Cultural Family - by Bonnie Ducic (Croatia)
7. Answering the Call - by Trisha Goddard (Paraguay)
8. The Making of a Missionary - Hillary from Wholesome Reads (Africa)
9. Called to Share - Kristina from Freckles in Croatia (Croatia)
10. Conversations with a Missionary - a frank look at cultural integration - Janet Tuškan (Croatia)
The Forgotten Mission Field - by Patsy from HeARTworks (Philippines) - See more at: http://www.littlerandr.org/p/answer-c... Forgotten Mission Field - by Patsy from HeARTworks (Philippines) - See more at: http://www.littlerandr.org/p/answer-c... HERE to find out how you can receive a copy of my book 14 Days of Agape for free and purchase Worship the Father and Discovering True Identity .
October 24, 2013
Conversations with a Missionary - a frank look at cultural integration
I am so very honored to be able to share this interview with Janet with you today. It is a frank look at a missionary work from the perspective of the local people missionaries serve. While parts of it may be difficult to digest, I urge you to open your heart and mind, and let this sink in, as I have over the past couple of days. I honor Janet for her courage in writing what she had to share, because I believe it is most helpful for us when we lay aside our allowances and excuses and listen with openness to how we are at times perceived.
Tell us a little bit about yourself:
My name is Janet Tuškan (Tooshcan) and I was born in London, U.K. I originally came to Zagreb in 1984 as an “international trainee” with the Navigators – an interdenominational, international organization that focused on discipleship and equipping people to make disciples through one on one mentorship and small groups. I was supposed to be here for 3 years, but in my second year I met my husband Tomislav, we got married in 1988 and now I have been here for most of my life. We have four children (aged from 23 to 15) and it would take too long to talk about them…
What have you observed is the most typical behavior of missionaries concerning the balance of relationships between other missionaries and the local people?
Before I came, when I was talking about it all with my mother, she expressed some irritation with my saying that I was coming to teach the people here what I had learned. I didn’t really understand why she found that annoying – after all I had learned a lot and I wanted to share it with others. What she saw in me was a certain amount of arrogance, the attitude that I was superior in some way to the people I was coming to serve – without really knowing anything about them, their culture, their lives…
In the 29 years I have lived in Croatia I have seen many missionaries come and go. I have witnessed many good and bad habits by missionaries in relation to building relationships with local people.
Since James Hudson Taylor is my hero and model in terms of missions, I am frequently reminded of how he left the missionaries on the coast, dressed as a China man (including dying his hair black and tying it in a pigtail) and went inland. He also offered the people a service – he was a doctor – and did not merely “preach” at them.
I am from Britain, so I am a European, and I believe this is a major advantage in relating to other Europeans – regardless of language or culture. I have noticed that Americans have much more difficulty adjusting to European and specifically Croatian culture. There seems to be an inbuilt attitude that their culture is superior and they have come to show the people here how to do things. I am sorry I have to say this, but this is my overriding feeling in relation to almost all the American missionaries I have met in these 29 years. I also came with that attitude – as my mother noticed – and it took some shock therapy for me to realize how arrogant I was and to see the people here as equal and in some ways superior to me – and certainly superior in their understanding of their own culture, desires, and needs.
Being married to a local, how do you feel this behavior is observed by the local people?
I have noticed especially that families find it hardest to merge with the culture. They are so tied up with their own lives they have little time or energy to get on with language learning or getting out to meet and spend time with local people. A huge trap as far as I am concerned is home schooling. This usually takes the mother out of circulation, involving all her time and energy in providing schooling for her children, it denies the children the natural opportunity to make friends and learn the language in a local school environment, it removes the possibility of the many opportunities to meet people through school contacts – other parents, going to play with classmates, at parents’ meetings, getting involved in school and local life.
Home schooling also communicates to local people that you think you are somehow superior, that the normal way of life is not good enough for your children, but the rest of us mere mortals just have to put up with it. Croatian people do not have that option. Anything we can share with them, good and bad, is a relationship builder. In answer to the question about our children’s education, perhaps the best education is to grow up in a multi-cultural environment and not to be isolated at home, mixing with a very limited group of ex-pats. Life is full of challenges and we need to allow our children to meet and overcome them – we cannot protect them from everything and the sooner they learn that the better.
Also - and VERY KEY – we have to be careful who we compare ourselves with. If we look west, we may think we are hard up, if we look east and south, we come to realize what a tremendous privilege we have, what incredible opportunities we and our children have in this country, which most children in this world do not have. The fact that they will grow up bi-lingual and cross-cultural is also a huge plus in their lives. I have seen many families who leave Croatia when their children get to the stage of high school or university. Why? Don’t you think it is possible to study here? Thousands do, and many even come from other countries (Africa and Asia) to study here. Do you think the only chance your children will have is in your home country? I have seen children who are forced to go back to their parents’ home country (it is not theirs note well, if they have grown up here and spent most of their life here) because of their parents’ prejudices. Why not let them continue their lives here, where they are at home, where their friends are, where in the end they can be much more effective for the Lord than their parents because they know the language and culture so much better..
Similar to this is the issue of doctors and hospitals, and especially having babies. I had four babies in Zagreb in the normal, national health hospital, and it was fine. I also had four miscarriages which were treated there – and again, it was fine. The food was horrible, but hey! I think it is again a huge mistake for women to go elsewhere to have their babies. There is a tremendous bond that exists between women who have had a similar experience. If we want to bond with local women, they need to know we understand where they are coming from. As soon as they ask us where our children were born, a huge gulf appears if we say “In America”, “In England”, “In…. wherever”, but there is a huge identification when we mention a local hosptial and we find an enormous amount of material for conversation, laughter and tears.
The whole concept of “missionary” is something that creates confusion and alienation for most people. After my first year spent in language school I was supposed to enroll as a “guest student” in order to get a visa and basically spend my time meeting people, sharing the gospel, leading Bible studies, spending one-on-one time with girls etc. When people asked me what I did, I said I was a student, which was incomprehensible to them. How much more difficult is it to explain what a “missionary” does all day. After a while I realized I needed a job for the sake of credibility, like J. Hudson Taylor – to have a natural path to make relationships, to serve in some capacity, to be credible. God was in this – I got a job in a local language school. Not long after that I started going out with my husband (not related to the job!) which of course gave me the most credibility of all!!
In my years at a bi-lingual, international service, I got to know many foreigners who were here for many different reasons. Some were missionaries, some were here on business, some were married to locals. Those who were here on business had largely chosen to come here so they could work AND serve God. I have to say that three men, who had extremely high powered and demanding jobs, managed to be more effective in the church and out of it than most of the full time missionaries. How is that possible? Mindset? Natural opportunities to get to know people, acceptance by local people?
There is a form of mindset – which I actually heard expressed and discussed, which asks, “Is it possible to be real friends with Croats?” – in other words, Croats are our “subject” – our “target”, and other missionaries (if possible of the same nationality as us) are our “friends”. Of course anyone you meet is immediately aware of your attitude to them – do you see them as “targets” or as real people, just like you, with the same strengths and weaknesses, fears and joys? Do we see ourselves as having different needs? I will never forget my roommate’s reaction when I came home from a weekend away (that only I as a foreigner could afford), because I was “tired”. She simply said “Don’t you think we get tired sometimes too?” This exploded in my head – of course! Who am I to think my needs are greater than hers? Why are there conferences organized specifically for missionaries, but so few for local people? Thank God for the "Daughters of the King" conference here – the first conference for women who are not missionaries. Of course I know that missionaries and/or ex-pats have needs that local women don’t understand. But we have to be careful not to flaunt those needs. We have to recognize their needs – perhaps in meeting them, we will meet our own needs too. I have felt hurt here too, so I can imagine how Croatian women feel – I am not perceived as a “missionary” so I am overlooked in terms of “missionary” events.
Usually missionaries have vastly greater financial resources than local women. This can be very hurtful if it is flaunted, even unconsciously. You may think you are living on the edge, but do you live in a big flat, drive a nice car, wear nice clothes, go home every couple of years…. And many other signs that are all too obvious. How can we understand what it is like to live in two rooms with our parents-in-law and two children, to have to survive on one salary of 1000 dollars, pay back a loan in Swiss francs, be so constantly in the red, etc. etc. which is the normal everyday life of most people around us?
What do you think the reader can take away from this, to learn in relation to their own mission?
I think the key thought that inspires me is Jesus Himself – He came to earth as a normal human being. He was God Almighty, but He was born as a baby into a poor family at a time when life was not very comfortable. He could have been born at any time in human history, but He chose a time when there was no electricity, no Internet, no mains water, no cars… He made no special “allowances” because after all He was God – in fact He lived more humbly than most people around Him (he had “no place to lay his head…”). Incarnation – true identification with where we are – is key.
About Janet : I was born in London, grew up in Surrey, and studies English and German at Southampton University. I became a committed Christian in my first year at University through the Navigators (an international, inter-denominational para-church organization). I taught English for two years after graduating from University, and God led me to come to Zagreb to work with the Navigators for three years in 1984. I met my husband Tomislav in 1985 and we were married in 1988. We have been living in Zagreb since and have four children. I have worked as an English teacher, but now work as a translator, and we also run a charity shop (the first of its kind in Croatia) selling donated goods for charity – donating money to people in need.
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M: Motivation Monday, Gracelaced Mondays, Playdates at the Wellspring, Mom's the Word; Matrimonial Mondays, Momma Notes T: Time Warp Wife, Titus2 Tuesdays, Women Helping Women, Mercy Ink, Character Corner W: Women Living Well, Wisdom Wednesday, Wholehearted Wednesdays, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Deep Roots at Home, My Daily Walk In His Grace Th: Hearts For Home, Thrive at Home, Serving Joyfully, I Choose Joy F: Faith Filled Friday, TGIF Fridays, Faithful Fridays, Christian Fellowship FridayClick HERE to find out how you can receive a copy of my book 14 Days of Agape for free and purchase Worship the Father and Discovering True Identity .
Tell us a little bit about yourself:
My name is Janet Tuškan (Tooshcan) and I was born in London, U.K. I originally came to Zagreb in 1984 as an “international trainee” with the Navigators – an interdenominational, international organization that focused on discipleship and equipping people to make disciples through one on one mentorship and small groups. I was supposed to be here for 3 years, but in my second year I met my husband Tomislav, we got married in 1988 and now I have been here for most of my life. We have four children (aged from 23 to 15) and it would take too long to talk about them…
What have you observed is the most typical behavior of missionaries concerning the balance of relationships between other missionaries and the local people?
Before I came, when I was talking about it all with my mother, she expressed some irritation with my saying that I was coming to teach the people here what I had learned. I didn’t really understand why she found that annoying – after all I had learned a lot and I wanted to share it with others. What she saw in me was a certain amount of arrogance, the attitude that I was superior in some way to the people I was coming to serve – without really knowing anything about them, their culture, their lives…
In the 29 years I have lived in Croatia I have seen many missionaries come and go. I have witnessed many good and bad habits by missionaries in relation to building relationships with local people.
Since James Hudson Taylor is my hero and model in terms of missions, I am frequently reminded of how he left the missionaries on the coast, dressed as a China man (including dying his hair black and tying it in a pigtail) and went inland. He also offered the people a service – he was a doctor – and did not merely “preach” at them.
I am from Britain, so I am a European, and I believe this is a major advantage in relating to other Europeans – regardless of language or culture. I have noticed that Americans have much more difficulty adjusting to European and specifically Croatian culture. There seems to be an inbuilt attitude that their culture is superior and they have come to show the people here how to do things. I am sorry I have to say this, but this is my overriding feeling in relation to almost all the American missionaries I have met in these 29 years. I also came with that attitude – as my mother noticed – and it took some shock therapy for me to realize how arrogant I was and to see the people here as equal and in some ways superior to me – and certainly superior in their understanding of their own culture, desires, and needs.
Being married to a local, how do you feel this behavior is observed by the local people?
I have noticed especially that families find it hardest to merge with the culture. They are so tied up with their own lives they have little time or energy to get on with language learning or getting out to meet and spend time with local people. A huge trap as far as I am concerned is home schooling. This usually takes the mother out of circulation, involving all her time and energy in providing schooling for her children, it denies the children the natural opportunity to make friends and learn the language in a local school environment, it removes the possibility of the many opportunities to meet people through school contacts – other parents, going to play with classmates, at parents’ meetings, getting involved in school and local life.
Home schooling also communicates to local people that you think you are somehow superior, that the normal way of life is not good enough for your children, but the rest of us mere mortals just have to put up with it. Croatian people do not have that option. Anything we can share with them, good and bad, is a relationship builder. In answer to the question about our children’s education, perhaps the best education is to grow up in a multi-cultural environment and not to be isolated at home, mixing with a very limited group of ex-pats. Life is full of challenges and we need to allow our children to meet and overcome them – we cannot protect them from everything and the sooner they learn that the better.
Also - and VERY KEY – we have to be careful who we compare ourselves with. If we look west, we may think we are hard up, if we look east and south, we come to realize what a tremendous privilege we have, what incredible opportunities we and our children have in this country, which most children in this world do not have. The fact that they will grow up bi-lingual and cross-cultural is also a huge plus in their lives. I have seen many families who leave Croatia when their children get to the stage of high school or university. Why? Don’t you think it is possible to study here? Thousands do, and many even come from other countries (Africa and Asia) to study here. Do you think the only chance your children will have is in your home country? I have seen children who are forced to go back to their parents’ home country (it is not theirs note well, if they have grown up here and spent most of their life here) because of their parents’ prejudices. Why not let them continue their lives here, where they are at home, where their friends are, where in the end they can be much more effective for the Lord than their parents because they know the language and culture so much better..
Similar to this is the issue of doctors and hospitals, and especially having babies. I had four babies in Zagreb in the normal, national health hospital, and it was fine. I also had four miscarriages which were treated there – and again, it was fine. The food was horrible, but hey! I think it is again a huge mistake for women to go elsewhere to have their babies. There is a tremendous bond that exists between women who have had a similar experience. If we want to bond with local women, they need to know we understand where they are coming from. As soon as they ask us where our children were born, a huge gulf appears if we say “In America”, “In England”, “In…. wherever”, but there is a huge identification when we mention a local hosptial and we find an enormous amount of material for conversation, laughter and tears.
The whole concept of “missionary” is something that creates confusion and alienation for most people. After my first year spent in language school I was supposed to enroll as a “guest student” in order to get a visa and basically spend my time meeting people, sharing the gospel, leading Bible studies, spending one-on-one time with girls etc. When people asked me what I did, I said I was a student, which was incomprehensible to them. How much more difficult is it to explain what a “missionary” does all day. After a while I realized I needed a job for the sake of credibility, like J. Hudson Taylor – to have a natural path to make relationships, to serve in some capacity, to be credible. God was in this – I got a job in a local language school. Not long after that I started going out with my husband (not related to the job!) which of course gave me the most credibility of all!!
In my years at a bi-lingual, international service, I got to know many foreigners who were here for many different reasons. Some were missionaries, some were here on business, some were married to locals. Those who were here on business had largely chosen to come here so they could work AND serve God. I have to say that three men, who had extremely high powered and demanding jobs, managed to be more effective in the church and out of it than most of the full time missionaries. How is that possible? Mindset? Natural opportunities to get to know people, acceptance by local people?
There is a form of mindset – which I actually heard expressed and discussed, which asks, “Is it possible to be real friends with Croats?” – in other words, Croats are our “subject” – our “target”, and other missionaries (if possible of the same nationality as us) are our “friends”. Of course anyone you meet is immediately aware of your attitude to them – do you see them as “targets” or as real people, just like you, with the same strengths and weaknesses, fears and joys? Do we see ourselves as having different needs? I will never forget my roommate’s reaction when I came home from a weekend away (that only I as a foreigner could afford), because I was “tired”. She simply said “Don’t you think we get tired sometimes too?” This exploded in my head – of course! Who am I to think my needs are greater than hers? Why are there conferences organized specifically for missionaries, but so few for local people? Thank God for the "Daughters of the King" conference here – the first conference for women who are not missionaries. Of course I know that missionaries and/or ex-pats have needs that local women don’t understand. But we have to be careful not to flaunt those needs. We have to recognize their needs – perhaps in meeting them, we will meet our own needs too. I have felt hurt here too, so I can imagine how Croatian women feel – I am not perceived as a “missionary” so I am overlooked in terms of “missionary” events.
Usually missionaries have vastly greater financial resources than local women. This can be very hurtful if it is flaunted, even unconsciously. You may think you are living on the edge, but do you live in a big flat, drive a nice car, wear nice clothes, go home every couple of years…. And many other signs that are all too obvious. How can we understand what it is like to live in two rooms with our parents-in-law and two children, to have to survive on one salary of 1000 dollars, pay back a loan in Swiss francs, be so constantly in the red, etc. etc. which is the normal everyday life of most people around us?
What do you think the reader can take away from this, to learn in relation to their own mission?
I think the key thought that inspires me is Jesus Himself – He came to earth as a normal human being. He was God Almighty, but He was born as a baby into a poor family at a time when life was not very comfortable. He could have been born at any time in human history, but He chose a time when there was no electricity, no Internet, no mains water, no cars… He made no special “allowances” because after all He was God – in fact He lived more humbly than most people around Him (he had “no place to lay his head…”). Incarnation – true identification with where we are – is key.
About Janet : I was born in London, grew up in Surrey, and studies English and German at Southampton University. I became a committed Christian in my first year at University through the Navigators (an international, inter-denominational para-church organization). I taught English for two years after graduating from University, and God led me to come to Zagreb to work with the Navigators for three years in 1984. I met my husband Tomislav in 1985 and we were married in 1988. We have been living in Zagreb since and have four children. I have worked as an English teacher, but now work as a translator, and we also run a charity shop (the first of its kind in Croatia) selling donated goods for charity – donating money to people in need.
Don't forget to link up at A Little R & R Wednesdays - a linky party from Wednesdays to Tuesdays!
Do you have a question related to missions? Feel free to contact me via email, comment below or visit my Facebook page to ask your question. It will be featured here during our fall Answer the Call series!
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Linking up with some these blogs:
M: Motivation Monday, Gracelaced Mondays, Playdates at the Wellspring, Mom's the Word; Matrimonial Mondays, Momma Notes T: Time Warp Wife, Titus2 Tuesdays, Women Helping Women, Mercy Ink, Character Corner W: Women Living Well, Wisdom Wednesday, Wholehearted Wednesdays, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Deep Roots at Home, My Daily Walk In His Grace Th: Hearts For Home, Thrive at Home, Serving Joyfully, I Choose Joy F: Faith Filled Friday, TGIF Fridays, Faithful Fridays, Christian Fellowship FridayClick HERE to find out how you can receive a copy of my book 14 Days of Agape for free and purchase Worship the Father and Discovering True Identity .
October 22, 2013
Called to Share + A Little R & R Wednesdays - a linky party #25
First of all I want to say that the ministries we have been a part of are not our own. They have been well established by the Johnny Leslie family and national pastor, Rajko Telebar. The Scott Holcomb family and Brother Sam Ward also minister along with us. We currently work in two Baptist churches in northern Croatia: Stablo Zivota in Cakovec, and Pobjednici in Varazdin. We have been assisting the in various ministries in the church such as Vacation Bible School, handing out Gospel invitations, and children’s church with the Roma gypsy population. My husband and I also offered free English classes to our community which was a great success. Our family has personally seen seven people accept Jesus as their personal Savior. We praise the Lord for those souls. It would have still been worth our efforts if only one person had been saved.
I can truly say that God has given me a love for Croatia and the people there. It is amazing to be able to love someone who is not family or even the same nationality. Sometimes people here are not very lovely or kind...that is just life. However, because of God’s GREAT love for me and what Jesus did on the cross for the world…I choose to love them. It is our desire to see Croatia turn their hearts toward God.
There have been many lessons learned while living in Croatia: 1. Learning the language and culture is a must to understand those you are ministering to.2. People are watching us to see if we are living what we preach. How is my testimony?3. Everyone smiles in the same language. You never know how it will brighten someone’s day.4. Not everyone will want to hear the Gospel, but we must be loving and persistent in planting and watering the seed.5. Prayer is powerful! Have you prayed for a missionary today…prayed for souls to be saved, missionaries to be encouraged, and their safety?
We really do covet your prayers. If we only had financial support and not prayer support, we could not be effective in what we are doing. Please pray with us as the Lord is directing our family to the coastal city of Zadar to begin a work there.
I am a wife to Kevin for the last 14 years, homeschool mom to three adorable redheads, and daughter of the King of Kings. My hobbies include cooking, creating, and attempting to sew and crochet. I accepted the Lord as my Savior as a young girl and was baptized. After attending Atlantic Baptist Bible College in Chester, Virginia, the Lord impressed upon my heart to fully surrender everything to Him. I surrendered my plans for my life and opened my heart to whatever He wanted. This led us to where we are today. Our church, Buford Road Baptist, in Richmond, VA sent us out to reach Croatia with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and we are also aided by the Baptist Bible Fellowship International. Today you will find me joyfully serving beside my husband in a little town called Cakovec with the Baptist church. You can follow me at my blog Freckles in Croatia and at our mission blog Mercy and Grace for Croatia and on Facebook.**********
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Link up as many posts on any subject you desire - even giveaways!
Link up those posts that you wish would have gotten more attention Come on - you know what I'm talking about. I'll be linking up a few of my own, too.
Link back to A Little R & R with the button or a link
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And now for the party!!!
Link up as many posts on any subject you desire - even giveaways!
Link up those posts that you wish would have gotten more attention Come on - you know what I'm talking about. I'll be linking up a few of my own, too.
Link back to A Little R & R with the button or a link
Visit the post just before yours
Invite your friends to join the party
The party runs until next Tuesday evening!
So link up and have fun!
(Click here to receive a weekly email reminder of this link-up party) - See more at: http://www.littlerandr.org/2013/10/ce... And now for the party!!!!
Here are the "rules"
1. Link up as many posts as you'd like (even giveaways!)
2. Link up old posts you wish would have received more attention!
3. Link back here by posting my button in your post or sidebar - or with a link
4. Visit the post just before yours
The party runs through next Tuesday evening!
So have FUN!
Click here to receive a weekly reminder about this party!
Do you have a question related to missions? Feel free to contact me via email, comment below or visit my Facebook page to ask your question. It will be featured here during our fall Answer the Call series!
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M: Motivation Monday, Gracelaced Mondays, Playdates at the Wellspring, Mom's the Word; Matrimonial Mondays, Momma Notes T: Time Warp Wife, Titus2 Tuesdays, Women Helping Women, Mercy Ink, Character Corner W: Women Living Well, Wisdom Wednesday, Wholehearted Wednesdays, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Deep Roots at Home, My Daily Walk In His Grace Th: Hearts For Home, Thrive at Home, Serving Joyfully, I Choose Joy F: Faith Filled Friday, TGIF Fridays, Faithful Fridays, Christian Fellowship FridayClick HERE to find out how you can receive a copy of my book 14 Days of Agape for free and purchase Worship the Father and Discovering True Identity .
October 20, 2013
Developing Friendships in a New Culture
If there is one mistake I've made in integrating into a new culture it's been in balancing friendships.
The area of relationships in on the mission field is a very delicate balance: the relationship with of a missionary with his peers and colleagues and his relationships with the local people he serves.
This balance is very difficult to maintain as the tendency is to one extreme or the other.
My fear of never fully integrating led me to completely reject all relationships with other local missionaries. Looking back now, I am so very sorry that I never reached out to them. I knew of a community of missionaries and, in fact, attended language school one dear missionary couple - but a misguided sense of loyalty to the local people I was serving drove me to reject any friendship they offered.
While my intentions were good, they were carried out in an extreme that was neither required nor healthy.
The other extreme is to latch on to the familiarity of colleagues and peers, while failing to form deep and lasting friendships with those you came to serve.
I believe both are rooted in fear.
My failure to cultivate friendships with my colleagues most certainly was. I was afraid of finding such comfort and familiarity among them that I would fail to form lasting friendships with my Croatian sisters in Christ. And I believe that the other extreme is born out of a fear of what is not familiar: language and culture. Perhaps a fear of saying the wrong thing, of being misunderstood, or of not understanding what is going on around you.
I understand that fear very well.
I clearly remember sitting in a coffee bar, surrounded by my Croatian friends, not understanding one word over the din of music in English. As the English lyrics filled my brain, they blocked out the few Croatian phrases I knew. Besides the fact that no one was speaking to me anyway. I felt very alone. Forgotten. So, I just got up and walked out.
It was hard. Very hard.
But I knew that the next time I had to try again.
And yet, perhaps I would have had an easier time of it had I reached out to other American and English missionaries who were facing the same struggles as I. Perhaps, had I known that I wasn't walking this path alone - that the emotional ups and downs were normal, that the buckets of lonely tears I cried were to be expected, and that the struggle to fit in, only to be reminded that I was different and stood out in a crowd, was worth it all in the end - I think my road would have been a lot easier.
In your effort to integrate into a new culture - do not forget the value of your colleagues. Do not turn them away. Communicate with one another. Share your struggles, your fears and your successes. Lean on each other and help bear each others' burdens!
Yet, do not allow the fear of the unknown or fear of failure to hold you back from cultivating friendships with those you serve. Value them. Reach out to them. Allow them to correct your mistakes. Laugh with them at you . Come along side of them and go about the Kingdom work together!
**Image courtesy of photostock / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Do you have a question related to missions? Feel free to contact me via email, comment below or visit my Facebook page to ask your question. It will be featured here during our fall Answer the Call series!
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Click HERE to find out how you can receive a copy of my book 14 Days of Agape for free and purchase Worship the Father and Discovering True Identity .
October 17, 2013
The Making of a Missionary
I "met" Hillary through A Little R & R Wednesdays! Quite by accident I discovered she is a missionary and her story is fascinating. She has a great book blog: Wholesome Reads Be sure to stop by to find some great reading material for the whole family!
When I am asked the age-old question, “What does your husband do for a living?” my answer startles some, puzzles others and sometimes blesses those with a heart for the lost in the world. My husband is a missionary – and I am his wife. (Is “Missionary Wife” a job description?)
So, that brings the next question. What exactly is a missionary?
A missionary is, quite simply, a Christian who tells others about Jesus.
The “missionary call” is the same for every one – “Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15) For some that is full-time ministry and for others it is day to day living for the glory of God. The details are best left to God’s wonderful direction for each of us.
This is how He has led us.
We began our overseas life before we were married. My husband was serving in India with an American organization that trains local pastors and leaders through a three week, intensive Bible School. A bit like a “boot camp,” actually. Stephen is an Englishman and I am an American. (The testimony of how we met and married is for another day – but it is a wonderful testimony!) He returned to the USA to get married and three weeks following our wedding we were back in India, where we served for the first two and a half years of our married life. Our eldest child was born in a local hospital in a small village in South India. (Another story for another day.)
We returned to the USA for a season, where my husband worked in the head office of the ministry and processed his American immigration. He began traveling to various countries on a short-term basis while I stayed home and had our second child.
When our children were aged 3 and 1, we moved to Indonesia for a time to see the pastoral training program established in that land. (We believe in training the local people to reach their own countrymen, hopefully lessening the tendency of developing an unhealthydependency on the foreign missionary.) Eventually we moved back to the USA, had another child and Stephen began overseeing the work of the training school in the continent of Africa. (I say “continent” because most people think of Africa as a country. Actually, Africa is made up of over fifty countries – each with their own culture, government, language and differences.)
Two years ago, after seeing the work grow to include over fourteen countries, we moved as a family to Kenya, where we based while my husband travelled to oversee the running of the schools. Our lives were tremendously blessed by our time there. I say “were” because we have recently relocated back to the USA. Stephen will continue to travel to Africa regularly and we (“Me and the Three”), will continue to live for the Lord wherever He plants us – right now that is in American soil.
I’ll encourage you to let your light shine wherever the Lord places you. If you have a desire to go to the foreign field, be faithful where you are and when the time is right, God willopen the doors.
“Delight thyself also in the Lord: and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” Psalm 37:4“Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.” Isaiah 6:8 Click HERE to find out how you can receive a copy of my book 14 Days of Agape for free and purchase Worship the Father and Discovering True Identity .
When I am asked the age-old question, “What does your husband do for a living?” my answer startles some, puzzles others and sometimes blesses those with a heart for the lost in the world. My husband is a missionary – and I am his wife. (Is “Missionary Wife” a job description?)
So, that brings the next question. What exactly is a missionary?
A missionary is, quite simply, a Christian who tells others about Jesus.
The “missionary call” is the same for every one – “Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15) For some that is full-time ministry and for others it is day to day living for the glory of God. The details are best left to God’s wonderful direction for each of us.
This is how He has led us.
We began our overseas life before we were married. My husband was serving in India with an American organization that trains local pastors and leaders through a three week, intensive Bible School. A bit like a “boot camp,” actually. Stephen is an Englishman and I am an American. (The testimony of how we met and married is for another day – but it is a wonderful testimony!) He returned to the USA to get married and three weeks following our wedding we were back in India, where we served for the first two and a half years of our married life. Our eldest child was born in a local hospital in a small village in South India. (Another story for another day.)
We returned to the USA for a season, where my husband worked in the head office of the ministry and processed his American immigration. He began traveling to various countries on a short-term basis while I stayed home and had our second child.
When our children were aged 3 and 1, we moved to Indonesia for a time to see the pastoral training program established in that land. (We believe in training the local people to reach their own countrymen, hopefully lessening the tendency of developing an unhealthydependency on the foreign missionary.) Eventually we moved back to the USA, had another child and Stephen began overseeing the work of the training school in the continent of Africa. (I say “continent” because most people think of Africa as a country. Actually, Africa is made up of over fifty countries – each with their own culture, government, language and differences.)
Two years ago, after seeing the work grow to include over fourteen countries, we moved as a family to Kenya, where we based while my husband travelled to oversee the running of the schools. Our lives were tremendously blessed by our time there. I say “were” because we have recently relocated back to the USA. Stephen will continue to travel to Africa regularly and we (“Me and the Three”), will continue to live for the Lord wherever He plants us – right now that is in American soil.
I’ll encourage you to let your light shine wherever the Lord places you. If you have a desire to go to the foreign field, be faithful where you are and when the time is right, God willopen the doors.
“Delight thyself also in the Lord: and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” Psalm 37:4“Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.” Isaiah 6:8 Click HERE to find out how you can receive a copy of my book 14 Days of Agape for free and purchase Worship the Father and Discovering True Identity .
October 15, 2013
Answering the Call + A Little R & R Wednesdays - a linky party # 24
I had been challenged to missions, ready to Answer the Call, yet no desire to learn a new language! Below I am sharing my story, and as you read it, may you not be in awe of me, but only of God, Who is using my life for His glory!
“Why in the world would I ever want to learn a foreign language?” - this was my thought that I held on too and put into practice in high school, but found out later why learning a foreign language is CRUCIAL to missions, if you are going to a non-English speaking country!
Ok, before I get started, here is where I have to laugh! As I look back over my life, I can't believe that I had been challenged in 1st grade to be a part of tribal missions, which means going to a non-English speaking country, working with tribal people, and after learning their language, I would share with them the true Gospel message!
My favorite verses are Romans 10:14-15:
How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
Amazingly, when I entered high school, I continued down my ideals, and it seemed so logical not to study a foreign language, like Spanish, French, or Italian, because I reasoned that it would make high school so much easier! Now, surely I didn't think that I could do everything in English overseas, or did I? Whatever the case, I went through high school not studying any foreign language, because I knew English, and that was all that I need to live life...or so I thought...
Until 2 years later, I stepped foot in Language institute, where I began studying phonetics, phonemic, where to put my tongue to make those strange noises like the glottal, nasal vowels, and trilled “r”s. I honestly thought at times, when in a class setting that I understood it all as I put accents and tonal lines on worksheets. Interesting enough, I found out that I thought completely opposite! My whole paper was pretty much wrong. Every.Single.Time. So, between phonetics and figuring out languages, I very quickly knew that learning a language was going to be LOTS of work on my part. Thankfully, we were headed to Paraguay, where Spanish was definitely among one of the “easier” languages, or so I was told...
...until I landed on Paraguayan soil and found out to an only American speaker, the Spanish language ran together. Oh, and there were irregular verbs that didn't follow any particular rule and 14 verb tenses for every.stinking.verb! Really?! So, that was my “Welcome to Paraguay”, and even after I did begin learning Spanish, I still couldn't understand what everyone said, because Paraguay doesn't only have 1 National language, but 2 – Spanish and Guarani. So you will find people that speak only Spanish, some that speak only Guarani, some that speak both, and some that speak neither one, but only a tribal language.
During these 2 years of formal Spanish language study with 2 children under 3 and pregnant with number 3, I pressed on, amidst the hardship and struggles, learning so that I could build relationships, be used by God in a new language and culture, with the desire to see others know Him through me. Even when finished with formal language study, I continued to learn, and I personally have to say that 2 major factors in my fluency were my Paraguayan family, who taught me so much and had lots of patience with me and also, Good Morning Girls, an online Bible study that I stumbled upon last year as I read Women LivingWell blog. I never knew what God had planned, but I knew that studying online the Bible in Spanish would be just what I needed to extend my vocabulary. Now, over a year later, I never imagined co-leading Good Morning Girls Spanish! But GOD…He had a plan and it has forced me to dig, grow, and learn more. To go beyond “normal” and say “YES”, even when it is scary or seems impossible to me!
So, do you think this woman, chosen by God, challenged to missions, yet no desire to learn a new language has changed? Yes, I have and would have hoped, I learned the first time around, but just this past week, my husband told me during a conversation that I am still there, with no desire to learn a new language! Really?! He told me that I have resisted learning Guarani and “making by” with Spanish. Ouch! I said, “But you advised me to not learn Guarani until I had a good handle on Spanish.” He said, “You didn't have to take my advice. (True...) And now, you have studied Spanish since June 2004, I'm sure that you can learn Guarani! That's all it takes is a thermos of cold water, Paraguayan tea in an upside cowhorn with a filtered straw, and a friend who speaks Guarani.” So, then my response was “Time! That is what I need.” But then, I realized...another EXCUSE! UGHH!!
“God, forgive my excuses! Use me! Help me do "whatever it takes" to learn Guarani! I know that learning this language will help me build deeper relationships with my Paraguayan family, who do speak Spanish, but their heart language is Guarani, and not only that, but also, I will be able to minister alongside my husband in tribal locations that speak Guarani.”
My prayer today is: “Lord, don’t only give me a desire to learn Guarani, but also give me friends and people who will “flood” me with it! I’m saying yes to You, with my palms up ready to obey, even when I really don't have a clue how. God, You know that I am a wife, mommy and homeschool teacher to our 3 children, in ministry, and now, an online college student. Give me wisdom with my time, and may I, with Your help, do whatever it takes to learn this new language!"
Chosen by God,
with a heartbeat for missions, and continuing to learn,
Trisha Goddard
www.unamujerelegida.mtgoddard.com
Trisha Goddard loves God wholeheartedly, and has a passion for missions, serving others, and mentoring. She serves in full-time ministry in Paraguay, co-leads Good Morning Girls Spanish, and is working towards her Masters of Arts in Organizational Leadership. Trisha married her sweetheart, Mike, in 2001, and they have three children: Michael, Lea, and Kaleb, whom she has the privilege to homeschool. ****
And now for the party!!!
Link up as many posts on any subject you desire - even giveaways!
Link up those posts that you wish would have gotten more attention Come on - you know what I'm talking about. I'll be linking up a few of my own, too.
Link back to A Little R & R with the button or a link
Visit the post just before yours
Invite your friends to join the party
The party runs until next Tuesday evening!
So link up and have fun!
(Click here to receive a weekly email reminder of this link-up party) - See more at: http://www.littlerandr.org/2013/10/ce...
**********
****
And now for the party!!!
Link up as many posts on any subject you desire - even giveaways!
Link up those posts that you wish would have gotten more attention Come on - you know what I'm talking about. I'll be linking up a few of my own, too.
Link back to A Little R & R with the button or a link
Visit the post just before yours
Invite your friends to join the party
The party runs until next Tuesday evening!
So link up and have fun!
(Click here to receive a weekly email reminder of this link-up party) - See more at: http://www.littlerandr.org/2013/10/ce...
****
And now for the party!!!
Link up as many posts on any subject you desire - even giveaways!
Link up those posts that you wish would have gotten more attention Come on - you know what I'm talking about. I'll be linking up a few of my own, too.
Link back to A Little R & R with the button or a link
Visit the post just before yours
Invite your friends to join the party
The party runs until next Tuesday evening!
So link up and have fun!
(Click here to receive a weekly email reminder of this link-up party) - See more at: http://www.littlerandr.org/2013/10/ce... And now for the party!!!!
Here are the "rules"
1. Link up as many posts as you'd like (even giveaways!)
2. Link up old posts you wish would have received more attention!
3. Link back here by posting my button in your post or sidebar - or with a link
4. Visit the post just before yours
The party runs through next Tuesday evening!
So have FUN!
Click here to receive a weekly reminder about this party!
And now for the party!!!
Link up as many posts on any subject you desire - even giveaways!
Link up those posts that you wish would have gotten more attention Come on - you know what I'm talking about. I'll be linking up a few of my own, too.
Link back to A Little R & R with the button or a link
Visit the post just before yours
Invite your friends to join the party
The party runs until next Tuesday evening!
So link up and have fun!
(Click here to receive a weekly email reminder of this link-up party) - See more at: http://www.littlerandr.org/2013/10/ce...
Do you have a question related to missions? Feel free to contact me via email, comment below or visit my Facebook page to ask your question. It will be featured here during our fall Answer the Call series!
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