Ask a Missionary: Reader Question #1

Reader Question: How do you know for sure that you are meant to go on a mission? Do you get scared?


This is a question that I am sure is on many people's minds.

My answer to the first question is two-fold.  I would first suggest that you take a short-term mission trip or connect with a humanitarian aid organization that would allow you to do a 2-3 week trip.

Before hand, I would encourage you to spend a significant time in prayer, seeking God as to where He would like for you to go, and praying that He will reveal to you if foreign missions is His call for you.

The idea of short-term missions is wonderful because it it will give you a glimpse into a culture that is far different from your own, and often places you in an environment where you are more sensitive to the Lord's voice.

I would, however, encourage you to choose a trip where you will be in one place for the entire time, where you can partner with a local church as this will give you a broader perspective as to what full-time missions is like. 

When you return home, commit to prayer what you feel God spoke to you during your trip.  You may even want to share it with your prayer partner, husband or pastor and ask them to pray with you.  Commit to praying for this for one year.  

If you are sensing a true call from God, the call will only be stronger after that period of time.  If this is not God's plan for you, I have full faith that He will reveal this to you.


As for your second question: Do you get scared?

I will confess that I had moments of anxiety before I left to move here.  This is completely normal.  Anyone who plans to completely uproot their life and move to a nation where the customs, language and the entire lifestyle is different, and claims they have not experienced an even small amount of anxiety, is not living in reality.  *grin*

One thing that will aid in this is to do some research before you leave.  Locate fellow missionaries in the same town - or at least country - where you are planning to serve and contact them.  Making some contact with local missionaries will make your first year somewhat less stressful. 

Also, if you can locate a community of fellow missionaries with whom you can freely share, it will also be helpful as you try to hurdle some of the common first-year difficulties.  During your first year you will have thousands of questions and you will experience a wide range of emotions. Having a fellow missionaries who can help you through this season will be worth more than you will ever know!


I hope this has helped answer your question.

 

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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