Thoughts from PNG

I've been thinking about things I learned in Papau New Guinea. It was an amazing trip that affected me and my thinking about what my future may hold. I think that when you go on a short term missions trip, you get challenged as to whether God want's you to do mission full-time or not. As Dan Stokes shared in church a couple weeks ago, the people of PNG desparately what missionaries to go there and share who God is with them.

One thing that I heard over and over again from missionaries was that bush missionaries can't survive without support missionaries. Support missionaries do anything from buying supplies, flying them out to the field, help building houses, teaching kids, repairing things, etc. These missionaries live mainly on missionary bases, outside of the bush. Bush missionaries are working directly with the tribes. Another form of support missionaries is church people like you and I. We provide financial support, prayer, encouragement, etc. This is also a very important part of the mission field. The bush missionaries were very clear that they could not do their job without the support missionaries and people at home supporting them.

So I was taking all this in and trying to figure out what my role could be in the future in the area of missions. I was thinking, "man I could be a support missionary on the field." Before that point I had been learning about the missionaries only, but then they began asking me about my job and what I do at home. I began telling them about my job of working with guys to help them move from a residential placement into an independent living setting. The missionaries began telling me that I had a huge mission at home. They began telling me that they couldn't do what I do...these are missionaries who go into a tribe, learn a new language, write it down, translate the Bible and teach the Bible in the new language...and they couldn't do My job?

I began to realize that my job is a mission field. How many times do you see your job as a mission field? Every since I was in high school, I've felt that God wanted me to do something in missions. I went to school to be a youth pastor, but ended up working the opposite end of the spectrum of youth...church kids vs. locked up kids! I love my job and feel that this is what I was meant to do, although sometimes I fell inadequate.

I remember talking with Gary and Esther Smith. They are an amazing family and really touched my heart. Gary had a trouble childhood and became a Christian in college. He went on to Bible school and Dallas Theological Seminary before going to PNG. They have worked in the Danagat Tribe for 5 years and have learned the language, translated some of the Bible, began teaching and had success with 120 believers in their tribe. Gary told me once that several times they felt like quitting because it was so difficult. This was a very intelligent man who has accomplished a lot, yet he had even he had difficulties.

What I heard over and over again from missionaries was that "God is faithful and will take care of us." It made me think that even though work is difficult at times, or I feel inadequate, or whatever, that God is faithful and will carry me through.

So what did I get out of this trip? A desire to go to the field and be a missionary? Yes and no. I realized that I am a missionary here at home, in my job. I really enjoy going overseas to the mission field, this is my 3rd short term missions trip. I desire to continue to do these, but I think that God wants me to stay in the U.S. and continue what I am doing. I can continue to be a support missionary for those God has chosen to go to the field, because God has chosen me for this task.

Going to a 5th world country with make you think about your life. I would encourage you to do it if you get a chance. God will challenge you, like he has me. I have taken my job much more seriously since returning and try to do my best each day because I have the ability to really affect the guys that I work with.