Grains of Sand

One of the missionaries our church supports is retiring after more than 40 years of service in Africa. I suspect that there is nothing “sweet” for her about an experience that many might call “bitter-sweet.” She has invested her life into a people and a country that has become more home to her than the country into which she was born. The last time she was back in Canada on Home Assignment we talked about this eventuality. I could relate because I had done what she is now doing. But for me it was easier. I had had longer periods here in Canada even while serving overseas. That provided me with the chance to adjust to being “here” rather than “there.” She has had little opportunity in her 40 years to do that. Basically she is returning to a “foreign” country. And it is “foreign.” It is not the same place, these are not the same people, this is not the same church, she left behind 40 years ago. I sent her an email this morning that I hope will be an encouragement to her in these days o...

I'm over at JoE today: http://www.jewelsofencouragement.com/2012/02/case-of-pilfering-peacock.html The post evolved out of a prayer letter I read from one of our missionaries in Pakistan, Hannah Pollock. Hannah's life journey as a missionary spans decades. She wanted to go to India. As an American back in the 60s, the door to that country was closed. But so convinced was Hannah that God wanted her there that she came to Canada, attended seminary here and became a Canadian citizen. By the time she applied for her visa to go to India, even Canadians were not being allowed in. But Shikarpur Christian Hospital was desperate for staff and when they heard about her dilemma they encouraged her to come and join them. She did, and spent decades serving the needs of Pakistani women in that place. When she retired, she married a widower, the father of another missionary with whom she had worked in Pakistan. When he passed away, Hannah returned as a volunteer to Shikarpur to fill one o...

Reading: 3 John It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that I have strong feelings about missionaries. Most of my working life has been in missionary service overseas and our own country is as much of a mission field as any part of the world. What part of my life I didn’t spend overseas in missions, I have spent here in ministry. So I have a bit of a soft spot for those who leave behind what they can’t take with them to gain what will accompany them to glory. That’s why the first few verses of John’s third letter brought a smile to my face as I read them. It’s a mini-manual on how to treat your missionaries. “ Dear friend, ” writes John to Gaius, “ you are faithful in what you are going for the brothers, even though they are strangers to you. They have told the church about your love. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. We ought therefore to show hospitalit...

I spent a lot of time yesterday cutting out paper dolls. No, I haven't lost my mind, or slipped into my second childhood. And they weren't just ordinary paper dolls—they were Civil War period replicas—appropriate considering that this week, Canada, the United States, and Venezuela, all celebrate their respective Independence Days. This morning I mixed up a double batch of play dough. All this in preparation for my Sunday School class this morning. It takes time and effort to get creative and make Sunday School interesting for kids. Sometimes I have to remind myself why I do it. For one thing, I came to know the Lord through the faithful ministry of Sunday School teachers. Sunday School teachers are the unsung heroes in God's Kingdom. They plant seeds in the most fertile ground of all—the open and relatively uncomplicated minds and hearts of little children. God planted in me the desire to serve Him when I was nine years old. I wonder why? Those Sunday School teachers exempl...