A few days ago I received an update from a missionary we support, Christiane Fox. We don't know Christiane, we met her just before she headed into the field and decided to support her. Over the past two years we have been getting to know her through the missionary updates we receive from her.
Growing up in the church, I am accustomed to reading such letters, sitting in a pew waiting for church to begin or waiting for it to end..... In fact I have read hundreds I would think. Some touching, some challenging, some that make you want to get on a plane and save the world.
The thing that struck me the other day is that I am beginning to feel like I know Christiane, and that for the most part she isn't a traditional missionary. She is a nurse, who follows Christ, and feels called to work with people who have no money, and no government system to support them. So instead of working in a Canadian hospital, paid by the Department of Health, she works in Doro, Sudan, and is paid by SIM.
The last while I have been trying to sort of my mission/occupation/calling and come to the realization that I should simply obey and serve. That all around me people are in need; a meal, a hand babysitting, a ride, a smile, a chat, a conversation, and on it goes.
So with this is mind, reading Christiane's letter the other day I was struck with this idea; What would happen if I had to write a missionary update? The simple act of defining my life as a mission, identifying the joys and challenges I am facing and then sending it out to people who support me. What effect would that have?
I am leaving you with a few pictures from the last few weeks, I always like it when the missionaries include pictures.
