Journal

By Paige

Have you ever used the phrase, "I wish someone would have told me _____ before I committed to this"?

Well, there are some things I wish someone would have told me as a first-time missionary before moving my life to another country. Now, to be clear, I would not go back and change my journey at all. I wouldn't go back 11 years and make it easier on myself or warn myself about the things to come. I wouldn't go back and buy all the nice things, the great camera, start a blog, or make sure everything was perfectly in place. I don't know—that's not who I am. I know that all of those beginning moments were part of what led me to who I am and where I am today.

But if you are just starting out as a missionary—whether long-term or short-term, single or with a family—there are some things that might help you along the way. These “tips” are not about the perfect budget (although that's important), and they aren't about culture, MKs, or practical tips. Don't get me wrong—I love practical advice. I'm all about the practical. But the reality is that practical preparation doesn't always work once you're on the field.

You can know the language. You can have the funds, the financial partners, and the prayer partners, and things can still go wrong or turn out very differently than you expected.

So here are five things that could help you before going to the field—or, if you're already serving overseas, remind and encourage you:

• Change is the only constant.

• Expect the unexpected.

• Don't give up. Your calling is from God, not man.

• You can't help people or serve them until you know their language and understand their culture.

• It's worth it.

Change Is the Only Constant

I had never heard this phrase until I moved to Peru and heard our church's founding pastor say it. Then he said it again, and again, and again. I remember thinking, Why? Why must things always change? Why should I expect change? Why is change the only constant?

The longer I've lived on the mission field, the more I've realized how true it is. Ministries change. Teams change. Leaders change. Visas change. Plans change. The neighborhood changes. Your role changes. You change.

If you spend all your energy trying to hold on to what was, you'll constantly be frustrated. Learning to embrace change instead of fighting it will save you a lot of heartache.

Expect the Unexpected

The first night I arrived in Peru, I had no idea what to expect. And honestly, even if I had, I still would have been shocked by what my reality was actually going to be.

I was picked up from the airport and taken to what seemed like a random street in this city of over 11 million people that I had just committed to living in. Not only had I arrived in a city I barely knew, but I was also taken to the home of a woman who didn't speak any English.

To give you a clear picture of what her home looked like, it was one room and one bed.

Yep. One bed.

So did I sleep with this random woman, in her one-room house, in her one bed?

Yes. Yes, I did.

Not exactly what I expected.

I ended up staying with her for several weeks until another living arrangement was made. That first year on the mission field was nothing like I expected. And the funny thing is, I had been to Peru before. I thought I knew what I was getting myself into.

I was wrong.

There were many more moments like this during my first few years on the field. And can I be honest? These moments still happen—even 11 years later. They don't go away.

My hope for you is that you go into your season of ministry overseas with this in mind: whatever you expect will probably not end up being your reality. That doesn't make it any less important, real, or necessary. In fact, some of the most significant moments of your ministry may come from the things you never planned for.

I'm sure you've already considered the possibility that what you expect may not be what actually happens. But don't just acknowledge that idea—really sit with it for a moment.

Because I believe God often has far more planned than we could ever anticipate. The question is whether we'll be ready to receive it when it comes.

Don't Give Up. Your Calling Is from God, Not Man.

There was one afternoon during my first year as a missionary that shook me to my core, and I still remember it to this day.

I was at a wedding of someone I didn't know (I still can't remember whose wedding it was), and I didn't understand a word that was being said because I didn't speak Spanish at the time. I was there with a friend and was probably exhausted from adjusting to a new culture, trying to learn a new language, and figuring out what was going on all the time.

At one point, our church's founding pastor, Pastor Karyn (I'm sorry, Ps. Karyn, if you're reading this!), asked me how I was doing. Of course, I was just trying to survive at that point, so I started crying a little from sheer exhaustion. She responded, "Maybe you should go home? Maybe this isn't for you?"

That only made me cry more.

My point is this: if you know your calling is from God—and it is—then listen to that. People may question you. Circumstances may challenge you. You may even question yourself. But if God called you, then hold on to that calling.

You Can't Help People or Serve Them Until You Know Their Language and Understand Their Culture

This one is a little more practical, but it goes far beyond language learning and cultural integration.

Really, that first year on the field shouldn't be spent "doing" as much as it should be spent "being." Be present in the culture. Make friends with local people.

After 11 years on the mission field, my closest friends are not Americans. (I'm from Arkansas, by the way, and the culture that I grew up in was very different from Latin culture.) I truly believe that if you're going to thrive on the mission field—if you're going to thrive at being on mission—you need friends who are living everyday life alongside you, not just friends back home supporting you.

Those friends and family back home are invaluable, but they don't fully understand your day-to-day life the way local friends do. Local friendships help you understand the culture, navigate challenges, and become part of the community you're serving.

Before you can effectively minister to people, you have to know them.

It's Worth It (Don't Live on Automatic)

This one is kind of a two-for-one because we all know—or at least I hope we know—that what we're doing is worth it.

All the hours, all the fundraising, all the moving and packing and talking and writing and dreaming and serving and learning and working—it never stops.

But it's worth it.

What you're doing is worth it.

If you're a stay-at-home mom for a season while your husband is doing the bulk of the ministry outside the home (which is where our family is right now), it's worth it.

If you're single and barely making ends meet because fundraising feels like an impossible mountain to climb, but you came to the mission field anyway because you know it's where you're supposed to be, it's worth it.

If you're a newlywed couple with dreams of growing God's Kingdom and His church, and you have the funding but now need the workers and people to help make the vision a reality, it's worth it.

Where we can get into trouble is when we begin living on automatic.

Because it's going to get hard. It's going to get impossibly hard. Maybe so hard that you'll think, "God, I'm pretty sure I heard You wrong when You told me to go to Chile. Maybe what You really meant was eat some chili."

But deep down, you know He sent you where you are for a reason.

Let's be honest: it's lonely. It's harder than you imagined. Things come up that you didn't expect, and suddenly you're wondering how you're going to survive. So instead, you slowly slip into doing things automatically because, well, it's easier that way.

Can I encourage you to run in the opposite direction from those feelings? Run as fast and as hard as you can.

Don't stay in the comfortable place for too long.

I think we've all had seasons like that. I know I have. Seasons where things got so hard that you simply did what you had to do to survive until the next day and crawled into bed feeling almost zombie-like.

If that's where you are, reach out to someone. Reach out to a friend, your spouse, or someone who will understand. And pray. Take time to go to God and let Him breathe life back into you.

The days are too short to live life on automatic.

And before I finish, I should mention that the phrase "never in automatic" came from the lead pastors of our church. It's something that has stayed with me over the years, and it's a reminder I continue to come back to.

Because this life is worth living fully present.

And the calling God has given you is worth pursuing with your whole heart.