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Hi guys! I'm pretty new at this forum business, but I'm trying to find a way to talk to many missionaries all at once. So here's the deal: God has set a humongous task before my husband and I. You guys, our missionaries world wide, work so hard to bring the word of God to folks who would otherwise never have the opportunity to hear His word. Thank you for your hard work! Being a missionary is a like being a soldier on the front lines!
My husband and I have always had a huge heart for missionaries. For years we wondered if God had meant us to be missionaries; for years we waited on God to see if He was going to call us into the mission field. Instead, God commissioned us to do a task here at home. Right now it seems insurmountable, but we all know that if God wills it, nothing is impossible!
So, I guess what I'm asking for is an open opportunity to pick your minds on some of the lesser known aspects of being a missionary. Specifically, I am very interested in what your family deals with when you come back home for deputation or home ministry assignment. Do you keep homes in your home community? Do you have to find jobs and rent? Do you depend on the goodwill of others or your home church/sponsor churches in order to get set up properly when you first arrive home? How is that transition for you and your whole family? Do you spend your whole time home traveling to sponsor churches? Would a donated hotel room or apartment be helpful during your time of your home ministry assignment?
I'm also very interested in how retirement works for missionaries. I know that you good folks literally give everything to propagate the gospel. Many missionaries don't even have basic amenities. I imagine that must make it difficult to save for retirement. So how do missionaries retire? Would something similar to an independent living community targeted specifically to a missionary's needs be helpful? What kind of specific needs would need to be met to ease the burden of the transition into retirement?
Thanks in advance to anyone brave enough to answer! I'll probably have more questions to follow!
My husband and I have always had a huge heart for missionaries. For years we wondered if God had meant us to be missionaries; for years we waited on God to see if He was going to call us into the mission field. Instead, God commissioned us to do a task here at home. Right now it seems insurmountable, but we all know that if God wills it, nothing is impossible!
So, I guess what I'm asking for is an open opportunity to pick your minds on some of the lesser known aspects of being a missionary. Specifically, I am very interested in what your family deals with when you come back home for deputation or home ministry assignment. Do you keep homes in your home community? Do you have to find jobs and rent? Do you depend on the goodwill of others or your home church/sponsor churches in order to get set up properly when you first arrive home? How is that transition for you and your whole family? Do you spend your whole time home traveling to sponsor churches? Would a donated hotel room or apartment be helpful during your time of your home ministry assignment?
I'm also very interested in how retirement works for missionaries. I know that you good folks literally give everything to propagate the gospel. Many missionaries don't even have basic amenities. I imagine that must make it difficult to save for retirement. So how do missionaries retire? Would something similar to an independent living community targeted specifically to a missionary's needs be helpful? What kind of specific needs would need to be met to ease the burden of the transition into retirement?
Thanks in advance to anyone brave enough to answer! I'll probably have more questions to follow!