I have a confession; I thought being a missionary would be easy. You share the word of the Lord with others, they listen and change their life for the better. An easy recipe. However, after living a missionary life for the last 2.5 years, I have found it's just not that "easy."
You see there is a young man whom we have built a relationship with here on the island. He has worked along side my husband, played with my kids in the back yard, helped us with teams and enjoyed many meals with our family. He would come almost daily to spend time with us.
This young man is known in Bocachica as being a trouble maker. His mom is deaf but that doesn't stop her from having a loud personality here on the island. She spends many hours working in another village and doesn't come back to Bocachica until around 6:30 p.m. His father left the island years ago. The young man pretty much raises himself. He goes to school and then spends the rest of his time in the streets until bedtime.
When he's at our house he is polite, helpful, and for the most part calm. He always has manners, and interacts with us on many topics. We have shared numerous times about the Lord with him. Neighbors would talk to us when he wasn't going to school regularly, because we could talk to him about it and what was expected of him. We made it a rule, if you don't go to school you can't come here afterwards. He respectfully listened and knew we'd check up on him. It seemed as if he wanted to be part of a family so much.
Then one day in November while our family was in Cartagena, he tried breaking into our house. We pay someone to guard our house while we are gone, but that didn't stop him. He knew we had laptops and said he wanted one. He tried forcing his way into our window to break the lock so he could get our computer. Thankfully the lady watching our house saw him doing this. When we arrived we went right to his house to find him, of course he was not be home knowing he would be caught. Later that week I saw him sitting in his house. I talked firmly to him in the presence of his mom, with his mom being deaf I couldn't explain the whole situation to her, but knowing he would have to explain himself to her when I left. During the conversation I shared how the Lord doesn't like this behavior, and told him he has changed our relationship because he tried to steal from us.
You see this is when I tend to get frustrated. I spend this time investing in someones life. I open my house and my heart to people, and then when this happens I ask, "Am I making a difference?". A good friend shared some wisdom with me. She encouraged me saying to think of the first few years of doing mission work the same way a farmer does about his crops. His best yield almost never comes the first year. Usually, it takes many years of preparing the soil, removing the weeds, and planting the right seeds before really seeing the fruit.
It has been months since the attempted break in took place. This past weekend he was walking and hanging around our house. Nate went outside and told him to come talk to him. Nate asked him what he was doing,and he said he was coming up to ask forgiveness. We asked him forgiveness for what? He said for trying to break in and take the computer. He was obviously embarrassed by it, but he wanted to make things right. Nate and I took this time to explain to him what the Lord likes, and that it was good that he wanted to do the right thing. That he was young and if he choose the wrong path now it could affect the rest of his life. If he chose to do bad things he can't expect God's blessing.
This young man is known in Bocachica as being a trouble maker. His mom is deaf but that doesn't stop her from having a loud personality here on the island. She spends many hours working in another village and doesn't come back to Bocachica until around 6:30 p.m. His father left the island years ago. The young man pretty much raises himself. He goes to school and then spends the rest of his time in the streets until bedtime.
When he's at our house he is polite, helpful, and for the most part calm. He always has manners, and interacts with us on many topics. We have shared numerous times about the Lord with him. Neighbors would talk to us when he wasn't going to school regularly, because we could talk to him about it and what was expected of him. We made it a rule, if you don't go to school you can't come here afterwards. He respectfully listened and knew we'd check up on him. It seemed as if he wanted to be part of a family so much.
Then one day in November while our family was in Cartagena, he tried breaking into our house. We pay someone to guard our house while we are gone, but that didn't stop him. He knew we had laptops and said he wanted one. He tried forcing his way into our window to break the lock so he could get our computer. Thankfully the lady watching our house saw him doing this. When we arrived we went right to his house to find him, of course he was not be home knowing he would be caught. Later that week I saw him sitting in his house. I talked firmly to him in the presence of his mom, with his mom being deaf I couldn't explain the whole situation to her, but knowing he would have to explain himself to her when I left. During the conversation I shared how the Lord doesn't like this behavior, and told him he has changed our relationship because he tried to steal from us.
You see this is when I tend to get frustrated. I spend this time investing in someones life. I open my house and my heart to people, and then when this happens I ask, "Am I making a difference?". A good friend shared some wisdom with me. She encouraged me saying to think of the first few years of doing mission work the same way a farmer does about his crops. His best yield almost never comes the first year. Usually, it takes many years of preparing the soil, removing the weeds, and planting the right seeds before really seeing the fruit.
It has been months since the attempted break in took place. This past weekend he was walking and hanging around our house. Nate went outside and told him to come talk to him. Nate asked him what he was doing,and he said he was coming up to ask forgiveness. We asked him forgiveness for what? He said for trying to break in and take the computer. He was obviously embarrassed by it, but he wanted to make things right. Nate and I took this time to explain to him what the Lord likes, and that it was good that he wanted to do the right thing. That he was young and if he choose the wrong path now it could affect the rest of his life. If he chose to do bad things he can't expect God's blessing.
I know this had to be hard for him. It is evident seeing how it's been 6 months since he has come to our house. This spoke to me, he could have left our relationship broken. He humbled himself and repented. The next day he came up and asked if he could come some days after school and help my husband work on the second floor.
I pray he can see the Lord in this. I know the Lord has shown me a lot through this experience. I can feel my heart have forgiveness for him, and giving grace knowing he doesn't come from a strong family. I have thankfulness because he chose to do something hard and ask to repair something I thought we both enjoyed. Please pray for him. Pray that he gives his heart to the Lord. Pray for the seeds that are planted would grow into fruit.
While doing the work of a missionary is harder than I thought, it is more rewarding than I could have ever imagined. As I think about my frustrations, joys and thanksgivings, I am thankful to Lord that He gives me grace when I don't deserve it. That He is willing to forgive my many sins. I use these times to reflect and give Him the glory.
Lamentations 3:22-23
English Standard Version (ESV)
22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;[a]
his mercies never come to an end;
23 they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
his mercies never come to an end;
23 they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
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