How did God lead you to go?
During a year of study at seminary, I was wrestling with Psalm 37 – ‘Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.’ I was asking God to show me the desires he had put in my heart to serve Him and love others. I felt that He was leading me towards missions in South America
What did a typical week in the field look like?
When we’re in the communities, time is spent preparing meals (difficult when everything is done over firewood!), working in the fields and praying, teaching and worshipping with the local believers. Travel to the communities is usually by motorised canoe or by small plane. When we’re in the city, time is spent resting, preparing for trips, training and spending time with the local church and friends.
Share a story of your experience:
One of my favourite conversations was with a Peruvian friend who shared a story of a hostile encounter with a neighbouring tribe. During this encounter he had to jump out of the way of a spear thrown at him. What would he do? How would he respond?
He started singing. He sang a song in the tribal language based on Jesus’ words on the night before His crucifixion. ‘A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, so you are to love one another.’
It has been a joy to see how the gospel breaks down cycles of revenge and fear.
How has this influenced your understanding of God and mission?
It has definitely driven home to me that I am still a work in progress. I think we can fall into thinking that missionaries are some higher class of Christian, but the reality is that we come to the field imperfect and we will leave the field imperfect. I’m thankful to the Lord that He uses people like us, and uses the experience to transform us.