I can remember growing up and going to church when I was in high school and hearing about the missionaries that serve around the world. However, I could never pictures me as one. You basically pick up your life and go to a new place, often times a new culture, and have to start fresh somewhere. It just wasn’t my thing and I guess God never called me to be one as my husband never wanted to be one either.
The last 20 years we’ve been together have always had the army apart of them. Even the short stint where he got off active duty, he spent sometimes in the Reserves. We’ve both served our country, but not as a missionary of any sort.
I can remember a family, Caleb and Linda Klontz along with their three kids at the time (they now have 4), I met back in DeKalb. They were there for a week or two trying to get financial support to be able to go to Trieste, Italy. Keith had been one the weekend of Mother’s Day that year and so a good friend that took care of Mari during Worship service invited the two of us over to her house for dinner. I had so much fun while we were there. We talked, played games and ate. Within the year they were able to raise enough funds on a monthly basis to be able to go.
I don’t remember when exactly but we started to receive their either monthly or quarterly news letter. Just a few days ago I received the most recent one. There is a recent photo of them as a family in the middle towards the top of the page. They let everyone know how they’re doing and that they have another big move getting ready to happen where they will be moving 200 miles away from where they live now.
I think about how they are serving the Lord and they’ve been doing it since before Mari passed away, so that’s well over five years ago. I can imagine the many blessing they feel they have received during their time-serving God and planting new church around Italy. They have such a heart for the Lord. It is a beautiful thing to watch.
So, Keith and I may not be meant to be missionaries, but that’s okay. God has given us different gifts and abilities. One of mine, for example, has been my writing. And I wouldn’t change it for anything thing in the world.
Photo credit: taliesin from morguefile.com
