Six Years

Today is my anniversary of serving six years on the mission field. As an organization, we mark and celebrate missionary’s “hire” date. But for me, this day deserves to be marked, too. 

January 24th, 2017 is the day I got on the plane in Indianapolis, IN and moved to Santiago in the Dominican Republic. Six years. Next to some of our faithful missionaries who have served 10 or 20 + years, six years might look and feel quite small. But it is not small. So much has happened, so many lessons have been learned, and so much growth has occurred. Thanks be to God! As I reflect over these years on the mission field, I selected six texts from Scripture and have attempted to summarize a lesson or a story for each that are tied to these past six years serving God and His people in Latin America. 

There is definitely not a blog post - not even a well-organized one - that can sum up these past six years, but here is an attempt. It serves as more of a reflection as opposed to a year-by-year summary. 

As I wrote and reflected on each verse, I prayed in thanksgiving for the last six years and prayed in hope over the next six, wondering what God will do.

ONE

“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” 

- Jesus (Matthew 6:34)

The first days, months, years even, on the ground in a new country are hard. There is a lot to feel anxious about - “did I say that right?” (Language) - “how can I do that without offending someone?” (Culture) - “will I ever make any friends?” (Social) - etc, etc, etc. There is a lot that to absorb and learn in all the “firsts”. Honestly, it almost felt like I was on vacation or just visiting for the first weeks. But then reality sets in as I bought a bed, set up a house/apartment, and suddenly it hit me- I don’t have a plane ticket to leave! 

There are a lot of things that are different from the place where I lived those first 22 years of my life. Really different. Food, language, water, people, houses, social cues, transportation, worship, traffic, shopping, communication, food labels - you name it. Some things are REALLY different and other things are just different enough. 

Missionaries go through orientation when they hit the field to hopefully lessen some of these differences - for someone who has been here to say - yep, it’s different, you’re not crazy. Orientation also includes language and cultural acquisition classes - how to learn a language and how to learn a culture! 

One of the best things I learned in those weeks in orientation wasn’t the correct conjugation of a verb or when to use para vs. por (which still drives me crazy to this day, btw)... the best thing I learned was to say “It’s not wrong, it’s different.” The way Domincans do x, y, or z isn’t WRONG, it’s just different from the way I’ve done it until now. This shift in my perspective didn’t solve everything. But, it took away the angst of dealing with new things, took away a black and white, right vs wrong way of thinking, took away a superiority complex, and just allowed me to say “yep, that sure is different”. And wouldn’t you know it, a lot of those things I thought were crazy weird, erhm, I mean different…. are just part of my normal life today.

Another thing I learned during those first weeks here in 2017 was to allow myself to take things one day at a time. Just like the words of Jesus here in Matthew. Maybe this is true in your life too – it’s easy to be tempted to worry about tomorrow, or tomorrow’s tomorrow, or way into the future. For me in those early days, it was easy to feel that I would never “get there” – whether that was in language, ministry, relationship-building, etc. 

Whatever it is, I invite you to take it one day at a time. And put tomorrow in the Lord’s hands.

“Así que, no os afanéis por el día de mañana, porque el día de mañana traerá su afán. Basta a cada día su propio mal.” 

- Jesús (Mateo 6:34)

TWO

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. 

(Romans 10:14-17)

This text was one of the portions of scripture I used frequently in my home service presentations in 2022, my third-round of support raising (2016, 2019, 2022). The support raising side of missionary service is one of the things I struggle most with, quite honestly. It’s hard to wrap your head around raising money for your house, health insurance, and now as a career missionary - salary. (My first three years I served as a GEO - short term missionary - and received a small monthly stipend). It is hard to put yourself out there (even being the extrovert that I am) in front of groups, churches, over the phone, writing emails. Presenting in front of groups got so much easier over time as I began to have stories to tell and understood the mission field and the work taking place (the hardest was the support raising BEFORE deployment, when the best you can say sometimes is “That’s what I’ve been told!” or worse yet, “I think that’s what I’m going to do!”) It is hard, and yet, at the same time, the support raising side of missionary service has brought some of the coolest people and biggest blessings into our life.

If you’re not aware, all LCMS missionaries (all 100+ of them), are 100% responsible for the raising of all the monies necessary to send them to their place of service in the mission field, and to keep them there. Read that again. That’s a humbling statement and at first, can cause a lot of worry and questioning – how?! Yet God has provided in some normal, seemingly simple ways over the years and also in some not so normal, extraordinary, surprising ways! Quite often in our thank you letters or cards to donors I’ll say some version of “thank you for supporting us and our small part in GOD’S mission in Latin America and the Caribbean.” This is a way to remind the donor or friend - and let’s be honest, to remind myself, to0 - this is not about us… We don’t change hearts - God does. 

Romans says at the end – “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the Word of Christ”. This job isn’t about hitting goals or counting how many people come to church - but about working together on a team to get the Word in front of people - because that is how the Spirit works. My “job” on the mission field has changed and grown over the years, but I have always served at a regional level, while being involved in local church activities. This means my day-to-day looks more like supporting the work, than doing the actual work. At some points, this type of support role can be frustrating - more computer time than I would like, etc. - but this is the role God has given me in HIS mission. 

God’s church throughout the world and your missionaries respond to these questions in Romans by sending missionaries, planting churches and supporting sister churches. LCMS mission has a three fold approach to mission:

Spread the Gospel

Plant Lutheran Churches

Show Mercy

“Ahora bien, ¿cómo invocarán a aquel en el cual no han creído? ¿Y cómo creerán en aquel de quien no han oído? ¿Y cómo oirán si no hay quien les predique? ¿Y cómo predicarán si no son enviados? Como está escrito: “¡Cuán hermosa es la llegada de los que anuncian la paz, de los que anuncian buenas nuevas!” Pero no todos obedecieron al evangelio; pues Isaías dice: “Señor, ¿quién ha creído a nuestro anuncio?” Así que la fe proviene del oír, y el oír proviene de la palabra de Dios.” 

(Romanos 10:14-17)

THREE

“From the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” 

- Jesus (Mark 10:6-9)

What can I say besides that it wouldn’t be a true reflection on these six years without pausing to give thanks for God bringing Rafael into my life and acknowledging the gift that is marriage. Rafa showed up in the Dominican to study at the seminary (with friends-more-like-family in Chile saying he would meet someone here, and he said, no way!). I had been on the field for about a year and a half (with the strong conviction that I wouldn’t marry anyone I met on the mission field – something I repeated frequently to my mom!). And yet, God had plans for us, better I’d say than both of our ideas. And for that, we are so grateful.

Rafa and I have learned a lot - about each other & about God - over these 2.5 years of marriage. We know there is so much more to learn, but we are looking forward to moving through each season of life, together. 

What God has joined together, let not man separate.

“Al principio de la creación, varón y hembra los hizo Dios. Por esto dejará el hombre a su padre y a su madre, y se unirá a su mujer, y los dos serán una sola carne; así que no son ya más dos, sino uno. Por tanto, lo que Dios juntó, no lo separe el hombre.” 

- Jesús (Marcos 10:6-9)

FOUR

“But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”” 

(Luke 10:29-37)

I’ve spent the last two and a half of these past six years studying at the seminary. In the fall of 2020, just a week after getting married, I began my first class in a master’s deaconess formation program - from a distance!

The word deaconess comes from the Greek, diakonia, which means service. A deaconess is a trained woman in the church who serves God’s people in mercy. The pastor serves God’s people as shepherd, through the preaching and teaching of God Word and the Sacraments. So, as one of my professors says, if the pastor is the mouth of God, perhaps a deaconess is the ears - her vocation is to perceive the needs of others. She does this for members in the church and others in the community. And as the need is perceived, she then responds to it. In responding, she points them to Christ and His church, invites them in, makes the need heard in the church, and above all, heard by God, inviting HIS mercy. The deaconess doesn’t work solo, but with the members of the church, under the shepherd, the pastor.

Over the past 2.5 years of study, I have had the opportunity to dig and build a larger foundation of Biblical understanding that grounds me deeper in who God was, is and will be. My foundation of faith that began in my baptism continues to be strengthened, deeper and wider. I feel that “cracks” have been filled in from my training and formation as a nurse - caring for the physical needs of others is a big part of being a deaconess. But in diaconal training it is never separated from spiritual care. Jesus is at the center! JESUS is our great Samaritan - He is the one who, “while we were still sinners” (Rom 5:8), came down into human flesh, into the ditch. He left the glory of heaven for the messiness of humanity and died for us.

Pero aquél, queriendo justificarse a sí mismo, le preguntó a Jesús: "¿Y quién es mi prójimo?" Jesús le respondió: "Un hombre descendía de Jerusalén a Jericó, y cayó en manos de unos ladrones, que le robaron todo lo que tenía y lo hirieron, dejándolo casi muerto. Por el camino decendía un sacerdote, y aunque lo vio, siguió de largo. Cerca de aquel lugar pasó también un levita, y aunque lo vio, siguió de largo. Pero un samaritano, que iba de camino, se acercó al hombre y, al verlo, se compadeció de él y le curó las heridas con aceite y vino, y se las vendó; luego lo puso sobre su cabalgadura y lo llevó a una posada, y le dijo: "Cuídalo. Cuando yo regrese, te pagaré todo lo que hayas gastado de más." De estos tres, ¿cuál crees que fue el prójimo del que cayó de manos de los ladrones?" Aquél respondio: "El que tuvo compasión de él." Entonces Jesús le dijo: "Pues ve y has tú lo mismo."

(Lucas 10:29-37)

FIVE

 

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” - Jesus (John 16:33)

It is easier to accept tribulation, trials, and temptations with these words from Christ in my ears. “Yep, Jesus said this would happen, no need to panic.” However, it does not ever get easier to deal with the troubles of this world or the attacks of the devil. Sometimes it’s the little things, like flat tires, water problems, or paperwork delays that when looked at individually don’t look like that big of a deal. But quite honestly, it’s never usually just one thing, especially on the mission field. These little things build up and cause stress and that’s usually when the temptation occurs to doubt God, His plan, or perhaps even the wisdom of becoming a missionary. And that’s when Jesus’ words, like this one, stand at the ready to remind me AND YOU that in Jesus - no matter the trouble - we can have peace.

“Estas cosas os he hablado para que en mí tengáis paz. En el mundo tendréis aflicción; pero confiad, yo he vencido al mundo.” - Jesús (Juan 16:33)

SIX

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:31-32)

I’m going to leave this final one short and sweet because this text in Romans really speaks for itself. 

If He is for us, and we know that He is, who can be against us? 

If He gave Jesus up for us, and we know that He did, how can we doubt His love or provision? 

If we are now sons and daughters of God, and we know that we are, He made that quite clear in our baptism, 

let’s live in that identity - for Him.

“¿Qué, pues, diremos a esto? Si Dios es por nosotros, ¿quién contra nosotros? El que no escatimó ni a su propio Hijo, sino lo entregó por todos nosotros, ¿cómo no nos dará también con él todas las cosas?” (Romanos 8:31-32)

For Him,

Jamielynn