Visiting Their Mission Field

You’ve always wanted to travel…okay, Borneo was not top on your list, but I can guarantee you it will be an adventure.  Travelling to your child’s mission field is a very important step in your understanding and relationship.  It is more than just seeing where they live, work and play.  A culture can only be truly experienced when you are smack-dab in the middle of it.

Three years ago my husband, son and daughter-in-law visited my daughter on the field in Romania.  We specifically went to experience her ministry.  We were in church services, children’s classes and pastors’ homes.  We took it all in by watching, listening, and eating what was put before us.  We also spent time meeting her close friends and co-workers.  The time was invaluable, helping us to understand the busy schedule and sometimes severe conditions our daughter was working under.  We also saw the rewards; changed lives and smiling faces.  The differences in our cultures slowly became apparent, and even more so with subsequent visits; not bad…just different.  We began to see how careful missionaries have to be when becoming part of another culture and the struggle that might come as they try to blend their home culture with their new-home culture.

For some a trip like this might seem out of the question.  The obstacles could be finances, physical limitations or just plain fear of the unknown.  I strongly encourage parents and families to find anyway possible to overcome those obstacles.  Talk with your missionary child about your desire and your concerns.  They may be able to relieve some of your fears or make special plans to accommodate you.  Talk with your church and extended family about your desire visit the field.  Is there something they can do to help you get there? (If you have missionary parents in your church consider speaking to the church leadership about sponsoring a trip for the parents.)  Frequent flier miles can be purchased or gifted to others; maybe there are friends or family that would be happy to do that in lieu of gifts on special occasions.  Maybe your obstacle is travelling alone.  Seek out someone else to travel with.  It’s possible that your child’s co-workers have family that will be visiting as well, you could travel with them.  Physical limitations are more difficult.  Most foreign countries are not disability friendly.  Talk with your child, maybe there is a compromise such as a bigger city in the same country.  Do what you can to make the trip; every effort will be well worth it.  “I will go in the strength of the Lord God.” Psalm 71:16