Wow, What a Ride

As our support increases, I am in awe of how utterly humbling it is to be a missionary. None of this support has been raised by our own strength, but by the call God has put on other people's lives to be part of world missions. That takes pride right out the window - it has nothing to do with us, and everything to do with God's ministry to the world.

Recently I was thinking about my Dad and his new job, and I remembered something I said to him when I was in early junior high. He was a stock broker and earned a variable salary based on commissions. One day, after hearing my parents discuss a slump in the market, I asked him, "Dad, why can't you get a real job?" They laughed and shared that question with friends and family as the latest "listen to what my kid said" story. But to me, it was a legitimate question. A "real job," by my young definition, was one that paid a steady and predictable salary. I even recall conversations with my husband, when we were first married and in our first "real jobs," where I said how thankful I was to have predictable incomes. I never could have imagined launching off into a commission-based job or starting up a new business, and I still can't. I still have those apprehensions about money. I like to know what we have, where it's going, and when the next amount will come in. And yet, I have never applied this concern to our mission support. I attribute that to the Peace that Passes All Understanding.

Over the last two years of support raising, many people have asked us what we will do if support drops off. It helps to know that we have a small bumper salary saved up for that contingency, but if that gets too low, then we'll have to come home and raise support. But even still, when we are on the field, we will have a steady pay check as long as support is coming in...but that's the thing..."as long as support is coming in." Somehow this does not alarm me. Faith in human kind has never been my strong point; I've been let down by some very close people especially in the realm of money. However, my faith in God and the support team he has brought together has won my heart. When I think of the relationships we have formed with our supporters, both before and after starting support raising, my heart throbs with comfort and gratitude. The "whatifs" don't seem so big because God's plan is so much bigger! God knows what I need to feel comfortable, and He is honoring that. Praise You, Father! YOU ARE SOOOO GOOD!

In Christ,
Gillian