Missionary Life-Style Benefits, As I See It

Posted on November 22, 2011 by Administrator

My last blog was about some of the negatives I have faced as a missionary. It has not all been a bed of roses nor has it all been difficult. We´ve been here for over 30 years and our life has not been without benefits.

I remember one young man told Tim that he wanted to be a missionary because then he would not hafto work! Another time, a young visitor cried to me that her time with us had been wasted because she didn´t have anything exciting to share with those who had helped to pay for her trip!

We can´t really blame these kids for their perspective on what our lives have been about because they were looking at it all from a childish perspective, for a brief period of what they personally saw and experienced, AND they really had no idea of the broader picture. Most of our every day missionary life truly is mundane and b-o-r-i-n-g! Yet there are those special moments and hours that make all the boring times worth it!

We keep house, do maintenance and yard work, study a LOT, meditate and pray, stand in lines to pay bills, buy groceries, teach our children (that´s past tense), spend way more time than we´d like on certain tasks, write hundreds of letters (and emails), attend business meetings, sort and file papers, run errands, decorate the church, sometimes clean the church, counsel people, spend time on the road, get sick, go to the doctor. We do things that most human beings do. It all takes time! Missionaries wear a lot of different hats, so to speak, and most of them are absolutely necessary.

The tendency is to cut out some of these things when we have visitors. Consequently, visitors don´t always get the true picture and think our lives must be pretty easy. It´s understandable that someone who goes fishing with Tim every time they visit would think that the missionary pastor fishes all of the time! When our children were small, I would try my best to prepare our home and food well in advance of company coming so that I could take time to sit and converse, enjoying them. One day, I realized that by doing that I was preventing them from understanding what I went through and the amount of time involved in from-scratch food prep and what all. I decided to at least stop doing it that way for our overseas visitors.

Our lives really are less complex than they were even 10 years ago, for which I am most grateful! Now I can spend some time writing a blog and updating our website.

So here are a few of the benefits, as I see it:

I have a broader picture and perspective of the world. You can have it, too, by living in and learning about several different cultures for extended periods of time. I think it takes a non-vacation, I-hafto-stay-in-this-place-for-a-long-time attitude and perspective. If you know you can go “home” when the going gets tough, you won´t get a true taste of what a missionary experiences immersed in his adopted culture.

I live with my eyes wide-open. In other words, the truth of “I´m in this for the long haul” has made me vulnerable to who I am, what I believe, and what I will die for. We know missionaries (not in Brazil) who have had to flee their adopted countries because of war. They left everything they owned there. We know of a few who were kidnapped and suffered greatly. Those few times when U.S. citizens are not popular and when a colleague has been assaulted have brought us to the point of at least considering some of the “what-ifs”.

I have been forced to learn some things I never wanted to learn. I can´t always make a difference in the circumstances of someone I care about and, sometimes, I hafto walk away. What to do or who to call when my husband´s away – to fix a broken pipe, burned-up water pump, or when a thief has entered our yard and the dogs are going nuts! What to unplug when the power surges. How to get by during power outages, which are so common here, even more so in the previous town in which we lived. How to kill a snake, tarantula, or scorpion. How to treat my family and pets for parasites – ticks, lice, worms, and amoeba.

I know the joy of seeing people improve their spiritual lives and how to use spiritual warfare a little better than I used to. I read about these things early in my Christian walk. Experiencing them often is exciting and gives meaning to my life and service.

Many of my relationships cross barriers. I have told my children and many others that you never know where the LORD might send you and you need to be so practiced at good manners that it comes naturally. I think this is also true of living spiritually. It never fails to amaze me that everywhere I go, I find believers in Jesus Christ! A few years ago, a big truck that turned the corner on my left as I was turning the corner crunched my little VW against the sidewalk. I stayed in the car for a bit, shaking from the scare. I cannot count the number of believers that came up to the car and told me they were praying for me! I did not know any of them! On countless trips I have made by bus and airplane, God has placed believers nearby. Sometimes they are there for me and other times I know that I am there for them!

I KNOW I can make it in life because I have experienced hard times and still kept living for the LORD. I fought loneliness and depression most of my adult life. We have lived most of our years here undersupported and never in need! I have faced harsh criticism from the most unlikely places. I sent my children to boarding school. We buried a son here. I lost relationships that I thought would last a lifetime. I have trusted the LORD through it all and I have matured.

I also realize that the world goes on whether I participate or not! I AM replaceable! This doesn´t dishearten me at all. God has plans which include me. He will do what He promised and if I want to be part of that, I will keep right on doing what I know for sure He expects of me. If I do not, His plans will not be thwarted. He does not lose.

You perhaps noted that it took the negative experiences to bring me to the benefits. That is often how God works.

-Vicki

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The Missionary Cost of Living

Posted on November 9, 2011 by Administrator

When Tim was a Missionary Pilot

Over the years, I have sometimes felt that I have sacrificed a great deal in order to be where I am. I have. And, I haven’t.

Some people would argue that it takes a lot of money to keep an “American Missionary” overseas. I am not going to try to convince anyone that it does or that it doesn’t. Each family is different and some manage better than others. We discovered that Brazilian society has levels, not extreme as in a caste system, but social levels based on means. We do not fit the brackets.

We have things that those with our actual living expenses, or what our mission considers “income”, cannot afford, like a boat and a pickup. These were gifts to us by groups of supporters who feel that we need them in order to do what must be done. We use them as tools. At the time, we “owned” an island  and started a camp ministry. They continue to be used often in ministry activities. We also travel considerably. So, does that place us in a bracket?

We do not fit in high society. We wear our clothes till they are quite faded or worn out. I often wear the same dress-up clothes over and over. When in the states, I do love to shop and my favorite way to outfit for cold weather is the thrift shop. No such thing on the field. It is nice to be able to package it all up (well, most of it) and take it back to the thrift shop! I did quit wearing the common flip flop here years ago because the ladies would stare at my feet wondering why in the world someone of my class would wear those instead of listening to what I had to say. Too funny that nowadays (in the U.S.), flip flops can be seen worn in wedding parties with gowns!

When on furloughs, I love visiting the homes of friends and new acquaintances. I have always enjoyed interior decorating and getting ideas, in fact, my mother was an interior decorator for many years and it rubbed off on me! But our home decorations are simple – walls painted white, pictures here and there. I want to do more with that, but in recent years, it’s been a challenge to keep up with basic maintenance.

Okay that’s not exactly what I was planning to discuss today!

What has it cost me personally to live and work here? I will mention a few.

~ Living and interacting regularly with MY family.

My husband has several relatives who’ve worked in Brazil. Several still do. His brother and wife live up the street. However, my parents, siblings, and relatives are all in the U.S. Every four years, spending the maximum of two weeks with them has not cut it! My children barely know them. And that is a regret I will always have. My Daddy was the kind of man who loved to have his grandkids climbing all over him! No birthdays or holidays together. My parents did make it for our eldest’s high school graduation and they visited us once on a furlough.

We´ve missed most of the special events in the lives of our families, including nieces and nephews. Consequently, we hardly know them and they hardly know us. Expressing sorrow isn´t enough to show someone that you do care about them. What will it feel like being on another continent if God gives us grandchildren?

~ Having a close friend living in the same town. By close friend I mean someone I can count on for constant contact, doing things together once in awhile, and caring without strings attached.

Don´t misunderstand. I do have friends. Like everyone else, I have friends of all kinds. The ones who actually enjoy time with me show it by their expressions of caring; they know who they are. They are ones who have not turned their backs on me or been critical when I have been in desperate need. I have tasted of this wonderful experience of having one of these living in the same town for a brief period of time. I´ve guessed God wants this to be laid on the altar too.

~ My children went to boarding school and now live on another continent. One was taken in death at age 15.

I always knew that our children would probably move away from us. I tried my best to prepare them for taking care of themselves. How could I have understood or actually been prepared for the separation? I am thankful for those adults who were available to my children. And, I am sad about the challenges my kids had to face at an early age. How grateful I am for each one of them and proud to be a part of their lives, albeit at a great distance most of the time. It will always amaze me that my children want to spend time with me. Maybe it is because of the separation, and, surely God helped all of us to keep our hearts open and warm towards each other.

~ In our early years, things were a lot more challenging than nowadays. During the years of raising my children, there wasn’t much variety available when it came to anything – produce, personal products, good quality clothing, good reading materials, and a huge lack of time saving devices. Not as much difference nowadays between here and industrial places. And, it continues to improve. Tim says that it won´t be long and we won´t even need to go back to the states! But then, I don´t think my family is ever going to move here and I want to see my kids up close.

~ I don´t have a pastor or mentor. Maybe this is better put this way – the pastor of the church where our membership is lives on another continent. And, I can´t always turn to the pastor of the church where I am attending for help – he is my husband. And the same goes for my husband. Where does a missionary turn when a missionary needs guidance, counsel, or a shoulder?

It is a hard question. Like all believers, we turn to Scripture. Like all believers, we sometimes can´t find answers yet have needs that require unbiased input. Although our sending agency can make recommendations, that may not be what is needed. And, sometimes, like with many people, costs can be prohibitory to getting help.

I realize that just because I am living where I live and doing what I do does not mean that I am alone in making sacrifices. I cannot say that these have been easy things for me to give. I know that life on Terran is not all there is to my life either! I can, however, admit that I am stronger because I have leaned all the harder on the wisdom and sovereignty of the One Who sent me here.

I stand in God´s Grace that gave me faith in Jesus Christ to justify me and set me at peace with God. With every negative thing that I experience, His Spirit´s patience is expressed in my heart and life. Each time that happens, as challenging as it is, I know that I can do it again and again and again. That is where my hope is found. That is why I am not ashamed to say that my life came with a two-way price tag.

-Vicki

 Treasure Island Camp belongs to Baptist Mid-Missions of Brazil

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We Have Changed – Our Message Has Not

Posted on October 30, 2011 by Administrator

Many years have passed since we began our missionary lives in Brazil. Most of the time, we act mature. Our bodies have slowed some – and we have learned the art of compensation. I have been working hard for the past 5 ½ years to make healthier choices and learn even more about nutrition. As a child, I loved to bike, hike, and actively play outdoors. As a young person, I began slowing down and nurturing my creativity in sit-down activities like sewing, writing poetry, and reading. In recent years, I have been putting physical activity back into my life. Tim has made some changes for the better, too.

Over the years as missionaries, it has been a struggle for me to choose to take care of my health. I always thought it was vital to my testimony to put others first – all of the time. I did that so much that those around me expected it from me. At least, that was the message I understood and was encouraged to practice.

I finally realized that, sure, I COULD keep on the same way as I had for so long as if donning a baseball cap with the words “I am wearing myself out for Jesus” on it. Or, I COULD impress others with the amount of stress in my life by continuing to struggle to always say yes to as many ministry opportunities as possible and keep repeated long hours often walking sick and emotionally-masked. Or, I COULD keep running on overload finding it difficult to set aside time for prayer and meditation, easing my conscious with – “I am praying without ceasing” while I´m on the run!

None of those things were satisfying and I was losing ground emotionally, physically, and spiritually thinking I had no other choice than to live that way.

But really, who was I trying to impress? God? No. I was trying to live up to an impossible standard. Even worse, I did not want those around me to be disappointed in me and show it with their criticism.

One day, I grew up knowing things had to change!

My vision cleared and I saw what I had done to myself. Yes, I had expected others to know my limits and know when to stop asking me to do this or that. I was a coward! I did not want them to think that I was bad (or hear the horrid accusation that I was being “selfish”!) for saying – No, I won´t do that.

Before it was too late and before I had any more birthdays, I made the decision to get out from under this self-imposed set of rules and regulations and listen to God to understand exactly what HE expects from ME!

This is what He said to me:

“He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” Micah 6:8, KJV

Another translation says – “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

With a LOT of prayer, determination, effort, and persistence, I have changed my ways.

-Vicki

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The Process – How Come Here?

Posted on October 22, 2011 by Administrator

So how did we end up here in Petrolina, Pernambuco, Brazil? It was a process.

After college at Faith Baptist Bible College in Ankeny, Iowa, we sent in our paperwork to Baptist Mid-Missions (BMM), Cleveland, Ohio, a mission with a long record and a Biblical stance. Then we studied, studied, and studied some more for our doctrinal exam which took place in November 1976. At that time, we were accepted pending attendance at Candidate Seminar the following July which took place at Cedarville College. I think the dorms we stayed in were the oldest on campus. Tim and another missionary candidate had fun making animal noises in the courtyard every morning to wake us all up! Tim does a very good donkey!

So began our deputation visiting lots of churches, presenting our ministry plans, and asking God to raise the needed funds for us to get to the field. Most of our travels were in New York State because that is where we planned to live when returning for our furloughs to report to our support base. Tim´s relatives lived mostly there. Because I was raised in Colorado, we visited several churches on that route and there, as well, the one where our membership had been during college.

We learned and worked several years at the First Baptist Church of Norwalk, IA while in college and Tim was youth pastor. On a subsequent furlough, we moved our membership to the First Baptist Church of Hamburg, NY because we would be helping out there some and we wanted our children to have a church home.

Before our deputation and full support was completed, we received an invitation to be dorm parents in the BMM home for MKs (missionary children) at the Fortaleza Academy in Brazil. It did not take long for us to accept and be on our way. It was a challenging year and we were once again learning as we went about doing our best for the LORD. When those 10 months ended, although we still did not have our full support, we decided to remain on the field to complete our first term of service.

During the next ten months while living interior and working with Tim´s parents, Tim asked questions and looked at our options. One particular area was mentioned repeatedly – the São Francisco Valley. The São Francisco River runs South to North, like the Nile River, and is about the size of the great Mississippi River in the U.S. None of the Baptist missions with whom we were acquainted had missionaries here. Only one national missionary was living and working up the river in a hard-to-reach town.

Three missionary couples made the decision to pack up and go! These were David and Alice Stowell, Harold and Joan Reiner, and us. Shortly after that decision, David Stowell had a heart attack and died. That was my first experience being present for a wake and burial in Brazil. And I had a perceptive 4 year old to which to explain it.  

We were the first to move. We came to the town where Dave and Alice had planned to come – Casa Nova, Bahia. Shortly after that, Tim´s parents moved farther up river to Remanso, Bahia. Neither of us found housing in town. Tim acquired permission from the mayor for us to move into the tiny house at the airstrip outside of town. I called our time there “My Little House on the Prairie Experience”. Tim´s parents also rented a house outside of Remanso for a brief time. None of us had the luxuries of electrical power, city water, or sewage. We began construction of our houses in town.

Those were long months for me. I spent a lot of time alone or in town doing what visiting I could do, then waiting while Tim finished work with one brick layer and his helper. I felt vulnerable out in the wilderness! The house was on the main road between towns and had considerable traffic, including foot traffic. I was even visited by bands of gypsies a few times. We had no phones, only a jeep that Tim took to work, and no neighbors. I believe God protected me and my little son during these vulnerable times.

Alice Stowell joined our team in Petrolina, Pernambuco, then she and her second husband, Don, David´s brother, came to Casa Nova to help. Several other missionaries have come over the years, as well. We worked mainly in Casa Nova for 18 years, also starting a camp on an island in the Sobradinho Reservoir (Treasure Island), and then moved here to Petrolina where Tim had actually been working for several years. Much like the circuit-riding preachers of the past but nowadays in his Chevy pickup!

-Vicki

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Why are you in Brazil?

Posted on October 15, 2011 by Administrator

Recently, while waiting to get my tomography done, we met a young college student who wanted to practice his English with us. He initiated the conversation with – Where are you from in the U.S.? And then – Why are you here (in Brazil)?

Over the years, we´ve been asked this particular question thousands of times.

I told him that we are Baptist missionaries and have been here teaching the Bible for over 30 years. He responded with surprise and exclaimed that of all places in the world, we choose to live in an interior town!

I told him that Tim is Brazilian-born and, although I miss my native country, this is a great place to raise a family. He did not agree. Some time ago, he visited the U.S. and wants to return. He is a carpenter and the pay is definitely better there.

Most people want to advance by moving on to bigger and better places and things. So, in general, nationals work hard and look for opportunities to improve their lives through education and employment. Of course, we are not exempt from wanting to have things that make life easier, but our focus and life goals are not in that.

We teach and exemplify lives committed to sharing the Gospel of Christ as presented in the Bible. We take opportunities to share what we have personally experienced in our spiritual walk. The reason we are here in Brazil is not only an expression of our personal longing for others to find what we have found, but also, we represent the many who pray and support our ministries here from there.

Years ago, God spoke to the heart of a wee girl in Kansas, and later, to a young man in the heart of Brazil, lead them to the cornfields of Iowa where they met and fell in love, and brought them to the backlands of Brazil. It was not mere coincidence. It is part of a plan God has to reach down to the hearts of His family in Brazil.

-Vicki

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Beautiful are the feet…

Posted on October 9, 2011 by Administrator

Okay, so I´ve decided to start a blog about our lives as missionaries. I think that anything to do with our lives, Tim´s and mine, has something to do with the overall picture of what we are doing here now. So this could span from times past, and then, into plans we have. Only God knows wherewith lies our future; we rest in that. Tim may participate now and again, perhaps.

I have been thinking about feet lately – our feet! One of our Bible School professors, Dr. John Patten, used to sing to us the song “Oh be careful little eyes what you see!…Oh be careful little feet where you go!…” The unknown is a frighteningly blank page for all of us. Some of us just go where we are told or are lead by others. Sometimes we foolishly and cautiously or blatantly march on into situations not noticing warning signs of subtle or imminent danger. And, more often than we´d like, we are thrust into harsh and horrible circumstances that we would not have chosen for ourselves, unprepared for the emotional and physical stress that causes our adrenaline to surge or the give-up, give-in urge.

Even though we do not know where our future lies, we can make plans, steps to reach our goals, and head off into a particular direction. God might stop us, change the direction for us, or He might lead us on to more than we have ever imagined possible! I think the truth we must hang onto is the faith and hope to trust the One Who ultimately controls it all and knows all of our futures. Stepping off the cliff or the edge of the known world, so to speak, into the unknown next-minute, hour, day is not our destiny; it is just something we must do to get on with our lives.

Our destiny, as believers in Christ Jesus, is a sure thing, not to be feared. The pain and the joy of living our lives is a consequence of moving forward. We are assured both and more. It is the MORE that I long to experience.

He will lead me to it as I step into it on the way to living my life and making the most of my earthly experience, and I am grateful for that!

-Vicki

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