We are very thankful for new missionaries and their support teams. It takes

a lot of work to learn the language and the culture. It takes a large

support team to believe in them, and to pray for them, and to support

them financially. 

Missionaries live fairly transparent, public lives (less

privacy). People come here to serve, but for the first couple of years

they can hardly even talk to anyone. Then slowly things start coming

into focus and making sense, kind of like a baby whose eyes first see

her mother’s face, then they can focus across the room, then across the

yard. It’s kind of hard to get started. New missionaries are expected to 

go to so many meetings where they don’t know what people are saying. 

And they have to appear interested. You can imagine the challenge.

Missionaries are here to raise up local leaders, in the training arena of

the local church, and to eventually leave it running and growing under

its own leadership. We are so grateful to each new missionary willing

to obey God even to the point of living in a foreign land if God asks

them to do this. Many times the asking is not really clear. It is many

steps of faith, that are confirmed along the way. I realize it is

challenging in different ways to be disciple of Jesus in your home

country. The tests come in unexpected ways. It is also a walk of faith.

May God bless you as you walk with Him in obedience, faith, and

friendship.