For awhile, and probably because Christmas approaches and I find myself in a place that is utterly unfamiliar, I’ve been thinking about how loved ones at home can show their love to me from far away. It’s also something I think about as I watch teammates and squad-mates struggle with homesickness and thoughts of home. We are happy, and joyful, and blessed to be where God has called us, but that doesn’t leave us forgetting all of the wonderful people at home whom we love and don’t get to see. For us, we only have to wait a year, but for many of the people we work with on the field it might be different and even a Missionary not on a trip like the World Race could benefit from the list below.
I present the best ways to love a missionary from afar in ascending order.
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Donate to their cause.
Currently, this is big on my heart as God is teaching me huge lessons through fundraising; faith, humility and obedience the top among them. But seriously as we travel from country to country and are reminded how blessed Americans are financially it’s the smallest way a person could love me, though arguably one of the most impactful. And not just the big donations, I get just as excited and grateful and feel supported for the small gifts. A five dollar donation is enough for someone back home to say “I believe in what you’re doing.”
Also consider, on the field $5 is my typical food budget for the day, so when you donate $5 you are feeding me for the day.
$30 could be paying for transportation to and from ministry for the month.
$100 could pay for most of my lodging for the month.
$1000 and you just bought a plane ticket.
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If their trip is already funded (or even if it’s not) bless them financially anyway.
Often on the field we are led to bless a host in some way, take a squad-mate out to coffee for discipleship, or just buy an ice cream because we miss home. These seem like little things that are usually taken for granted at home or when you actually have an income, but when you’ve given that up for the time being, a little extra cash could go a long way. Most of us on the field have PayPal or Venmo attached to our bank account and would be incredibly humbled to find a little extra spending money has made a its way to us.
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Digital gift cards
If gifts is your love language this might be right up your alley. I love to read, but getting books (and carrying them) is unlikely. I do however have a kindle app that will store hundreds of books on this little device that I’m typing on. So send your favorite Missionary a digital book you think they’d enjoy, or a gift card for one. The same thing can be said for music and movies, as I know many of my fellow racers aren’t big on reading.
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Share and comment on our blogs or social media posts.
This in particular is huge for me. I was actually surprised how loved I felt when I saw my best friend share one of my blog posts for the first time. And I love reading your comments. As racers we believe that blogging and sharing our story is a big part of our ministry and to know that something resonated with you enough to share it really says that you support us and what we’re doing. It also reminds us that we’re not alone and that you’re likely praying alongside us at home as well.
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The best way to love us from afar is to STAY IN TOUCH.
Email, Facebook message, WhatsApp, pick your method, but just sending a quick message to say I’m praying for you or asking how life is, asking how Ministry is, or sharing a picture from home means the world. We may not always have WiFi and when we do your message may be buried under a hundred other messages but we will eventually see it and respond and be grateful. The amount of squad mates that I’ve heard express this is unbelievable. But the fact that I’ve also heard others express a fear of being forgotten or losing friendships after a year of being away is equally heartbreaking.
I hope you can understand the heart of what I wrote here. It’s been five months on the field and it’s Christmas and I, and many of those with me, are farther away from home than we’ve ever been. We miss our friends, our family and so many other comforts and sometimes what we need most is a gentle reminder from home that you’re still with us and you still believe in what we’re doing (other than our parents —Hi fam, love you and miss you!). The truth is we felt the love and were checked up on and still actively received donations the first few months, but those are beginning to waiver. No matter the amount of blogs we write, life still goes on at home without us and we know your busy, we just don’t want to be forgotten.
To those of you who have loved me (or a squad mate, or another missionary) well all along. Thank you! I can’t even express how much the comments, shares, emails and donations mean to me. They keep me going, and God uses them to teach me valuable lessons including reminding me that I’m on the right path.
Many blessings and Merry Christmas from Africa,
Sara
