Disclaimer: I’m not a frou-frou girlie girl. I never have been. I’ve never been excited about glitter, frills, pink, or ruffles. (Ugh, ruffles!)
Somewhere along the line, a strange idea about missions took root. I’m not sure when it happened. Maybe somewhere between too many (or not enough) bucket showers and 12 people crammed into the back of a car on a 100+ degree day. I’m not sure exactly when it happened, but one day … being a woman missionary around the world became equated with being frumpy.
I’m not exactly sure why, but there is this preconceived notion that packing for a missions trip means you grab all the ugliest, baggiest, holey-est, stained, mismatching T-shirts you can find because ‘its just going to get dirty anyway’. Somewhere, not bringing ‘flashy clothes’ that make you stand out translated into bringing the ugliest things we can find.
I think there are two reasons why we, as women missionaries, need to buck the system and be ‘Frump Free Missionaries’.
- Something magical doesn’t happen when you get on a plane to go to another country. If you are not confident about approaching strangers to talk about Jesus, pray for people, or step out in another way if the Lord asks, you are not suddenly going to jump for joy about doing it in another country. And, when you don’t feel comfortable, you are a whole lot less likely to do so! And let’s, face it… who is comfortable talking to people while they are wearing a mumu?!? So, if wearing some mascara will give you a bit more confidence… do it! Go, tell people about the goodness of the Lord and don’t let the men on your team judge you!
- Everything that Jesus did when He walked the earth was to show people that they were valuable and seen by God when no one else saw them. This is our objective as well! We are called to go to the far places of the earth and show people that they are significant and important to God. That He knows them and cares about them. Now, put yourself in their place. How would you feel if someone came up to your house and wanted to come in and talk to you who looked all disheveled? What about if they tried to convince you that you were really important and loved? You wouldn’t feel really important or loved if that person had the means to be more presentable. You’d feel like you were getting their leftovers. We are called to love completely, with everything we have. We are called to show every person that they were worth Jesus’ best… so they are worth our best. We want every person we encounter to feel loved and valuable. Let’s stop giving people our second bests and our leftovers.
When resources are limited and you don’t have access to electricity or water and are living in a dirt house, you’ve got to do the best you can. Yes… buy crazy African fabrics and make skirts out of them. Yes, rock a pair of Asian pants. But, brush your teeth, make your hair presentable, find a cute skirt (or at least one without holes), and confidently carry the joy and beauty of Jesus to the precious people that He loves!
And please… don’t be this girl! (photo credit: Google search for ‘frumpy mumu’)
