The Well

Scott and Tim are missionaries here at ILE that are in their final trimester of study before heading to serve in Peru.  A few weeks ago, they were blessed to get to attend and share at a missions conference in Montana (State motto: Well, we're not quite Wyoming, but at least we're not Colorado!).  While they were there, they heard an analogy that really stuck with me when Tim shared it with me upon his return, that I'd like to share with all of you this week as well. (I've expanded the analogy some for the sake of this blog):

"When a missionary goes out to share the Gospel, it's like a rescue mission in a well.  The rescuer grabs onto the rope, and holds on tightly as he lowers himself into the well.  Up above, however, they must be a team of workers that are also holding the rope as he begins his work.  The rescuer is bearing his own weight; however, the team up above is bearing his whole weight as well!  So, as the rescuer goes out, both the worker and the supporter bear the same weight, and both bear the scars on their hands from the endeavor.  In the same way, both the missionary (or missionary family) and the support team back home bear the weight of the ministry.  The missionary leaves behind home, comforts, friends, family, and puts themselves into situations that aren't comfortable, that aren't always safe, and that are incredibly trying.  Meanwhile, those at home also bear the weight: they miss their loved ones who have gone out to serve, they bear the weight of praying for the missionaries, of supporting the ministry financially and in other ways, and of not forgetting those who have gone out from them, even those who have gone out years before.  And, both sides bear the scars from the endeavor, but both bear them gladly, because they know that the mission, the need to share the Gospel around the world, is more important than any other."

I love this analogy!  Too often, some missionaries and some churches look at missionaries as lone rangers, living the solitary life, separating themselves from everyone to take on themselves a mission that has been given by God to them and them alone.  But nothing could be further from the truth!  As Sara and I have left Casper and come here to Costa Rica, we have felt even more deeply the need that we have for the church back home than ever before.  We can't tell you how much every little message on facebook means, or the occasional letter or package, or when the phone rings.  We can't explain how it feels to be prayed for, and to know that people are remembering us before God from 3400 miles away.  We can't explain how humbling it is to see people support us financially every month.  We can't describe how it pierces our hearts to hear people talk about missing us, about wishing we were still at the church, about wanting us back in the States.  We see first hand that we need YOU!  We need those back home, the family, the friends, the other believers, the churches, who are helping to make what we are doing possible.  Thank you, all of you who are pouring yourselves into our ministry just as we are, in different ways, so that we might go forth!

And we bear the scars at times, too.  It can be hard to be away from home.  We miss our family and friends.  We miss being in a culture where we can understand everything and make ourselves understood easily.  We miss the feeling that we're able to more easily reach people and share the Gospel because we can communicate in the right language.  We struggle with battles of the mind as we try to learn Spanish; we struggle with battles of the heart as we miss our homes and families and friends; we struggle with battles of the spirit as we fight against spiritual warfare that feels more prevalent here than it was back home.  But, as the Bible assures us, these are 'light and momentary troubles,' compared to Christ!  We do this, and you send and support us, because we know that it's worth it, and in light of the need for the Gospel of Christ around the world, what else could we possibly do??

Finally, we do this because we know it's not about us.  As Paul Washer says, "Missions is not about sending missionaries.  Missions is about sending the truth of God through missionaries."  We go because of this truth, and we trust that you send us and support us because of this truth as well.  If this rescue mission that we're on is about us, then please, let go of the rope!  But, if you believe in this because of the power of the Gospel, and the need for God to be heard about and glorified around the world, then continue with us in this mission.  Thank you for being WITH us in this endeavor, striving with us, working with us, praying for us, bear our weight in your own way, as we seek to see the King of Glory (Ps 24) pour out His Spirit in Mexico and across this world.  We love you all, and God bless!