Staff Missionary Reports
Reports and Experiences of the Godspeed
Staff
"Some trust in chariots and some in horses..."
"…The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory
belongs to the Lord…" (Prov 21:31 NASB)
Dear friends,
Back again in Maryland, the long hot dry spell here broken by
much rain which arrived just after our return from Hungary. The
flight back to the U.S. aboard the homeward bound version of the
Lufthansa Infant Transport Special offered more opportunity to
stay awake and witness what one of my learned colleagues humorously
refers to as "child-centered parenting". But, thankfully,
we experienced equal numbers of take-offs and landings, complete
with all our luggage, and we have precious memories of the past
week in Budapest.
The mission of Godspeed…"to provide medical, counseling,
and other support services to missionaries serving on the field…"
has over the years taken us to distant lands, ministering in all
types of circumstances and situations. This recent trip was requested
by a missionary family who had first learned of Godspeed from
our web page (we are continually amazed at how many people visit
www.missionarycare.org each year). We had not known them previously
nor they us, and we were not sure how to prepare for the work
ahead. I packed (literally) a small pile of psychological assessment
tools, medical references, and other therapeutic paraphernalia,
and sorted (figuratively) through my always-packed-inside-my-head
larger pile of accumulated experiences, answers to anticipated
questions, and reassuring phrases (Karen more wisely relied on
her Bible as her resource). So equipped, we entered what we had
thought was to be primarily a psychiatric consultation concerning
medical needs. But would we find stress from overseas service?
Would I be able to offer insight into a complex medical problem?
How would this experience be unique?
What I found was a mirror: a reflection of the same factors that
plague my own spiritual life and personal relationships. There
were some medical problems, yes, and stresses stemming from missionary
work and organizational inadequacies, but the looming issue was
that of "leaving one's first love"…keeping Christ
at the center, as the Head, as the Reason for whatever else is
being experienced. And I soon realized that if the problem is
primarily that of not keeping God in first place, then medical
knowledge, and psychiatric wisdom, and clever counseling phrases
will not provide a therapeutic alternative. In the final analysis,
after much intense work over seven days, that which proved most
valuable and valid was scripture: "…remember from where
you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first…";
"…a cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart…";
"…The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear
God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person…",
to quote only a few of the passages that He brought to us all
and used for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training
in righteousness.
My horse had been prepared for this trip, but I was only a witness
to and not a soldier in the conflict at hand. More than any other
time I have been privileged to be visiting the front lines of
the mission field, I was shown Who the true Victor, the real Physician,
truly is, and how powerful His word can be. We are very grateful
that we were reminded of the need to keep Him first in our own
lives.
We will be in the U.S. for about two weeks before departing for
South Africa and Mozambique later in September. My packing will
be simpler and more effective on this trip, I pray. Thanks to
all of you for your prayers, your support, and your words of encouragement.
Godspeed,
Barney, for Karen too
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