Since my trip to India, I have had a particular burden on my heart, and I would appreciate you taking the time to read as I unfold such a burden:
[b]What I Learned On the Mission Field[/b]
1. First, an Westerner has a very hard time living in any other country. Our bodies have been deprived of everything that God created in us in order to fight off normal bacteria, germs, and infections. Our flesh has been pampered by 24 hour heating and air conditioning, thus we have another thing that makes it hard on our flesh to leave our sterilized countries.
2. It takes years to learn one language, and about the same amount of time to become fluent.
3. There are several countries that Westerners cannot even get into, particularly Middle Eastern countries
4. A Westerner, in most of the world, will get taken advantage of time and time again, because people know that Westerners have more money available, and thus will be charged up to 10 times what they normally charge for goods and services
Do I say this to discourage anyone from obeying God's call to be a missionary? Absolutely not. If God calls you, go - He will supply all the grace that you need. But, amazingly enough, there are millions of international students right here in the US. And, they can live in climates that are hard for us to handle, and they speak languages we don't know, and they fit into the cultures where we stick out like a sore thumb.
Usually, internationals do not hang out in the "club areas", or downtown street-type places, where most of us do our witnessing. They are usually hard to find - they are quiet, humble, and usually hidden. They are more focused on studies than social life. I have found that college campuses have a multitude of middle-eastern, Indian, East Asian students who are completely without friends, and have never even heard of the Gospel. I have also found that usually the international community seem to live in the same area
So, I encourage you to expand your vision, and look for those who God can use in areas that you could never go.
I thought I would share a story with one brother from China I met, named Do. I was up at OU, at a late night prayer meeting. And, this Chinese guy came walking up with another group. I introduced myself, and found out his name. And I asked him "Do, are you a Christian". He said "Almost. Religion is a very serious decision, and I want to make sure that I am ready to give it everything." Well, after the prayer meeting got started, I was shocked as this Chinese man, who admitted to not being a Christian yet, jumped in as we were praying, and began praying fervently, even shaking, for the lost: "Yes Jesus! Yes Jesus! Save this campus! Save this campus Jesus!". I usually don't hear Christians pray with that sort of passion! I knew that when God fully got ahold of him, he would be used mightily of God.
Anyway, there is an amazing opportunity before us, to help spread the Gospel throughout the entire world without even leaving. I hope you all will pray about this, and see how the Lord would move you. The school season is about to start, and there will be many, many new students who don't know anybody at all. There couldn't be a better time for you to befriend them and share the Gospel. |
