A missionary’s life is not a 9-to-5 job. It’s a lifestyle. Their ministry includes raising their kids to follow Jesus. It includes being active in their employees’ lives. There are homeschool moms’ outings and family outings to explore their country (beaches, waterfalls, caves, botanical gardens, etc.). The Starkeys in the DR have recently gone with their homeschool group to a camp near the Dominican Republic’s highest mountain for a day of fun activities. They also recently visited the DR’s oldest tree (a kapok tree), which is just 12 minutes from their home. The kids got to climb on the huge roots, estimated to be 1,000 years old.
And making your home available for church activities, such as baptisms. The Tluceks’ (also in the DR) home comes with an outdoor pool. The church they are attending asked to use their pool for a baptism. What a blessing to host their church for this special activity.
Not 9-to-5 also means working late at night, after the kids have gone to bed. It also means working without electricity or water. (Try that in today’s world!) It means helping colleagues unpack or teaching them how and where to shop. If there’s a team in-country, it could mean sleeping at the guesthouse with them, answering their questions, and translating for them in a language you’re just learning.
Sometimes the demands never stop, but God rewards the faithful. Missionaries aren’t in it for the accolades or the money. They are in this lifestyle because God has called them, and they are answering the call.
