The Up-Side to Missions

I once read that mission work was one of the most priviledged life-styles you could imagine. As a missionary of 1 year and-a-half (as of July 1st), it's getting to that point where it rings true. When I was home I was giving. Not tooting my horn, just stating facts. I'd serve, I'd love, I'd give, I'd sacrifice time, for love! I loved doing it, and if I were still home, I'd still be alive and well in these departments.

There was always that ability in me, though, to become selfish whenever I wanted. Sometimes I would put my things first, or the things I wanted to do or have first, before the needs of those around me.

The priviledges are many, but the real up-side turns out to be this: forgetting yourself.

Even here, things go wrong and you get crabby - you don't turn into a superhuman. Even here, you can think selfishly. When you want to act selfishly, jeez, it's a whole 'nother ball game.

Now, some of you might say, "Well that sounds just awful!" But remember how fulfilling it is for you to do whatever the heck it is you want, or to have whatever you need... you always want to do it again, or think you need more. When you forget yourself, you don't so much need or want stuff as much.

On a side note, if you do have a day off where you can do whatever the heck you want - like me - use your time wisely: go see The Dark Knight Rises and then the new Spiderman movie in succession.

Dealing with Stress on the Mission Field

Little do folks suspect, the mission field can be quite trying. Indeed it is not all laughing children on your knee, a vaccination here and there, and some singing thrown in like the Sound of Music. Sometimes there are moments where the stress-o-meter hits a certain pitch, your heart beats a little faster with every glance at that "to-do list," and the lovely people vying for your attention threaten to illicit from you the opposite response than the one of grace, patience and utmost Christ-like kindness.

I have found that there are several ways to deal with what I like to call "Mission Anxiety."  I have found certain methods to be especially effective and have taken the liberty to outline them for perusal, and if you are a missionary - or even if you're not - for your own benefit, here below:

Steps to take when under the effects of "Mission Anxiety" (symptoms include but are not limited to: forgetting to put gel in your hair - every day, reading a novel, getting in the shower with your shoes still on, working on a project that you've already completed, losing your pen on a frequent and regular basis even though you put a large label with your name on it, forgetting to purchase soap, involving yourself in humiliating commentary that displays your absence of mind, among others):

1. Always let people know when you've become a hot mess so that they can pray for you.

2. Never make rash or quick decisions as these inevitably will come from some misunderstanding since you are stressed and your brain does not function at full capacity.

3. Do not pray that God will intervene when you know you're about to say or do something dumb, He has a sense of humor and wants to watch. Pretty sure He has a constantly hot-and-buttery bowl of popcorn for these moments.

4. Always have a fresh pot of coffee ready for consumption in 10 minutes or less. Any longer and hyperventilation tends to set in.

5. Finally, don't pretend you can do it by yourself.  When you do, that's another God-reaches-for-the-popcorn moment.  Y` need God as much as you need other folks to help.