by Tamie Davis We’re probably in the back half of our life overseas, and we’ve started asking ourselves what we hope to accomplish before we leave. What will be achieved by the tremendous muster of financial, emotional and spiritual resources that keep us here? We know the stories of those who did not see the […]
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Last month at A Life Overseas, we discussed the dangerous stories we can tell in order to raise funds. This requires further consideration if we provide funds, pay national workers, or are just generous in any way. While the debate on this one is hot and heavy, I doubt we can make absolute statements. “Always […]
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Sometimes the stories we tell of those we minister to can become dangerous. I’ve been at this missions thing for 23 years now. I’ve made a lot of mistakes. I often reflect on things I did in the past and cringe. Hindsight is always 20/20, but perhaps others can learn from my mistakes. One mistake […]
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The other week, I made a trip to the local police station to get an affidavit. In South Africa, this is the venue you head to make a document “official”. The officer who helped me chatted with me a bit. He inquired how long I’d been in the nation and where I stayed. Finally he asked […]
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Anyone working in missions will come face to face with the reality of racism at some point. Historically it has been an issue of skin color. In most nations black was wrong and white was right. I live and work in South Africa. Perhaps there has never been a nation where racism was more evident […]
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“You will not receive praise in heaven; no one will glorify your name. No one will say to you, ‘This person is here because of you.’ The praise will all belong to him because he has accomplished it all,” Elyse Fitzpatrick, Comforts from the Cross You know the song, that tear-jerker everyone sang for special […]
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Missionaries are good at many things. We are adaptable, we are frugal, and we often carry a global perspective. In my experience, one area we are weak in is in planning for the future. Our strength lies in our ability to respond and change, but at times this keeps our focus on the here and […]
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My 7-year old went to her Somali/Arab/Afar dance class one Saturday afternoon. The guard outside informed us that there was no longer dance on Saturday afternoon, no matter that we had signed up, no matter that we had paid just last week. Discouraged, we ran errands instead and ended up at a store which sells […]
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Do I have your attention? (if not, keep reading…there will be a giveaway later on!) Do you really think missionaries view themselves as a Messiah to the people they reach? No, but this complex starts with a small thought, attitude, or even temptation. That temptation is rooted in arrogance. What!? Missionaries being arrogant? Aren’t the words […]
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This may be the most important missionary message I have ever shared. It certainly is one I must apply the most frequently. The longer I am in missions, the more I gain a sensitivity to a perceived sense of superiority. It is not intended, but it is the message we often communicate. I hear it […]
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