Waiting on a Miracle

$40,000

The number quietly echoes in my head as I lay my head down on the pillow at night. It shows up unexpectedly in conversations, dances around the corners of my brain during a (rare) quiet moment. It’s the number we still need to raise in our cash budget before we can leave to the field. 

The deadline is approaching.

The anxious feeling is creeping in.

The bags are still unpacked….

We regularly set out materials to share with church members about our journey

These are the thoughts of a missionary desperately awaiting the completion of their budget. The number amount they must acquire in order to (finally) pack up what they can fit in a suitcase and fly to the land they’ve been called to by the Father.

The land they pray for.

The continent they dream about.

The people they love. 

And it all hinges on the faithful obedience of the masses. 

Assemblies of God World Missions, our sending organization, has quite a strategic and intentional approach to sending missionaries. Rather than have one church send out and fully support a family, couple, or individual, OR have a pool of money used to send out missionaries, AGWM requires those of us who feel called to the field to raise support individually- by traveling and meeting with hundreds of churches, individuals, and businesses to acquire the necessary funds to go. This often looks like coffee meetings, doing 5–10-minute presentations at churches across the country, preaching entire sermons, meeting and greeting churchgoers after service, phone calls, weekday drop-ins, social media “marketing”, business meetings, small group meetings, dinner meetings…. endless meetings! This process is not easy and takes several months (in many cases, at least a year or more) to complete. So, from commissioning to continent, missionaries often don’t arrive to the field for a long, long time. 

But wait…. why? 

Why would someone who feels called to Russia need to spend a year or more traveling around their home state of Alabama to “beg for money”? Why can’t the organization just have a fund for missionaries and send them off on their merry way? They don’t feel called to preach to Americans about giving to missions! They feel called to reach the war-torn villages of South Sudan and bring the gospel to a hopeless place! Why would you make a construction worker preach a sermon? Why would you ask a doctor to do a social media campaign? Aren’t their skills more suited for the actual hands-on work of missions? 

Every other job on earth says, “Welcome to the job! Here is your salary!” In missions, it’s “Welcome to the job, raise your salary!

Why is this beast of “itineration” such a necessary part of the process? 

Perhaps- and stay with me tired missionaries- itineration is a part of a larger refining process in the work of missions. These are some of the lessons God has highlighted as we've spent the last 24 months building our support team.

Sharing our story with the Legacy ministry at Faith AG while pregnant with the twins!

1. Longevity - staying the course. 

   
   

You’re less likely to back out of something that took tireless hours and grueling work. Imagine training and prepping for months for a marathon and then saying “I’m too tired” the morning of the big race. Or getting 3 years and 6 months into a college degree and giving up because it feels “too hard”. I know, I know….people do this all the time. BUT suffice it to say that there is some deep regret that comes from giving up on something that you’ve poured everything into. The moment we step onto that plane will be the culmination of a hard-fought process, and will enable us to keep going in times of doubt. 

2. A support system

A village, an army, a team…whatever you want to call it, itineration allows missionaries to be “professional friend-makers” and build a support system that lasts. One of my favorite parts of this process has been getting to know some of the pastors, families, and individuals of our district. We’ve made some lifelong friendships along the way in pursuit of God’s call- and the best news is this: SO many people have heard our story and are praying for God’s hand to be over our ministry! Forget two or more, try hundreds of individuals who are committed to praying and believing with us for miracles in Malawi! We have heard dozens of stories where missionaries were in dire situations, and escaped unscathed- only to find out that a partner in the US had been praying for them during that exact moment! They say it takes a village to raise a family- well it takes a village to send one too! 

Making friends along the journey! We loved our time at Bethel Church with Pastor Anthony and his lovely family

3. Mobilization - aka, raising up new missionaries 

Perhaps my favorite part of itineration is getting the chance to inspire future missionaries and help send them out to the field. Without itineration and support-raising, we as missionaries would be tempted to keep our work the main focus and not give emphasis to sharing the stories of the field. Yet it is those very stories that raise up future missionaries- like Michael! When he heard missionary Mikel French speak about his work in Russia, Michael felt in his heart to GO and serve the Russian people. This trip led to his acceptance of the full-time missionary call. Your life is the greatest sermon you will ever preach- and part of the call to missions is the call to raise up your replacements! You won’t be around forever, but the work of missions will continue until ALL have heard. 

So, it’s not a glamorous life. The endless driving, the tireless conversations of “Oh when are you leaving?” and responding “Oh! Uh, well if you're willing to support us, maybe soon?” the unanswered phone calls, the anxiety of never feeling like you’re doing enough. The wear and tear on your heart is REAL. 

But there are moments of victory. The moment a couple donates a minivan to your growing family so you can travel together. The moment a church makes your family their Christmas offering and surprises you with gifts for the kids, new car seats for the babies, gift cards and a generous offering. The moment someone you never expected commits monthly to give to your ministry. The moment a 4th grader comes up to you and says “I think I’m gonna do it. I think I’m gonna be a missionary.” 

Itinerating with 4 little ones in the minivan we were gifted by the Persaud family- what a blessing!

These moments. These make itineration so beautifully worth it. 

And then there’s the $40,000. 

The number that stands between me and the land I love. 

I’m weary of the waiting, I’m ready but retained, I’m excited but expectant…and if you’ve gotten this far in the blog post, would you consider pushing us over the finish line by making a one-time donation or partnering with us monthly so we can be one step closer to miracles in Malawi? 

As Gil Rodriguez taught me, I will embrace this itineration as a part of the call.  

Soon, Lord, soon. I will be in the land I love. 

The truth is,

I’m always only one generous heart away. 

Our visit to Malawi in 2024- we'll be "home" soon!

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