Missionary Life

Well, we've been here two weeks now. On last Thursday I really got into the work of being a missionary. Was is evangelism? street witnessing? meeting tribal members?…..

No.

It was clearing a clogged septic line.

We had noticed that the toilet in Tom and Kathy's house was backing up badly, and at one point it started draining out the cleaning port in the yard. Running a pipe snake didn't find any obstruction (we later determined the snake may have doubled up), but the "water" would still not drain. So on Thursday we Tom, Robert and I started digging out the line to find the point of blockage. Starting at the septic tank, we dug back about 12 feet of drain pipe until we reached an elbow. We could tell by sound it made when we knocked on it that the clog was right there. The pipe was brittle in places, and we had inadvertently punched a couple holes in it while digging, so we knew it would need replaced. Rob and I went to the hardware supply and picked up a new pipe and took it back to the house.

We knew at this point there was no chance of avoiding a mess. As we lifted out the old pipe and broke the connection at the elbow, the clogged broke free and it was NASTY!!!! Tom turned on the water hose and diluted it out as quickly as we could. After that we got the new pipe in place and fitted just as a light rain began to fall. On Friday, Tom finished the patch and we shoveled the dirt back over it.

So why am I writing about this as REAL missionary work?

Whether we serve in a populated urban area, or in the jungle with tribal people, the lifestyle of a missionary really becomes a self-reliant one. We don't have the luxury of calling a repair professional for every little (or big) thing that stops working or needs adjustment. Even if the service is obtainable, the cost is usually more than we have spare. Part of my calling is to bring the knowledge and abilities I have, specifically as a computer technician, and generally as a jack-of-all-trades (thanks dad) to help lighten the load of the workers already here, so that their time and efforts can be more focused on using their gifting of teaching and evangelizing. I have a calling there as well, and will supplement as needed.

Yet, that self-reliance is only at the local level. We could never accomplish any of the work we are here to do without the prayers and support of our partners back home. Your contribution allows us to meet our day to day needs so that we can reach out to those around us. Please continue to pray for the work happening here, and for the people who's lives are being changed by the power of Christ's love.