Ken - Christian and Missionary Alliance

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A MOTHER’S LONGINGS Separation from our children also causes suffering. We are so grateful to our MK schools where our children .receive an excellent education with advantages that we parents could not provide. Yes, perhaps we miss seeing that first tooth come out or the children’s progress in school as they master math facts and reading. We miss the struggles of writing that important speech, cheering them as they kick @e winning goal, or having our eyes meet during their first choir concert. But we know children need the social interaction of a larger peer group than the immediate family. The children’s extended school family is precious to them, and the scope of their education is much broader. Realizing this, our suffering is tempered. We do hurt when our children are sick or struggling with personal problems. But through the elementary and high school years at least we do have loving, touching, sharing, and talking times every four months as they vacation with us. The college years are different, however, for our children return to the homeland without us. There they are separated from much that is familiar to them. They struggle alone through the disciplines of 26 college and make decisions on a career and a life partner. We may not see them for two, three, or four years. Sometimes we receive word that they are very ill, or are struggling emotionally, spiritually, or The children’s extended school family is precwus to them, and the scope of their education is much broader. financially. This is a time of suffering for us, of recommitting our children into the hands of a loving God. MEDICAL UNCERTAINTIES Medical problems are another type of suffering. Because our immunity is not built up, we often are plagued by such tropical dis- eases as dysentery, hepatitis, and unusual fevers - typhoid, malaria, and dengue. Medical facilities in a Third World nation are not as modem as in the homeland. When an illness lingers, when an accident occurs, or when surgery is necessary, we face hard decisions. Do we stay or go to another country for treatment? How upsetting will such a move be to our families and ministries? What about the expense?
Occasionally a chronic illness de- velops and missionary may be advised by doctors to remain in the homeland where treatment is readily accessible. Yet for some, the burden of the ministry compels the missionary to return to his field. “EAST IS EAST. . . ” Another area of suffering that missionaries face is that of cultural conflicts and misunderstandings. No matter how strong our desire is to love our national brothers and sisters and to work with them, we are different in many areas: our outlook on life, our reactions to problems, our experiences, our education. Differences arise. There Missionaries also face cultural conflicts and misunderstandings. is tension, sometimes even broken fellowship. Often the giving and taking process hurts. PREVALENCE OF POVERTY Finally, because we live and work in a Third World country, we are daily confronted by poverty. The Pioneer, July 1985 The needs around us are tremen- dous. They press us and depress us. Knowing how to share what we have, how to adjust our life style, when to give and to what extent causes much emotional suffering. NEEDED: INTERCESSORS Missionary suffering is, however, often God’s refining fire for His servants. The process is not easy, but it is a necessary one. You can intercede to our Father so that we will be able by His strength to pass victoriously through these tests. Some of you have become very special intercessors with whom we can be t oay honest in sharing our needs. You have a thorough grasp of our work and the situation in which God has placed us. You know exactly how to hold us up in prayer. We praise God for you. You have gone through many of our refming fires with us and then have rejoiced in our victories. Friends, pray for us so that we wil keep on rejoicing as we share in the sufferings of Christ. t ~~ Beth Dnrmmond. MK and mother of four. MKs. ministers in Surobnya. Em Java, with her husband Rick. Rick presently ir rhe co-ordinotor of the Jaw 500 program. 27
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Page 4 and 5: concerned voice of his father comfo
Page 6 and 7: Christian principles regardless of
Page 8 and 9: of Rev. Robert Jaffray, whose early
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Page 12 and 13: the Asian Baptist Graduate School o
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Page 19 and 20: AN EXPECTANT FAITH Their livingroom
Page 21 and 22: C&MA church where Dave’s family w
Page 23 and 24: With purpose of heart Rick entered
Page 25: PERSPECTIVE by Beth Drummond “Den
Page 29 and 30: NOVEMBER, 1982 We said good-bye to
Page 31: Vehicles Literature Church Planting
Page 34 and 35: artners the cry for Spirit-filled l
Page 36: ta. 131 Bandung. 141 Semarang, 151

Ken - Christian and Missionary Alliance

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