What is Hard about Life as a Missionary?

The following is a list compiled by a former missionary to Latin America (Non-IFB [Jack Voelkel]) in answer to the question, "What are some of the hardships and responsibilities of being a missionary?" Though the man is not an independent Baptist much is still very much valid and it is a good list of things to contemplate while you are considering being a missionary. But, don't be discouraged by the many potential challenges - nobody has to face them all! If missions is worth anything, it is definitely worth facing all these difficulties.

"For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?" - Lk. 14:28

Hardships

• Leaving friends and relatives. Missing birthdays, weddings, and funerals, as well as family reunions.

• Personal family or marital problems acerbated by the unique stresses and strains of living in a foreign culture. This is especially true if one has a strong call and the spouse doesn’t.

• Finding a church where one’s children will find fellowship and be stimulated to grow spiritually. (Editor - If you are a church-planting missionary, though, what are you doing in another church if it is not one you are in to get yourself grounded in the language and culture to then go on and start other churches?)

• Culture shock: Learning to fit into a new culture and different ways of doing things we are familiar with, food, traditions, customs, habits, transportation, etc. Enduring the humiliation of fumbling with an unfamiliar language, sounding like a moron, etc.

• Loneliness, especially for singles.

• The environment: often excessive heat without air conditioning, filth, noise, lack of efficiency (the “mañana” syndrome), things that don’t work, people who don’t show up when they say they will, long lines, etc. Dealing with bureaucracy (“come back tomorrow; you need another document”).

• False expectations about the ministry; not seeing expected fruit, having little positive to report to people who are sacrificing to support us.

• Poverty. How can I possibly respond to all who ask me for help? The pain of seeing people without the necessary means of support, medical treatment, schooling for their children, etc.

• Conflict with colleagues, especially fellow missionaries; conflict with national leaders.

• The struggle to keep a quiet time, with so many pressures.

• Children’s schooling: national schools (which may inadequately prepare them for an American college), international schools (which are expensive), homeschool (when we are too busy as it is), send them to a boarding school, etc.

• Finances: the challenge of raising funds and churches who drop one’s support.

• Security: thieves on the street, robbers who break in, threats on the lives of our children, etc. Serving in hostile or war zones. Persecution.

• Working with nationals. The difficulty of knowing when to give over authority; how long to stay, when to leave. Mission / church conflicts, especially over buildings, property, vehicles, etc.

• Promote nationals to attend events I would have liked to have gone to myself.

• Dealing with leaders whose sense of planning and promptness is different from ours.

Responsibilities - A lot depends on one’s assignment.

• The constant challenge of representing Jesus in a non-Christian culture.

• The tension of answering nationals’ criticism of American foreign policy when we may not agree, yet need to maintain a certainly loyalty to our country.

• Carrying out the task one is assigned, even when one is tired and unmotivated.

• Listening carefully to nationals; being willing to fit into their patterns; taking the time to appreciate those who have different life-styles. (Editor - Just as long as it is not sin. In Europe they say drinking alcohol is a part of the culture. You will have to draw the line when it is sin.)

• Learn the language well. (Most Americans are not naturally gifted in language learning.)

• Growing spiritually; growing in dependence on Jesus; learning to apply Scripture to the local context constantly.

• Develop a growing prayer life both privately and with others. Learning to pray with national colleagues.

• Make deep friendships with nationals, spending more time with them than with those of one’s own culture.

• Learning to confront, forgive, seek healing, and keeping short accounts with all in so far it is possible. We can only change ourselves.

• Come to enjoy the richness of the local culture.

• Reading widely, especially books written by authors of the host culture to understand how they think.

• Faithfulness in writing and sending prayer letters.

• The importance of constantly training leaders.

• Help one’s sending churches understand what is happening on one’s field of service, to appreciate the vitality and maturity of local believers though they may not be as sophisticated as those who have sent us.