Welcome, a big blog this week and this may be of interest to you.
How to do a blog that talks about Haiti while being here in Quebec? The Lord is showing me that it is an excellent occasion to clarify the pale idea that Christians have about the path taken by missionaries. During my church visits, I was stunned to see how people are not aware of the path that it taken to become a missionary with the PAOC and of the preparation up until they leave. When I speak to people, it seems that it’s like reheating macaroni in a microwave or it’s like preparing for a two-week short-term mission trip, we register, prepare for a few months, prepare our luggage and we leave following a guide. It is not like this for a missionary who leaves to live in another country.
You have to understand that we have a responsibility of integrity toward our organisation throughout the world and be assured that the PAOC oversee that this is well maintained. The mission’s comity verifies the call and the seriousness before we are under their logo. Therefore, it is not he who wants to be a missionary who goes but he who is approved by the Lord and this is verified by the missionary counsel, nothing is different in the gospel. Canada is big, and the Christians are dispersed and because of this we have a committee that is mandated in the country to send those who are called to be missionaries and I have been impressed by the seriousness and the quality of their work. It’s their team who discerns and prays and sends those whom the Lord sets apart as Canadian missionaries. This can give assurance to those who are wondering about our calling.
After this, missionaries have to be trained, they will be living with a different people, they learn how to understand the customs of the people who they meet, and to discern the dynamics of their difficulties, they are there to learn how to listen and this week after week. Long term missionaries also have to learn to live in these countries with the existing dangers, and what attitude to take if they are kidnapped, imprisoned or threatened and how not to put the other missionaries in danger. They have to understand the culture, and to know the needs without imposing their Canadian culture all the while respecting the life style of the host country, and bring hope, a vision, and to go further with their resources and their potential, either human or material. We want to bring them salvation, touching them by meeting their external needs, by the Spirit’s direction, and by the Spirit touch their heart and soul, hoping to bring them into faith, into a complete salvation. This takes time, compassion, relations, know how and all this under the direction of the Holy Spirit. We have to navigate in the atmosphere of the culture without being caught by it. Being a missionary, is disciplined work with a close relationship and communion with God and His Spirit, who teaches many things and we are also prepared with the help of His Body. Sending long term missionaries is very important to the Lord for the advancement of His kingdom and also to receive them from other countries. I would also add that it is very important for us to think of training the next generation because missionaries advance in age.
So, in the coming weeks, I will shed light so that you can know more and more what a missionary is living before he is sent, and I may surprise you, but it is a work of faith that can be extended over several years of preparation. Did you know that it will soon be two years in august 2018 that we are in preparation EVERY DAY, in prayer, in faith, in combats, in perseverance in tears, the deceptions and from time to time with tensions that can be brought about in couples, and to add to this, finally, the problems of everyday life BUT without letting ourselves to be robbed by the enemy, we also live miracles, by the glory of God, by love and encouragement through brothers and sisters, the faithfulness of our prayer group who pray for us week after week. (By the way, did you know that we feel it when there are less prayers? But we pray for this), we also live good news as when a church in Ontario who do not know us but who have said that they will support us, without having received us and this has also happened in Quebec. So, we see in this our Father’s support, found in His word: “Your Fathers knows what you need”, “I do above what you ask for or think” and “He does all good things in His time”, these words permit us to experience in times of perseverance the absolute effectiveness of His Word which is accomplished and to see the power of God in our lives, all this is part of it and it is for all of us. I wish to not live my Christian life otherwise than in dependence and support from my God and to see His projects of joy already prepared come true. I do not just want to be written in the book of life, I want to be one of the heroes of faith in the 21st century. I may shock you or you may find me pretentious but if I can excite you to become one of these heroes it’s a winner because I know that the Lord has an army who’s rising in this age, get onboard, if life interests you. For those with limited capacity, see my Christmas blog, it will be very encouraging for you. My dream and yours are in our Lord’s hands. Yes, our God has an army who is rising, a song (in French) that is still pertinent today.
Thus, next week, The acceptance of the missionary. I will share with you part of my personal journal so that it will be of more interest. Don’t forget to leave your comments and to ask your questions, this encourages me, and the body of Christ is of upmost importance to me. You are important, you are part of the Victorious King.
Servant, Marie-Jo
At Bible college in British Colombia
Prayer for retired missionaries who share with us their memorable experiences and the glory of God (BC)
Missionary family (Mexico) with Peter (Bible college cafeteria in BC)
P.S. I mentioned in a past newsletter that I would explain the pictures of Haiti in January 2018, I will come back to these a little later in the month of February.