The instructions you follow determine the future you create.

“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” (John 15:13)

How big is your worldview?

While at the World Health Missions Conference in Louisville Kentucky on November 10, I attended a seminar titled “Raising a Family on the Mission Field.” Juli Fischer was the speaker. She is married to a physician who works at the Mayo Clinic and they have 5 children, 3 of whom were born on the mission field in the Congo (Zaire). I learned that “MK’s” is short for “missionary kids.”

Juli discussed the advantages, the challenges, and the foremost concerns in raising your children overseas. She has extensive knowledge from talking to missionaries around the world about their experiences.

The #1 advance for missionary kids is worldview. Juli said that 100% of all missionaries surveyed said worldview was a big advantage. MK’s have a worldview that is much bigger than most other young people. They develop global interests and understand that God loves people all over the world.

Other advantages for MK’s included a slower, family-oriented lifestyle, a healthy God view with a greater dependence on God, and cultural awareness.

The #1 challenge for MK’s is usually education. Other challenges include feeling like they don’t belong anywhere, resenting God because their fathers are away so much doing missionary work, and feeling superior to others in America.

Concerns for MK’s included feeling out of it in the USA, lack of friends, enduring misunderstandings, and availability of healthcare.

Prayer Power
Father I thank You for all Your people around the world who lay down their lives as a living sacrifice to bring light and hope to dark areas of the world. Bless Your missionaries and their families. May Americans support them with both prayer and finances. In Jesus name, Amen!

Link of the Day
You Know You’re a Missionary Kid When… [http://www.wholesomewords.org/missions/msnews3.html]

Blessings to have a heart for missionary work!