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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Missionary (10/19/06)
Missionaries…the word conjures up childhood memories of wanting to move to the jungles and help teach those about Jesus who might not have heard of Him. As I grew up and married, my concept of missionaries evolved from that childhood image. It became a “bloom where you are planted” philosophy and my outreach became much more personal. I felt God call me through motherhood, but like Hannah, I prayed and longed for a baby that didn’t arrive. I ministered through foster care, teaching, writing, anything that focused on children and God’s love for them.

One day, six years later, I prayed like Hannah – promising to give back my child to the Lord all her days if I could just have a baby. Like Hannah, I got an answer to my prayers in the form of a newborn little girl. We brought her home from the hospital at two days old and filed adoption papers. My little girl grew and her love for God and heart for service grew with her. I kept my promise to God and took this child on summer mission trips to other countries, vacation Bible school, service projects.

Our family grew through the adoption of a “special needs” sibling group of three and our homeschooling adventure began. Our “mission” became getting through the school day with Biblestudies, creative learning sessions for our special children and one rule – don’t come to school in your underwear! We focused our school on missions around the world and did what we could to help out.

When my Hannah baby graduated from high school, she went on a three month mission trip to Central America. How I worried about her, but she was in God’s hands and having a ball. Soon she went to Bible College and I knew this was my time to give her back to God. My heart was breaking and full of pride for her at the same time! I knew my little girl who wanted Bible stories and songs and rocking time with Mom was gone.

Then the day came when she and her new husband left America for Scotland as missionaries. How my concept of missionaries had changed! I was being left behind and my daughter was serving God in a way I could only dream of. The highlands of Scotland wasn’t quiet the same as living in the jungles, but it was still half a world away. I wondered, did Hannah feel this way when she left Samuel? Did the mothers of the apostles feel like this – proud and sad at the same time?

They are home now and raising two beautiful sons and placing that missionary spirit within their souls. Now I’m the MomMo and I get to sing and tell Bible stories and rock more babies. God is true to His Word, I gave my daughter back to him for all her days and I have been greatly rewarded!
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Donna Haug
10/29/06
Great story. It's great to see how God fulfills our hearts desire when we keep him number one. Just one little error - 'quiet' should be 'quite'. I really enjoyed this.
Deborah Bauers
11/01/06
As I read your story I was reminded that we often look only at those who have gone abroad, faced peril, as the true missionaries. Where would be be without those whoi have nurtured and raised those same missionaries? Truly, your mission was to raise your daughter and to prepare her to respond to God's call. In my book, that makes you a missionary in the truest sense! Well done!
Edy T Johnson
11/17/06
This is such a sweet and touching story. It rings so true. We don't know how those desires of our heart will turn out, but God is faithful and we see how He works through them for His glory and our blessing. Thank you for writing this for our benefit. Thank you, also, for your generous comment on my "Guardian Angels" story. I appreciate you!