Missionary Survival

Strange blog this time! Not all blogs have to be deeply spiritual do they? It still may turn up that way.

Today I went out in the cold rain to buy just a few necessary groceries. A thought occurred to me while driving. There are great advantages to being basically alone with God for extended periods of time. Yes, I do miss Sharon very much while she is visiting the states!

I thought back on our early years as "missionary church planters" or "pioneer missionaries" where we enter a nation as the first representatives of a church or denomination. There is no support structure in place. Normally no existing church members to serve as a nucleus of the new church. Frequently a language must be learned. Traditional denominations send their new missionaries to language schools full time for 2 or 3 years. Sometimes missionaries don't have that privilege or luxury if I might call it that. The family normally spends a year or so raising their support for the term which might be from 3-5 years. Many years ago in Asia, missionaries would pack 3-5 years worth of supplies, toilet paper, utensils, and various other supplies that would not be available in that nation.

When we went to Korea 39 years ago we did not have the opportunity of shipping household goods. Two adults and an 8 month old baby arrived with 88 pounds of checked luggage in addition to hand carry bags. It was tough! But God was and is Faithful. I won't go into that story aright now. You can read about that story on the JPN web site in the Article titled, A Grain of Rice in Ssang Mun Dong.

Instead I would like to recall our experience of arriving in Japan 29 years ago.

We had to sell all our furniture including the toys of our three children ages 5,7, and 10 in a yard sale. That was hard. We made sure they kept the money for their toys and we assured them that it would be possible to buy nice new toys on arrival in Japan. They held tightly to their money and the hope of new toys. The journey then took many hours and required several plane changes. We arrived exhausted after more than 24 hours of flying and waiting in airports. I carried Stephanie in Narita airport. She was sick and threw up all over my suit. That wasn't much fun, but that was a part of the life of a missionary in a brand new nation.

We arrived in Fukuoka late at night and were met by the Mori family we knew when stationed here 10 years before in the US Army. They still could not speak English and we only knew a few words of Japanese. We got into two taxis and went to a hotel that was listed on the wall of the airport. It took two small rooms to hold the five of us and all our luggage. This time (10) checked bags and hand carries. We woke up on a Sunday morning. Guess what! Sesame Street was on the hotel TV! Hurrah! That was one important point of survival. Something familiar for the children. Then Nathan and I set out exploring in the area around the hotel. Wonder of wonders we found a McDonalds a few blocks away. Another point of familiarity that helped us with loneliness.
This process continued over the coming weeks and months. At times the loneliness was almost unbearable.

Yesterday I saw the profile of some friends who just went to a new nation in S. America. There were photos of their new house and a large green yard. In front of the house was their young daughter tightly grasping her favorite blanket. That is one of those survival points. I pray daily for this young family. I could feel the loneliness of their young daughter of how she must have looked at that strange new home. The mother also mentioned somehow having a favorite variety of chocolate. I noticed concerned friends asking important questions about being able to buy western foods in a grocery store. These are a type of survival technique.

Another couple recently relocated from an industrial area in the northern part of the USA to a very rural location in the south. Again some good friends wrote and mentioned being just 1 1/2 hour's drive away and talked about going to visit them. I pray for this family and felt a concern about their young children making a smooth transition to a totally new environment.

When we finally got settled into a house in Japan we had no furniture at all. That was not considered or provided before we came. We previously had asked intercessors to pray specifically for a nice house. Our house then had only been lived in for 6 weeks when the owners suddenly moved out. It as not fancy, but it was new! PTL! But, no beds, curtains, telephone, car, bicycle and etc. The Mori family ran a private boarding house for college students. They loaned us Japanese style futon floor beds. Then we had to borrow money from them to buy our first bicycle. It took three months to pay them back. What a blessing to not have to walk a half mile to the grocery store carrying food for 5 people. Then we got utensils and borrowed a sofa. We found a new furniture store that opened an a friend signed for us to buy some furniture on time.

We spent time as a family on the floor watching our 5 inch TV. We had great times of family devotions, with Bible stories and singing. Those were precious times that brought us together and helped with the pain of transition, not to mention building a strong Bible foundation. We would spend time talking about what we missed in the our home country and pretended to be eating those things. Soon Sharon began to find western foods and to make a lot of things from "scratch". Slowly we were able to accumulate toys and daily necessities. We found curtains on sale along with some room rugs. What a blessing to finally get funds for a telephone line which then cost US $1000! We got bikes for the children and were happy riding to the store and around the nearby rice fields. Later the Mori family gave us a used car. PTL!

The home schooling was lonely, not just for the three children, but for us as parents. We were only about 500 yards from a Japanese elementary school. We researched schooling before we came and were convinced that our children were too old to be suddenly introduced into the Japanese school system. I don't regret that decision. Many foreign children who are of similar ages are thrust into the school not knowing the language and it is a nightmare for the children linguistically, socially and emotionally. Homeschooling for an extended period of time is also very difficult in many aspects. Growing up I took part in many sports. I regretted our children could not take part in team sports like I did.

Wow! This is heavy going back and writing about this again. As we faced each challenge and pain of being in a new nation, society, language and social setting God was there with us each step of the way. We began English classes in our home which grew quickly back then. We had so many students that we needed to rent a room for classes. God opened that door in a building just 1/2 mile away. That room also was where we began English Bible study and eventually a church was established.

At this present time I am in touch with a number of people who were a part of that church and outreach. I cherish the memories of working with those people. God blessed us as we took small and sometimes very weak forward steps in His Name. He helped with each obstacle that we were confronted by. Two of our children are living in Japan, Jonathan as a missionary pastor and Stephanie an English teacher in Okinawa.

We five are survivors of pioneer missionary ministry. In fact, we are more that survivors, we are also more than conquerors through Christ who died for us. Souls were saved and called into the ministry. Some are still awaiting their marching orders to launch out into ministry. Some have gone on to Heaven. We are here still keeping on. Now maybe more focused than ever before. Getting a little older, but better gray than grave!

Tonight I am going to try one of those survival tricks. Yesterday I spoke to two of Sharon's relatives. They were going out to the Olive Garden to eat. One place I always try to get to when visiting the USA. I have some frozen spaghetti Lori made and a BBQ chicken breast from Tues. I am going to pretend I am at the Olive Garden eating my favorite dish, Parmesan Chicken. Will not have their dressing, but I can pretend. Can make my own garlic bread. I just won't be able to fake the peach ice tea.

I trust you have a good day in the Lord. Thanks for joining me in some ramblings about the survival side of front line missions. It is very different from those week long journeys that many are taking each year. I say Praise God and Thank You Jesus for every journey that is taken however long or short that it may be as long as Jesus' Name is shared and God gets the Glory. But please don't get those trips mixed up with the long term, frequently life long commitment to taking the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the people of a different nation, language, culture and society. It is an entirely different ball game. Despite all the information that is available on the Internet and the opportunities for brief sojourns into another country please don't forget the thousands of missionaries that are presently serving long term on mission fields. Pray for them. Pray for their children. Support them with finances. Write and encourage them. Take your vacation and spend a week or two with them helping them in their labors.

I nearly wept while flying in the USA last year when a stewardess asked the passengers to give a show of appreciation to the US military members who were on the flight. A rousing applause was given to those young people. It was well deserved. Those of us who served in the military in Vietnam were not afforded applause on airplanes. We frequently were faced with anti-war protesters in the airports we arrived at. Many of us would change out of uniform as soon as possible to avoid unwanted attention.

Finally, I recalled the story of the old missionary who had just retired from a life time of service in Africa. As his ship docked in New York harbor he noticed a huge celebration that met the ship. Soon he realized it was for a famous person disembarking from the ship. A wave of sadness swept over him as he noticed no one was there to welcome him home. At that moment the Lord spoke to him and said, "My son you are not home yet"!

You are right! After 40 years of ministry, mostly in Asia, there is still loneliness to be faced and overcome. I confess. It still hurts or stings to realize how many good Christians, ministers, family and friends remain uncommitted, unattached, unconcerned, unburdened and seemingly uncaring. These are good honest hearted people! Judging? No just telling the painful truth. I watched the news for a few minutes today as one of the new government appointees gave a news conference. In regards to racial prejudice, he called America a nation of cowards. I almost fell off the sofa. How unwise to speak so negatively when just taking office. I too have been warned and cautioned by many about being too negative or straight forward.

If my manner of speaking has offended you please forgive me. I am sorry that I cannot apologize for the facts that are just plain truth in my opinion. Obviously, you care or you would not be reading this blog. I appreciate your prayers and any financial support that you may feel directed to send to help reach the nation of Japan with the Gospel. Please try to understand my heart and the hearts of others who have and still are dedicating their life to try to bring a little light into spiritually dark places.

May God bless you richly!

Dan Corbett
"Reaching One Among Millions"