I wrote this letter to a loved one, and thought I should share it with more people....because concerned friends and family in America and in Tonga ask us regularly why we are living in Tonga instead of the America, a.k.a Disneyland =) On the other hand there are some sweet but misguided friends who put us up on a pedestal of holiness that we can't even touch. SO can I just throw out this disclaimer first? 'Osi and I are missionaries, but we are also just average Joe normal people, we don't have extraordinary talents or holiness. That being said, here is why we do what we do.
'Osi and the Discipleship students have started their 3 month outreach. They have been living in the village of Kolomotua, Vautu'u, and Patangata
doing community service, door-to-door ministry, and outdoor evangelism
programs. But every few days he comes home to check on
us, bring us food, and sleep overnight. I know its a
little bit of a sacrifice, but honestly we have been praying for this
opportunity to work with the Discipleship students for years now, and it has been
AWESOME to see them fall in love with Jesus, and catch a fire to live for
him, start sharing with other people and making disciples of their
own....so it multiplies, get it? =)
That's what Jesus told us
to do "Go and make disciples" and it totally makes sense. The world
would get saved SO much quicker, and be nurturing mature Christians if
we were multiplying disciples rather that merely evangelism.
So
I am ridiculously excited to be doing this with 'Osi. The students came over
to our house last night, and we were eating bread and butter and tea on
the porch sharing stories about all the great ways God is opening hearts
and opening doors in the villages.
Tongans make the BEST
missionaries, and this place here in YWAM Tonga is the only campus we know of that
is sending out missionaries. Besides the Mormons, lol they are sending
out missionaries by the Bushel.
I
just think its sad that so many of us Christians just don't get it. God
has amazing plans for our life, but so often we settle for less. Maybe we're scared that if we really surrendered
our life and future completely to Him He would tell us to go live in
the bush in poverty, nursing aids orphans or something, and that scares
us.
So instead we Sing on Sundays "Your all I want, You're all I ever needed...." But we LIVE as
if our aim in life is to make ourselves as comfortable and happy as
possible here on earth.
And the world says that is our Right and the natural thing to do. And if at the end of our life we have a spouse
and kids and a house and a good job with benefits or whatever, and are
thin and beautiful.... then we are "successful".
But
Jesus said "Whoever finds his life will lose it, but whoever loses his
life for my sake will find it."
When I was 16, I had just
returned from the Mexico missions trip that opened my eyes to see the
rest of the world does not live like we do. And I remember driving my
nice new car over the Camano Island bridge during this georgeouss
sunset, and I was thinking how incredibly blessed I was. What a life of
privilege I was born into!
And I was talking to Jesus, out
loud, ( because thats what I normally did while driving =) remember how our parents made us wait a year before listening to the radio??
And I started, spontaneously praying the same prayer David did in 2 Samuel 7:18-22
"Then King David went in and sat before the LORD,
and he said: "Who am I, Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that you
have brought me this far?...What more can David say to you? For you know your servant... How great you are, Sovereign LORD! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears."
I told Him that I was
so in love with Him and SO THANKFUL for everything he's done for me,
that I would follow him to the ends of the earth and back. Just
whatever and whenever He wants....
And
you know, he was right. When he said. "Whoever finds his life will
lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. ..."
In losing my life to Him, I really found it. =)
Its really good. I know we don't have alot of "stuff". But its good.....
We
are so honored, and humbled to be used by God out here. And I know at
the end of our life we can look back and see that it counted for
something.
We won't regret giving up the temporary comforts we could have had in America.
He is worth it.
For about a year now I have not had any regular ministry responsibility. After James was born I took a break from volunteering at the preschool, then shortly after that the preschool closed for various reasons....and I kept praying and asking the Lord where I fit in at the mission. What can I be doing to serve and love people right now, in the season I am at home caring for our young children? 
