1.How did you receive your call to be a missionary?
My original "call" to be a missionary came when I was in high school. I was at camp with my youth group from church one summer and one night during the evening worship service I felt like God was calling me into a life of full-time ministry. At the time I thought that either meant being a children’s minister (which I didn’t think I wanted to do) or a foreign missionary – so as a 17 year old I thought that I would be serving God somewhere in another country someday.
Our call to be
missionaries with Mercy Ships is a long story (feel free to read some of the early posts on our family's blog). In a nutshell,
Nick and I long to be right where God wants us and we’ve prayed that we would always respond to God’s leading in our lives.
We were VERY happy living in Columbus – loved our church, loved our jobs, loved our community
of friends, loved our home, we were close to family – we weren’t looking to move…but
over the course of a few months, the Lord lead us to leave our lives in
Columbus in order to be a part of Mercy Ships in West Africa.
2. How did you know where to go?
We prayed and listened and prayed and asked God questions and listened and questioned and prayed some more! We weren’t in a place of asking God “where should we go? Point us in the right direction…help us choose from all these options….” He had specifically led us to Mercy Ships – so knowing where to go was a matter of obedience.
We prayed and listened and prayed and asked God questions and listened and questioned and prayed some more! We weren’t in a place of asking God “where should we go? Point us in the right direction…help us choose from all these options….” He had specifically led us to Mercy Ships – so knowing where to go was a matter of obedience.
3. How did God provide for you? (again, reading through our early blog posts will give you a more thorough picture of God's faithfulness to provide for us)
God provided for us so beautifully!! In huge ways and in tiny ways, we knew He was with us…providing for us every step of the way. Here’s a quick list of ways He provided for us:
God provided for us so beautifully!! In huge ways and in tiny ways, we knew He was with us…providing for us every step of the way. Here’s a quick list of ways He provided for us:
- Provided peace in knowing we were doing what He wanted us to do
- Provided a space on the ship for us
- Provided someone to buy our house, our cars, & so much of our stuff
- Provided a beautiful day for our yard sale
- Provided financial support – in one time gifts and monthly supporters
- Provided so many who said “what do you need?” (and then they would give whatever it was we needed)
- Provided friends to support us and pray for us and love us through the leaving process
- Provided an AMAZING church to call “home” – a church who is in the business of “sending”
And He
continues to provide!! It’s awesome.
4. Name a time when you saw God at work while on the field.
One of my favorite parts of being on the Africa Mercy is being so very close to life change. Sometimes I feel like I have a front row seat for watching God work miracles! It’s beautiful to be able to see a person walk (or be carried!) onto the ship with a serious problem – blindness, a cleft lift, bowed legs, a large tumor, etc. – and then, a few days (or weeks) later, after what is usually a pretty simple surgery, they walk off with a whole new life in front of them!! The person may have come to the ship as one who has been shunned or made fun of their entire life and then is able to leave the ship with restored hope and dignity. It is absolutely incredible to get to see God love on His children in such a tangible way.
One of my favorite parts of being on the Africa Mercy is being so very close to life change. Sometimes I feel like I have a front row seat for watching God work miracles! It’s beautiful to be able to see a person walk (or be carried!) onto the ship with a serious problem – blindness, a cleft lift, bowed legs, a large tumor, etc. – and then, a few days (or weeks) later, after what is usually a pretty simple surgery, they walk off with a whole new life in front of them!! The person may have come to the ship as one who has been shunned or made fun of their entire life and then is able to leave the ship with restored hope and dignity. It is absolutely incredible to get to see God love on His children in such a tangible way.
A specific instance where
I saw God work this past year was in the life of Aboubacar. Aboubacar came onto the ship for surgery and
ended up getting really sick. We prayed and prayed for God to heal Aboubacar
but it didn’t seem like he was going to make it. Two miracles happened in Aboubacar’s life: miracle #1)he recovered! I still remember
seeing him walking down the hall – I just cried with joy. I hadn’t expected him to live much less be
walking down the hall!! And miracle
#2)Aboubacar came to know Jesus during his time on the Africa Mercy. The nurses here on the ship are some of THE
most loving, caring, kind people I’ve ever known. They love on patients in such
beautiful ways. Through the care and
conversations during his time on the ship, Aboubacar came to know the love
& care of Jesus!
5. How is living a missionary's life different from living a "normal"
life?
In some ways it’s not different at all. We eat, play, go to school and work…we wear “normal” clothes…we have good days and not so good days. We have access to coke and Starbuck’s coffee. We still have to be intentional to develop friendships and participate in community.
In some ways it’s not different at all. We eat, play, go to school and work…we wear “normal” clothes…we have good days and not so good days. We have access to coke and Starbuck’s coffee. We still have to be intentional to develop friendships and participate in community.
In other ways it’s very
different. We are far from family and
the friends we’ve known the past 10 years.
We don’t have our own cars (the ship has vehicles that you can sign out
to use). Our home is far smaller than
what is “normal” (though it is perfectly adequate! Plenty of room!). We share a lot of things – washers, dryers,
irons, vacuums, – there’s no need for everyone to have one -- there are a few
that the entire crew takes turns using!
We eat most of our meals in the dining room with hundreds of other
people (so it’s different that we don’t have to cook or clean up from our
meals!). We are required to wear ID
badges and shoes everywhere on the ship – I miss going barefoot!! Even though the ship shop and café are
AWESOME, it’s still “different” to not be able to go out and get “what you
want, when you want it” like you can in America.
6. Is your work ever life threatening or dangerous?
For the most part, no, our work isn’t any more life threatening or dangerous than someone living and working in America. We have EXCELLENT security on the ship – their entire job is to ensure the safety of the crew. The security team is very aware of what is going on in the city where we are docked as well as in the country as a whole. They do a great job of making sure we stay out of harms way! For example, this past field service in Guinea, there were quite a few political rallies and protests – some of which resulted in injuries and even a few deaths. Our security team knew exactly when those protests where scheduled to happen and they knew the general areas of town where the riots would be – so we were instructed where we could and couldn’t go in the city. As long as the crew listens to the security, everyone is safe! There are times when shore leave is restricted – meaning no one can get off of the ship – but it’s rare when that happens. It’s also nice to know that if the peace of a country is really threatened, our ship can be ready to sail in just a few hours – if worst came to worst, we could sail away from the danger.
For the most part, no, our work isn’t any more life threatening or dangerous than someone living and working in America. We have EXCELLENT security on the ship – their entire job is to ensure the safety of the crew. The security team is very aware of what is going on in the city where we are docked as well as in the country as a whole. They do a great job of making sure we stay out of harms way! For example, this past field service in Guinea, there were quite a few political rallies and protests – some of which resulted in injuries and even a few deaths. Our security team knew exactly when those protests where scheduled to happen and they knew the general areas of town where the riots would be – so we were instructed where we could and couldn’t go in the city. As long as the crew listens to the security, everyone is safe! There are times when shore leave is restricted – meaning no one can get off of the ship – but it’s rare when that happens. It’s also nice to know that if the peace of a country is really threatened, our ship can be ready to sail in just a few hours – if worst came to worst, we could sail away from the danger.
7. What do you do in Africa? (you might could look at www.mercyships.org to get a better answer
for this one…)
Mercy Ships exists to bring hope and healing to the world’s forgotten poor. Basically, the ship provides free surgery to people who need it.
As far as the Cash family and what we DO in Africa, Nick is the Human Resources Manager on the Africa Mercy. So he manages lots of people and lots of jobs so that the work of the ship can be as effective as possible. I work part time – last year I worked in the hospital doing administrative tasks. This year it's looking like I'm going to get to serve in the library and in chaplaincy (and I'm currently getting to teach PE a few times each week!). The 3 Cash kids go to school. Outside of school and work, we seek to love on the people that we live with as well as interact with patients. We “go into town” from time to time and try to love on whoever God puts in our path.
Mercy Ships exists to bring hope and healing to the world’s forgotten poor. Basically, the ship provides free surgery to people who need it.
As far as the Cash family and what we DO in Africa, Nick is the Human Resources Manager on the Africa Mercy. So he manages lots of people and lots of jobs so that the work of the ship can be as effective as possible. I work part time – last year I worked in the hospital doing administrative tasks. This year it's looking like I'm going to get to serve in the library and in chaplaincy (and I'm currently getting to teach PE a few times each week!). The 3 Cash kids go to school. Outside of school and work, we seek to love on the people that we live with as well as interact with patients. We “go into town” from time to time and try to love on whoever God puts in our path.
8. What is something you have learned while being a missionary?
The main thing I’ve been learning this past year is something that God’s been teaching me for a while – He wants me to be the person He created me to be. No comparisons. No judgements. No insecurities. Just be who He’s made me to be – that’s all I need to be! (I still have a ways to go in fully learning this!).
Another thing I've learned is that "different" does NOT mean "wrong." There are plenty of things that the people of Africa do differently than Westerners - but just because it's different does not mean that it's not working and in need of "fixing."
The main thing I’ve been learning this past year is something that God’s been teaching me for a while – He wants me to be the person He created me to be. No comparisons. No judgements. No insecurities. Just be who He’s made me to be – that’s all I need to be! (I still have a ways to go in fully learning this!).
Another thing I've learned is that "different" does NOT mean "wrong." There are plenty of things that the people of Africa do differently than Westerners - but just because it's different does not mean that it's not working and in need of "fixing."
9. Can you buy things on the ship?
Yes! We have a ship shop and a café where the crew
can buy things - the sales team does a great job of keeping it well stocked (to the best of their ability!) with lots of fabulous things! The ship shop is open
for a few hours each day and provides a lot of the “essentials” – soap,
shampoo, laundry detergent, etc. – and a few other things that are helpful for
life on the ship – magnets, stationary, sticky tack, batteries. You can also
buy snacks, drinks and a few other food items in the ship shop. The “tricky” part is that the shop may not
always have exactly what you want when you want it – or you might not be crazy
about the particular brand of things they have (there’s 2 types of shampoo (I think)…not
75 like in American stores…). The café
is a snack bar of sorts. It’s open a few
hours in the morning and again in the afternoon. A lot of the crew enjoy having coffee from
the café each day (sometimes multiple times each day!).
10. Do you live on the ship the whole time, or do you live in Africa too?
For the most part we live on the ship the whole time. We lived in a village in Ghana for a few weeks before we came to the ship. That was quite the experience! It’s possible to get off of the ship and stay a night or 2 on the land…but really it’s just easier to stay on the ship! There are some teams who travel upcountry to do dental clinics or medical screenings – Nick got to be a part of one of those teams last year but I’ve never done that.
For the most part we live on the ship the whole time. We lived in a village in Ghana for a few weeks before we came to the ship. That was quite the experience! It’s possible to get off of the ship and stay a night or 2 on the land…but really it’s just easier to stay on the ship! There are some teams who travel upcountry to do dental clinics or medical screenings – Nick got to be a part of one of those teams last year but I’ve never done that.
You're still reading? impressive.
We've come to the end of the questions & answers. Now you really get some inside scoop -- the inside scoop that is just the tip of the iceberg...the inside scoop that may open a can of worms...the inside scoop that is not going to be thoroughly and completely addressed by me...the inside scoop that makes it sound like I'm dissing all of the questions that were just asked of me - (please know that I am not doing any such thing! I loved the questions and I "get" the questions and the wording of the questions...and the questions made me think - and are partly responsible for the inside scoop you're about to get :))
The inside scoop is that I don't consider myself a "missionary" - or maybe I don't consider myself a missionary the way a lot of people define the word. I'm not a missionary because I live on a ship off the coast of Africa...I'm not a missionary because I had a special call when I was in High School. I am a missionary because I am a lover & follower of Jesus. So, I do consider myself a missionary...but I don't...but I do....
We've come to the end of the questions & answers. Now you really get some inside scoop -- the inside scoop that is just the tip of the iceberg...the inside scoop that may open a can of worms...the inside scoop that is not going to be thoroughly and completely addressed by me...the inside scoop that makes it sound like I'm dissing all of the questions that were just asked of me - (please know that I am not doing any such thing! I loved the questions and I "get" the questions and the wording of the questions...and the questions made me think - and are partly responsible for the inside scoop you're about to get :))
I guess I have a hard time with the fact that every Believer isn't regularly and consistently considered a missionary. We are. We all are.
If you are follower of Jesus, you are a missionary - whether you are a 10 year old student or an 80 year old retired Army Officer or a 35 year old business man or a pastor of a church or a teacher or a marine biologist or a farmer or a homeschooling mom or a....you get the picture.
Maybe it's too simple of a definition...but it seems to me that a missionary (a Christian missionary) is one who loves Jesus and wants to share Him with others. You are a missionary. You are in your field.
Every single one of us can answer the above questions (except 9-10, they are specific to the ship) whether you live in Columbus, Georgia or Redding, California or Johannesburg, South Africa or Bogota, Colombia or Upper Sandusky, Ohio...or wherever it is that God has you. Where you are right now is your mission field. Don't skip over that cliche'. Where you are right now is THE place God wants you to be...it's THE place where He wants His love shared...it's THE place you are called to.
If you are follower of Jesus, you are a missionary - whether you are a 10 year old student or an 80 year old retired Army Officer or a 35 year old business man or a pastor of a church or a teacher or a marine biologist or a farmer or a homeschooling mom or a....you get the picture.
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| Fantastic! You are! You don't even have to wait to grow into the coat & tie. |
Every single one of us can answer the above questions (except 9-10, they are specific to the ship) whether you live in Columbus, Georgia or Redding, California or Johannesburg, South Africa or Bogota, Colombia or Upper Sandusky, Ohio...or wherever it is that God has you. Where you are right now is your mission field. Don't skip over that cliche'. Where you are right now is THE place God wants you to be...it's THE place where He wants His love shared...it's THE place you are called to.
- How did you receive your call to be a missionary? (How did you become a Christian?)
- How did you figure out how/where God wanted you to serve?
- How has God provided for you?
- How have you seen God at work where you are?
- How is living the life God has called you to live "different" from the life the world calls "normal"?
- Does God ever ask you to do things that feel scary/hard/dangerous?
- What do you DO for the kingdom of God where you are?
- What has God taught you since you have been serving Him?
"What if God has placed everyone of us in different locations with different jobs and different gifts around different people for the distinct purpose of every single one of us making disciples...?" -David Platt "Follow Me"Just something to think about.
