You Know You're on the Mission Field When...

I thought we should share a few of our day-to-day happenings, just in case some of you needed a nudge to head out into the field soon. I'm sure these should do the trick. I'm also assuming some of the others who have lived or visited outside the U.S. can relate, as well as those focusing on missions at home. Here we go...

You know you're on the mission field when...

You find a live bat holed up in your sink drain and remove it with Raid, Tupperware, and a spoon.


Your water and electricity going out is an inconvenience but nothing to call anyone about. 


The electric pole out front of your house catches fire and you're out of electricity for half a day...the first being something to talk about for a morning, and the second being a nice surprise considering the shorter length of expected electricity loss.


The fireman who come to put out the electricity pole fire use water...and then turn off the electricity. 


Your roommate is chasing a cat out of your house with a rolled up towel and his shoe...at 2 AM. Cat is still living and still breaking into the house occasionally.


You pass goats in the street almost every day. Click to see the Video. 


A family of four fits on a bicycle. 


Carrying a pig on the bus is no unnatural occurrence.


A woman selling underwear on the bus is no unnatural occurrence.


Fireworks are set off year-round in front of your house by the neighborhood kids, usually using a charred piece of wood.


You live in a city yet you are woken up by a rooster crowing some time around sunrise.


...and you know you're on the mission field when...


A horse and a cart with wooden wheels are seen at least once a day driving down the city streets...and you've ridden in one before.


One of the many Nicaraguan "Big Bands" plays "Happy Birthday" down the street at 6 o'clock in the morning. 


You run out of gas in the middle of making breakfast but aren't that worried because the boys will just take it on the motorcycle to go get a new tank and you resume cooking within 30 minutes.


Your neighbor girl throws rocks at you from her roof because you called her out for cheating and told her she couldn't play if she was going to cheat.


You can ask a simple question and have no one understand you, no matter how great you think your Spanish is.


Asking a simple question is no longer simple.


You've watched part of a soap opera just to learn Spanish. Not one of my normal, manly television choices. 


You order 4 Thursdays from the local pulperia. (That's 4 huevos, not 4 Jueves.)


You would do anything for a nice tall glass of milk, not from a bag. . . and a greasy Philly cheese-stake 


You make a big deal over 7 Cordabas and then realize it's only worth $0.35.


The crowd claps through entire songs during Bible Study. . . terribly off beat.  


A haircut includes a knife shave, pimple popping, and a face/arm massage, all unbeknownst to you.


You can sit through an entire meeting and think you got everything but come to find out there was a big offense taken by half the people there. That was a hard lesson to experience.

See what we mean?

But you know you're blessed to be there when...


Your rock-throwing neighbor comes to Bible Study with you consistently and learns how to ask forgiveness--without anyone telling her to. 


You've learned to love by hanging out with an 11-year-old rock thrower.


You get excited about going to Bible Study with the same people and the same songs 2 times a week, dancing the same dances with great joy because of the people you're dancing with and the God you're dancing for. 


A victory is had when you say a sentence correctly in Spanish.


You are growing in ever-increasing glory simply by walking out your door...and even when you stay at home.


You learn to cry with someone in their hardship because that's all they need you to do.


You ask God for a house and a good day for your friend and He delivers promptly.


You pray for a friend and pray for a friend and are discouraged when the answer doesn't come right away but the comfort through it all is unmistakably God's.


Your husband makes banana bread for your Women's group because you just need some time with God.


Your wife allows you to use 4 pillows and 2 fans, while she uses 1 pillow and bundles up. 


The kids in the street are singing "Queremos Ver," a song from Bible Study, instead of asking you the significance of English profanity, which is their usual pastime. 


Ten people come to know Christ at your first Bible Study lesson. A blessing that was humbling to say the least. 


You find strength to speak another language, try to understand another culture, and not just throw your hands in the air and say, "fine, you can just do it on your own!"


God is so merciful and gracious, a God of justice and righteousness, the One True God, the Creator and Redeemer, the Glorious King of all Kings, and Our Father in Heaven. We are so thankful for all that He's doing to draw us near, and all that He's doing to show us that He's right here.