A few days ago, I was meeting with a friend of mine, Prissy. She and I are the last American women missionaries in our town. There used to be quite a number of us, but the rest have gone on to other cities and other ministries. (There are 2 American men missionaries here, one being Kelly, but that really has no bearing...)
Prissy and I are trying to make it a habit to get together on a weekly basis to touch base and to pray for and with each other. The last time we were together, we were sharing a mutual concern. We both have nationals in our life who seem to take us and what we do or can do for granted. For example, both of us have cars. Some to whom we've given rides to in the past seem to assume that if they ever need another ride, that we will take them. Now, if I am on my way to that place, or near to it, and have room, I'll give the ride. But, chances are that I won't make a special trip (anymore!) just to save them some leg work or a ride on the bus.
Many, it seems to us, also seem to think that what we have now, we've always had. (I'll switch here just to me, instead of to both of us!) At this time in my life, I have a nice place to live. It is a house that is really too big for our family, but it really is the only thing in town that fits our needs. We have space to share, and so when people come through, there is almost always a spare bed for them. In fact, since moving into this house in July, we've had one family, one married couple, and 5 singles stay with us. At this time in my life, I know that I have enough money to buy what our family needs, and usually a little left over to buy some of the wants as well. It hasn't always been this way, which leads me to the main story today.
Years ago, when we lived in Oak Harobr, Washington, we lived in our own house; one that we were buying. We were also raising support to come be missionaries here in Slovakia. Due to some interesting ...concerns at the church where Kelly had been youth pastor, he was unemployed and looking for a job. This search took him to San Jose, California. He did find a job there, so for about 6 weeks, I was in Oak Harbor, "alone" with the 4 kids. During this time, Candace (7-years-old) has a severe bladder infection and needed to be cathaterized; Caleb (4-years-old) needed yet another surgery on his ears: Nathan (4 months old) had a slight case of pneumonia, and Hannah (2-years-old) was just sort of tired. Kelly had not received his first paycheck, so was unable to send money for food, and the cupboard was getting rather bare, not to mention the refrigerator. I remember praying and wondering how I was going to buy food to feed the three oldest kids, not really worrying about Nathan since he was nursing at the time. A bit later, the door bell rang. When I got to the door, there was no one there, but there was a bag or two of groceries. To this day, I don't know who brought by the Cheerios, bread, milk and other items, but there was food for days. Another time, Marjorie Kott, a dear woman from the church, who was also the junior church teacher, came by to go grocery shopping for us. She told me to make out a list of things that we needed, which I did. She took Candace along to get some things that the kids wanted, which Marjorie did. Karen Hanaokaa also brought by some groceries. The church had a fund at the time for those who couldn't pay their utilities, so that was how the utitlies were paid for one month.
Why do I go into this story? Because I think it is important for us to remember, in very specific ways, how God has blessed us, has met a need in the past, which helps us to trust Him in the future. As a missionary, it is also important so that I can tell those here, who seem to think that we've never been "without", that we have, and that He is faithful and trustworthy.
So, as the old hymn says, "Count your blessings, name them one by one. Count your blessings, see what God has done."
