Life in The Family International

I have decided to blog today about being a missionary, because I get so many mixed reactions about the topic. People often tell me, “I have two pictures in my mind when I hear MISSIONARY–one is a nun, and the other one is a position!”

Hmmm… well hopefully on Live the Creed, we’re bringing you Family missionary life in its true, raw form, because all the bloggers on this site know that living the creed often means dying daily–to self, and lofty ambitions, and the material world. I had my share of the “romanticized” missionary life, I suppose, when God afforded me the opportunity to travel to Africa and experience something a tiny bit close to what David Lingstone encountered. (Ok, well, not exactly, but you know…) At least the thrills of serving God which he found so deeply moved him in every area of his life when he journeyed through Uganda.

But fate took me back home, for some reason that I’m still trying to grasp at. And here, as just one of so many city folk, sometimes I crave the “mission field” again. I look for excitement, and adventure in the distant memories I have as “wild” and “thrilling” and extremely dangerous. Here, I’m not crossing rivers or meeting forgotten tribes, and I haven’t pitched a tent or attempted to start a fire with stones in months.

The other day, when I was praying about it, and wondering what the big plan for my own destiny was (yeah, you’d think I’d have it figured out by now, but no…) the Lord spoke so simply to my heart, explaining that he had called me back here at this time to be a humble blessing to my own immediate family, and that for now, THEY were my mission field. And then it was so crystal clear, the meaning of “missionary”–someone given a mission to carry out by the Lord…and our fields of service can be in so many diverse places. Some of you who have visited LTC before might have had similar feelings of wanting to do more, or be more, or go where all the action is. And in the last six months that I’ve been back in Manila, I’ve felt somewhat lost in action. I’ve wondered where the stories or testimonies would come from now, and how God could use me in this seemingly trivial place–among my brothers and sisters, and the familiar walls of my home in the city.

Then yesterday I received an email and two phone calls–friends wanting counselling; a listening ear; another friend to share their problems. And I just knew God had asked me to be there for them in their time of need. So I found myself listening to them, praying for them–in the middle of a busy mall, no less…and I realized that here was another “mission field” I’d been called to. Serving Him where He needed me right now.

Perhaps the stories aren’t so dramatic; I certainly don’t take National Geographic-worthy photos anymore. But the joy that comes from knowing that it is something special to be a missionary and called to a place of utter service to God and mankind, means that I’ll never be unemployed; I’ll always have something to write about. Sometimes He calls us to exciting places, and sometimes, to quieter ones, to wear the missionary’s garment of lowliness.

So now I have these two mission fields–my family, and anyone who may pass my way today, tomorrow, and the next day, in search of something more. I just pray I can carry enough love and humility in my heart to truly live the creed.

Nyx is a vounteer Missionary Member of The Family International. Her missions have taken her through South East Asia, India, East Africa and South Africa. She currently runs charity projects for terminally-ill, indigent children in The Philippines and is also a child-education consultant, youth counsellor, freelance writer for TV, radio, magazines, a voice-talent, illustrator, artist, Events Host and Music Marketer. She is the eldest of 13 siblings, and a Taurean who enjoys spicy food, open-bar nights, long baths, photographing people, and throwing festive parties. Dislikes: Whiny women, bratty children, spoiled men. More about Nyx

This entry was posted on Monday, May 1st, 2006 at 9:33 am and is filed under Family Life. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.