Have you ever wondered why someone so young and talented would give their life away to serve in a country far away from their home?

She was young and talented. A writer. Sincere. Her own life was a spiritual history. Her grandmother had served on the mission field. And so did her parents. I suppose it came as no surprise that she’d serve in some distant land as well.

But there are choices and challenges. What about the normal dreams that every twenty-something has? Marriage, children, a home, a safe place, parents watching the grandchildren—those are all normal dreams, right?

To say goodbye to what some consider normal takes courage, and off she went. It’s lonely in the field. You are never quite at home on the field, but you are never quite at home when you return to the United States. It’s like being without a country—other than your eternal citizenship.

We met her on one of her support raising trips. She cried because she wanted to represent the Lord so well. At Christmas, she sent us a book to encourage us and help us grow in our own faith—a nice and noble gift.

My wife was hungry to dig into the book and carried it with her on a recent plane trip. But sitting next to her was a 19-year-old college freshman who seemed hungry for more—for a spiritual connection.

And so the gift from a giving missionary was passed on to someone in need.

I think we know so little of the sacrifice of the missionary life, but I’m glad to know those who serve so well, so sincerely, and challenge me to go beyond my own comfort.

Related Posts:
“All I Want to Do is Change a City…”
He Thought He Was a Failure After 17 Years of Service
Failed Legacy? He Gave His Life for a Tribe

Bill High

Bill is CEO & Founder of Vyne Legacy. He works with families to equip them with tools to build multigenerational legacies, and he teaches givers and financial advisers on transformational biblical generosity. He is the co-author with David Green of Giving It All Away and Getting It All Back Again: The Way of Living Generously.

Published February 2, 2016

Topics: Generosity

Everyday GenerosityGenerosityMissions