Hey, you never know unless you ask, right? I hear lots of people saying lots of things about missionaries, but it seems like people rarely ask the missionaries themselves for a perspective.
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So it was refreshing to read this two part interview and hear some answers to real questions about missionary life.
This particular missionary family lives in Tanzania. The interview starts with the question,"What expectations did you have concerning missionary life that have proved unrealistic?"
Great question! Here’s how the answer begins. Click the links below for more…
The three years I served in China before coming to Tanzania helped to remove many of the unrealistic expectations I might have otherwise had. However, I was still not prepared for everyday life to take so long. I tried to prepare myself for it; I knew it would be the case. But I failed. I had been in Africa a couple of times, and for several months, prior to moving to Geita. A lot of that time was spent in nearby Mwanza — which I knew was a larger city, but thought would be similar. In some ways it is. But not many. Everyday tasks just require a great deal more time than ever before. Some of this is cultural, but much of it is simply due to goods not being available in stores (or being very expensive) and city services being poor at best. Some examples…
To continue:
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What a great idea for a post! For those of us who have not yet entered the mission field, this a great perspective. Thanks for your creative approach and for sharing!
thanks, david. i appreciate you being willing to read a little of what i had to say. where are you heading off to? and when?