Cup of Cold Water Ministries
Stories from the field
A Collection of Stories From The Heart Of A Missionary
AUTHOR TUVSHO Shopping,
washing, ironing, packing and weighing. This was the main job that I had to do in the last 3 weeks. It seemed ok since summer is a time of traveling and camping for most Mongolians. Then came the meetings, domestic travels and many goodbyes followed. I did so well until the last couple days. Everything at my home, community and my whole country seemed extra precious and beautiful. Everyone I know became so hard to part with. My heart started to ache. My tears were easily flowing and I needed to hide and cry in my bed. Why am I leaving my family? Why am I leaving my job? Why am I leaving my beautiful country Mongolia? Why do I need to leave them when I love this place so much? We usually don’t know how precious the people and life around us are until we are separated. It is in our human nature to not notice the significance of our loved ones until they are gone from us. Gratitude is something that we need to look for often. My dear sister-friend Siew Ling gave me a bracelet on my birthday which says GRATITUDE on it. I’m thankful that she reminded me of this important part of life. I’m grateful for my life in Mongolia. This chapter of my life is ended. Thank you my Lord for all the blessings. 27th of July, 2017. I arrived in the United States, at O’hare International Airport. Happily this place didn’t seem foreign to me since it is the 4th time coming here and my dear friends were waiting for me. The only difference is a thought in my brain which says “You know that you are not going back soon, right?”. I heard this over and over again. I have been to many places in the past 10 years, but all temporary. I never left Mongolia with tears until this time. Many are happy and also jealous of me. They said, "You are going to AMERICA for 16 months! And you have a scholarship! You have friends! You know English! Oh I wish I was going instead of you! I would live there forever. Yes, they are right. But I’m the one who is leaving and I’m the one who doesn’t like to leave my home country for long. Here I am today. In Illinois. Among the corn fields. Today felt like an empty page in between chapters. It will pass soon and I will start my new chapter soon. Don’t know what adventures are ahead of me, but I’m peaceful, because God knows and He planned it. God, please teach me and tell me WHY I AM HERE!
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AUTHOR NOAH WARD It hits me like a wave bearing the force of the ocean behind it. The exhaustion The headache The overwhelming of my brain This is the daily grind of language school. It is a grind that is hard. It is a grind that has its many challenges, yet also has its benefits. I stare at a paper with letters that confuse me ….yet they are starting to make more sense. The vocabulary I study seems to go in one ear and out the other ….yet I use new words on a daily basis in conversations I think I only understand 40% of the story ….yet when questions are asked I comprehend more than thought Language school offers so many challenges. At times it can be discouraging. You feel you are making no progress and you constantly feel worn out. You look at the end of one year and wonder if you will ever make it. You see veteran missionaries speaking Thai with such ease and you wonder how is it possible. Will I ever be there? Will I be capable of the same feat? Will Thai people ever understand me? When I first arrived in Thailand, a veteran missionary and I sat down for lunch. He described a story to me of when he was in language school. He shared the challenges that he faced and his story paralleled what I go through very well. He described the same situations and the same doubts. He then proceeded to give me an encouraging thought that has pushed me to keep pushing everyday. “Always remember why you are here.” These words are some of the most valuable words I have ever been offered in my twelve years on the field in Asia. I have heard them before, but this time they came at the right time. It is so easy in times of stress to forget. This is what keeps me focused on the task. It is my constant reminder that my God is greater and I want people to see His Glory. It is so important that I keep my eyes set on this goal and not let the little things derail my focus and my trust in Christ. This question is one that can be applied in all jobs and all lives. Why are you where you are? What is your purpose in your job, your mission and your life? I know mine and it is what pushes me to keep going. Do you know yours? |
Stories From The Past
November 2019
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