There’s a question with a thousand answers. Depending on where you are coming from when you read that question, will determine your answer of course. Technically, every follower of Jesus is a missionary in the sense of telling your story and living a life that is abundant so as to ‘attract’ friends and family into the kingdom. However, for this blog, I’m talking about those who God calls to up sticks, leave family, friends, the known way of life and head into an unknown, sometimes scary place.

The first time we became missionaries was in 1998. We were asked to consider a role in East Africa and, after much thought (mainly against the idea it has to be said) and prayer, we took on the role. Our kids were 6 & 7 at the time and we landed in Tanzania. We were salaried back then, our kids’ schooling was paid for among other things and we didn’t have to think about raising funds. I remember thinking at the time how glad I was about that. I was having enough trauma with the food, mosquitoes, dark nights (sounds pathetic now) Ghekos, strange noises and so to have to contemplate how we were going to live on top of all that would have been a step to far for us back then.

It’s all very different now. Most missionary organisations have a policy whereby the missionary is responsible for gaining their own support. This is both positive and negative I think.

The positive aspect is that the missionary generally tends to know most their supporters and this creates a great sense of ‘team’. When newsletters go out, in the main, you’re writing to your mates who have made the choice to stand with you as you go and that is a very satisfying feeling.

The negative aspect is that some supporters (not all, thank God) tend to think that they own you and they have a right to judge your life and the way you live. This is an ugly mindset and I’m yet to find out where it came from.

The missionary has two choices here: 1. They live a lie, they do really nice things but never tell anyone just in case their support goes down. 2. They live a lie, they never do nice things and therefore have a less of a life than Jesus died to give them, and if there are kids on the scene, they usually pay a heavier price.

These are some of the things I have heard recently that have been said to missionary friends of ours: ‘You have a microwave?’; ‘You have an Ipad?’; ‘You live by the ocean?’; ‘I wish I was a missionary!’ (After having been on safari)

Someone actually stopped their support of a young girl because she was having too good a time on the mission field! Oh my….

Now, let me say that if all you’re doing is having too good a time on the mission field – after all, there are some very nice things to do, I’m writing this by a swimming pool – I hope we don’t lose £10 from someone because I just told you that! Haha!! Then maybe your/our supporters have a point. They do need to see some fruit for their sowing into our lives, of course they do. But if you work hard doing what you know God has called you to do, then you/we should be free to play hard too shouldn’t we?

Many of the people who use sarcastic comments like, ‘it’s alright for you living in the sunshine’ (yeah, we’ve had that one too), haven’t sacrificed anything. They live near their kids, they have a comfortable home, possibly 2 cars, a microwave (ha), a comfortable salary and yet they seem to imagine we should make all the sacrifices, whilst they make none?! How is that fair?

I’d love it if this blog would stop all the ugly comments that have the potential to turn missionaries into’ liars’, but it probably won’t. So, for what it’s worth, to all my missionary friends, work hard, but also play hard – don’t let the fear of lack of support stop you from going to the beach, having dinner out, going on date nights, letting your kids have fun – personally I’d rather lose $100 a month than give up my life – after all, should’t God be our source anyway?

To our wonderful supporters, don’t go all funny if you see a picture of ‘your’ missionary at the beach, I’m sure you go (granted, not very often if you live in the UK! Haha!), celebrate them – you have no idea what may have gone on the week leading up to the beach. Tell them to have a great time, it will do wonders for them.

Finally, let’s be kinder and nicer to each other.