The past five months of living here in the Philippines have been the most blessed moments of my life. When my family made the choice to become foreign missionaries with Family Missions Company about a year ago (it has already been that long ago?), I didn't know what God had in store for us. Now, I can't imagine a life of not being missionaries.
Now that I know what it is like being a missionary-- exciting, always trusting in God for everything we need, etc., I'm laughing at myself, thinking about how scared I was to leave my friends, relatives, my State (Kansas), to live simply, and become a missionary with my family. I remember the very first night that my mom found the website for the mission company, Family Missions Company, and told me, “Look! Isn't this amazing? A company that trains Catholic families to be missionaries.” She was excited, but right when I heard that, I became upset at the idea of leaving everything and, after transferring to another State for the training, to go to an unknown country and spread God's word. I did not really think that our family would become missionaries and I was upset anytime that they brought up the idea. A few months later, my family and I went on a trip to Louisiana where the missionary training place is. We were visiting there because we wanted to see how the missionaries' lives were like. After our stay there, I felt so much better about serving God as missionaries. When we arrived back home in Kansas, we almost immediately started donating things that we didn't need to the second-hand stores and we even sold things that were not necessary, but what would be considered necessary to others. Things such as our furniture, TV, computer, and when we were sure of becoming missionaries, we even sold some of our beds! When my family and I left for missionary training last September, I was still a little nervous but I knew that we had made the right decision.
I have mentioned before that I couldn't imagine how my life would be if I wasn't a missionary. If I was not a missionary, what would my life be like? Before our training in Louisiana, I did not read the Bible on my own at all, almost. In training, I learned the real importance of reading scripture everyday. Reading God's word daily really helps me in applying it to my own life and it gives me a good start for the day since I read it every morning before school. Trusting in God also plays a very big part in a missionary's life. I've learned to pray about everything and worry about nothing. A good story to share on this goes this way... Last month, we were at the mainland, Cagayan de Oro. We were visiting the missionaries there, Susanna and Teresa, at their apartment. The boys were playing on the stairs behind us and were doing fine until we heard a loud boom. We rushed over to see that my baby brother Julian (then, 16 months old) had fallen down a few stairs and landed on the floor of tile. He wasn't crying very hard which was not normal, and when my mother picked him up he passed out. We were all screaming, “Jesus!” and singing songs for help. I thought Julian was dying. While we were still praying, he woke up from his black out! My parents took him to the hospital to make sure he was okay. I have to admit, I had faith in God and that He would work everything out for good, but my faith wavered a little. But God did work everything out for the better. Julian was fine (Praise the Lord!) and I only wish that I had had a stronger trust or faith.
I sometimes ask myself, “Why did God choose my family to be missionaries?” Not in a bad way, but in a way of feeling that we were called out of so many people to be the messengers of God, do we really deserve everything that He's done for us? He has:
ñ Brought us safely to the Philippines and without trouble.
ñ Taken care of all of our problems, small and big (for example, Julian was fine).
ñ Given us a ton of ministry.
How can we thank Him enough or repay Him for everything?
Even though a missionary life is, for me, the ideal life, there are still times where I don't feel very missionary spirited. For example: A few of my friend's from school always want to come home with me to eat at my house at school lunch break time. I've already been looking forward to a nice,quiet mealtime with only my family and myself, to having a moment's rest, and I have already been planning to tell them stories of my morning session and want to hear their stories,too. I can't tell my friends that they cannot come home with me, though, that would seem rude. So, I let them come home with me but I don't always look very happy about it. I'm learning to always be open or available to anyone who needs me.
We waited so long to be out in the field as missionaries, and were told about how great missions is by our missionary friends. I feel so blessed to actually experience, myself, being God's speaker. Please keep my family in your prayers, and all of the other FMC missionaries as well. God called our family. Could He be calling yours?
By: Madeline Alvarez
