Missionary Life: Parent’s Perspective

Guest Post By: Terry and Rita Brown

To say that we’re proud of, and profoundly aware of how blessed we are, with our kids would be an absolute understatement. Each of our kids (including our outstanding son-in-law and daughter-in-law ☺) has accomplished much in their lives and has incredibly bright futures in front of them. Phil 1:3 for each of them, to be sure.

I’d be less than honest, if I didn’t admit to a special measure of parental pride when talking about our youngest, Claire, and her calling to serve as a missionary in South Africa. I tell those who ask about Claire’s world travels and how she is living out her calling to serve “the least of these” sharing the love of God in the process. Claire’s Mom, Rita, and I often hear the question, “but don’t you worry about her” and “how could you let her go so far away from home?” My reply is always the same. Of course, Claire and her safety living 8500 miles away from us is on our minds, but the worst thing we could have done for Claire would have been to hold her back from answering her calling because our fears as parents.

We recall and take comfort in the words from the Prayer of St Patrick that we prayed (and continue to pray) over Claire before she left for the mission field in Africa:

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me,
Christ in the eye that sees me,
Christ in the ear that hears me.

We look forward to Claire’s updates from the field and have learned much about her calling as she continues to explore what God has in store. We find our selves grateful, too, for technologies like Skype, magicjack and WhatsApp and look forward to our texts and calls with Claire. And then we got this recent message from Claire and were so very thankful. And yes, we cried.

I just wanted to say I love this place! It is wonderful. It’s beautiful and the people are amazing! I could live the rest of my life here doing ministry! I can’t wait for you and Dad to come see it here! It’s like I am in a dream! I know for you that there is a big sacrifice, some pain and tears but someday in heaven I will have a tremendous joy of introduce you and Dad to hopefully thousands that were won to Jesus because of years living in Africa! I look forward to that day!!!

All we can say to that is a big, full throated, “Amen!”

Phil 1: 3, Claire!

Empower a Woman. Impact Generations.

Lydia’s Mission empowers and teaches women skills in rural South Africa to feed, educate, and care for their children by earning a living wage. When a woman begins to grasp her value in Christ through discipleship and Biblical training, her life becomes the first ripple of hope…that will last for generations.