helping women connect with their world
This month, John McVay let us know about his new book. He edited Ask a Missionary:Time-Tested Answers From Those Who’ve Been There. Over 100 missionaries share their insightful wisdom and practical advice on everything from making the decision to go, to stepping into a new life once on the field and everything in between.
Peter’s Wife is cited in the Resource section of the book. We want to thank John for including us in his book. For more information see: Ask a Missionary
This month Beverly Richardson shares what transformation has meant in her life. She has served overseas, both short and long term. Beverly earned her PhD. so she can effectively help cross cultural workers. She currently lives and works in Asia.
Today I was thumbing through old journals, some that go back as far as 16 years. I think it does one good to go back and see just how far we’ve come, or how we’ve gotten stuck in the same place for years. For me, it is confirmation of the transformation that God has brought in my life over the years.
I have been so sheltered. I grew up in a middle-class family with all we needed and much of what we wanted. I’ve served, most of my adult life, the same type of people. I am seldom confronted by poverty, and even when that happens, it is by a few blind or lame begging on busy city sidewalks. I’ve often wondered how people like me can really help the profoundly poor of many third world or developing countries. For some of my PW sisters, dealing with poverty is an everyday issue; it may even be the very fabric of your service. I commend you!
In this issue of Peter’s Wife, I am sharing a newsletter from Tammy, one of our PW family of readers. She shares her experiences in helping one poor boy. As you read it, remember to ask God to help you see people as he sees them. Ask Him to make you alert to the individual, not just involved in the big projects. And maybe all of us can ask the Father to show us one life we can touch with his love, whoever it is, wherever it is. [Read more…]
You know how sometimes you just have too many good, important tasks, and can’t complete them all on time? As wives and moms, I am sure you know just what I mean. Well, that has been my life the past couple months. My most challenging task was to rebuild our intermin.org website. Thankfully, it is done! There’s a great story behind this rebuild, one that reaches all the way back to my childhood. I want to share it with you to show you that God never forgets the desires he plants in our hearts, even if they come to fulfillment in a different way than we could have ever imagined.
Years ago a sending organization researched why first-termers failed to return and become veteran PWs. They found some causes in the first-termers themselves but, sadly, they traced other causes to the veterans already on the field. Each field is very different. Personalities, chemistry, roles, pressures- they all combine to make the New Kid’s (Newks) experience a huge challenge. We have lived through it and heard others tell their stories. The bottom line: it is never easy, but it can be less difficult if we all help each other.
We were the new-kids-on-the-block twice, in very different situations. The first time, we joined a well-established team in a multifaceted indigenous work. Being completely new to living outside our own culture, we needed and appreciated the help we received from the veterans. It was not all positive, but overall, we made a good adjustment to cross cultural work.
