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AIM Rocks: Deep Impact
By Scott and Suzi McGarvey
February 7, 2005
(Editor’s Note: This
is the fifth in a six part
series on working overseas for a season of your life.)
Still interested in working
in missions for a season? Here’s a final Q & A:
Q: Really, what exactly
will I be doing?
A. You’ll be
doing whatever the onsite missionary needs done. You will need to be flexible.
Sometimes you’ll be running across the city trying to find white balloons for an
Easter program. Other days, you may be babysitting while the missionary and
spouse are in important meetings together. Don’t expect to have everything
spelled out for you. Sometimes working in missions is impromptu. Being a
“self-starter” and finding opportunities to assist or contribute will go a long
way in making your term successful. If you have your ministerial license (or
are interesting in getting it), you may be called on to minister during services
when the missionary is traveling or at remote preaching points. Your main job
is to make the missionary’s job easier. Whatever you can do to ease their
burden, both spiritual and physical, will be greatly appreciated.
Q. It sounds like it’s
not all fun and games.
A. Living in
another culture is strange, don’t let anyone fool you. It’s a bit disconcerting
the first time you go to the grocery store or marketplace by yourself and try to
find sugar (was it in the cooking or condiments aisle? How do you spell it
anyway?). Be prepared to worship, celebrate, and think differently. Western
ideas (or even American ideas) don’t float very well in many areas. Do not
think you are coming in on a white horse to “save the world.” The people you
are living with, working with, and praying with are usually highly intelligent.
Just because they don’t speak English doesn’t diminish their intellect. They
may love God and be more dedicated to serving Him than you think you are. You
should never dampen whatever enthusiasm someone shows for the Kingdom just
because it doesn’t match your prescribed expectation. Again, your job is to
support the missionary. That means moving the work forward, not backward with a
condescending attitude toward the people you are there to serve.
Q. What will I get out of
it?
A. This is not
a vacation, although you will get the chance to see some amazing sights that few
of your friends will ever see. You may get the chance to sightsee and
experience a vast new realm of knowledge and ideas. You will have lived
overseas. However successful you are at that task, it will create memories to
last a lifetime. At the end of your term, you will have a deeper understanding
of another culture, a greater appreciation for the country you call home, and
some semblance of self-respect for having contributed to a cause much greater
than any other you can imagine.
We haven’t made it home
yet. We’re still praying for God to send an awesome revival. In the meantime,
we’re doing what we can to build relationships with people, search for open
doors to minister, and encourage the saints and staff here to keep up the fight.
We won’t beg. We don’t need
to beg. But the amount of work left to do is absolutely daunting, and the
amount of time we all have left is totally unknown. Join us, quickly, in some
hemisphere of the world for just a season. And if you can’t go, send someone
else with your support and prayer.
The world is depending on
it.
ninetyandnine.com
©
2005, Scott and Suzanne McGarvey
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Scott and Suzi McGarvey
haven’t much time left on their AIM term in Czech Republic and a lot of projects
still to accomplish in that short time frame. | 
