Money, it's all missionaries ever think about

Money. It's a subject with which missionaries are very well acquainted, whether they want to be or not.

But this accusation that money is all we ever think about is quite wrong.

We think about the following and much, much more (in no specific order):

-pot holes
-missing Mama
-foreign languages
-educating our children
-quitting
-pepper spray
-church folks back home
-lost souls
-extracurricular activities for the children
-fitting lawn work into the schedule
-the poor widow next door
-needy children
-diesel engines (or in my case, kitchen gadgets)
-sports (or in my case, blogs)
-church needs
-national pastors
-bottled water vs. tap water
-immune systems
-visas
-furlough
-spina bifida
-missing old friends
-fellow missionaries
-the home church and Pastor
-the weather

and

-money

The thing is, most of what we think about has very little to do with the folks who read our prayer letters. In our letters, we try to give pertinent information about us and the ministry. And all this information must fit on one page because the very few who read the letters posted on the bulletin board at church, prefer to read letters that are short and to the point. And, as such, we can only fit the most important of information.

This information includes:

-ministry updates
-praises
-prayer requests
-family news

and

-financial needs.

So it may seem as if we focus on money, but the truth of it is, it is our responsibility to make the needs known. It is the responsibility of the church to take care of the needs, whether through prayer, letters of encouragement, or gifts of money. Missionaries appreciate all of the above.

So the next time you hear someone talk about us "Moochinaries", please remind them that we rely on the generosity of others to minister in the various corners of the world. That we don't particularly enjoy asking for money, but that the ministry in which we are involved is so near and dear to our hearts, we ask anyway. That we need the faithful prayers and support of the church--that we could not be here without it.