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Ordinary women

One evening I dragged myself to catch the train in Tokyo to go on a rare girls’ night out. My feet dragged, not because of reluctance, but exhaustion. Our youngest son had been sick during the night and the day that followed was busy. But I didn’t want to miss this precious opportunity to spend time with good friends. Before I came to Japan, the only thing I knew about women missionaries came through hearing their experiences at church. Their stories seemed extraordinary. But here, among fellow missionaries, I notice those everyday details you find in any woman’s life. I can’t help wondering if those back home see these ordinary parts of our lives. As I sat on the train, I thought of the friends I was about to meet – ordinary women, of various ages and backgrounds, but sharing a need to get together with friends. It concerns me that those who support us back home might think that our lives are nothing like their own. If this belief prevails, our supporters might not see our need to be prayed for and loved.

The train stopped and Haunani and Kathi joined me in the empty carriage. Kathi teaches with my husband David at the Christian Academy in Japan (CAJ). In her non-school hours, she and her husband seek to make local friends, and dream about a house-church one day meeting in their apartment. Kathi is passionate about her work in Japan, but she still struggles after the sudden loss of both her parents last year. Haunani’s husband is part of OMF leadership, and travels often, but they are down-to-earth people who love to connect with others. We also talked of their upcoming home assignment in the US. We also talked about how missionaries suffering from reverse culture shock often need as much prayer, support and friendship as those who are new to East Asia.

After 30 minutes our train slid to a stop. We disembarked and went to meet our fellow OMFers from other parts of Tokyo. After hugs and greetings, Haunani led us to a Mexican restaurant where a waiter from Mexico greeted us and explained the menu in English – a rare treat! As I settled into my seat I glanced around the table. Ruth, tall and full of life, sat to my left. She works at OMF Japan’s headquarters. Alison, a mother of two strong willed young boys and wife of OMF Japan’s business manager, sat on my right. She has only been here a year, but has excellent Japanese. We heard about her eldest who has just started at the local school, and is afraid of his strict middle-aged teacher. Across the table sat Andrea, a former teacher. She and her husband must give up their dream to be church planters in Japan because of their daughter’s recently discovered developmental problems. They need to return to their sending country for help. Nearby sat Dorothea, our field director’s wife from Germany. She’s lived in Japan since her four grown-up children were young. Dorothea loves to cook and has a gift for hospitality, but faces a daily battle with an overflowing email inbox. Another Alison sat across from Chris. Her two children attend an international school and her husband helps a Japanese pastor lead a church. The two Alisons discussed their holiday plans.

Hours later, when we finally stepped onto the crowded train to go home, I felt exhausted, but I didn’t regret the hours spent with my sisters in Christ; special, unique, yet ordinary women. Missionaries don’t become extraordinary because of their job or location. Nor does working abroad make us superhero Christians. Living in a foreign country isn’t always exciting or dynamic – it often involves the boring things of life, like getting money from an ATM or buying milk. The only difference is that doing these things often takes more time and energy than in one’s home country. So when you pray for your missionary friends, don’t forget that you’re praying for ordinary, vulnerable people. Like you, missionaries feel failure and hurt. They also get tired, discouraged, angry and afraid. The things they do and the countries they work in may be different, but the concerns and issues they have aren’t that different from your own. Take time to get to know the OMFers you support. Search below the surface of their emails and letters to find out how you can really pray for them. Discover ways you can stand alongside, love and support them.

Wendy Marshall
OMF Japan