[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.10.3″ background_color=”#333333″ custom_margin=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px|||” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_margin=”0px||0px|” custom_padding=”0px||0px|” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”0px||0px|” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/us.aimint.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/5hidden.jpg” title_text=”5hidden” force_fullwidth=”on” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Blog Lead Image” _builder_version=”4.10.3″ animation=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”] [\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.10.3″ background_color=”#FFFFFF” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”0px|||” custom_padding=”20px||60px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Sub-head” _builder_version=”4.10.3″ text_font=”Roboto|500|||||||” header_text_align=”center” text_orientation=”center” background_layout=”dark” max_width=”80%” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”60px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” saved_tabs=”all” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Sub-head” _builder_version=”4.10.3″ text_font=”Roboto|500|||||||” header_text_align=”center” text_orientation=”center” background_layout=”dark” max_width=”80%” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”20px||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” border_color_bottom=”#3C77A8″ saved_tabs=”all” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider color=”#3C77A8″ divider_weight=”7px” _builder_version=”4.9.7″ _module_preset=”default” width=”50%” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”||35px||false|false” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” animation_style=”slide” animation_duration=”1100ms” animation_intensity_slide=”8%” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.10.3″ text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.4em” custom_padding=”30px|5%|30px|5%|true|true” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Sometimes jobs come with perks; Like airline employees who get to fly for free. Or twenty percent off at the retail store. More valuable perhaps is a foot in the door toward a promising career or a gold star on your resume. Missionary work \u2013 so often described as a \u201csacrifice\u201d \u2013 offers perks as well. They tend toward the character-building variety however. Hard to quantify. And likely unexpected at the onset. But ask any missionary who\u2019s been at it for some years, and you\u2019ll be surprised at how much of their journey has resulted in their good. Every journey is different of course, but here are a few benefits from mine.<\/p>\n
Missionary work will give you a new definition of \u201cwants vs. needs.\u201d Invariably, you\u2019ll have to learn to make do with less\u2026 Less electricity, less security, less comfort, less money, less personal space\u2026 The list could go on. But despite the frustrations that may come, learning to live with (and love) a \u201csimpler life\u201d will grow you into a person with more: More patience, more resourcefulness, more contentment, and oddly, more time.<\/p>\n
The US Navy once promised to \u201cshow you the world.\u201d While you may not make port in as many countries as a tattooed sailor, you will still amass a small collection of visas in your passport. You will pass through interesting places and see remarkable things. But the real reward will be in those few places where you put down roots. As you dig deep into culture and relationships you will come face to face with your presumptions and prejudices. Thrust into a world so foreign, you will be invited to truly see things differently: to see life, love, suffering, and the beauty of the gospel without the blinders of a compartmentalized and comfortable life. Yes, we see more in these travels and adventures. But we also learn to see better \u2013 to understand others, ourselves, and even God, better. The missionary life offers perspective. Invaluable, unshakable, life-changing perspective.<\/p>\n
The missionary experience is a unique incubator for a strong marriage. Husband and wife, suddenly flung in over their heads, beyond their abilities, and vulnerable. There will be no doubt that you need both God and each other. Grace will become a theme of your marriage as you carry one another through the challenges and hardships of living in a strange land. You will become a refuge to your spouse. You will pray more because you have to. Talk more because you need to. You will together bear witness to God\u2019s miraculous provision. And you will share in amazing experiences that eclipse the shallow pursuits that so often occupy our lives. The result: a marriage forged by adversity and adventure and countless candle-lit dinners because the power was out.<\/p>\n
Missionary kids: barefoot, bad haircut, a chameleon perched upon their shoulder. The stereotype often isn\u2019t too far off the mark. Missionary kids may miss out on some special things, like time with grandparents and little league baseball. But a childhood in Africa will reward them with a rich and varied experience that is hard to beat. They will live and play a little closer to nature, see the world through the wonder of real adventure, learn to hear the rhythms of language and culture around them, understand the brokenness of the world a little closer to home, and see mom and dad live out their faith in daily obedience to God. All this leaves an indelible mark that they carry into adulthood \u2013 not unlike that mark on their forehead from the time they fell off the roof-rack of the Land Rover.<\/p>\n
Perhaps the greatest unexpected benefit of your life as a missionary will be the family you gain. The people you serve with, do life with, disciple, and learn from, will become a network of people who know you like few others do, or could. Sharing made-from-scratch meals in the desert, prayers in the midst of spiritual attack, and remedies for de-worming your gut, you will be sharing life on a deeper level. These friendships \u2013 that cross cultures and cut through the superficial \u2013 will become lifelong friendships no matter where in the globe you scatter to next. It will feel like you gained a family, because you have.<\/p>\n
When we answer God\u2019s call in our life to \u201cgo\u201d, we do so out of obedience and love. The journey itself is worth the effort of course, but it\u2019s also amazing to see what God gives us along the way.<\/p>\n
(* Not married yet? The mission field is also a terrific place to find your spouse. Especially if you\u2019re a guy. Just saying.)<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_cta title=”Ready to discover your part in reaching the unreached?” button_url=”https:\/\/us.aimint.org\/serve\/explore-serving\/” button_text=”Explore Serving” _builder_version=”4.10.3″ _module_preset=”default” header_level=”h4″ header_font=”|800|||||||” header_font_size=”22px” background_color=”#666666″ custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”18px” button_text_color=”#ffffff” button_border_width=”1px” button_border_color=”#ffffff” button_font=”|700||on|||||” button_alignment=”center” button_custom_padding=”17px||17px||true|false” box_shadow_style=”preset1″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_cta][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,2_3″ _builder_version=”3.25″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/us.aimint.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/5hidden-mike.jpg” title_text=”5hidden-mike” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.10.3″ width_tablet=”350px” width_phone=”” width_last_edited=”on|desktop” animation=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.10.3″ text_text_color=”#FFFFFF” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
By Mike Delorenzo<\/strong><\/p>\n Mike and his wife Renee served in Kenya for 17 years through mission aviation, media work, and administration. Today they serve through AIM\u2019s U.S. headquarters in Peachtree City, Georgia, working as part of the communications team.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Five Hidden Benefits of Being a MissionarySometimes jobs come with perks.Sometimes jobs come with perks; Like airline employees who get to fly for free. Or twenty percent off at the retail store. More valuable perhaps is a foot in the door toward a promising career or a gold star on your resume. Missionary work \u2013 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":43064,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"post_folder":[],"yoast_head":"\n