| There is a play on words in the phrase “persevering the distance” addressed in this field report.
Persevering the distance is being used to consider the work of our missionaries on the field, the fulfilling of our call in what lies ahead as much as the burden endured in obeying God’s call that distances us from loved ones.
In the past month, two of our missionaries, Steve and Christopher, suffered the loss of their dear mothers. Christopher’s mother was a mentor to the mission family, so we all felt the loss of Penny. Steve described feelings of numbness and disconnection because of the distance for over more than twenty years. We feel as if the distance grows with the number of years on the field. It most certainly affects family relationships. The burden comes through loss, missed important events, and the “not being there” in the diminished personal time with the ones we love. Our sympathies go out to Steve, Elba, Christopher, Denise, and their children as they navigate this sad time and new realities.
Back to the topic of persevering the distance.
We want to draw attention to the apostle Paul. Paul knew the life of a missionary. He went, sometimes far from home and sometimes alone. He knew of the great need for prayer to persevere, to run the race and finish the distance (2 Tim 4:7), both as a man given to prayer and the need to have the prayer of others. Thus, Paul asks, covets, and pleads for help through prayer several times in his letters.
We ask for your prayers! Please pray that each of our missionaries can be refreshed for the ministries God has laid before us, in the obedience of our callings. We plead for prayer that the sting of physical distance does not inhibit our race and that the longings of missing loved ones do not crush our spirit. We covet your prayers so that through union of the Spirit and aggregation of faith our spiritual fortitude, empowerment, and perseverance will increase as we share God’s truth and see His Kingdom advance in Brazil.
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