Lynda's Story

As a young adult I felt the Lord tugging on my heart every time I heard a mission story. I knew I was being called for mission work, but I struggled with so many fears. In the late 1980’s I went with my Tacoma, WA based non-denominational church to Yakima, WA to work with a local Native American group for a weekend project. We were a very mission-minded church and I was on the mission board as secretary and the liaison to women’s ministry, but I couldn’t muster up the courage to go on a foreign mission!

In the late 1980's there was a Christian song that came on the radio that made me laugh outwardly, but inside a still small voice chastised me every time I heard it. It was sung by Scott Wesley Brown and is titled ‘Don’t Send Me to Africa’:

O Lord I'm your willing servant
You know that I have been for years
I'm here in this pew every Sunday and Wednesday
I've stained it with many a tear
I've given you years of my service
I've always given my best
And I've never asked you for anything much
So Lord I deserve this request

Chorus:
Please don't send me to Africa
I don't think I've got what it takes
I'm just a man, I'm not a tarzan
Don't like lions, or rivers, or snakes
I'll serve you here in suburbia
In my comfortable middle class life
But please don't send me out in the bush
Where the natives are restless at night

I'll see that the money is gathered
I'll see that the money is sent
I'll wash and stack the communion cups
I'll tithe 11 percent
I'll volunteer for the nursery
I'll go on the youth retreat
I'll usher, I'll deacon, I'll go door to door
Just let me keep warming this seat

At the 2007 annual Maranatha Volunteers International (MVI) Convention I was challenged and inspired spiritually. We were asked to earnestly pray Friday night about short-term mission work and as I got down on my knees the song popped into my head again (“I don’t think I have what it takes”). Like the glare of oncoming cars lights on a dark night, the Lord confirmed in my heart that I don’t have what it takes to go on a mission trip. But He does! I had focused so long on my fears and failings that I had lost sight of Who is in control. That night I committed to serving the Lord wherever and whenever He calls me.

In January of 2008 I went to Galapagos, Ecuador with MVI where I worked with a local shopkeeper teaching English in the afternoons. I couldn’t speak Spanish and he and his family couldn’t speak English, but we had a wonderful time learning from each other. Our laughter attracted many people into the shop who would sit and watch us and spurred conversation as to who I was and what I was doing (a great witnessing opportunity). I found it very encouraging to be able to sit and converse with people who didn’t share the same language as me. It truly was a God encounter!

Just over a year ago, Pastor Kack asked James and I to lead a team from O’Malley church on a short-term mission trip. My husband and I looked at each other with open mouths and blank minds. Well, not truly blank…my mind whirled with so many thoughts! What an exciting vision! What an incredibly frightening prospect! Then I remembered my promise to God in September 2007. So we said yes and the work began.

Most importantly the work began IN me. God has allowed many things to happen in my life this year: He prompted me to quit my job of 7 years in February, we returned from a vacation in March to find our home had been burglarized, and I was diagnosed with cancer in July. God lovingly used these events to work on my character and attitude for His glory and to calm my fears and help me be a more willing servant. Praise God!

His servant,

Lynda

I have been a member of O’Malley church for 9 years and a Christian for 22 years. I am anticipating many years of mission work; perhaps even Africa some day!