Interview with David Olds
Question: So from your brief experience and perspective as a learning missionary, what is missionary life like?
Answer: I see being a missionary a bit like a mal-nourished mother.
She still needs to do all the everyday menial tasks of life; feed the family, look after babies with all their needs , teach, discipline go to the bathroom herself. Maintain varied relationships with friends, spouses, associates, colleagues, shop-attendants, neighbours- all the while she is often weak through mal-nutrition.
Her real needs many times go unnoticed, she is many times un-thanked, un-appreciated, never looked upon with a relative compassion or honour for the difficult task she undertakes in light of her circumstance she lives in. Her task is not glamorous and is not esteemed by the world (or anyone who does not have insight into her particular situation).
Question: Is that your experience?
Answer: No, mostly my observations of missionaries around me. I have received more appreciation than I deserve. I have been standing on the shoulders and carried in the arms of others who have already blazed the trail with their own sweat and blood. (And who are themselves still mal-nourished)
Question: So why do you use you the term “mal-nourished” Do missionaries go hungry?
Answer: Yes, but not (mostly) physically.
Partly due to a number of factors the missionary is stretched beyond their natural capacity in numerous ways. When you give out more than you receive, if that persists you become mal- nourished- in whatever form you picture. Whether it is emotional, spiritual, or relational.
Question: Wow, I am attracted to the nobility, of such a call even still, I think I’d like that.
Answer: My experience is that you probably won’t. ‘Like’ is a word that loses context in a missionary’s vocabulary- to be blunt.
Question: What about you Dave, do you ‘like’ (If I can use the word) being a missionary then, if not why are continuing?
Answer: No, not really, it does not suit my appetite, not very palatable.
I am continuing because..I can, and I want to, nay I must, follow the call of God obediently- wherever that takes me.
Question: That is noble and brave (worship of man alert!)
Answer: Whatever it is, it is all done by sinners like you and me- no better. Anything done to the glory of God is because God is in it! There is nothing in man (or me) that is worthy of praise or commendation aside from the present activity of God Almighty Himself inspiring and doing it.
Question: Describe for me more of how it is to live in that context?
Answer: It is similar to the 3rd generation phenomena experienced by MK’s (missionary kids).
They don’t belong to their parents previous culture, they don’t belong to the national culture they have come into either, so they find themselves somewhere in- between and that becomes their new cultural identity.
With the missionary now, he has just enough of his previous culture to be reasonably comfortable according to those cultural norms but not without definite limitations and frustrations not experienced in his previous culture, and just a taste of the reached-out –to culture to have a platform of identification but never enough to be an accepted part of that culture.
My experience of this greatly enlarges my appreciation and worship of the Great and ultimate missionary- Jesus Christ, who did everything right and He did manage to truly integrate and become one with the culture He reached out to, and especially wonderful is the degree of sacrifice it took Him to accomplish this task as He left the realms of Glory with the Father to live among us sinners- who killed Him in the end anyway! And did He ever complain or cry defeat? No he was always in control and He is the final overcomer and victor over all the powers of the universe and blessed be His name and His fame forever more!
Question: What about the honour of being a missionary out there- bringing the gospel to the un-reached (starving populous)?
Answer: The task and the call is an honour indeed, and a privilege, but right there is another cliché.
You see and feel very little reward and fruit in comparison to the effort and time invested.
It is common to spend more than half your time doing non-ministry related things such as shopping, fixing things that break, entertaining the un-expected guest or visitor who rocks up at your door expecting your un-divided time and attention(and resources) since you are after all, the missionary.
Of course the whole of life wherever you spend it ought to be worship to God, and as such is an honour and privilege to serve Him in the entirety of our lives. But what is felt and experienced out here very seldom feels magnanimous.
Question: You have painted a pretty gloomy picture then haven’t you?
Answer: I have simply tried to portray reality as best I can since we are working together on the same cause and the better the ‘rope- holders’ understand what it is like for the one being ‘held’ the better they can support and equip that one.
Question: What else have you learned and gained during these four months?
Answer: I left feeling so strong in the Lord and in His grace.
I have come back feeling like I have caused more damage than good. I have learned hard lessons, trials of my own making, through my own sin and foolishness. Oh for the day when the Lord needs to use the sin of others to humble me rather than my own! I have not so much clothed myself in humility as the bible instructs, as I have had my pride exposed, and been humiliated- the hard way to learn humility.
I do however see evidence of His grace; a greater resilience and stoutness of heart to trials and difficulties, some answers to prayers, I have been learning discretion- slowly, a greater sense of responsibility in attitude and conduct, respect, and I have also had to learn to make decisions not based on feelings . Just like we find the weather patterns these days- unpredictable, similarly have I found my emotions during this time, unable to rely on them one bit! So much so that if there is a theme of my experience over this four month period, it would be called ‘emotional roller-coaster and how to stay the course amidst the turmoil within’.
Question: Your answers leave me with a mild sense of gloom and negativity is this how you feel after this brief time on the field?
Answer: No, the more I have been speaking to you, the more I realise that God has been at work in my life and I do not regret one bit of it, knowing that all of it has been ordered by a sovereign and wise and good God! How can I complain? I have so much to be grateful for. All that I deserve is hell, but I have received release from that burden for ever, never to fear such an outcome, and I have received so much more on top of that! I am encouraged that God is growing His church in my midst and refining His bride- I cannot deny these facts and for this I am very thankful.
Question: So where does that leave us, your support base, have we failed in any way?
Answer: Not at all.
Your part in my life has been much appreciated and is invaluable to me. Who can measure the worth and the benefit of your prayers to God on my behalf?! The financial support as well has been exceedingly generous, and if there is lack, it is not because you lack generosity; it may be that the need has exceeded our capacity or that the need is not actually a real need right now. God is the giver and supplier of all needs, let us not forget to come to Him to grant us our supply.
Thank you all so much for all that you mean to me and do for me for the sake of His glory!
I pray God guides and encourages you all the more in the ‘Holding of the rope’ as together we realize and discover how He is calling me for His service.
In His grace
Dave.
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