The Missionary Wife's Perspective (Introduction)

The home has been compared to the Trinity.  The husband (as God the Son) follows God (God the Father) while the wife (as God the Holy Spirit) is in submission to both.  Therefore, the wife's role in the home, just as the Holy Spirit's role in the Trinity, is to provide the spirit.... the atmosphere... in the home. 

I control the atmosphere in my home.  And, no, I am not talking about a control box on the wall that determines the heat or cool air that will infiltrate a room at the touch of a button.  (No such thing here, anyway!)  I am talking about my attitude.  If I wake up in a sour mood, more than likely my children will be fussy and my husband will be unhappy.  However, if I wake up with a smile in my heart and on my face, everyone's day will more than likely go much smoother and certainly much more pleasant.

A wife faces a multitude of challenges on the mission field that are different from the normal wife's challenges.  Many times, the improper response to these challenges are, "If I only lived in America, I wouldn't be going through this."  This attitude leads to bitterness and resentment of the mission field and a longing to return to the "utopia" that she left back home.  This discontent spirit seeps into the home and discourages the husband, until, one day, the entire family potentially resigns from the mission field.

This new series could have been named The Missionary Wife's Challenges.  But, I decided against that title because, even though that is indeed what I will be writing about, I want this series to be positive.... a yes,-it-has-its-challenges,-but-look-at-all-of-the-benefits-type of series. {whew!  That was a lot of dashes to insert!}  So, instead, I am going to try keeping it all in perspective...

Remember... the value of a soul is priceless.

And our struggles are soooo t.e.m.p.o.r.a.r.y.

The Missionary Wife's Perspective is for three groups of people:

• For our prayer partners back home.  I hope to help our dear, praying friends realize the full extent of difficulties that the missionary wife can face on the field.  This will better equip you to pray more deeply and more specifically for young missionary families.

• For the young lady preparing to be a missionary's wife.  I hope to show you, dear friend, that there will be challenges, but that, if you expect them, you can overcome them!

• For the missionary wife.  More than anything, sweet sister in Christ, I want you to realize that your role in the home as the "Holy Spirit" is more important than you may have ever realized.  You have the ability to make or break your missionary man, and I hope to inspire you to cheer him on instead of pull him away from his calling to the field.

My hubby and I are approaching our 10-year anniversary of being in Ukraine.  Looking back over the last 10 years, I see areas where the devil has specifically fought me, the wife of a missionary, in order to discourage my husband.  Though I am by no means a qualified veteran, I am entering a new decade, so to speak, of missions.  And, as I move on to the next decade, I want to record my memories here of what the first 10 years were like.

And I hope to teach and encourage, if even just one person, along the way!