Diary of a Missionary's Wife: #1

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It was fall of 2016 that my husband, Paul and I landed in Munich, Germany. We went with the intention of “scoping out the land” and looking for open doors as to where we would be of help to the German people.

We were pretty sure by this point that God was calling us to help in Germany, but before I was willing to majorly disrupt our family’s life, I wanted to go and be sure for myself that this truly was what God was calling us to do.

Both of us have always wanted to return overseas. We had both mostly grown up in Asia and had always anticipated going back to do ministry work. Europe was not on our radar. At. All.

Munich was amazing. The city was amazing. The people were great. The history was evident. The culture was fabulous. The food was definitely desirable. It all seemed great and that yes, this was the place to be. But honestly, we didn’t feel any special connection from the Holy Spirit for this city. So, we made our way west to meet up with both our dad’s who were in a tiny little village to the west, about a four hour drive.

We stayed there for a few days, getting to know the people and just visiting. We weren’t thinking much about the place. I guess, because it’s such a small village and we were thinking more of “large city.”

One cold and rainy morning, Paul and I went for a little walk to the main street with his dad. We came to the local coffee shop and decided we better take advantage of the dry weather and finish out our walk before going in for coffee and breakfast.

When we came back, the place was empty of patrons and we chose a little table in a snug little corner where we discussed what we were feeling and thinking concerning moving to Germany.

As we were leaving, an older woman tapped on one of our shoulders and motioned for us to pray for her. She didn’t speak English. We didn’t speak German. We had no idea what she was wanting prayer for and so we just prayed for her with the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Afterwards, we asked the barista to translate for us. We told her that we were having a special church service in town that night and invited her to join us. She told us that if her son would come and bring her that she would be able to come. We gave her the address. And that was that.

Now, I figured she had heard about the American pastors that were in town and since we were speaking English, she “knew” it was us and asked for prayer.

We went back to the house and I told a friend what had happened. She informed me that this does not happen in Germany. People do not talk to random strangers like that. They especially don’t ask for prayer.

Later that night, this woman from bakery showed up! And I was able to find out more of what was going on with her. First off, her son drove 40 minutes just to pick her up and take her to church that night. Second, she told me through a translator that she was at her wits end that morning and prayed and told God she just “couldn’t do it anymore.” And asked God what to do. She said God told her to go to the coffee shop. She gets there and we are the only ones there and assumed God was sending her to us!

You see, before I left California to make sure Germany is really where God was sending us, I asked God to set up an appointment for me for while we were there. I asked that he send someone to me that needed me for that same purpose and that had no connection with me or with anyone I knew. I told God, I needed it to be completely set up by Him and no one else and that that’s how I would know this whole thing really was Him and not just something WE were wanting.

The picture at the top of this little entry reminds me of just how amazing and intricate God does things… and that we get to play a little part if we are willing. She stayed for the entire service. She was ministered to, prayed with, and connected with a group of people that would be there for her.

Her son… he was instantly connected with my husband that night in a way that only God can orchestrate. He and his (now) wife became an integral part of our lives.

We returned to the little village of Maulbronn five months later with all our kids (two young adults and one 16yr old) to offer our assistance in any way that we could and to help build people up in their faith.

As I write this, I’m in the desert of Tucson, Arizona and truly missing my friends in Germany. My husband is getting ready to fly over there in a couple weeks. I'll be staying home to hold up the fort for now.

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