Several years ago I was preaching for Curt Mckee, a close friend of mine, who was a pastor in Virginia. One of his members, a student, who was about ready to graduate from college, asked me to counsel her concerning her call. She was sure that God was calling her to become a missionary. Her heart was set on North Africa. Let's call her Jane. Today I have been reading Jane's mission letter to her supporters. She had been on vacation only a few days when she decided to call her host national family with whom she lives. She wanted to report to them that she was doing well and having a good vacation experience. While talking to the mother of the home she was surprised to learn that her young daughter, Yusra, was to be married in three weeks. This surprised Jane since she knew Yusra very well, and she had never mentioned that she had found that special one to be her husband. In fact, Yusra, had not seen her prospective husband, a cousin, for several years. Within the last few days, Yusra's cousin, had returned to their village with the desire to find a wife from among his cousins. He took a few days to visit all his cousins in the area. He decided that Yusra was the one he wanted for his wife. He worked out the details with her parents and the date was set for the wedding.
When Jane arrived back "home" she found that Yusra was very busy getting ready for the wedding. She was busy with intensive 'beauty treatments' and could not see her fiancee until the wedding day. Yusra excitedly showed Jane a suitcase full of new clothes that her fiancee had bought her. Since he arrived, looking for a wife, Yusra had only seen him twice before the day of the wedding. Since they practice another religion rather than Christianity, Yusra and her husband to be had no expectations of marriage involving shared decision making, caring for each other, building trust or a sense of equality. Marriage to them was a set of roles and tasks. They do not see that in their marriage they might have love, grace, forgiveness, redemption and a God who put on skin so we could know Him. Jane asked us to pray for Yusra and her new husband so that they might realize that it is possible in marriage to have what Jesus called, a relationship where "two shall become one."
If you want to receive missionary "Jane's" newsletter and support her in her mission work, contact me and I will be able to arrange for you to communicate with her. Call me at 423-413-5653 or email me at Curtis@farmerstel.com.
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