Wisdom

A few months ago I found myself chatting with a veteran missionary about short term and long term missionaries.  She was commenting on identifying short term missionaries because they take on a lot more, they can “burn themselves out” so to speak, because they are only giving one year.  I asked what was needed to maintain for long-term and her response surprised me.  She said, “long-term missionaries know how to vacation.”

I have thought about that comment several times over the last few months.  It’s easy to feel guilty about going on vacation because our salaries come from supporters.  As I thought I about it some more I realized that people in the States go on vacation with their families, it’s an important opportunity to get away and relax, so maybe missionaries should take that same opportunity.  

At Christmas a friend paid for part of my way to Italy.  With the help financially, and the fact that I was going to be away from my family for Christmas, I decided to accompany her.  Now, with my new understanding of vacationing and missionary money, I determined to take more vacations for the purpose of getting away and relaxing when I feel I can do so inexpensively.

That being said, when I friend told me she was going to the Masai Mara over midterm break and explained that the price was almost half what others pay during high season, I was keen to go...