The Life of a CCM Missionary
Rev. Edwin Kong

I’ve just finished attending our annual CCM missionary retreat in Hong Kong. I had the opportunity to participate in many of the sharing sessions and to learn from the real experiences of our fellow co-workers. Come and sit in with me as I reflect on what I heard.

A Life of Transparency
    “No, there is not much privacy in the field. People come and go without making appointments. They walk right into my home and peek into my refrigerator to see what I have to eat. They open my closet and look at my clothes.”

    “But transparency is more than that. They also see how we live our lives. Our daily living is a topic of conversation in town.”

A Life of Identification
    “We do not dress up for Sunday church; otherwise, those who come to church straight from work would feel unfit in their sweaty shirts and dirty trousers. We dress casually to identify with them.”

    “We tried to introduce technology—computers, word processing, etc—but they felt very uncomfortable. They preferred to use the chalkboard to write out the Sunday program. I didn’t insist.”

A Life of Expectation
    “Since I lived amongst them, they expect me to eat whatever they put on the table. Even though I may consider something to be very unhealthy for me, I eat it and pray for the grace of God to keep me. Otherwise, if I refuse, it will be regarded as disrespect.”

    “I am expected by those back home to produce results. How many have I saved? How many are baptized each year on the field?”

A Life of Loneliness
    “I was most lonely when I was sick. I could not call anyone. I threw up and I had to clean it up myself.”

    “I cried in front of the communion table. The tablecloth was completely wet with my tears.”

    “I thought I had the gift of singleness when I went out into the field. Now I realize that that was not so and I’ve been praying for a life partner. But God has not yet answered my prayers ... and I am passed … years.”

Such heartfelt sharing made me all the more appreciative of our missionaries in the mission fields. My fellow missionaries, I love you and will faithfully support and pray for you.