Dear Missionary Lady,
Greetings in the name of our grace-giving God! We all need
His grace desperately. How else would we keep going when the challenges of life
assault?
I just read a biography of Maude Cary, missionary to Morocco
(northwestern Africa) for 54 years, beginning in 1901. She was among the first
missionaries to enter that country during a 75-year window of opportunity for
the gospel (1894-1969). She was part of a team of missionaries that started
with a handful and grew to over 100. Her story abounds with challenges.
She experienced danger: Warring tribes, a violent
revenge-filled culture, crime, rampant disease, murdered colleagues, revolution,
military occupation, World War II, and another revolution that resulted in
forced evacuations and the closing of the country.
She faced opposition: Much difficulty obtaining properties
for housing and mission outposts, stones and dirt thrown at her, dogs turned
loose while villagers laughed, overt ridicule, hatred of foreigners, false
teachers, and threats.
She saw fruitlessness: Their entire team saw only one
convert in the first 16 years and only five baptized after 25 years. The first
convert later fell away following a second marriage. She saw many missionaries
come and go for various reasons. The mission base was moved multiple times,
often with no visible results after years of diligent effort. Many doors into
new areas were closed rapidly.
She suffered deprivations: Travel was difficult, both to the
country and within the country. Especially during some of the significant
seasons of trouble, mail service and financial support were sporadic, clothes
and shoes were almost impossible to find, and food sometimes consisted of
little more than bread.
She endured isolation: It was 23 years before her first furlough.
It seems she took only four furloughs, the third of which was for needed surgery,
and the fourth was an urgent medical evacuation. She and three other single
ladies were the only missionaries who stayed through World War II, and she
spent much of that time alone in a remote outpost. When workers and leaders
were scarce, she took on overwhelming responsibility, and was sent to open a
new station at age 71.
She struggled with her health: Early on she had multiple
persistent issues, which barely improved after four months of bed rest. A
serious fever and a string of resulting issues led to false teeth and a permanent
limp at age 41. Though at times she was a semi-invalid, she kept ministering
and hostessing and teaching.
She dealt with personal disappointment: As a novice missionary,
she received deeply hurtful criticism which almost ended her service. In spite
of strong desire and great facility in the language, she was repeatedly
hindered from going to the Berbers. She watched numerous fellow missionaries
join in marriage, but she remained single. Her own engagement ended when her
fiance was sent to open the Sudan, where her frail health would never have
survived. She saw the loss of a promising young couple who were called
State-side to replace the deceased mission director.
After her broken engagement, she wrote a powerful poem that expresses
truth fundamental to a life of service for God.
"When in the West my sun has set,/When wiped the
lashes, often wet,/ When silenced every sad regret,/It will not matter then.
When all the wilderness is past,/ And I have reached the
goal at last,/ When I can earth with heaven contrast,/ It will not matter then.
When I my Saviour's face shall see,/ And hear His welcome
home to me,/ To share His bliss eternally/ It will not matter then."
Maude knew the truth that "the sufferings of this present
time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in
us" (Romans 8:18). She knew what it meant to "count all things but
loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord"
(Philippians 3:8). Compared to hearing the words "Well done, thou good and
faithful servant ... enter thou into the joy of thy Lord" (Matthew 25:21),
she knew that nothing else mattered. Whatever difficulty, challenge, or loss
she faced would be insignificant when she met her Savior face to face.
What you do today matters for eternity, and it is only an
eternal perspective that will enable you to continue year after year. I recently
heard a sermon in which the pastor stated that God's greatest rewards rarely
happen on this earth. But what a day is coming, when every labor will be proved
worthwhile!
"It will be worth it all when we see Jesus! Life's
trials will seem so small when we see Christ. One glimpse of His dear face, all
sorrow will erase. So bravely run the race till we see Christ."
Are there earthly rewards? Yes. Maude saw people receive the
gospel. She gained the respect and acceptance of the Moroccan people. She saw
many materials prepared and much of the Bible translated into Arabic and Berber.
She saw former Jews and Muslims worshiping together, the first church service,
the first Christian wedding, and a strong desire for Bible conferences. She saw
three Bible institute graduates. She saw many missionaries taught the languages,
and she eventually saw ten male missionaries consistently on the field. From
afar, she saw twelve years of abundant harvest that stretched from her retirement
until her death.
While few modern mission fields match the extreme difficulty
of the pioneer Moroccan work, there are still many challenges. At times they may
make you despair and even want to quit. Remember then Maude's stabilizing
words: "it will not matter then." Anything you suffer will
immediately dissipate when you stand before your Master. So press on. Continue
faithfully, and God will give grace.
Love in Christ,
Peggy Holt
member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA
www.pressingontohigherground.blogspot.com
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