Let’s be transparent for a moment. As we planned for deputation, much of our mental preparation was bracing ourselves for bad experiences, rejection, awkward encounters, and more along those lines. I’m not sure if this was based on anyone’s experience, our perception of someone’s experience, or, like a fisherman’s tale, the martyrdom of missionary life on deputation becoming over-dramatic as time passes. Rare is the occasion when the deputation process is praised and enjoyed.
There’s truth in the saying, “Deputation is what you make of it.” I believe we are attempting our best to make it an enjoyable and efficient experience. However, there is a genuine responsibility on the churches to make deputation enjoyable and efficient as well. Enjoyable so the missionary doesn’t enter the field burned out, and efficient so the missionary enters the field quickly! Either God has miraculously allowed us to only be in churches that understand this responsibility, or the percent of churches that understand this is much higher than we estimated before starting (i.e. see first paragraph).
Throughout March we presented at ten churches (four conferences) in six states. From a congregation of twenty to a church of multiple hundreds, the treatment of missionaries is humbling to us. After leaving every meeting we feel unworthy and overwhelmed, and those are really the only two words we can think of to describe it. Although each church has a variation of how they minister to us, every church has gone over and above their duty.
My desire through this letter is primarily to encourage the pastors and churches we’ve visited. Keep up the good work. Your initiative in fulfilling your ministry to missionaries is motivating and encouraging us to serve Christ faithfully on your behalf.
We have reached 33% of our support and have almost filled the calendar for 2021, except a few Wednesdays.
Please pray for our church in NZ, Grace Independent Baptist Church, as the teens head to camp on April 26. (Side note: The church has seen first time visitors every week since January 1, to God be the glory!) Pray that Martha would visit the Easter service at our home church this weekend. My father and I have been visiting her for a few weeks and she has finally promised him she would attend. Lastly, pray for Olajuwon's salvation. He was close to trusting Christ but wasn't ready to make a decision today.
God Bless,
Josh & Alyse Szwarga