Mission work sparked a legacy gift to Tearfund

Through her daily care, a woman in the Solomon Islands helps shape a hopeful future for the next generation. Credit: Tearfund NZ

My interest in mission work began as a young child, hearing stories about missionaries living in countries very different from ours, in terms of access to basic needs. My desire to be involved in humanitarian work was behind my decision to study nursing when I left school. During my training, I became a Christian and began to realise that material help isn’t enough on its own; people need Jesus, but neither can we share the gospel and ignore people’s physical needs.
 

As James 2:16 says, “If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?”
 

In 2023 and 2024, I took up the opportunity to nurse short-term in a mission in the Pacific. I cannot overstate how life changing the experience was! As a missions’ nurse, I provided medical care to locals and other missionaries.  I also facilitated church planting in remote tribal locations by providing care to keep missionaries on the field and able to remain in their role of bringing God’s Word to unreached people groups. Before I left for the field, I had to make arrangements in case I passed away overseas. I decided to have a Will drawn up that would provide for the needs of my sponsor children, should they graduate from the sponsorship programme after my lifetime.
 

Through serving in missions, God gave me a fuller understanding that my life’s purpose as a believer is to glorify him. I learnt that everything I do should flow from this. As Jesus’ last words to his followers, I saw that obeying the Great Commission is a critical part of this; it is the mission of the church until Jesus returns. In light of this, I decided to prepare for a life of missions to the unreached.
 

Even though I am engaged in Bible study and training to work as a long-term missionary, I recognise that all my resources are gifts from God. This means they are to be used sacrificially for his glory. The sponsored children I continue to support until they graduate, provide me with consistent encouragement and remind me that we are truly more blessed when we give than when we receive.
 

I hope this encourages you to consider where in your life you might give more glory to God.

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