Our greatest among many....

okay brother, I was with you mostly until you decided to use ADHD as your excuse for not going to the mission field. First of all, I don't feel the need to insult American preachers in order to lift up those laboring on the foreign fields. Many preachers here in America also live what they preach all week long and not just the weekends.

But ADHD is not a curse, instead you should see it as a unique way of looking at life that will serve you well on the mission field if you let it.

For goodness sake, I think most missionaries would actually envy you for your hyperactivity.....they need all the energy they can get out there on the foreign field.

Believe me, my prospective-missionary, never-tiring, active-church-working, ADHD husband is chomping at the bit to get on that field, and no American psycho-babble is going to stop him.

So stop looking at all the other preachers here in America who you think aren't doing what they ought to, and realize that YOU are using a silly excuse to keep yourself chained down.

 

Yup, yup!

I have always said that our churches would change for the better if every pastor was required to spend a year or two ministering in a foreign country. You get a whole different perspective on what's really important.

 

Bapmom,

I don't agree with the manner in which Windork replied to you above, but I have a little experience with folks with his type of problem. My nephew has it. He is now almost 20 and it is hard for him to even hold down a job. If I read you right your husband has a similar problem, maybe he just doesn't have it as bad.

 

oh Mex,

my hubby is classic extreme ADHD. He was on medication when he was in college. He also has had a hard time holding onto one job, although now he seems to have found a good opportunity to have his own business....also a common characteristic of the adult ADHD person....they work best for themselves.
Furthermore, I am college-trained in special education, and have been working in various special education fields since I was 15 years old....more than 20 years.

First of all, WinDork, in today's world you can get medications almost anywhere. Other countries besides America even have electricity nowadays! Second of all, Bible colleges accept GEDs, so go get one. ALSO, many mission boards will work with you if you do not have a college education....IF they see that you are willing to commit to something and not just give up.

Im not saying it would be easy, WinDork, but most things worth doing are NOT easy.

As I said before, ADHD can be an asset on the field in many ways. The missionary must be willing to "think outside the box" in order to get things done on that foreign field. He woud have a spirit of adventure and willingness to do things that other people would just see as "crazy". ADHD gives the person a super-focus when faced with a problem, so that rather than give up they will do whatever they can to solve that problem. The adult ADHD person also has an uncanny ability to multi-task better than most others. The mind goes in a million different directions, working on all sorts of things at once. Sounds like a good thing for a missionary to be able to do.

I just hate to see someone use this as an excuse to limit God in his life. It doesn't have to be that way.

BTW, ADHD is NOT an excuse for bad behavior, nor for treating people with an unChristian attitude. That's not a symptom of ADHD.....you wouldn't like what I would call it a symptom of.

 

I told my hubby about this topic, and he said to write this next part down as being from him, my ragingly ADHD husband (his description of himself )

Ex 4:10
¶ And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.
Ex 4:11
And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?

2Co 12:9
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
9. SME
2Co 12:10
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

 

Well said, bapmom.

Pray about it, WinDork. Maybe God would have you out here on the fields of the world. Sometimes that deep-down desire towards missions, like you have, is the sign of a call.

 

Wow bapmom, that was an excellent response from your husband.

"Pleasure in infirmties" is a wonderful perspective on this topic.

 

I agree with that,but it's not always the pastors that are the problem. Many times, it's because our churches are filled with carnal people, who see no need to look beyond their own comfort and convenience. To them, church is something they "go to" once a week to socialize. Christianity to them is nothing more than just showing up at church.

I am a pastor that emphasizes the Great Commission over and over and over. Even in doing so, I see very little movement or concern, other than giving money. Instead - to my sorrow - churches seem more concerned with how much we're spending on VBS, mistakes in the bulletin, and "why can't we sing more hymns instead of those songs?"

The best I can do here for you missionaries is to keep the Great Commission in front of the believers, and model it for them even when they won't do it themselves...hopefully taking on those few that will go, too.

People here have complicated lives. They will spend any number of hours at karate class, little league, sports on TV, fishing, hunting, golf, and bowling - but there seems to be no time for the things that really matter.

Can we truly blame the pastor for that?

Many pastors struggle with this issue back home in the United States - and long for a simpler life where people have time for God and His church again. But alas, that's not our mission field. Our mission field is here in the United States. Many of us are being faithful.

 

Lesson for the day: Don't get bapmom riled up.

Seriously though, good response bapmom. It is a shame that people use excuses to not follow the call of God.

USN, I also agree with your thoughts too. It is a constant struggle.

 

I was reading a report once that said that most preachers would be classified as ADHD if they submitted themselves to testing.

I drive a school bus, and drive the short bus periodically, and you can tell the difference between the ADHD kids who use it as an excuse and those who are determined to overcome it. (Not to mention the difference between the kids with parents who use it as an excuse and those who still discipline their kids.)

I could be legally declared physically disabled, but I don't use that as an excuse. I can't do everything I used to do, but I still work two jobs and preach 2-3 sermons per week.

 

Good posts from everyone.

Many of us here on the mission fields of the world have physical problems, but we keep on going on. My problem is the least of the least, so I hesitate to mention it, but I have a skin disease called rosacea which Japanese do not get, so Japanese doctors do not know about it. In Yokohama years ago, it entered my eyes and became ocular rosacea. I had a doctor who did not know about it and gave me the wrong stuff, so damage was done to my left eye. Up here I found a skin doctor who knows the disease, and can give me antibiotics for it. But I have to get my topical medicine from the States since it is not allowed here in Japan for some reason.

I look at it as God keeping me humble, as He did the Apostle Paul with his "thorn in the flesh." My disease is incurable, but if a cure were found I'm not sure I would want to take the medicine--well, okay, I probably would!

 

Hey, Windork, I have ADD and have learned to use it constructively.... it helped alot when I was a youth pastor.... I could monitor about 5 different situations at one time...

As a matter of fact, I have about 6 different web pages I am viewing now. just looking at 1 at a time bores me!

I know what it is like, but I agree with Bapmom. I will pray that you can learn to use it positivley.

Use the extra energy.
Use the fact that most ADHD people can survive on only 4 hrs of sleep.
I view it as a blessing to me.

The world is just to slow. It is not my fault they can't keep up with me!

 

Well, that definitely means I'm not ADHD. Gotta have my eight hours!

 

My brother in law was born in Central African Republic in the late 50's . He contracted a rare form of malaria called Cerebral Malaria.
He lived with seizures for about 42yrs. He stayed so doped up it wasn't even funny.
He grew up like that. He went all the way through Bible College like that. He was headed to Africa as a single missionary when He met his wife in candidate school at Baptist Mid.
He could never drive himself while on deputation.He could barely function with the seizures etc...He would sometimes have a seizure while preaching. Yet he spent two terms in the bush of Africa. He just finished up his second term in France because the African field closed.
He has two kids going off to college two still at home.
Four years ago he had major brain surgery at the famous Cleveland Clinic. He had almost 4 inches of brain tissue cut out of his brain.
He now has no more seizures. AMEN.
He obtained his french drivers license since that time.
He scored higher than about eighty percent of the frenchmen in his language class that he took at the french university. He has taught himself to play the trumpet.
He preaches to people on the streets in the city of Bourdoux,France with a portable microphone.
He sets up a table outside their little french church and hands out Bibles etc..
The work he was helping out in has increased by 30 people during his last term due to his boldness in evangelism.
Now he has plans to go back next term and plant a new work in Southern France.

My brother in law is one of the most fearless, faithful men I know. He has overcome the odds time and time again in his life.
When he was young and struggling with his seizures an old grumpy missionary lady told him he should just go be a farmer because he was to dumb to be in ministry.

Over the years in ministry, my walk with the Lord etc... Ive learned to not glory in nobody but the Lord because man will always let you down.
Yet I would like to say that my brother in law is one of my heros of the faith. He along with his steadfastness and Godly life has more than one time inspired me. He is a testimony to the grace and goodness of God. He is also living proof of what God can do with a man who is determined to live a life of faith.
BTW, for those of you missionaries whom I have sought council I would like to let you know that by God's grace myself along with my wife and family are going to continue on to get to Spain as missionaries.
We just do not have peace about anythingelse.
God put that calling in our hearts and we have to go.
We have battled sickness for two years now while being on deputation. So much so that our deputation suffered tremendously. Yet as we have prayed and looked into God's Word we cannot find anywhere that sickness or hardship is a reason for quitting.
I really dont' understand God's timing in all of this but I know His timing is always perfect.

So Windork, I said all that to say this.
"God has a answer for all our excuses" when we are afraid to step out and obey him. Even if it seems like it something insurmountable or gigantic in our mind it is still possible for God.

Look at my brother in law. Personally I want to accomplish what God has called me to do. Not so I can get the glory but so it can be like it was when David told Goliath. I want the world to know that I made it , because "there is a God in Israel". David didn't fight Goliath for God that day. God fought Goliath for David. He still wants to fight our battles today whether it be the giant of deputation or whatever giant we are facing.

 

A wonderful testimony of a wonderful missionary!! Thanks so much for sharing that, shannonL.

In comparison to your brother-in-law, like I said, my physical problem is the least of the least.

Keep on keeping on for the Lord on deputation, brother. You'll make it to Spain someday--unless the Rapture comes, amen?

 

J of J,

I posted it in hopes of encouraging a few brethern. Keep up the good work in Japan. A crown awaits to lay at the Master's feet.

You missionary fellows who post here have been a good source of encouragement for me. You have gave a listening ear while being unbiast due to the fact that you don't know me personally. I think that has been good for me.
Hey the internet is pretty cool. We can bear one another's burdens as through cyberspace.
I bet guys like Hudson Taylor would have really appreciated e-mail and christian blogs, forums etc...

Have a good n.

 

you encouraged me, shannonL, thank you!