How Do You Turn a Meteorologist into a Missionary, Conclusion

In the Spring of 1995, I was finishing my last semester of Greek and continuing to explore various ministry opportunities. A friend of mine was preparing to go on an internship with Pioneer Bible Translators to Papua New Guinea. I had no idea how radically my life was about to change. He encouraged me to attend their training program, called Pioneer Mission Institute, being held that year at Dallas Christian College. I took time off from work and traveled to Dallas in a rental car.

The first couple days, I was overwhelmed with linguistics, as new terms and concepts bombarded my brain. I was used to picking things up quickly, but I felt out of place as others in the classes clearly knew far more than I. By Tuesday I was ready to give up. At lunch break I got in my car and started driving around, talking to God and searching my heart to see if I was truly where He wanted me. After much driving and processing, I promised God that I would stay the whole week and give myself time to decide what to do with these new experiences. This would be a pivotal moment in my life.

That evening, the West Africa Branch made its presentation about their work and needs. God cut through all my fear and doubts and gave me a clear sign that I was to work on this team. I was in tears as I sought prayer from others for how best to proceed. The remainder of the week went much better, and I left with a profound sense of peace and direction.

They announced that there would be an internship to West Africa the following year, and I committed to being on that team. I was confident that I could receive training and do whatever role God called me to. But I was concerned that I would be unable to survive and thrive in Africa. I had to experience it to see for myself just what I was getting into.

God provided for me to go on that trip with just enough support. It would prove to be a theme for later years. I spent two months in a small African country, learning language, meeting missionaries, and getting an accurate picture of the life that was unfolding before me. I knew by the end that I would never survive on my own in a remote village. I would need to work alongside a family if I had any hope of being effective. I left with a vision of what I had to do, and I trusted that God would provide when I was ready.

I finished another year of Bible college, then moved to Dallas to begin linguistic training. In those years I began to shift focus from translation to literacy, as many translation teams needed dedicated literacy specialists to assist them. When I was wrapping things up in 1999, I was asked to lead the intern team to West Africa. I accepted this responsibility and made preparations. This summer proved to be a defining moment in my life.

It was good to visit some of the same villages again and reconnect with the missionaries. I excelled at language learning, having recently taken the linguistic classes. I admit at times I functioned less like a leader or coach and more like an intern as I felt more prepared and able to handle things better than on my first internship. Things came into focus for me while we were in a small town, staying with a missionary family. He was the current Branch Director. He and I sat down one afternoon to discuss how I could best be used to help the Branch. As we discussed my abilities and the Branch's needs, we found a position in the capital, where I would be able to interact with several missionaries. I would manage the print shop, helping to prepare and publish Scripture and literacy portions in local languages, freeing up translators and literacy specialists to do more of what they had been trained and called to do. I returned home with a new focus and vision for my life.

I spent the next three years raising support, learning French and making final preparations to return to Africa. I was struggling to raise enough support to start full-time ministry, but I was able to go for a short-term trip in early 2002. I spent four months learning how the work was done and finding ways to improve upon it. Not only did I demonstrate to the Branch that I was the right man for the job, but I also returned that summer to find the additional support I needed to return in September full-time. When I set foot in Africa in September of 2002, I was a missionary! God had redeemed me, and I continue to walk in obedience to Him.