Missionary Monday

Missionary Interview 

 

Name – Vicki Irene Mansell

Field – Teshio, Hokkaido, Japan

Blog –  www.mansellmusings.blogspot.com

1. Please share your missionary call.

While serving in the youth pastorate in a church in MN the Lord layed on our hearts the needs on the foreign field for church planting during the yearly missions’ conference.  We had no idea where God wanted us; just that He wanted us to go. During one more round of schooling to add some specific missions’ classes, the Lord led a veteran missionary to the campus to share his burden for his area of northern Japan and his willingness to teach and guide us for 2 years so we would not become first term casualties as so many had become in this difficult country.  Within 2 years we were on the field.

2. What do you miss most about the states? —at this stage of our lives—our family members!!; singing in the choir; easy shopping ;-)

3. What food do you miss from the states? flavored ice creams and ‘mixes’

4. What do you love most about your field?  the friendliness and outgoingness to us as foreigners

5. What is a typical meal in your culture? 

Rice; soup; fish; vegetable; some kind of pickled veggie; fruit and except for the rice and soup usually served room temperature.

6. Say something in your language, then translate.--  神は私を愛しえている。God loves me.

7. What are some things you do to help your children not forget family back in the states? when we first came 28 years ago there was no way to keep in contact except through letters and maybe a phone call or two on special days.  So we wrote letters and included pictures and they did the same.  This generation is SO blessed!

8. Please share your favorite Bible verse, or one that has been an encouragement to you.  –My life verse is Proverbs 3:5,6-Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy path.  --And along with that is the wall hanging I have: The will of God will not take you where the grace of God cannot keep you.

9. What have you found to be the biggest challenge on the mission field?

The LANGUAGE!!  For learning,  but the people are the biggest challenge—they are “Japanese” in their minds and anything to do with ‘our’ God is foreign and not relevant to them.  It takes months and years to reach one soul!! 

10.   Name on thing God has taught you on the mission field.—Patience (see #9)  and waiting on Him for His timing is still always right!

Feel free to share a testimony, word of encouragement or whatever else the Lord lays on your heart.

No matter where God leads us as missionaries/missionary wives we are part of God’s plan for reaching the world.  We need to fit in to our area as well as we can w/o giving up our personal biblical testimony; we need to be extra supportive of our husbands and an encouragement to them; we need to be in the Word together as well as individually; And know that God is with us through all circumstances small or great!!  Nothing is impossible with Him!

Thank you and God bless you,

Vicki Mansell

www.worldtell.com