Week 25: Marriages and the Mission Field
Please join us this week in praying for married couples on
the mission field. Couples on the
mission field often experience a number of stressful situations all at the same
time. They are separated from
family and friends; they are immersed in a new and strange culture; they are
starting a new job; they are establishing a new home; and, on top of all that,
they are often learning a new language.
Just one of these situations can create difficulties. All of them together almost guarantee
some degree of marital conflict.
Many times the conflict will arise because the spouses adjust to all the
changes differently or at least at different speeds. One may have difficulty with homesickness; one may have a
harder time with the language; or one may make cultural adjustments with less
ease. Also, if the adjustment period
is elongated, the spouses, together or individually, may start to doubt their
suitableness for the mission God has called them to. This doubt can cause a spiritual depression that will only
add to all the other stressors missionary couples often face.
Pray with us that missionary couples will
- Be patient with one another, be each other’s best friend and most faithful encourager
- Be realistic about the time it takes to acclimated to a new culture
- Find new friends who will help them adjust
- Make the effort to stay in touch with family and friends
- Resist the evil one who will attempt to convince them that slow progress equals failure
- Rejoice in small successes
- Be faithful to the One who has called them and confident in His ability to sustain them
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