Although it differs from family to family, it is likely that most missionaries will have a similar start to us. What exactly is it that you do that takes 1-2 years before you go to the country you’ve been assigned?????
The short answer is two things: Training, and something called Partnership Development.
Training: Even though you may be considered “Skilled” there is often extensive training needed that is specific to the task you are assigned to. For us specifically it is cultural, flight, and maintenance training that equip us to operate in the environment that is unfamiliar to us in America. This can vary in time but for us adds up to around 10 months in total, but is spaced out to help aid group training.
Partnership Development: We call it PD for short, but this is a time where we build prayer and financial partners that will be the ‘backbone’ to the ministry. Prayer partners are essential to succeeding because of the constant spiritual battle missionaries face. We simply ask for people to commit to praying regularly for us and we pray also for them. For our mission, Wycliffe Bible Translators is a 503c non-profit mission that requires us to raise the monthly money needed to live and minister over seas. This comes in the form of people who are passionate about missions work and see the need for Bible Translation in order to complete the great commission. They give on a monthly basis or however they choose to set it up.
This time also involves sharing with small groups, speaking in churches, and setting up home meetings to share about the mission God has placed on our hearts.
This can often be preceded by years of training and preparation after feeling called by God to serve His kingdom through Ministry work. In the end it is worth it. Why? Because we have the opportunity to use the skills God gave us to further His Kingdom. We have only one life on earth to use.
Papua New Guinea 