DOING WHAT WE LOVE TO DO WHEREVER GOD WANTS US TO BE
I was born in Africa when my father was a pilot for Mission Aviation Fellowship. I made a choice to surrender my life to go wherever God wanted to send me when I was 11 years old. At that time, I was overwhelmed with a very personal sense that He had a plan for me, and whatever it was, I wanted it. That desire grew over the years.
I studied engineering because it was something that interested me, and I was good at that. I didn't feel called to be a pastor or to do traditional missions. I wanted to use my engineering somehow for His fame to be spread. I went on an engineering mission trip in college and was excited to put my technical abilities to use.
After getting my MS in engineering, I took a year to explore the East Asia before I was married. My wife and I returned three years later as English teachers through our alma mater’s international service program. When we decided to stay long term, I spent a year in language school. The next year, I landed a job as a design engineer. I was excited to be a light in the workplace alongside people who haven't heard of Jesus.
My tentmaking journey was in two stages. In the beginning, I worked with students. We talked about lots of things, and they were interested to hear my perspectives. I was grateful for the opportunity to challenge some of their ideas, and to help them consider the deeper questions that math and science could not answer for us: Why are we here? What is right and wrong? What does true love look like? What if all of this isn't just random chance?
I continued similar conversations with my coworkers at the factory. They were quite open. So I started a small group to study the Word with them over lunch. I was not at full working proficiency in my language for the business environment. But being with my local colleagues day in day out, I gradually improved. I used a bilingual Bible for the group study, and my spiritual vocabulary grew too.
My wife June and I also hosted a weekly study with believers at the international church where we served and had community. It was a lot of fun, especially when we could do it in English!
After our son was born, June got involved with MOPS—Mothers of Preschoolers. She also started a weekly English music group at home for seven moms and their kids. They ranged from 18 months to 5 years. It got a bit crazy in our little apartment, but June loved it. Besides, it was great language practice because most of the mothers did not speak English.
One time, we hosted a two-year-old boy as part of the Orphan Camp Program. Our son was a bit confused on the first day, but quickly warmed up to having another kid in our home. Eddie had cerebral palsy and was unable to walk. But the boys had fun crawling around and playing with cars together. As a host family, we documented our time with Eddie through pictures, videos, and a report for Eddie’s adoption file to help potential adoptive parents learn about him as they considered bringing him into their family.
On the mission field, we were just doing what we loved to do—June as a homemaker and I as an engineer. We missed our families. But because my company was headquartered in the US, we could visit family on my business trips whenever June could come along. We have so much to be thankful for.
After seven years in East Asia, Gary and June are back in the US. Now a family of five, they continue their missional lifestyle just as they did overseas. June’s sister, who arrived on the field two years after her, is still there, doing what she loves to do—teach English to university students.
Reflection Questions
How can you get involved in God’s globalocal mission wherever you are?
What next steps would you like to take in missions and what would help you get there?