Missionary Mama

Kathleen L. Carriger

Description

Take a look at missionary life through the eyes of a woman who stepped into that world in her mid-50’s – exciting, surprising, and definitely challenging!

How did a happy homebody become a missionary in Africa? Kathleen would tell you that she had never dreamed of such an assignment! But she had committed her life to following where the Lord would lead her.

Years after being inspired by a book about Mother Teresa, she joined Wycliffe Bible Translators. For the next five years, she served as a teacher in Niger, Kenya, and Tanzania, teaching missionary children while their parents were working in Bible translation, church planting, and community development.

When malaria brought her back to the U.S., she served at Wycliffe’s training base in North Carolina. Eventually, she joined the Youth and Family Ministries team to work with high school students who had lived all over the world. She even followed one student back to Africa for a brief time.

Follow her years with Wycliffe in the highs and the lows as she dramatically grew in her personal faith and in her awareness of God’s majesty and powerful love. Watch her evolve from an ethno-centric American wife, mother, and teacher, to a globally-minded missionary with a heart for the lost of the world.

“What a blessing and source of praise! This book offers important insights for Christian believers and missionary candidates alike.”

– Marita Eden, Missionary advocate and JAARS Board member: Regional Partner Relations Representative

“Kathleen’s testimony reveals the realities of both spiritual warfare and inter-personal relationships on the field … missionary life is not always sunshine and roses, but God uses every circumstance.”

– Catherine G., International School Educator in Africa

“Awesome testimony! The author writes authentically, honestly, and in a way that allows the reader to join with her in learning the lessons God was teaching and the blessings He was pouring out.”

– Martin Q., Wycliffe missionary; Director of Software Development, Internet Publishing Service

Sujets

• Religion
• Christianisme
• Christian Living
• Inspirational
• Philosophie et théologie

Informations

• Publié par: WestBow Press
• Date de parution: 14 février 2022
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781664254954
• Langue: English

Extrait

MISSIONARY MAMA

TALES OF AFRICA AND WYCLIFFE BIBLE TRANSLATORS, 2001-2015
 

 
Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations …
And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
(Matthew 28:19-20)
 
 
 
Kathleen L. Carriger
 
 


Copyright © 2022 Kathleen L. Carriger.
 
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
 
This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.
 
 
WestBow Press
A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan
1663 Liberty Drive
Bloomington, IN 47403
www.westbowpress.com
844-714-3454
 
The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.
 
Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.
Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.
 
Interior Image Credit: Niger, Kenya, JAARS, and Cameroon photos were taken by Kathleen L. Carriger. Tanzania photos were taken by a fellow missionary, Mark Woodward.
 
Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973 1978 1984 2011 by Biblica, Inc. TM. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
 
ISBN: 978-1-6642-5494-7 (sc)
ISBN: 978-1-6642-5496-1 (hc)
ISBN: 978-1-6642-5495-4 (e)
 
Library of Congress Control Number: 2022901847
 
 
 
WestBow Press rev. date: 02/14/2022
CONTENTS
DEDICATION
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER ONE
The Beginning of the Story
Learning to Follow His Path 1946-2000
The First Step Toward Missions: Preparation
His Ways, His Thoughts
Beginning the Journey: International Travel
CHAPTER TWO
Niger, West Africa (January 1-June 18, 2001)
A Strange New World
Initial Adjustments
A Tuareg Traditional Gathering
Housemates
The Joys of Teaching
An Odd Sight
A Well-Traveled Suitcase
Stepping into God’s Word
Gifts from Above
Trouble on the Bridge
Back to the Classroom
Beginning the Day
Transformation
Sand Storms!
Crisis at Home
Tabaski Celebration
Easter in Burkina Faso
Giraffes in the Wild
Creatures Outside My Door
Sharing the Love of Christ
Faith Comes from Hearing and Seeing
My Three Beggars
Time to Go Home
Prayer Niger Airlines
Culture Shock!
CHAPTER THREE
Next Step: Training (October 1, 2001-February 28, 2002)
Why Wycliffe Bible Translators?
Step by Step
CHAPTER FOUR
Kenya, East Africa (July 2002-December 2004)
Sometimes, Getting There is Half the Battle
Home Sweet Home
Contrast of Nations
Settling in to a Missionary School
Snakes!
Monkeys in Our Garden
School Days
Sometimes the Teacher, Sometimes the Student
Upcountry House Dedication
Breathing!
Dangerous Elections
Bomas of Kenya
Warthogs and Children: The Safari Walk
Lake Naivasha and Lake Nakuru
Kariobangi Slum: Somali Territory
Brackenhurst
Mombasa
Malaria!
Weddings
Summer Visits
The Mother Teresa House
Scalding Water
The Elephant Orphanage
Masai Mara
Nairobi Game Park
Tsavo Game Park
Mama Mary and the Water Pump
Prayer and Fasting
Lamu: Bringing Light to Dark Places
Apartheid
Uganda?
A Week at BTL
Farewell Ritual at the Giraffe Centre
Car Accident!
CHAPTER FIVE
Tanzania, East Africa (January-May, 2005)
Another Beginning
New Nation, New Challenges
Afzal the Lion-Hearted
Life Comes with Surprises
School Days in Tanzania
Weekends in Tanzania
Faces of Worship
Tough Choices
Pasaka Njema
Possibly Prophetic
Visit to Dar es Salaam
The Beginning of the End
Back to Nairobi
CHAPTER SIX
Discipleship Detour (May 2005-May 2007)
Homecoming
Return to American Worship
The Desert Years
God’s Grace
His Loving Care
Serving in the Quiet Moments
Flickers of Hope
Tough News from Africa
Ocean Baptism
Saying Goodbye to Africa
Season of Growth
Job Search
CHAPTER SEVEN
JAARS, INC. (June 2007-September 2015)
What is JAARS?
Seasonal Splendor
Culture Shock Again?
JAARS Assignments
Longing for Home
My Third Job Assignment
CHAPTER EIGHT
Cameroon, West Africa (May 11-June 20, 2011)
Holy Spirit Message
Preparations and Concerns
Brave Young Girl Steps Out into the World
Welcome and Unwelcome
Teaching in Cameroon
Life Comes with Challenges
Cameroonian Worship
Spring Concert
Drama Evangelism
Every Day a Miracle
Banso
Sweet and Sour Moments
Trial by Fire
CHAPTER NINE
BACK TO JAARS (June 2011-September 2015)
Spider Bites
Bloom Where You are Planted
Welcome Back, Mom!
CONCLUSION
Counting the Cost
AFTERWORD
Unexpected Treasure
DEDICATION
These memories are dedicated to the Lord God Almighty, and to the friends and family members who supported me in prayers, encouragement, and finances for fifteen years.
Thank you, Lord.
And thank you, dear friends and family members.
To God be the glory!

 
 
 
 
 
Called to missions:
A job to do, a life to live, a sacrifice, and love to give.
A place to go, perhaps to stay; a loving God enfolds the day.
A willing heart that struggles, too, as all I am reflects from you.
I long to serve, to meet your call, to answer, “Lord, I give you all.”
While things of earth pull at my heart, how can I best do my full part?
When family needs cry out to me, I hear your voice, “Come, follow Me.”
So give me strength to follow you and trust your plan in all I do.
You are the Truth, The Light, the Way. Help me to follow your path today.
Praise be to God alone!
(Poem written by Kathleen Carriger while serving in Kenya)
INTRODUCTION
Once upon a time, in a small California town, there was a middle-aged woman who announced to her family that she was leaving for Africa in a few months to serve as a missionary in Niger.
“What??” They replied. “You’re a homebody—a soccer mom! You haven’t left the country in over thirty years. Why would you go to Africa??”
When she reminded them that she had been talking about becoming a missionary for the past five years, her mother replied, “I didn’t think you were serious.” But one of her sons added, “Mom, if that’s what will make you happy, then do it,” and the other son agreed.
So began her adventure of a lifetime, learning to live as a full-time servant of the Lord, going wherever He led her, and trusting her family to His care.
Does that story sound like a fantasy? How could a person who was a confirmed homebody become a missionary in Africa?
In my case, the transition took five decades of God’s gentle molding, and the end result was as much a surprise to me as it was to those around me. The spiritual changes occurred so gradually that I was not consciously aware of the dramatic shift in my life-goals. However, I was aware that the Lord my God was the sole motivation behind that shift. As I look back now, I realize that throughout my life, He had proved to me repeatedly that nothing is impossible for Him (Jeremiah 32:27). He alone had carried me every step of the way to bring about His purpose in my life.
CHAPTER ONE
THE BEGINNING OF THE STORY
Learning to Follow His Path 1946-2000
All the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
—PSALM 139:16B
I was blessed to be born into a family that valued regular church attendance. I grew up hearing about Jesus’ words and actions, but in my limited understanding I thought that Jesus came to Earth, taught, died, rose again, and then went back to heaven to remain there forever. I had no idea that I could have a personal relationship with Him, or that He would return for His own at a later date.
When I was baptized at age four, the pastor explained to me that God is my loving Father and that baptism was His way of claiming me as His child, a concept I readily received, and one that has shaped my life. When I was thirteen, I was confirmed in my home church along with several of my classmates. As I participated in the beautiful candlelit ceremony, I experienced a deep sense of connection and of God’s pleasure in my claiming Him as my Father, just as in baptism He had claimed me as His child.
A year later, I attended a Young Life camp where I heard, or understood, the full gospel message for the first time ever. It was then and there that I publicly proclaimed my desire to give my life to Christ. For the next eighteen years, I sought to grow in my Christian faith, with mixed results along the way.
I married at age twenty, and my husband attended church with me for a while. We lived in Germany as a military couple where I helped out with the youth group and worked in a military library while he worked elsewhere on the base. On weekends and vacations, we had the opportunity to see much of Europe and a taste of Lo