“I was sad, discouraged and angry. For almost two years I had waited, prayed and gathered materials to work with the young Allaja women. Yet there was military conflict across the region, and it was deemed unsafe for me to go. I continued to wait and pray.
“A call came from the AFM office. There was a great need for an English teacher in an unreached people group in a creative-access country. AFM invited me to pray about it over the coming week. I prayed earnestly.
“As a woman who had recently surpassed threescore and ten years, I thought surely God would not call me to go where only young people were working. I continued to pray. I thought of all the different reasons why I should not go. While I wrestled with fears and doubts, God impressed me that if I was going to go serve as a missionary, I could wait no longer. I wasn’t getting any younger. I needed to go now!”
At AFM, we continue to open the door of opportunity for committed Adventists to serve in missions. In addition to our mission calls for younger missionaries and families, we are eager to engage more mature people who are in good health and possess a fervent love for Jesus and the wisdom that comes from years of experience. These short-term missionaries may have retired from their formal employment, but they still have much to contribute to planting God’s church and advancing His kingdom.
Those who serve in this capacity will be sent to fields of service where they will not have to become fluent in another language. Rather, we are looking for native English speakers who can teach English language classes, homeschool missionary children or minister in other ways. AFM’s short-term missionaries spend at least a year in the field alongside our career missionary families, helping to plant the church among unreached people.
God answered Esther’s prayers exceedingly abundantly above what she expected:
“God has been so good to me. He sent me to a city where it is easy to live. He gave me a lovely apartment where I can look out over water buffaloes, goats, rice paddies, stores with colorful clothing, restaurants and ice cream shops, and sidewalk vendors selling mouthwatering fruit!
“The people I work with are dedicated to making friends for Jesus. Our team of laborers is always looking for opportunities to share the gospel, and we stand ready to uplift each other and our students and friends in prayer. We respect each other’s privacy, yet we are available whenever needed. My fellow teachers are thoughtful of me, inviting me to ride bikes and go on walks with friends. They even took me out for ice cream on Mother’s Day!
“It has been hard to leave my loved ones at home, especially when they may be going through trials. Yet I’ve found amazing comfort entrusting them to Jesus, knowing they are in God’s care, claiming His power and His love for them, which are far greater than mine.
“In addition to my teaching responsibilities, I am able to partner with the young people here to participate in Bible studies and outreach. Most importantly, I believe I am where God wants me to be.”
_Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God.
They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing, to declare that the Lord is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him. (Psalm 92:13-15)_
If you are a healthy, mature Adventist who loves Jesus Christ and envision yourself serving in a tropical environment, please prayerfully consider becoming an AFM short-term missionary. For more information, please email service@afmonline.org or call 800.937.4236.
