What Is It Like to be a Missionary?

Watch Darrel Stott in Papua Indonesia

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCNIIzUDakA

I have been traveling as a missionary around the world to 17 countries for 12 years. Yes I was a pastor for many years and I enjoyed it but really it was all preparation for what I do now.

Why is my job description?

How Do I Travel

I am called to be a Prophet to the nations and demonstrate the power of Jesus Christ bringing hope and solutions to those in need! Europe I travel 12- 14 hrs on long flights in coach class.  A number of years ago I had bypass surgery on my heart.  They took veins from my legs to put in my heart.  This creates a problem for me on long flights as my foot and leg swell up.  So I have to move around much on these flights.

Airplanes, boats and helicopters

In Indonesia where I spend much time all of the airlines are declared "unsafe" by the wes standards.

I travel in fast power boats up the rivers of the jungle in Kalimantan, or at other times very slow boats going between small islands trying to hide from the scorching sun.  Thank God now there are times I travel in a helicopter into the jungle.

Four Wheel Drive

Various times I travel 11 hours on roads so rough we use a 4 wheel drive.

Accommodations:

I sleep on the floor of airports, hotels in the cities and on the floor or mats in remote areas

Food

I experience great variety.  In Indonesia it is usually fish, chicken and vegetables with rice or Chinese food.  In the cities it is very good.  Outside can be difficult at times.

Meetings

In the cities we have large churches of up to 20,000 at a time to outside crusades in remote jungle of 200 people.  With the crusades we take all our equipment with us.  We also take power generator for the instruments and lights.  But remember one light will draw 100 fly bugs!  In other countries I meet in secret with the Christians as they have no religious freedom.

My reward for what I do:

Obviously is not money or comfort.  My reward is always to see sad people smile!  

This is the best and gives me energy!  And secondly to put a smile on Jesus as He watches me.

Money:

I do not enjoy fund raising or asking for money.

 I would just like to keep ministering but I have to pray and tell people what I do and ask God to talk to them as air travel and things are so expensive.

Thank you for your love, financial giving and prayers!

Darrel Stott

Make Us an Example for Others!

February 2010   "Stott Thots"

"Sacrifice is Pleasing to God"

In the plan of God he loves it when we are called to sacrifice. It is not pleasant to us though. I remember when I first met Pastor Petrus Agung many years ago in the city of Semarang Indonesia. He told me he would not take a love offering for me because he wanted it to cost him financially when I preached for him. He paid the highest honorarium of any church in Indonesia.



When was the last time you gave financially what you could not afford in the missions offering? The lady who put the perfume on Jesus gave a year’s salary as her love offering to him. Do we give what is convenient or at times do we sacrifice. I think most of you would say it is a sacrifice to give what you give.



It is so pleasing to God when you example is an example for others to imitate. When Jesus left heaven to come to earth it cost him everything. We should expect that we will have to deny ourselves some of the luxuries of life to carry out the bidding of Jesus.



A young pastor’s daughter came to him and said, “Daddy I want to put all the money in my piggy bank in the church missionary offering”. He asked if she was sure and she said she was. Then she said that she knew her mom and dad wanted to someday go to Australia but they never had enough money. But she believed by her sowing all her money that God would provide a trip for them to Australia. She had saved for a long time and it hurt the parents to watch her give it all to Jesus. But soon a man in the church came with tickets for the entire family to go to Australia. The little girl sewed and they reaped.



Many times I have been leaving meetings in some remote part of the world and a person will walk up to me and say, “Papa Darrel please thank the people who gave financially so you could come to us”.



Listen to the small voice of God and He will speak to you. Obey when he speaks.



Darrel Stott