MORE NETWORK BLOG

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ByDiane Fietje on Thursday, March 5, 2020

Before I Started Something New...

Diane Fietje By Diane Fietje on Thursday, March 5, 2020

 

During our time as missionaries overseas, we never pictured ourselves Iiving in Canada as supported missionaries. After God had closed the doors to serve Him in Peru, we thought that God would send us somewhere else but soon realized that He wanted us here in Canada, at least for a time.

When our family had the privilege/opportunity to participate in the RE-VIEW program, I had no idea that a year later we would be serving with Outreach Canada as MORE missionaries.

Four Key Learnings from God

There were 4 things that God, in His goodness and wisdom, wanted me to learn before I started something new.

1. He wanted me to know who I am.

It was strange to find myself unable to say who I was to people who asked or to write what I did when filling out forms. For 20 years I had been a missionary. All of a sudden, I was no longer a missionary but had not yet moved on to anything else. I had left Peru, left friends and community, left ministry, left familiarity, left living skills, left language, left comfort and identity.

On one hand it was freeing, but on the other hand very unsettling.

Being in the position where everything had been peeled away, I was left with the comforting realization that my identity never was, and never would be, as a missionary or anything else other than as a child of God. I knew this to a certain degree but had not embraced it as fully as I now do.

Embracing my identity freed me to go forward trusting in God alone and not trusting in my own abilities.

2. He wanted me to know who He is.

“There are certain parts of Jesus you just can’t know on a path of ease, and once you’ve tasted that closeness with Him you wouldn’t trade it for the smooth course.” Kelly Minter

Though the transition was difficult at times, it also held much richness as I drew close to the Lord and learned more about who He was in His Word.

God is Sovereign and I can trust Him.

His ways are greater than my ways. He has a plan for my good and His glory. I learned to trust God’s purposes as I let go of my projected ones.

God is my Provider in every aspect. He gave us much needed rest and time with family. Our practical needs were provided for as well as an affordable place to live, schools for our children, vehicles and winter clothing. While we thought we needed to move on directly to the next “thing”, God provided us with time to process and rest when we hadn’t realized how much we needed them both. He also provided opportunities for our family to have transition help through our church and programs like RE-VIEW and ReBoot.

God is always Faithful.

By allowing us to look back and remember many of the times that He had shown His faithfulness to us, we were assured of His continued faithfulness.

Knowing who God is enables me to live more surrendered to Him.

3.He wanted me to be prepared.

Again, God allowed us time to rest and process.

We weren’t ready to jump into something new right away although we didn’t know that at the time. One aspect of preparing us meant we needed to leave the past behind, as well as forgive, so that we would not bring the past into the future.  This required deeper reflection and that we look into our hearts.

Our time in transition can be likened, in some ways, to the Israelites being led through the wilderness. The Lord tested us to show us what was in our hearts. He humbled us so that we would be surrendered and reliant on Him. Sin needed to be repented of to start anew.

Throughout Paul’s life, he was humbled, and his pride diminished through his brokenness. As Paul’s pride decreased, his growing grace and love for others resulted in an increase in his effectiveness as God’s servant.

To continue to be used by God we need to remain surrendered and reliant, staying in a place of humility filled with grace and love.

Without realizing it, I had carried a heavy load of responsibility and concern for those we served in our previous ministry. Once I was able to lay it all before the Lord and have this weight removed gradually, over many months, I felt the lightness of Jesus’ yoke upon me. (Matt 11:28-30)

God used our past and present experiences, including our transition, to direct us to where we are currently serving with MORE as OC missionaries. God wants me to be able to fully engage in this place to serve Him unencumbered by the past.

4. He wanted me to Trust Him.

Surrender.  I needed to surrender to His time, His way, His purposes.

I like to plan and have life mapped out for the most part, so it was very difficult living with so much uncertainty about our future - not knowing where, when, or what we would be doing. Learning to surrender and wait for God’s time and way of bringing His plans about was hard but necessary.

Relying on Him. Throughout our years of ministry in Peru we had learned to depend on the Lord in different ways. After serving in Peru for ten years we had grown comfortable - enjoying the ministry there and who we were working with. Not wanting to stay there just because we were comfortable, my husband and I began to pray and ask God to show us if He still wanted us there. Ten years later, God led us back to Canada bringing us to a new place of reliance.

Being reliant on God doesn’t mean being comfortable but it does bring peace.

Trusting that God has worked all things for my good, I believe that God knows the plans He has for me (Jeremiah 29:11) and that those plans are to shape me and mold me to be more like Christ.

Our Fortress

Back in June of 2019, I had written Psalm 31:3 in my journal and then rewrote it to apply it to me.

“For you are my rock and my fortress; therefore, for your name’s sake [not for my comfort or my good or my pride] lead me and guide me.”

In our times of experiencing huge changes, God has been a fortress for us, a solid rock who does not change. He has protected us along the way, and I continue to find refuge in Him. My heart’s desire in my life (which included our transition and time of facing new beginnings) is that the Lord would lead us and guide us for His name’s sake, for His glory.

I thank the Lord for leading us and guiding us. We do not just have a new ministry, or a new position with a new organization, but, we ourselves have been renewed in the process.

Questions to Consider

What has God taught you in your times of transition? How has your transition drawn you closer to the Lord?

 

Diane Fietje serves with the MORE Network as a part-time administrator and full-time MK champion. Along with her husband Mike and their children, she spent 20 years in Peru with a mission organization serving children at risk. Having experienced transition back to Canada, Diane knows how hard it can be to readjust to life in North America and is delighted to be able to help others in similar circumstances.



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Did you miss our past blogs? Check them out below!

 

5 Ways to Pray for MORE Network in 2024

At the MORE Network, the key verse we’ve chosen for 2024 is Exodus 33:14: “The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Exodus 33:14 (NIV)

Prior to this verse, God had told Moses to lead the Israelites to a land flowing with milk and honey but that He would not go with them. In response Moses says in verse 15, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here.”

Just as Moses did not want to go forward without God, neither do we in the MORE Network. Not only do we want God to direct us in the way we should go in 2024, but we also want His presence to go with us.

Here are 5 Areas of Prayer for the MORE Network in 2024! 

Read more...

Lament of a Returning Missionary

Loosely based on Psalm 13, here is a prayer of lament of a returning missionary. 

How long, Lord, will I miss our former HOME where I sobbed in frustration and prayed, pounding on heaven’s door to learn language(s) & culture, and how to buy food and learn to survive, let alone thrive? ...

 

Read more...

Christmas Memories from Around the World

Watermelon, Handprints and Fireworks ... What do they all have in common? They are all elements of favourite Christmas memories and traditions from our MORE Network staff, from around the world! 

Read more...

Deeply Rooted

We invite you to join us during this season of generosity so that, together, we can give Missionary Kids and their families the opportunities to experience a richer soil in Christ and broader branches in community. 

Read more...

The Eternal Benefits of Debriefing

I recently returned from RE-VIEW, a week-long family debriefing retreat, where I served as an adult facilitator and debriefer.

While there, I had the honour of hearing the stories of missionaries who have worked in the overseas ministry context for many years. And boy, did I feel inadequate for the task as some of them had faithfully served a lifetime, having much more cross-cultural experience than I have and the wisdom that accompanies such incredible life experiences.

But what struck me the most and motivated me all the more to listen, was that many of these seasoned missionaries never had the opportunity to actually share their full stories with anyone – that is their deeply personal and valuable stories, the good, the bad and the ugly. And that’s really a reflection and a limitation of our modern missionary movement; missionaries often feel obligated to share only the positive experiences and their successes, lest they be judged or misunderstood, or worse, lose vital financial or personal support...

Read more...

Bonds Beyond Borders: The Impact of ReBoot on MKs

There is something so beautiful about the quick bonds that form between MKs (Missionary Kids), who understand each other despite having drastically different life experiences. It’s like a breath of fresh air to be surrounded by people who have gone through similar life experiences. It helps you to share on a more honest and intimate level.

Each year, the MORE Network runs Classic ReBoot, a re-entry retreat for missionaries’ kids (MKs) aged 17-20 returning to life in Canada. This is a crucial time in the lives of these young adults, many of whom are not only adjusting to a new culture, but also to new schools, jobs, relationships, and living situations.

In this article, Malik, shares about his own experience at Classic ReBoot, as well as an inside scoop from attendees of the most recent Classic ReBoot!

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Adult Third Culture Kid Research: The Heart Behind the Research

This summer, we had the privilege of connecting with Shelly Lyons about her research on Adult Third Culture Kids. Listen in to hear more about the “heart” behind the research and her big picture dreams for how it will be used! 

Adult Third Culture Kids (ATCK) are adults whose lives were shaped by mobility and cross-cultural experiences during their childhood. According to Merriam Webster, a “Third Culture Kid (TCK)” refers to "a child who grows up in a culture different from the one in which his or her parents grew up ... The 'third culture' to which the term refers is the mixed identity that a child assumes, influenced both by their parents' culture and the culture in which they are raised."

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Is Competition a Biblical Value?

One Sunday morning in the church where I pastored, a family came to me and shared how some of their friends had left our church to go to another church: a "competitor church". They were completely distracted by their news. Does the Bible encourage us to compete with fellow believers? Is there such a thing as a competitor church?

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Deny Yourself: My Story of Self-Denial & Abundant Life

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” -Mark 8:34

I still remember the moment I heard the words of Mark 8, grasping their significance for the first time. Sitting amongst peers while at university – I was largely preoccupied by ambition and my pursuit of excellence.

I didn’t know a lot back then about what it means to follow Jesus, but I did know Jesus as the Saviour who pulls little children closer, drowning out harshness with His greatness. His hands had sheltered my heart throughout my youth and brought along gifts of companionship, discipleship, and understanding. I felt cherished by Jesus and it was his inordinate compassion towards me that kept me tethered to Him. 

Deny - the word sprang out at me, convicting and exposing me. 

What did that mean? 

I was well positioned to pursue the American Dream and succeed at it, and denying myself in any way was not really part of the plan. So tangibly struck, I fumbled to respond to those words within our group, finally landing on, “I don’t think I’m doing that”. 

“For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.” -Mark 8:35

Oh boy, somehow denying myself was connected to losing my life and that was not anywhere on my to-do list. I was on track for a comfortable life, full of all the perks of a first-world society, with no regard for the reality that no one avoids suffering anyway...

Read more...

5 Ways to Pray for MORE Network in 2024
At the MORE Network, the key verse we’ve chosen for 2024 is Exodus 33:14: “The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Exodus 33:14 (NIV) Prior to this verse, God had told Moses to l...
Read more...
Lament of a Returning Missionary
Loosely based on Psalm 13, here is a prayer of lament of a returning missionary.  How long, Lord, will I miss our former HOME where I sobbed in frustration and prayed, pounding on heaven’s door to learn language(s...
Read more...
Christmas Memories from Around the World
Watermelon, Handprints and Fireworks ... What do they all have in common? They are all elements of favourite Christmas memories and traditions from our MORE Network staff, from around the world! 
Read more...
Deeply Rooted
We invite you to join us during this season of generosity so that, together, we can give Missionary Kids and their families the opportunities to experience a richer soil in Christ and broader branches in community. 
Read more...
The Eternal Benefits of Debriefing
I recently returned from RE-VIEW, a week-long family debriefing retreat, where I served as an adult facilitator and debriefer. While there, I had the honour of hearing the stories of missionaries who have worked in...
Read more...
Bonds Beyond Borders: The Impact of ReBoot on MKs
There is something so beautiful about the quick bonds that form between MKs (Missionary Kids), who understand each other despite having drastically different life experiences. It’s like a breath of fresh air to be surro...
Read more...
Adult Third Culture Kid Research: The Heart Behind the Research
This summer, we had the privilege of connecting with Shelly Lyons about her research on Adult Third Culture Kids. Listen in to hear more about the “heart” behind the research and her big picture dreams for how it will b...
Read more...
Is Competition a Biblical Value?
One Sunday morning in the church where I pastored, a family came to me and shared how some of their friends had left our church to go to another church: a "competitor church". They were completely distracted by their ne...
Read more...
Deny Yourself: My Story of Self-Denial & Abundant Life
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” -Mark 8:34 I still remember the moment I heard the words of Mark 8, grasping their significance for the first time. Si...
Read more...
Ministry at the Speed of Relationships
Building relationships is the first and foremost thing we should be about - everything else comes out of relationships. Building relationships with people from other cultures is so important, as humor; lifestyle; values...
Read more...