Do you strive to really get to know your missionaries and their families so that you can be the most help and pray most specifically?
Recently, I received a lovely email from a supporting church. They noticed a disconnect between the ladies in their church and the ladies they were supporting on the field. To remedy this, this church sent a short "get-to-know you" survey to the missionary wives/ladies. What a great idea! I pray it is a blessing to them to meet these women and see them for who they are, and pray more specifically. I asked permission to post it here so that perhaps you and your church can also benefit from this idea.
Name: Barbara Sutton Hinson
Field: Georgia, Europe
Tell us about your children: My oldest is Nathanael (Jude). He is 2 1/2. He is highly imaginative right now and spends a lot of time in his own world of robots, dinosaurs, trains, elephants, and Little Einsteins. Jude is very smart, and requests to “do school” almost every day. Though he doesn’t know all the letters, he knows some, and knows the difference between Georgian, Russian, and English writing. (the 3 common languages here) He knows colors, shapes, and numbers. Our second son is Zachary Evan. He is 15 months, has NO fear, and is mischievous and stubborn. He is my character builder, as it is hard sometimes for me to know what to do with him. He loves life and is very happy. His favorite things are his pacifier and his stuffed turtle. Both boys love music and like to sing, play violin and piano.
Tell us about the country and people God has called you and your husband to serve: Georgia is a small country, about the size of South Carolina, nestled between the very large and dangerous Russia and Turkey. They have been a battle ground for centuries. There are Georgian Scriptures used in the canon for translating the KJV Bible from the 3rd century B.C. They claim their glory days from their King David’s reign in the late 1000s and early 1100s. They are warm, friendly people, known for their hospitality. Fiercely loyal and nationalistic, they are also known for their bravery in battle. However, drink is a huge problem in Georgia. Reportedly in their history, when the Georgian army partied after a victory, the enemy came in and took the city because the men were all drunk! They will party HARD. Drinking is a part of everyday life. Many Georgians prepare their own food, juice, and liquor.
The capital city of Tbilisi is fairly modern and offers amenities, shopping, and other attractions much like any city in the United States. In the villages, however, there is very little. The houses are old with no running water, and the people live off the land much like a 3rd world country. It is just the Georgian way, as well as many being too poor to move anywhere else.
Added: The people are very warm, kind and generous. They love to entertain guests. They love music. They love, love, LOVE children. They are very loyal to Georgia and to the Orthodox church.
Added: The people are very warm, kind and generous. They love to entertain guests. They love music. They love, love, LOVE children. They are very loyal to Georgia and to the Orthodox church.
What are your hobbies or favorite pastimes? I like to play violin and some piano (I am learning, as it is a necessity). I also enjoy sewing, making lesson plans, writing music, blogging/writing articles, and doing computer design for ministry use. If I get a choice, I love to just sit on the floor with my boys and play. If I get a chance to visit with a friend, I love to do that too!
Do you have a blog that we can access? Yes. forChristmyKing.blogspot.com
What things do you miss most from the States? I miss my parents, mother-in-law, and landlord’s family- mostly for selfish (babysitting) reasons. (We skype with our parents twice a month or so. Skype is wonderful!) I miss being able to make a quick run to Walmart to get something, instead of spending a day at shops and the bazaar trying to find what I need. I also miss the hymns in English.
Can you share some of the homemaking challenges you've encountered? I don’t even know where to start. It can take so long to set up a home when each item has to be found/bought in a different store. Matching sets are unusual, which drives me crazy. We have a small yard and no garden; most Georgian food is made with fresh ingredients. I grew up on a farm and have no idea how to buy the produce and spices we need ahead of time without it spoiling in the interim. Also, many of the recipes I used in the States simply don’t work here. I have no microwave, no bisquicks, no vanilla, and a very finicky oven. Of course, measurements here are in grams, milliliters, centigrade, and so forth. Though food is cheap, especially bread, children’s clothes, shoes, and other items are VERY expensive. Jude is outgrowing the baby stage, but Zachary still needs things sometimes, and it is usually outrageously priced. This is normal in Georgia, but no one knows why. Also, keeping a house ready for guests with two toddlers is difficult. I suppose this is true anywhere, but here, guests frequently come, and unannounced. I’ve been told many times, because extended family all lives together, that the grandmas watch the children so the mom can keep house ready all the time. Obviously, that won’t work for us, and I don’t want a nanny, as only “rich foreigners” do that.
What are the most pressing things on your heart that we can be praying about with you? Language study! It has brought me to tears lately! I try to balance raising my boys, keeping house, and study; but Georgian is among the most difficult languages to learn for an English speaker. It cannot just be “picked up” by listening (unless you are 5 in Georgian kindergarten!) I know supporting churches like you are, in essence, paying us to learn language right now, as we must learn it in order to work with the people, and I feel a poor steward of that trust.
Also, the boys. It is common here for children to not be taught, disciplined, or trained in any way until school age (6). I try to teach them character at home, and then anytime we are out, they are spoiled and pampered by everyone trying to keep them from crying. I’ve even had people take a crying child whom I was disciplining out of my arms to give them a cookie and make them happy! (Spanking is legal and fine here, but as I said, no one does it to a toddler.) I don’t want my kids getting older thinking that the world revolves around them. I want them to grow to love the Lord and in so doing, be a blessing to others; even at a young age.
What do you want the ladies to know about you? I’m just an ordinary wife and mom, (as you would see on my blog). I don’t have a “special connection” with God- no super powers that make me stand out in a crowd. I’m just an ordinary woman. I am saved. I love the Lord, and I seek to serve Him as best I can.
Anything else? I struggle, as any other missionary wife/woman on the field, for friends. I don’t speak the language yet, and we try not to socialize too much with other foreigners because of the stigma that is there. Also, I haven’t heard from any of those who were my closest friends before leaving for Georgia. I know we part ways, enter different circles, and life goes on for you; but especially the new missionary lady and children are struggling. I encourage you to pray and reach out to the missionary ladies you know. Encourage your child to be pen-pals with a missionary kid. They so need it!
God bless you!
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