Ask a Missionary: Time-Tested Answers from Those Who've Been There Before Book

Contributors xi

1 Imagine: Your Own Gripping Story 1

The Search for Answers l

Toward Your Own Story 3

2 Guidance: Discovering God's Plan 5

Signs of Divine Direction 10

Opposition and Obstacles 15

The Ways and Means of Service 25

Where in the World? 29

The Time is Right 36

My Thoughts so Far 40

3 Agencies: Researching the Options 43

Benefits of an Agency 46

Benefits of Independent Service 52

Salary or Support? 55

A Thorough Exam 59

Agencies Large and Small 63

When to Begin? 67

My Thoughts so Far 68

4 Training: Getting it Right 73

Right from the Start 77

To Train or Not to Train? 80

Avenues of Training 88

Academically Speaking 95

Let's Talk about Language 102

De-Stressed Culture Shock 108

Things Nobody Told Me 110

Yes. No. It Depends. 113

My Thoughts so Far 115

5 Funding: Figuring it Out 119

Valuable Support-Raising Attitudes 122

Begging or Being Sent? 127

Effective Support-Raising Approaches 133

How Much is Enough? 136

Paid Off and Debt Free 139

Ready to Retire 145

Vision. Sacrifice. Perseverance 148

My Thoughts so Far 149

6 Singles, Couples, and Kids: Counting the Cost 153

Questions from Singles 157

Apprehensive Parents or Grandparents 166

Disinterested Spouses 169

Small Children in a Big World 171

The ABCs of Schooling Options 174

Resistance from Older Children 179

MyThoughts so Far 181

7 The Challenge: Moving Forward 185

Power that Overcomes Fear 188

Acknowledgments 191

Notes 193

Resources for Further Study 195