The Cost of Caring

Have you ever prayed for a request for God to “send someone” to minister to a person? Were you surprised by the way God answered that prayer? What did it cost for that prayer to be answered? Is there a cost too great to pay for a soul to turn to Christ? My husband (Darrell) and I prayed a prayer like that! About 7 years ago (really before then) God began a process to totally change the lives of my husband, myself and many others as well as give us blessings for a lifetime. It was shortly after we began praying that prayer of “sending someone” to minister to  a person that I realized God was answering our prayers by sending us to a foreign country. A cost we never calculated or considered. 

We had recently moved from Georgia to South Carolina and I was working at Ft. Jackson Army Base. God gave me the opportunity to work with a male nurse who was not a Christian and an active duty physician that was a practicing Buddhist.  The physician and I developed a unique relationship. As we talked more and more about our religions, he began calling me "The Church Lady". We worked together 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. He was watching every move I made, including my reactions to situations and would often comment on my reactions.

Our conversations were fun and friendly, but every now and then (usually when it was just the two of us) we’d have conversations about Buddhism and Christianity. He was very adamant that he would remain a Buddhist and would challenge Christian topics with me (always in a friendly manner). This is the thing, I knew seeds were being sown and I knew that the prayers of many faithful friends and family praying with me was making a difference. We began going a little deeper in discussions and it led to more questions and more watching my reactions. I knew even at this point that God was moving in his heart.

PDP (the name I will use for the physician) and his family were sent to Germany for their next assignment. Darrell and I committed to praying together for God to place a Godly couple in their lives to continue building on the foundation that God used us to help lay through the long days at work and other social opportunities we had.  PDP had begun asking questions (challenging) about Christianity. Friends, within 6 months PDP contacted me asking us to move to Germany so that I could work in the clinic there!  The seeds had been planted for sure and the ground was starting to feel fertile. 

But, Darrell had recently retired from a government job and after living in 5 different states he had made it very clear that he was NOT moving again. God had another plan. The day I received the job offer from PDP, I came home from work and told Darrell about it. When Darrell agreed to move to Germany, I KNEW God was moving and HIS plan was being carried out in US! Darrell and I chatted about what the move would mean financially, to our aging parents, our daughters, and our young grandchildren. It would cost us a lot. It would cost time lost with our family, memories with our grands, and years that we wouldn’t get back with our parents. Would it really be worth it? Surely God could use a Christian couple already in Germany to continue witnessing to PDP. BUT… God was calling us. We told our families and really only got one positive response and that was from my mother. She saw this as a fulfillment of a desire from my college days to go to a foreign field as a missionary. 

We had NO CLUE what we were in for, but on February 18, 2020, we boarded the plane bound for Grafenwoehr, Germany, a place we had never heard of until 2 short months earlier. We landed, got to our hotel, and it began to snow, and snow, and snow! We adjusted quickly though. Two weeks later, Covid joined us in Germany and restrictions threw curve balls in every direction. But Covid along with the passing of 3 of our parents, gave more opportunity to set an example and discuss the peace that comes through Christ to PDP. 

My father died and 2 weeks later my father-in-law died. Darrell had stayed in SC after my father's death to be with his father and I went back to Germany alone. When I got the call that my wonderful father in law passed, PDP said to me, “Your faith during this time is a very beautiful thing.” I told him he could have the same thing through Christ. The cost of witnessing in a foreign country as our parents were passing felt high, but we were continuing to sow seeds for Christ- A cost that was worthy. 

The PDP family began faithfully attending our church and we continued to see God’s work in PDPs heart (his wife is a Christian). Not very long after the death of our fathers, the PDP family had a couple of trials of their own. They were able to see God’s provision, love, and compassion as God placed special physicians and nurses along with a loving church family to meet their every need. I wish I had time to sit with a cup of tea or coffee and share with you some of the many conversations we had. God provided so many opportunities to share His love with PDP! 

The PDP family’s time in Germany ended and they moved back to the states. Oh how so many of us continued to pray for those seeds that had been sown. Imagine the joy in my heart when in early January, 2024 our FB messenger conversation ended with PDP telling me that, “I’ll continue my Buddhist talking points with you just to keep you on your toes despite my journey in being closer with God as I read the Bible.” I was absolutely pumped! Sisters, for over 4 years I, as well as others had planted and watered… the increase was coming!  Four months later, on May 5, 2024, I received the text message of all messages! It was a photo and video of PDP’s baptism!!! Sisters can I just tell you that chills still travel up my legs when I think of this day! After some LOUD praising Jesus (praise God I was home alone), I called my bestie (who had also been praying) and began sharing the answered request! 

Sweet sister, let me tell you that when you have just a small part in another person’s coming to Christ, your sacrifices become so insignificant. This is the thing though: even if you are not blessed to see those seeds harvested, you will be blessed by knowing you did your part. You shared the love of God with a sinner. While in Germany, the PDP family was not the only one that I prayed for seeds to be planted and watered. A single medic stationed there for a year just got engaged. We received a wedding invitation because of the love she received from us as well as our church family in Germany.  You’d love to hear of the fun we had with our adopted military families and their children. We became known as Oma and Opa to 4 of them. Or I could tell you of medics that I worked with daily.  While they didn’t make a profession of faith, they saw Jesus. They heard about Jesus and they knew that they were loved for who they were. They inherited a “Momma Hanna” while in Germany. Why? Because a crazy, old couple from South Carolina counted the cost of leaving all we knew to sow seeds. Not just seeds for the PDP family, but seeds along the way when God opened a door. Sister, God has placed you exactly where you are for “such a time as this.” Look for people and opportunities to love those in your path. Intentionally “live sent,” “on mission” for Christ. 

As for our family, yes, we missed them and missed many opportunities. I was blessed to be at my father’s bedside when he passed and Darrell with his father. We were blessed to have gone to Germany at a time that we could utilize technology to stay in touch with our families, seeing each other as we chatted and celebrated things. Was it hard at times? YES! Did it cost? OH, YES! But hear me when I say we never doubted our calling to be in Germany. We never minded the cost. God supplied every need and far more than we could have asked for and He will do the same for you when you give yourself for His service and determine to live intentionally for Him. 

Never in a million years did we think that God would send US to Germany in answer to our own prayer, but He did. Hear me here sweet sister. I'd do it again tomorrow if God opened the door for me to take part in seeing another unsaved sinner make a decision to accept Christ as their Savior. What it cost us is nothing in comparison to Christ hanging on the cross for me and you. But the blessing of knowing there is a new name written down in glory and that God used US to play a small part in it is simply amazing! So- my prayer for you is that as God lays people on your heart and puts them in your path that you will not only pray for them, will also be willing to lay aside earthly pleasure and count the cost of NOT being obedient. Sister, God has a plan for your life, a plan for you to be a vessel of honor sowing seeds: planting, watering, tending, and harvesting as He opens doors. Live sent!  

Verses to meditate on: Rev. 3:8; 1 Cor 3:5-9; Matt. 9:37-38; Jeremiah 33:3, Prov. 3:5-6

`Go Sew Seeds for Our Savior