Mimi

Nearly 20 years ago, Mimi, along with her father, quietly sat on our couch as Jan interviewed her.  We were needing a “helper” – the local term for maid/cook, to replace Mimi’s older sister who had left for another job.  The father answered most of the questions as Mimi sat stoically, unsure about the prospects of working for foreigners.

But Mimi quickly adjusted, endearing herself to Sara and Hannah even though they were several years younger than Mimi.  Jan and I helped her get through college, after which she found other jobs to support herself.  But she remained close friends with Sara, Hannah, and Martha, spending many hours with them in our home.  Often their conversations would center around God’s work in their lives.

Mimi visiting Hannah and Martha in 2008

Mimi also became involved in our Bible studies and training programs, eventually leading trainings herself, especially with young people.  Blessed with a beautiful voice, she learned to lead worship in our church and at other activities.  After finishing a semester of graduate school, a cousin of Mimi’s offered her a job teaching English in a neighboring Asian country (for security reasons, I will not name that country).  Sensing God’s leadership, she left for that country in 2004, just before Jan and I were diagnosed with our cancers.

For the past 11 years, Mimi has supported herself in that Asian country teaching English in schools and as a private tutor.  With her earnings she has helped her parents purchase a house and lot.  But more importantly, Mimi has been a self-supporting missionary.  For several years she led worship and Sunday School in a church for Filipinos, helping that church to grow.  She also conducted Bible studies and fellowships in her apartment.  One of her favorite outreach tools is having nationals come to her apartment for English learning while using the Bible as the text and then communicating the gospel to them.

Last year, the Lord led Mimi to leave the Filipino church and to focus totally on reaching the native people of this Asian country with the gospel.  Through incredible circumstances, the Lord has led her to prominent nationals who have introduced Mimi to others. With her new friends and acquaintances, Mimi has started a house church, using her bathtub as a baptistery.  She just recently had our Philippine discipleship lessons translated into the local language.

Mimi loves the Lord and enjoys the challenge of enlarging God’s kingdom wherever He leads.  With her vivacious personality and humble spirit, she easily meets people and has become a dear friend to many.   But living alone in a foreign country is never an easy task, so please pray for Mimi as she continues to grow in her relationship with the Lord, finds new friends, counsels them, and disciples them.  And pray that God may raise up more people like Mimi, for whom making Christ known is a way of life.