Vacations and magazines. These may seem like the trivial things in life.  Something inconsequential and not even worth mentioning when talking about missionary life. But I have found these are the kind of unimportant small things that have kept me going in the big essential things of staying the long haul on the mission field.

Before the days of social media, online shopping and instagram, a magazine was a way to escape into the pleasant world of another far off place. Since I love decorating, pretty things and anything American-farm-life; a few moments thumbing through pages of gardens, antiques and charmingly furnished fixer-uppers (all in English mind you!) was a soaked up diversion to homeschooling, learning kanji, crowded trains and church work. I still love getting this magazine. It's worth the splurge to have it arrive in my #105 Tokyo apartment mailbox all the way from rural America. These short times to disengage and let down are well needed and a vital part of trying to live a sustainable rhythm in cross-cultural ministry.

Another aspect that has helped me last the ongoing culture stress and ministry and personnel challenges of our missionary life has been holidays.  Over the years we've acclimated to our British colleagues and forget to call it "vacation" as Americans do.  Whatever you call it, it is time away! Well-deserved and well-spent.  A change of pace, place and people. A time to not read emails, not solve problems...a time to put down the heavy burdens and just be.

We have been blessed to be with OMF Japan, a field that values holidays; graciously granting us up to 4 weeks a year and providing affordable places to stay. Granted most of our workers don't take their full vacation time each year, but we have found the more holidays we take the more we can work.  Skimping on time away will have to be paid for eventually and in the end it may cost more than we can pay.  

You would think it was easy to take a holiday. But we find we have to be very purposeful, planning it months in advance, keeping our calendar clear of meetings and obligations.  This past holiday we had to leave projects unfinished and I know I let others down by my absence. But this break was so needed to keep me going. There is always more work to be done than we can possibly do and somehow everyone survives our week away; a well-needed reminder that we are not as indispensable as our prideful hearts imagine. 

Since age is creeping up on me, I am more aware of my limitations and weaknesses. And with the many years toiled, comes a little more humility to admit I need rest. I know I still have a lot to learn but I am thankful for God's sustaining grace as I try to figure out what it means to work, and rest, unto Him.