what we are doing this
In short we are going to be missionaries in Suriname because the Great Commission has told us to (Matthew 28:18-20). We are also going because we have first been forgiven - born again. If it is true that all have sinned against God, and He is just enough to punish all sinners, but that He is not willing that any should perish that all should come to repentance, then it only makes sense to tell. What more important task is there? We believe that this is true, so we are going where the Gospel needs to be preached. The Gospel is that Jesus died for our sins and was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). For a more detailed presentation of the Gospel, see NeedGod or Way of the Master. They have interactive sites that explain it well because they are better programmers than me. We encourage everyone to check out these sites to better understand what has happened to us.
More specifically, we have been called, set apart for this service. Sometime around mid 2006, I (Jared) began thinking about missions a lot. I prayed about it, and felt a call to missions. At that time, I didn't know any specifics about my calling, and I had never been on a mission trip. I knew that since I was married, if this was a real call from God, then He would call Wendy too. I found out a couple of weeks later, He already did. Though I had never said anything about it, a couple of weeks later, Wendy told me that she had missions on her mind a lot lately. We, not knowing how to proceed, responded by being obedient to what was clear and going on a volunteer trip with our church. We went to Suriname.
When we got back from that trip, Wendy prayed and got a clear "yes," that we were supposed to go for a longer term. We began filling out the IMB application process before I was absolutely sure. In the mean time, I talked to several missionaries and pastors to ask about their calling. Not all of them encouraged us to go; we were even told to reconsider, due to the cost of leaving home and being a missionary. A couple of people said that they couldn't see us doing anything else. By the end of the next Suriname volunteer trip, which Wendy and I led, I was sure I had the same calling. We completed the IMB application after we returned from the trip.
There are things that we will miss, including our families and a "regular" life, but what else could be more important? The Gospel is good news, and it's worth all we'll leave to tell people who have never heard.
