We arrived in Springfield, MO sometime late afternoon on the fourth where we were picked up and taken to our motel. We unpacked, then headed to headquarters to meet some of the other missionary candidates. We had a relaxing Saturday and Sunday then hit the road EARLY on Monday morning. We all met for breakfast then meetings, meetings and more meetings. One lady who was especially helpful to us was Faith H. she helped us figure out where, and when we were suppose to be in a meeting. A lot of that week is a real blurr as it was NOT what I was expecting. If memory serves me, I think we were scheduled to meet with the Home Missions Committee on Wednesday or Thursday. Monday flew past and then it was Tuesday. We arrived and was somewhere in AG headquarters when Faith found us and said a couple who were scheduled for their interview didn't show so would we like to take their time slot. My response, ''well, I didn't come dressed to meet the big guys"; but we agreed to meet at 1p.m. with the committee. Now understand, I thought we were there JUST TO MEET THEM for just an ''interview''. We arrived in this large conference room at a table surrounded by all these ''important'' people. I do remember the head of the US Home Missions Department Charles H. was not there because he had come down with something. But everyone else who was anyone with Home Missions was there!
I have to say this meeting for me was very 'intimidating'. I still wasn't sure about this ''call'' and all the change. I was sure Tim was going to change his mind. But up to this minute everything was still the same and here we were to share with this group ''why'' we ''wanted'' to go to Pine Ridge.
We sat down, and Brother Kessler, who was the Intercultural Department Head at that time. He looked at me, leaned back in his chair, crossed his arms and said directly to me "Delores, (and first of all NO one ever calls me by my first name)! Delores, tell us, just why are you here today. Now, I'm sitting there thinking, I have NO idea! So I figured, girl you can be 'spiritual' and LIE or just TELL THE TRUTH. Well, I know the truth always comes out so just go for it! I began with, "Well, I've been married to Tim for 24 years (at that time) and I if I am going to stay married to him, I have to go to Pine Ridge"! And from there whatever was coming out of my mouth I don't recollect other than I felt "Oh Tim is going to be so very upset cause the folk are going to figure 'this girl is NOT ready for this" and then life was going to be pretty tough. Course for me either way I figured was going to be ''pretty tough''.
Then they turned to Tim and asked him the same question and he touched their heart with his heart felt call! I can't remember what all he said because I was still trying to get over my part of the interview. Tim finished and I was ready to get out of that room WHEN Faith H. spoke up and said "This is not usually the course of action for our committee; but I think perhaps we should go ahead and take a vote on accepting this couple as Nationally Appointed Home Missionaries to Pine Ridge Reservation". I thinking WHAT??? Now the normal course of action is, you meet with the committee, share your heart, leave, they vote and then they contact you no later than the end of March. "WHAT JUST HAPPENED" is flooding my thoughts and my heart began to pound like mad. I just knew they could see it beat! Within a couple minutes I hear all those in favor of this couple becoming NA Home Missionaries raise your hand, EVERYONE RAISED THEIR HAND! So all smiles they shake our hands and congratulate us and give us their encouragement and inform us we are now to put together a BUDGET and have photos made for Prayer Cards. My head is swirling, what is a Budget for and why do we need prayer cards. This was not soaking in!
We walked out of that conference room and looked at one another and I asked Tim, "What just happened?"
His reply "I think we are now Notionally Appointed Home Missionaries with the Assemblies of God to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation!" OK, what does that mean? It meant, we go to the motel and TRY and figure out how much we are going to need to raise to get to the field! How much do we need to raise, HOW DO WE KNOW? We've never done this before? Who do we talk with, we have NO idea. Now since that time, Home Missions has figured out a budget for Missionaries being appointed and set that budget for you; but in 1994 they didn't do that. So now we are back at the motel trying to figure out how much money we are going to need each month for living allowance and work budget? Somehow after a lot of praying, we came as close as we could think of and had it ready to turn in.
Now on Thursday we were to come in ''dressed'' for our photo opt for pictures for Prayer Ministry Cards. That was fun I must admit. They came up with some good pictures and we settled on one and off we went to have cards made to have on hand when we started our ''deputation'' (raising our money to go on the field).
On Friday we all met together for a wonderful banquet where we sat with Brother Kessler at his table. It was then he shared with me his wife gave 'almost' the same answer the the same question as I when it was posed to her. So I should feel ok. It seems many Missionary wives have that first feeling about the call to missions.
OK somewhere in all these meetings I can't remember when exactly; but a night meeting, we all met with Brother Charles H. and it was then he informed us as National Missionaries we were to go home and get prepared to begin our budget raising. Understand this point, The Assemblies of God must recognize you as Missionaries and then they give you ''authority'' to contact churches in order to raise your ''budget'' that will get you onto the Missions Field. Thank the Lord for Speed The Light that provided all Missionaires who make request a Speed The Light Vehicle. We went to Brother H. and explained, we can't go home and ''just resign our church". During those days, they published photos of newly appointed missionaries. We requested they hold off on us in the Pentecostal Evangel until we could tell our congregation. His response, ''Well, you need to do it quickly". Easier said than done when you've developed a ''family with your congregation" and you have many things scheduled that you are responsible for! Saturday morning we caught our flight and headed HOME to Cocoa, Florida to our Church Family wondering HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO THIS NOW?
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