OAC Publications
Borderlines
December 1997

WOMAN'S WORK?!

by Hilde Mathieson

What is it like to be a woman on the mission field? Doubtless there are as many answers as there are women. Single people have to cope with work and home on their own. They are, nevertheless, some of the most effective missionaries on the field. Married women are often overloaded with home and family responsibilities and may find it hard to adapt fully to the host culture while coping with dust and nappies. Each situation is different, but most have to juggle the usual pressures of society with those of following a missionary calling.

The family-oriented culture of southern Europe perhaps puts more social pressure on people than one would find in Britain. Then there are the difficulties of working in another language - or, as in my case, two!

Being part of an international team can complicate matters further: our small church of twenty-five adults includes a Canadian and a Korean family. Everyone has different expectations. Should I attempt to conform to them all, or simply try to be 'me'?

In practice, however, there is little time to actually dwell on these questions. I must live and at least fulfil some of the expectations placed on me by mission, supporters, local church and ministry colleagues, as well as Spanish society in general, but above all my Lord. Thank God I can rest assured that he does not expect of me more than can be done in the time he gives me! But in the pressures of life I am no less vulnerable to mixing up the priorities.

So where do the hours go? To be honest, more of my time is taken up running the home than I would like. Dust just gets everywhere, and it often drives me crazy. In addition to other regular household jobs such as cooking and entertaining, a constant stream of people seem to pass through. I would have so much more time if I didn't have to 'live'!

Then I sometimes wish Chris could write fluent German, as I absolutely loathe writing prayer letters. He likes to write "This is what I would be doing if I didn't have to keep all you lot informed..."!

From time to time I actually get around to some 'real ministry'. Each year since I have been in Spain has been quite different. But I came to work with a local church and continue to support our present church where possible. This year I am teaching Sunday school frequently, look after the children at other meetings, support and sometimes lead women's ministry and occasionally clean the building.

Other areas of ministry involve supporting Chris in the open air. I do not preach myself, but I try to make it to the Friday night meetings in Madrid's city centre.

I am also a member of a large choir which has formed this year to do a number of 'Black Gospel' concerts. This project will culminate in a presentation at the National Auditorium in December, coinciding with the National Evangelical Congress. So far, the pre-evangelistic concerts have been very effective in getting large numbers into Bible studies, which is very encouraging.

But my first priority and main interest is now concentrated on the work of our ministry to the disabled, Mefi-boset (see Borderlines N^o14). This year we have a meeting for the mentally disabled every other Sunday night, but we also want to extend the vision and ministry nation-wide.