by Vala Long, missionary to Madagascar

Our family felt the Lord leading us back into full-time missionary service at a mission conference in November 2013. Now, almost five years later, we are finally on the field for which He burdened us. Five years – for my children, this has been a significant portion of their childhood. In some ways it seems like such a long time ago, yet in others, it seems like a simple turn of a page in a book.

I remember our survey trip so well. It was the spring after that mission conference. We split our kids up between four families because, let’s be honest, who really wants to take four extra kids for two weeks right in the middle of spring sports and school activities. Then, Phil and I left Kansas City International Airport for the long trip…thirty-six hours to be precise.

We spent the two weeks gathering photos for our video, asking questions of some of the missionaries in the country, looking at what we could buy in the country, and making a list of what would need to be brought with us. We spent a few days in the bush, and the rest of our time in the capital. We felt like it was a great survey trip and had prepared us to present the field of Madagascar in churches.

After deputation, we spent nine months in France learning the French language because Madagascar was once a French colony and French is still the official government language.  Honestly, it was a great time! We felt even more prepared to come to the island.

Then, a little over four months ago we arrived in the place for which we had prayed over the last five years. I remember getting in the car and leaving the airport. As we drove down the road, I looked at the trash in the street and the stands along the side of the road where they sell rice and the raw meat is hanging just above the open rice bins. I saw the little shacks so many of the people live in and a little boy begging a white man for some money. I remember thinking, “Wow, we’re finally here. Ready or not, here we go!”

The truth is, we have longed to be here. We have prayed to be here. We have felt that the Lord prepared us in a special way to be here. Yet, we know that each day is a new day for which He prepares us and gives us grace to live here. Madagascar is not the easiest country to live in, but it is our home. Each day we spend here, it feels more like home and the burden to reach the amazing people of this land grows deeper and stronger. We long for the day when we will be able to share the Gospel with a Malagasy person in their language. Sometimes it seems like it takes so long to accomplish things, but we know that “with the Lord, one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”

Five years is a long time to prepare for a move, but every experience we had has prepared us in a unique way for this island. Many people have asked, “Isn’t there a quicker way to get to the mission field?” Maybe there is, but quicker is not always better. What the Lord has taught me is that the days (and the years) are His. What He asks us to do is to walk in obedience and be busy about His work each day that He gives us.