My friend, Sonia Reitsma, 15-years old from beautiful Smithers, B.C.,  dreams of being a missionary.   She and I just exchanged e-mails a few years ago (see was 11 then!) to help her do her Missions badge for her girls club GEMS at her church. 

You're welcome to join us... 

Sonia: Hi Mr. T.!  Really I call you Gary back home, around Mom and Dad's house, but at school it's different.  I'm at GEMS and I've got some questions for you. 

Gary:        Fire away... 

Sonia:        ... but don't make your answers too long... I've got to write it all out too, you know! 

Gary:        It's good for you, Sonia.  Nothing comes easy on the mission field.... you might as well learn that right away! 

Sonia:        Ya... whatever... 

Gary:          First question? 

Sonia: OK, here goes... Why did you become a missionary? 

Gary:        I became a missionary because God gave me the experience 7 years ago of seeing the need that Russian people have for the Gospel.  Though lots of people know that there's a God, most of them don't have much knowledge about Him, about the Saviour's redemption for us all, and they find the Bible very difficult to understand and to apply to their lives.  As an educator, I want to help Russian people learn how God's Word is the best foundation for a fruitful life here in earth, and for their eternal life. 

Sonia: Number Two:  What kind do of training did you have? 

Gary:        I was specially chosen because of my background as an educator, and for the practical experience I had just living in another country.  Besides being a Christian, these two aspects of my life experience were the most important parts of my training, but they happened before I got this job.  So you can see how important it is to believe that you will never know how God will use the ordinary training and experiences of your everyday schooling or occupation, and even your travels!  Of course, my kind of job makes a college or university education essential, so be sure you get one if you want to be a missionary.  Some missionary workers can also have a technical skill like, for instance, secretary or bookstore clerk, or radio or airplane mechanics;  these jobs are necessary on some mission fields too, and we can all be disciples of Jesus in any kind of missionary job. 
        I had some special training.  I learned some Russian before I came here, and passed tests to prove that I could learn a language (some brains just can't wrap themselves around a new language or are not able to twist their tongues around news sounds - I can!). It's a good thing that Canada requires a second language at schools. Most European teenagers have to study two or more languages besides their own!  As for me, much of the first two years here in Russia, I'll be in language lessons with a real Russian professor 2 or 3 times a week, and lots of studying and practicing. 

        I also passed a Bible Knowledge test, and psychological tests to show that I can work with all kinds of people and can adjust to life in another culture without getting homesick or going crazy.  So far neither  has happened! 

        I spent a few weeks also learning about the missions strategies and policies of our denomination.  I spent a couple of weeks in Grand Rapids last summer. 

Sonia: Oh, come on, give me a break... I can't write all that! 

Gary:        Well, missionaries just don't fall out of the sky, Sonia!  They're works in progress...like you. 

Sonia:  All right, next question, but remember, I've got piano lessons to do too... 
        So, number three:  What specific kind of work do you do? 

Gary:        Well, you wrote to the wrong missionary if you want a short answer.  My work's not typical.  I don't  plant churches like most missionaries... 

Sonia:        Oh, go ahead, whatever!  Trevor's got the piano for the next half hour anyway... 

Gary:  I am like a manager of people and projects.  I don't build or organize churches, though I'll probably teach a group of students next year about "Developing the Christian Mind".   So far I don't even lead a Bible study!  Like I said, this first year I'm mostly learning the language and getting to know my workers.  Well, how can you call me a missionary, eh!??? 

        I am like a teacher and an encourager of other Christian workers. These too are gifts that Paul talks about in Romans 12:6-8. I have four Russian employees who run a Christian library.  I teach them how to get things done, and how to present the Christian Gospel and in-depth Bible knowledge to the people who come to our library to borrow books or videos, or who come to attend support groups or our teaching seminars.  So I help Russian workers to find better ways to reach needy people. 

        Employing people and running projects cost money, and many Russian churches are poor or just starting out.  As Christian believers, they are like babes or at best "teenagers in the faith".  These Christian people and churches are struggling as new believers without money for missions.  So I'm also a manager of money from donours like your church in North America, seeing that church collection money you send me is spent wisely on missions projects that reach the most people possible with God's love and mercy. 

        I am also a book publisher, sort of, you might say.  I look among the Christian books in the English language, to find which ones are the best to add to the Russian book stores, universities and church libraries, in the Russian language of course!  I especially look for those that have been written with a Reformed view of Christianity (that God is King in all parts of our life and society, that all of life's activity need to be offerings to God and for His glory). I find translators, editors, typists and printing shops who will make these new books. It's a really neat "red pen" part of my job that I enjoy better than marking up students' work back home as a school teacher!  I'm also looking for Russian Christians who can write good Christian books with that kind of view of God's power.  Russians need to read something Christian from one of their own; not just from foreigners.... 

Sonia:        ... Good enough... I've got lots of info for that question... 

Gary:        No ! ! !   One last part of my job... it's the best part:  I'm here to bring Christian education and Christian teacher-training here to the Russian people!  It's a huge project!  Imagine the 100 or 50 or 30 years it took to build up your Christian school to what it is today? It was an incredible job, one done by generations of people who loved God and wanted to share that deeply with their kids.  Like you, Sonia!  But it all had to start somewhere;  a few teachers got some training at a Christian college and came to your town late one summer, and a parent group was still putting the finishing touches to make
a few classrooms ready!  Hard work, and a lot of faith!  That's how it's going to happen here in Russia too!  Just watch God work! 

Sonia:        That sounds like a huge thing you're doing!  Ok, two more quickies... keep them simple.  Number four:   Where do you do your mission work? 

Gary:        I do most of my mission work in the city of Moscow, at the Christian library, and at the Russian-American Christian University. Ten million people live here!  But I spend the first few hours a day at home on the computer communicating with people all over the world.  I also visit cities within a few hours of Moscow and help my Russian bookseller visit bookshops where we try to sell our books on their shelves.  I also visit a similar library once a
month in St. Petersburg, 8 hours away on the night train. Our money helps them run a library there and do all kinds of neighbourhood ministry.  You can see pictures of some of these workplaces in other links on this website... check them out! 

Sonia:        Finally, the last one:  What was the most rewarding thing that has happened to you as a missionary? 

Gary:        Showing a Russian Christian person how to do his job in the most excellent way has been one of the most rewarding parts of my job.  No matter what our job may be, we can find ways to do as little as possible or only the things we are most comfortable doing.  But God always expects us to put all our heart and mind and strength into all kinds of work for His kingdom.  As God's workers, we've got to get beyond the babe and teenage stages eventually... 

Sonia:  Well, phew!  That's it!  I'm finished! 

Gary:        So Sonia, I didn't want to make it easy for you by telling you about my job in a few sentences!  As you can see, it's impossible! 

Sonia: I'll just pick out the most interesting parts! 

Gary:   I'm glad for your questions - I get other kids writing to ask the same questions.  Now they have this website and I can get to helping the Russians!  But, I'd be glad to hear from you about your other questions - it's important for me to know that I can help some kids think about their future in missions.  Or I can just help them learn more about Russia's great country, its history, its culture, its people... I'm having a lot of fun learning about it myself!  See you again on my website, Sonia ... and everybody else! 

Sonia:         Thanks for your answers.  Mom, Dad and I will be looking for your newsletters, and checking this website often!  But I'll remember that no questions about missions gets simple answers anymore... or is that true just about Russia... 

Smiles and God's Blessings,

Gary and Sonia