What is a missionary?

I think we all have an image of what a missionary is or should be.

Chuck Shawver with Piglet after 2 hrs in van

Chuck Shawver is one of American Baptist's hidden gems. Last week, he took a group of supporters of a new mission couple around for a week showing them the area in which Keith and Debbie Meyers will be working. He drove all day from Puebla to Tuxtla-Gutierrez to pick us up at the airport. The next day he drove us three plus hours to Chacacal. Then he preached a service and drove two electricians to Maravillas, another village about 30 minutes from Chacacal. He spent the week as gofer, translator, and driving back and forth between the villages. He made numerous trips into Simojovel and Tuxtla to pick up supplies.

Today, he took us to Tonina to visit the Mayan temple ruins and acted as photographer, driver, and tour guide. On the way back, he stopped at Ocosingo to pick up a pig and two turkeys that he will be taking to Chacacal tomorrow. Ocosingo is only two hours from San Cristobal de las Casas, so the pig road with us all the way back. (Some pigs, including Victoria, get car sick and throw up even when riding in a van.)

We had to rush into town because Chuck had to make sure he was able to get to the supply store to pick up electrical supplies to take to Maravillas after dropping off the pig and the turkeys.

His day tomorrow will be to get up early so that he can drive to Chacacal, about 3 1/2 hours, then on to Maravillas, then back to San Cristobal de las Casas so that he can take us to the airport early Sunday morning. From the airport, he will head back to Mexico City (12 hrs). He will drop of the two electricians on the way. Monday morning he has staff meeting at the seminary in Mexico City. Then the following week, he has another group coming in to work in Oaxaca.

Along the way, he is mentoring Eleazar, encouraging pastors, providing pastoral care to the family of a 20 something year old son who is dying. He is also looking for the missionaries who will come to Chiapas to continue the work when he and Ramona retire (3 years).

He is smiling, laughing, teasing, encouraging, listening. He is 1 Corinthians 13 in action.

I count myself blessed that he calls me his friend.