This blog entry is written by Cathy Meier, wife of Mr. Bill Meier. Meier and Rev. Jeff Enderle accepted calls in 2007 to serve as WELS’ first missionaries to Mozambique; however, due to synodwide budget cuts, the two-man team has been recalled. They and their families had been in Portugal for the past year and a half to learn Portuguese, the official language of Mozambique.

Since the budget cuts were made at the beginning of May, my mind keeps coming back to the same phrase, “Once a missionary…always a missionary.”  There is no doubt that our lives have really changed direction.  We are no longer going to Mozambique to open up a WELS mission there.  Instead we find ourselves back in the States.  Even though we had fair warning that there was a good chance the Mozambique field would be cut, it was still a shock to get the news.  Oh how our hearts yearn for the people of Mozambique who do not know their Savior and we are left with many unanswered questions.  Who will go and tell them if we don’t?  When will WELS have the opportunity to go there again?  How could this happen?

But we cannot dwell on these issues and with the Lord’s help, we now focus on the future.  We were so excited for the work that was going to happen in Mozambique and yet we cannot despair.  One way I find myself coping with the disappointment is to focus on how I can continue to be a missionary for the Lord.  There is no doubt that the Lord can use my skills (and my husband’s skills) in a congregation here in the States.  I do not need to lose heart because of the cuts.  My role as a missionary will go on, just in a different location.

We are also reminded of God’s continuous promises to us.  He is our Lord and He is in control.  We are reminded that the Lord has a plan for Mozambique, despite the door being closed at this time.  We remember that the Apostle Paul was not allowed to enter Bithynia on his second missionary journey.  Were the reasons clear to him?  Did he completely understand why the Lord did not allow him to enter Bithynia?  Why would the Lord not want his Word to be preached in that area?  And yet Paul carried on and continued to be a missionary and preach the good news of Christ wherever he was led.  I pray that we follow Paul’s example.