AVOIDING THE TENTMAKER TRAP A special edition for the Bedouin CD Not to be copied in any way This book was re-edited in 1997 and printed by WEC International. Second printing 1999, Third Printing 2002. To obtain the latest version with up-to-date appendicies etc., please contact WEC International Dan Gibson 2002 1 Chapter One Tom and Sue (A case study) Tom and Sue were excited. Their interest in missions had been growing for several years now and finally the pieces were falling together. Several weeks back Tom responded to an advert in a professional journal for a position in the Middle East and the reply was positive. The company wanted them in two weeks time! At first they were taken back by the suddenness of it all, but the company was adamant that they must come in two weeks or else someone else would fill the position. They spent a long evening together discussing the pro's and cons. Tom would have to quit his job at the plant. Sue would need to leave her work at the flower shop. It would mean leaving their church and close friends. That much seemed normal, although a little frightening. They had grown used to the security that comes from a steady job, income and the support of their church. But Sue was excited about the possibilities of missions. The more they discussed it the more excited they got. First of all they wouldn't have to join a mission organization. They were painfully aware of a young couple from their church who had spent several years trying to raise enough support for missions and then had fallen short and were now trying to sort their lives out. This would be different. Tom was excited about the job. It was like getting a promotion. He would be filling a supervisory role. Something he always wanted to move into. The pay was better so that would help cover Sue's lost 2 wage until she could find a job. Even with just Tom working they would be able to continue with their house payments. Along with this, they could rent out their newly acquired home and used the rental income towards the mortgage. They best part was getting several weeks of home leave every year. They could fly home and see their parents and relatives each year. It seemed too good to be true. The next morning they called the company and told them they would take the job. By noon a contract had been faxed to them which they signed and returned hours later. Tom and Sue were in a daze when they got to their small group bible study that evening. At first the group was shocked, more at the suddenness of things than at the fact that Tom and Sue were leaving. Bob, who regularly lead the bible study decided to change his topic at the last minute. He had everyone turn in their bibles to Acts 18 where they read together the passage about the apostle Paul working as a tentmaker, and ministering among the Jews of the city on the Sabbath day. "I guess Tom and Sue are going to be our tentmakers" he added. "They are going to a country where Christian missionaries are not allowed. While they will have their job to support them, they will be witnesses for the Lord just like Paul was there at Corinth. Tom and Sue won't actually make tents, but they will use their professional skills as they have always done, and minister for the Lord as well." Tom and Sue looked at each other. It really was exciting. They had now become tentmakers! When the meeting ended everyone crowded around them. Marg tried to act calm but tears rolled down her face as she embraced Sue after the meeting. They had become close friends in the last two years. Parting was going to be hard. 3 "It's not like were leaving for good" Sue insisted. "We are coming back! We've still got the house, and we get to visit for three weeks each year." The men had crowded around Tom after the meeting and were full of questions. Tom proudly told them about the job and the good pay. They all seemed to be impressed. Before they left that night, the group gathered around Tom and Sue and prayed for them in their new venture. That night as Tom and Sue lay in bed they recalled the excitement of the last couple of days. So much had happened. Their bible study group was so supportive. Surely God was leading them forward. They next week and a half was a blur of activity. Sue quit her job early so she could pack up the house. They were going to store their belonging in the spare bedroom in the basement. They had to arrange extra insurance for their house while they were gone, and they had to change their address and get a mail forwarding service to handle all the bills and important papers. Marg agreed to look after the house and find renters for them. Tom spent quite some time checking with movers until he found someone who would move them to the Middle East. The company in the Middle East had promised to refund them for moving up to 2000 pounds of goods. As they packed and weighted things they realized they could take an awful lot of stuff. "I wonder what I can buy there?" Sue mused one afternoon. "We don't know anything about the country we are going to." "I guess we'll find out soon enough" Tom quipped, "how about giving me a hand packing the microwave?" The Sunday before they were to leave, the pastor arranged to have Tom and Sue come forward for prayer. They were quite nervous 4 to be in front of the entire church, but the pastor put them at ease. "We'll have you come forward, you can share about what you are doing, and then I'll pray for you." They were glad when it was over. After church people crowded around to say good-bye and promise them they would pray for them. Tom and Sue felt great. They had never felt such support from their church before. Before they knew it, they were on the plane. The thing Tom remembered most about landing at the airport was the blast of hot air coming into the plane when the doors were opened. Sue remembered the soldiers with guns around the plane. Inside the terminal was a young Indian or Pakistani man holding a sign with their names clearly printed on it. He warmly welcomed them in excellent English and they gathered their suitcases and all got into the company bus. As they drove away from the airport Sue was aware of how differently she was dressed. The local women were covered in long robes and wore black veils over their heads. Her shorts and sleeveless shirt made her feel, well, naked. And she felt anger about the way the men looked at her. She tried to convince herself that this was just the initial adjustments to moving to a new place. When they arrived at the compound. Sue read several company names above the gate, while the guard opened the big black bars. The young Indian man explained that their house was on road fifteen, and was house number six hundred and twenty two. "How many houses are in here?" Tom inquired. The young man smiled proudly. "There are over one thousand, sir. With two shopping centers, a golf course, a swimming pool, and a theater. You will like it here very much. Everything you need is here. Tomorrow we will go to clear your belongings from customs." 5 The house was small but impressive. It was cute little bungalow surrounded by palm trees and shrubs. The neighboring houses were very close but the trees helped separate them. Inside things were warm and cheery. As they unpacked their things Sue couldn't help but be amazed at how good God had been to them. Tom enjoyed his first day at work. He always enjoyed meeting people and that day proved to be full of introductions. His boss was from Texas, and his secretary was from the Philippines. He meet the staff of the department he was to supervise. They were an interesting collection of internationals, some were Indians, some from Pakistan, but most seemed to be from Asia, Thailand or the Philippines. There was one Yemani. His right hand man, whom he was to train as his successor was a Palestinian from the West Bank. Sue spend an interesting day getting the house ready, and meeting some of the other women on the compound. One set of neighbors from Australia invited them for supper that evening. She learned the other neighbors were from the USA but were out most of the time. The rest of the day was spent exploring the various services and sports facilities around the compound. Tom arrived back from work with a worried look on his face. He threw a small folder down on the table. "Here, read this" he snorted. "It's our living contract. They forgot to send it to me. We have to sign it to stay here." "What's wrong with it?" Sue asked wide eyed. "Wrong? Everything is wrong! We can't leave the compound without permission, we must be on a company bus when we do, and you have to wear long clothes and a scarf if we go shopping down town!" That night over supper with their neighbors they got the whole story.