We have a serious problem of theft here in Moldova. And frankly, I am getting tired of it!

Do not worry, I am not losing money. Our STL vehicle is still safe.

Our home has never been broken into. But this thief keeps stealing something more valuable—-my TIME!

We all have time pressures. But in Moldova, it is the little things that steal my time. Our visa requires us to leave the country every three months. When we return, I spend hours at the police station re-registering. If I need to do a house repair, I have to look through a hundred tiny shops to find the right screw. When we go to Moldovan weddings, we plan for all day!

I was never prepared for this aspect of missions. Time is sucked from my life in a multitude of small tasks…travel, shopping, traffic, new visas, police stops, money exchange, and more. We cannot relax and order a pizza to be delivered. There is no 30-minute oil change or 1-hour dry-cleaning.

I like to accomplish things efficiently. I like the sense of accomplishment that a good day’s work brings. I like to work on six tasks at the same time (as I type this letter I am also fixing my other computer, plus doing a little Russian review). But now I live amidst a time-sucking vortex and my expectations are always greater than my accomplishments.

I never see this in the life of Christ. I never read about his frustration at the shortage of hours, asking for a 25-hour day. I do not see anxiety and frustration in his voice. Relationships were always more important than time. Jesus ministered all day, but he never forgot to rise early for prayer. He spent thousands of hours with his closest friends and disciples. His days were full but never overfull. His time was never stolen from him because he always gave it freely.

Maybe God wanted us in Moldova so I could learn to give my time to the tasks before me, not to all the tasks yet to be done. I will never have enough hours. There will always be more opportunities. Life will always try to steal my time.

I have not yet arrived at learning this truth, but I pray that I will learn to give my time and be satisfied. I will work with order and efficiency, but I pray that God gives me the patience to know that He is the Lord of the interruption and delay!

How about you? I know that you have too much to do today, but could I challenge you to give your time? Turn off the time-sucking TV and turn on to your kids. Turn the rush-hour traffic into a prayer-filled respite (and pray for Moldova). Turn a neighbor’s interruption into an opportunity to bless.

Your chronologically-challenged missionary,

Andy Raatz