a farmer... a missionary

i heard once that farmers make the best missionaries. i agreed though had no reason to go against it. i mean, YAY for farmers, right? YAY!  but as i have had one of those monthssss (yes, that is plural) i think i may know why i was told that about farmers. this is my thinking-- a farmer has to milk cows everyday. that is everyday. even if you are sick, even if you don't want to, even if you are too tired. the cows are still there and unless you are paying someone else to do it, and with the way milk prices are now there is no way a normal person can have hired help, you have to milk the cows, twice a day. no holidays, unless of course your children get old enough and you get get away:), no "just one day off no one will know", no "i quit" or "you are fired". in that same line of thinking that is also where i am. some days i would like to quit. some days i just want to have a normal life, some days i am too tired to be sweaty again. some days i just want to be within a normal distance of my family. but i have to keep going. i can't just quit. ugh, i can't put quitter behind my name. even some of the work i do, it is exhausting but i can't quit. and i don't want to. no matter how hard it gets it is just something that has to be done.so maybe that farm mentality has soaked into my missionary mentality. i just have to keep going. and i know that it is not all just grittin' my teeth and bearin' it. i love what i get to do. i love being in a different culture. i love working with people i never thought i would. i love hearing about what other people believe.  i would never trade my life. i think that keep-going mentality keeps me in the game here in ghana. i could have quit. many times. i could have come home. no one would look down on me. some would even say "i paid my dues" but i am soooo glad i didn't/haven't. i am so glad i am sticking with this. i am so glad God is faithful. I am so glad He never leaves me nor forsakes me. yet, it is hard and it has its days, but i think farming taught me you just gotta keep doing it...and somewhere down the road you get yummy cheese curds, butter and amazing ice cream~~