It’s easier to bring up kids on the overseas mission field, says Dr Omar Djoeandy, Executive Director of SIM Australia. Dr Djoeandy and his wife brought up three kids on the mission field in Kenya, giving birth to their youngest child there.

“Because of the high unemployment rate [in Kenya], wages are quite low, and we were able to afford a maid. Our kids were able to be looked after easier than [in Australia]. In Africa, as it is in Asia and South America, life is alot more family oriented – our children were involved in so many more activities.”

He says the benefits far outweigh the challenges.

“I had people come to me and suggest it was irresponsible to take a four and two year old to Africa. It was our pastor then who came to our defense and said that he would argue Australia was a more dangerous place than Kenya spiritually, because of the self-absorption and secularism in Australia.”

His youngest son Stephen realises that he misses out on a backyard swimming pool and a PS3, because his dad was called out of a potentially lucrative career as a GP and instead into the overseas mission field. But Dr Djoeandy says his kids are richer because of the multicultural experiences.

“It’s a privilege for me to serve in this role. Sure, I’m earning a lot less money, but money is not everything. A good friend of mine says happiness is not what you have, it’s what you appreciate.”

Dr Omar Djoeandy is speaking in Canberra this Saturday night on “living courageously”, as part of the Canberra Mission Marketplace. He will cover: fulfilling Christ’s mission to be involved in local, cross cultural and global mission; overcoming our fears; building relationships; serving within community; and more.

One of Dr Djoeandy’s core messages is the need to get over what he calls “analysis paralysis”: “We keep saying ‘I need to pray about it’ or ‘I need to get more training’ – well that’s all true, but at the same time we need to be careful that that doesn’t become our comfort zone. I’ve made lots of mistakes, but I’ve learnt from that, and I’m taking one step at a time – and just doing it.”

For more from Dr Omar Djoeandy on cross cultural mission, local mission, business as mission, hearing God’s call, as well as Omar’s personal story, you can listen to an interview conducted this week on Canberra’s 1WAY FM – download MP3 here (31:25).

• For more information about SIM Australia, see their website.
• For more information about the Canberra Mission Marketplace, see the Mission ACTion Network website.

Other interviews conducted recently by Tim:

• Alistair Coe MLA on his involvement with Operation Christmas Child (download MP3 – 3:01)
• Gordon Ramsey on Anti-Poverty Week in the ACT (download MP3 – 3:28)