Sharing life in order to share Life
The United States and Canada have welcomed more than 50 million immigrants, many of them from countries closed to Western missionaries. In response to this great opportunity, in 2016, SEND launched its newest field: Diaspora | North America. Below, one of our diaspora workers shares about her developing relationship with a refugee named Princess.*
Many refugee women arrive not speaking English. They don’t have cars and they do have small children, so we study English together at their homes. Recently, Princess and I have been reading children’s books together. Little Bear and Richard Scarry were well-loved, and then I brought Princess the story of Joseph.
Praise God, Princess was prepared to connect with this account.
“This is a story of a prophet! My mother learn a little Arabic because she wanted to read about prophets,” Princess said. “She teached me some! There is another prophet — Job. I like him. He had bad things happen. He was very patient.”
Seeing Princess’ excitement, my husband offered to bring her more stories of the prophets — stories that are both in her own language and in a digital format that she can send to her mom, who lives in a closed country. Thanks to modern technology, they can discuss these stories via WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger.
Princess’ eyes lit up! “My mom would be too happy! Oh, and I can listen in my language and then say the story in English and you can correct my English!”
Because they’ve witnessed horrific deeds performed in the name of God, many refugees feel nervous about pushy “religion.” They need to see real love, true care, and good friendships. We’ve spent a year building a relationship with Princess through prenatal classes, birthing, nursing struggles, landlord troubles, sewage floods, and moving apartments — living life together — and now SHE has the idea of studying Bible stories.
Yes, I think we can do that!
Thank you, Lord, for bringing the unreached to our neighborhoods. May Princess and other refugees come to trust the living God.
*Not her real name
Reprinted from SEND International's 2016 Annual Report.
Other Annual Report Breakthrough stories
Russia field engages two new UPGs
— After years of seeking the Lord's leading, two workers are key to opening up a new field.
Inviting the Word into their homes
— After a core group of teens came to know Christ, fellow villagers are showing interest.
Open doors in public spaces
— Global worker engages the lost through outreaches at the local library and schools.
'New degrees of unity'
— SEND and two other organizations launch a collaborative Great Commission association.
Additional Posts
Choosing a Missions Organization: Why SEND International Stands Out “Why should I be a missionary through SEND International?” Jenna, a new missionary in Eastern Europe, shared with us what she appreciates about working with SEND. The highlights for her are: - Devotion to prayer - Diligence in communication - Commitment to development - Intentionality in accountability Prayer “Back in September of 2022, the Lord reconnected me with SEND after I had met them a year prior at the Moody Bible Institute. However, before he would sign me up for anything, my Missions Coach encouraged me to pray. He said something to the effect of, "I know that you've been praying on your own for a long time. But as the Church, we are not called to walk alone. So, you and I won't talk for about a month unless you have questions. I want you to go pray with 5 or 6 others from your church about where God is calling you." That October, more than 10 friends prayed with me and we saw God answer as He directed me to Romania. From February 2024 to November 2025, I had the pleasure of being a part of team meetings in Romania with my SEND colleagues. Our meetings were four hours long, two for prayer and two for business. This has been the minimum for our team. There are also prayer meetings with the local churches we partner with, among smaller groups within our team, of course prayer with many of you across the pond, including those at our US office. The organization was built, has been sustained, and continues to run on prayer. This is my favorite thing about SEND. Communication As I mentioned above, we have a two hour block for business / ministry details in each of our meetings. This provides consistency across our team which works alongside three different churches and in a variety of ministries. It also helps us to communicate about the need for change or growth, alongside what is working well. In addition, my team director also meets with each of us, allowing us to communicate needs, considerations, and prayer requests. I've also enjoyed getting to work with SEND workers outside of my immediate region . We receive emails with the minutes from the Europe leadership team, Friday communications from our international director, and information regarding projects that affect our work among the unreached. In December of 2024, our international director at the time wrote a note to my parents for the first Christmas that I was gone. If nothing else had convinced my mom yet, this did. He took the time to care for me, but also to care well for the parents that were sending me (What it meant to my dad and mom for him to do this well has been one of the greatest ways I've been supported.). I also have some pretty wonderful regional directors. These people have prayed alongside us (while also serving in their own countries of service), they have taken time to come visit and encourage our team, and they have also taken the time to encourage the people in our churches. Development SEND has provided much in the area of development and care (spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally). At our regional conference (every three years), there have been medical check ups available, counseling options, and time for connecting with others on the field with similar experience. At our conference last October, I connected with a missionary who served overseas for many years, and is now serving on the administrative side of SEND. She has met with me since then for mentorship and has also invested much of her time recently in preparing a retreat for the singles across Europe. Accountability Over the years I have read and heard amazing stories of how God has worked through missionaries. God has done great things and great things He is still doing! However, people who have committed their lives to the Lord in this way are not “super Christians”. We are still humans with the same struggle against flesh that others have . A major challenge is in being isolated -- living in areas with little to no presence of other believers to sharpen them can cause many difficulties. SEND has been a great resource in this area too. Through my team, I have an accountability partner that I meet with monthly. When my regional director came to visit, he and his wife spent a day with me and asked intentional questions about how I lead, handle conflict, and how I am growing in general as a Christian. In addition, my teammates share their wisdom with me on a regular basis. These things and more have assured me that SEND International is a highly valuable organization and I'm excited to partner with them in service to, for, and with our great God! Interested in being sent by SEND?
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