Are you a missionary kid or have friends that were?

I interviewed one of our staff at YWAM River City (previously YWAM Virginia), Evelyn, who spent most of her youth in YWAM Santiago Chile, and there was so much she learned from that experience.

Evelyn’s parents had been involved with YWAM, eventually becoming staff, so she grew up knowing a lot of people in YWAM Santiago. Her dad was a chef and whenever there were big events at the YWAM base the whole family would go help out.

When she was eleven years old, her parents told her that God was calling them to officially be a part of YWAM; she was excited! Her father became one of the directors of the base and her mother worked with a group of the elders. There was only one other kid on the base at the time, so Evelyn did what the adults were doing, going to the meetings and working alongside them.

She experienced many lectures when Discipleship Training Schools were being run; sometimes she would even be allowed to skip school to attend them. Through all the teachings and meeting she learned how to pray and hear the voice of the Lord; because she heard the lessons many times, they not only filled her mind, but her heart as well.

Evelyn remembers the first times she experienced God in her life. She was very young, before moving to YWAM, and was at the church her grandfather pastored. She believes the Holy Spirit came to her: she felt something and began to cry so hard she could not speak.

Another time was when she was thirteen, and God called her to be a missionary in China. She believes that God speaks to her through a conviction in her spirit.

As she lived on the base she began to ask the Lord for friends her own age. About a year after they moved onto the base a family came that had a daughter her own age. The base was big and it had a lake and trees; she and the other two kids played outside and over the weekend they would watch movies together. In time more families with kids came. The base started doing Kings Kids, teaching dramas and dances.

Evelyn also got to go on many outreaches. One of those trips was to Peru; it was the first time she saw God work through finances. She was told that if she wanted to go, she needed to pray for finances because there were none. She felt the Lord really wanted her to go, so she prayed for God to give the money to her; He did! She loved going to Peru. They went to many churches and destitute communities performing dramas and dances. (These are common approaches YWAM uses to share the Gospel and open up opportunities to love on people) She made friends with the kids her age there and taught them the dramas. When it was over she wanted to go back one day.

One thing she was so grateful for growing up in YWAM was the way they really made her feel a part of everything, even though she was a kid; it led her to practice her faith in bold ways. There was a time she heard the voice of the Lord, and felt led to pray for some of the students at the base. Even though they were older than her, they listened and were touched by what she said. It was a cool experience for her.

It reminds me of the verse in 1 Timothy 4:12:

Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

Even the kids at school all knew she was a Christian, and they would come to her for advice. She was not afraid to share her faith.

She described herself as a mean kid but God spoke through her mom, “You are too young to be like that.” This made her realize she wanted to change; she prayed and prayed for God to change her heart. He did!

I asked Evelyn what some of the most important things she learned growing up in YWAM:

“Family is the most important thing, more than your ministry. Your biggest ministry is your family. Your family are your first disciples. They really see the real you.”

She gave the example of her father. He was in an important meeting one day and was not to be interrupted; however, she had something important to talk to him about and went to the room asking for her dad. He paused the meeting for her because she needed him. Her mom was like that too, of course with boundaries; if it was important they would give her the time.

“This is also something I want to express with my son: that he is the most important. More than anything I can do for God.” Evelyn said. “I have seen so many times where people are doing so many things and leave the kids alone. The kids go away from God. If they don’t want to follow you, then why would anyone else.”

She explained that if God calls her and her husband to missions, He is calling her son too. However, now that her son is older, he has more opinions. She and her husband explain to him what God is doing and ask: “How are you? How are you feeling?” When he does not understand, they try to explain simply and make him part of the mission. They are teaching him through sharing how God speaks in different ways. She is teaching him to pray for himself. She prays that his prayers are answered, so he knows God hears him.

Another thing she wanted to share was that her relationship with God is Important. She sees Him and relates to Him as her father. It was not like this right away but throughout all the time in YWAM. “You can ask Him anything.”

Matthew 7:9-11 says “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”

She wants everyone to live that way, like God is their Father. “Sometimes, I feel like I am His favorite. He has done so many things for me, big and small.” She continued, “Anyone can ask anything of Him, not just pastors and prophets.” It was a long process to see God that way, but through Him responding to her questions and answering her prayers she understood more and more.

When She became a mom, she began to really understand this truth about God. “You learn how God is a father when you are single too, but when you become a parent you really know the heart of the Father,” she explained. She knows she might not always get everything she asks for; it makes more sense now as a mom when she does not always let her son have everything. She knows what is best for Him. God also knows what is best for her, so she understands and is fine with that.

When she was eighteen, she did her Discipleship Training School in Richmond and after years of being away she is back in Richmond with her family, staffing in our YWAM base. It was cool getting to know her better.

If you ever want to learn more about missions or get involved in YWAM through one of our programs or even volunteer, you can call or look at our website. If you ever get the chance to talk to any of the staff, make sure to ask them about their testimony, or to tell any of their stories. You will be in for a treat and learn many things along the way. It is really cool how God uses us to be a part of His story.