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December 1999
Dear Friends in Christ,
It gives me great joy to once again greet you in the name of
our Lord! I pray this letter finds all of you and yours blessed
with good health and enjoying this holy season! I am so appreciative
of your continued support and interest in my ministry here in
Croatia. Thanks to the many blessings I have received through
your prayers, friendship, and financial contributions, I am able
to work to further His kingdom here on earth. I consider it a
great honor that He sees fit to continue using me and that you
all allow me to serve in such a capacity.
When I first came to Croatia my main assignment was to work directly
with hospitals, orphanages, refugee camps and other humanitarian
aid agencies. I did not envision that I would be teaching psychology
and counseling at a seminary. As I began teaching I realized that
I loved what I did and thus was able to teach it enthusiastically.
This proved contagious—the students also became interested
in counseling. I have come to enjoy mentoring these young adults
and God has made me realize that through this work I can reach
many more people, since these students will all go forth and work
in their respective countries. True, I still love the direct work
best, but I have been blessed by teaching as well. Here is one
example that illustrates what I mean: One day several students
(two from Bulgaria, another from Macedonia) and I were working
with children in the hospital playroom. A little girl who was
autistic was brought in by the nurse to play. The Bulgarian student
took special interest in this girl and asked me, "So this
is what autism looks like?" (We had just finished studying
autism in an abnormal psychology class.) The student worked hard
to find which activities would give the girl pleasure since by
her facial expression she appeared sad and distressed. Finally,
through careful observation, she realized that the girl responded
to music. The student played the xylophone with her and the girl
seemed happier, but when she placed a small battery operated guitar
in front of her, the girl listened to the music and a big, broad
smile appeared on her face! My student was also very happy and
she called me over to share her success with me. It was then I
realized that this was the essence of my work, not only bringing
joy to children, but also mentoring students so that they also
could bring joy to children. I was happy for both of them. I was
honored that not only had I taught her knowledge about a disorder,
but had also instilled an interest in working to improve the lives
of people affected by such a disorder.
Meanwhile I have also continued my work at the two orphanages.
Here I also have been blessed, not only in successfully completing
program activities, but also in the relationships I have forged
with the children and staff over these past three years. In fact,
many of my successes with children have been a result of having
a caring relationship built on trust and respect. (Any counseling
text will tell you the same thing—the most important aspect
of therapy is the relationship between the one seeking counseling
and the one providing it). I have literally seen the children
mature right before my eyes! I've helped them overcome struggles
with math concepts, resolved many an argument between peers and
siblings, taught them patience while waiting their turn for my
undivided attention, listened to their accounts of winning medals
for various activities to let them experience pride in their accomplishments,
and let them share their pain and confusion over losses, especially
those from parents who have abandoned and/or deceived them. The
only disadvantage to working with these kids as they grow is that
they are getting heavier and heavier to carry on my back!
In other brief, but positive news, the refugee camp where I have
worked in Croatia, has closed! All the refugees have successfully
been returned to their homelands or have been accepted to other
host countries such as the United States. While I miss ministering
to the children there, I am so happy that they are all living
lives with freedom, dignity and safety once again! Praise the
Lord that this chapter of the war has finally come to an end!
Working in missions has taught me many things—especially
that it takes time to see the results of one's work and that sometimes
we may not see the results, since it is not by our design or schedule
that things occur, but rather by the Lord's. As we see in the
parable of the talents, the men who invest them get returns, but
he who hides them receives nothing. We must be careful to not
only look at this aspect of the story, though it is a powerful
lesson in its own right. We must remember that the men received
their talents from the master (i.e., the Lord) in the first place.
Without such a gift they would have had nothing to invest! Thus
I have come to truly appreciate any and all opportunities in which
the Lord sees fit to let me experience the results of His talents
invested in the world; I am merely the steward He has chosen to
invest them at this particular time and place!
May the compassion of Christ, the joy of the Holy Spirit and
the wisdom of the Lord guide and sustain you during these uncertain,
but hopeful times!
Your brother in Christ,
Brett McMichael
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