A "foolish" missionary??

Imagine if you would a missionary, who is planning to go to another country for 1 year, preparing for his journey.  He takes time to focus on his purpose.  He evaluates the items necessary to be taken to complete his task.  He makes all of the preparations and heads off to the field.

Fast forward a few hours, and see what happens...

He began language school to better communicate.
He explores the culture to understand them better.
He studies their religious patterns.
He visits their homes to get a feel for their "normal".
He pours time and energy into learning the people.

Fast forward a few more days...

He has opened a bank account to begin putting money aside for the future.
He has purchased a piece of property to build a new home.
He studies the idols of the culture.
He has begun to look for a spouse which takes up much of his time.
He has contemplated the legal changes that need to be made to help the people.

Fast forward a few weeks...

His bank account has reached a year's salary for the average national.
The foundation for his house has been laid, and he began working on the first floor.
He is collecting idols of the people and storing them in his apartment.
He is "courting" a local woman who has strong ties to the community.
He is running for a government office to influence the law making process.

Fast forward a few months...

His bank account equals five years salary for the average national.
The first floor of the home is finished and he is working on the second floor.
The idols have been moved to the first floor of his home and fit rather nicely in their places.
He married the woman and is building strong relationships with the family.
He was elected as Mayor of the local town and has begun talking with other officials.

Time to go home arrives...  He is not ready to leave, but he must.  He has no choice, after all, this is not his home.  Imagine the difficulty of leaving.  Imagine the confusion of the people.  Imagine the disruption this would be for everyone involved.  This was one foolish missionary.

The Christian musical group, Building 429, puts out a song that I believe would be a great mantra for all those who claim the name of Christ.  It is a motto that if this "missionary" would have kept ever before him would have made him more effective in the country he was serving, would have made him more focused in his ministry, and would have created vision for the people he was working with.  It goes like this...

All i know is I'm not home yet
this is not where I belong
take this world and give me Jesus
this is not where I belong.

"Where I Belong" by Building 429 | from the album Listen To The Sound