There are plenty of emphasis on the dangers of raising children on the mission field.  When we told people we were moving to an indigenous part of Mexico it was the first thing the people would mention.  Depending on where your mission field is there can be dangers from crime, disease, lack of education and health care.  One thing that impedes many is the fear of missing out: missing grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles, and the cultural comforts from home country.  These are all valid.  However, that doesn’t mean we should stop sharing the gospel due to the fear of our children missing out on what society thinks is important. 

Let me be honest. I feel like children who don’t grow up on the mission field are missing out.  To be clear, your mission field could be your community and theses are 7 benefits of raising your children on the mission field.  

1. Living on the mission field fosters communication with your children.  Talking to them about what they are going to experience, where you are going, and why.  It allows us to have intimate communication as a family.  Always checking in with our kids to see how they are doing, if they understand, if they have any questions, and also taking note of their silence.  It creates an environment where it is necessary to have good clear communication.  We like to take the time before we leave or in the car to talk about what is going to happen, what we expect out of them and to answer any of their questions. And when we head home we talk about it. 
2. Living on the mission field creates an environment for our children to experience God daily.  Where it’s not just a teaching or a job, but where God is part of our daily life. Our children observe us abiding in God. We bring them into the conversation we have with others, they join us praying for people, we actively talk about who God is. They are part of everything we do. They join us in Bible studies, soup kitchen, home visits, etc. They get to see God working in the lives of others and in our life.  We talk about God and to Him as a family. We ask our kids if they believe in God and why or why not.  We talk about stories from the Bible. 
3. Children on the mission field have the ability to relate to all people, from different cultures, and of all ages.  Our children are learning how to be among adults, children and teens.  They are learning how to relate to people of a different culture and language. Their friends are not just children of their own age but of all ages.  They can hold a conversation with an adult meanwhile playing with younger children.
4. Children on the mission field have a broader worldview.  Especially those who live overseas or who travel. Our children know people from all over the world, they know people from multiple languages. Our children look at a map daily.  We talk about how God create the world and how different groups of people started to form. Children are naturally curious about the world.  Our children are growing up knowing and experiencing three different cultures: American, Mexican, and Purepecha. Our children don’t necessarily understand “cultures” but they do understand the word, “why”. We are able to explain what it looks like to have a biblical worldview.  Our children are learning to appreciate all cultures.
5. Our children are acknowledging the blessings and benefits they have.  Children have an amazing ability to notice everything.  They notice if another child has candy and they don’t. Our children have realized that you don’t need much to be happy and to play.  Our children’s favorite toy is to play with dirt, sticks and rocks.  Our children have become more creative and resourceful with what is around them.  Missionary children tend to be less cynical and materialistic.  Currently our children are learning to not complain. With five kids, there is always one of them complaining about what one of their siblings have and they don’t.   We get to actively work on their character.
6. Our children are learning how to LOVE someone.  Not just be polite and do what is correct.  But the kind where you go out of your way to care for someone else.  To visit with someone for hours because you actually care about them.  Where you become apart of their lives, you help them cook, care for their children, and wash dishes with them.  Our children are learning how to serve others not out of obligation but out of love.  Our children are learning to love other kids who don’t treat them nicely. 
7. Children who grow up on the mission field learn that life is not easy.  Our children hear stories and testimonies of people who been in the trenches, who have come out of complete darkness.  They see people who are sick, dealing with addiction, lost of loved ones, family issues, poverty, and job loss. Our children see people cry out to God for help. Our children walk beside us as we come alongside them.  Our children are exposed to the good and bad in the world. They see how God works in this world and is always there to help us through the difficult times.  Our children see that people’s ideas and actions have consequences.
   As parents we get to spend our time with our children. We get to incorporate our children in the ministry.  None of these benefits happen over night or automatically. They take intentionally from us as parents. It takes a lot of grace and mercy.  It is not always easy.  There are many rough days. We don’t always do the correct things, we make mistakes. But we learn from them, we grow together and seek a God together. It is humbling and well worth it