'A battle between our wants and God's timeline'
Josh Butler says God began His work toward preparation for missionary service for himself and his wife, Faye, when they were just children growing up in a farm town in Washington.
“As kids we both learned to work very hard and were given the chance to learn the importance of trying to fix-it-yourself because we didn’t have the luxury of being in a big city that had people we could call.”
Fast forward a few years and today God has placed Josh and Faye and their children in Papua New Guinea. Josh says that their first year there was all about studying culture and language. And he adds that the time since then has pretty much been about waiting.
“We are finished with the national language and culture acquisition studies and we are currently looking at opening up a tribal work,” Josh shares.
But the timing for that isn’t quite right yet, Josh says. He explains that he and Faye are working to form a team that is ready to join them in this hoped-for tribal ministry. For now, he says, they are doing a wide variety of ministry tasks.
Sometimes, Josh says, that means serving in upkeep on “guest houses” which are used by missionaries to stay in while they gather supplies or spend some time in rest and preparation for a return to ministry.
“The frustration is a battle we all have,” Josh Butler shares candidly. “It is a battle between our wants and God’s timeline.”
Josh and Faye just want God to use them while they wait for His next place and time. “The great thing is that it feels great to be a help,” Josh shares. “Just the other day, I found myself crawling inside of a generator to repair our backup power supply. It reminded me so much of being back on the farm.”
Josh says he can see that God doesn’t waste any preparation time. That every delay and every task is purposeful on God’s clock and in His plan.
“I hope that this will encourage you to step out in faith and get your hands ‘greasy’ for Christ,” Josh says. “Now is the time to live a life of faith and service.”
Pray for Josh and Faye Butler and their children, Noah and Karis. Pray that God will make this waiting time a season rich with opportunities for service and ministry. Pray that He will prepare them in His perfect time for the ministry that He has waiting for their family and that He will give them patience and joy as they trust Him in the meantime.