Having been a missionary myself  in Thailand for 13 years and in New Zealand for 24 years, I can well identify with what I read in the German magazine called WELTWEIT on page 10. (3.2013)

In a prayer letter Hans-Walter and  Rosi Schuetze are giving us eight reasons why we burn ourselves out.

I am translating the eight reasons as good as I can:

1.  Our expectations are too high.

Not only our own expectations, but also the expectations of others.

2.  Our desire  is to please everybody.

3.  We have to deal with difficult external conditions: climate, culture and reprisals.

4.  We are disappointed that we don’t see more fruit.

5.  Difficulties with fellow missionaries.

6.  Our feeling of responsibility, if not healthy, can drive us over the edge.

7.  Having not enough sleep, exercise and insufficient diet.

8. Attitude to take the work into our hands instead of leaving things with the Lord.

MISSIONARY WORK IN THAILAND Picture / Allan Collingwood

Maybe you are a missionary somewhere working in the vineyard of the Lord at the present time and you are reading this. I hope this is helpful.

I wish I would have known about the eight reasons, when I arrived in Thailand just  before Christmas 1966!