Longtime married couples go through many journeys together. Like the birth and rearing of children. The juggling of careers and family demands. Then there’s the emptying of the nest and rediscovering of one another, which could be the most adventurous journey of all.
Don and Marie Gaeddert of Larned, Kan., are beginning this phase of their lives as mission workers in China for two years. Don, who resigned as Larned’s city manager, will be teaching conversational English to students at North Sichuan Medical College, while Marie, a nurse, will teach medical English. The Gaedderts, who attend Bergthal Mennonite Church, are being assisted by Mennonite Mission Network and Mennonite Partners in China.
The Gaedderts arrived in China in early August and are currently taking language classes.
Don has had a strong interest in serving overseas, but the decision nonetheless came with years of angst. He is from a legacy of mission workers. His grandparents, Henry and Maria Brown, were mission workers in China for 40 years. His mother, Jessie, grew up there. Her brother and sister-in-law, Roland and Sophie Brown, were mission workers in Taiwan for 40 years. Don and Marie discussed international service for many years, but timing for the family never seemed right.
Meanwhile, Marie was unsure. She grew up in a Baptist congregation, understanding and appreciating the mission work of others, but it was not an intimate part of her family’s worship experience. However, during a visit with their youngest daughter, Rachel, while she was studying in Ecuador, the Holy Spirit confirmed for the couple that missions was indeed their joint calling.
The Gaedderts, who celebrated 25 years of marriage in July, discussed their journey and how they’re excited about relocating to China, where they won’t be far from family. Their son, Stephen, his wife, Yi, and their two sons have been living in Shanghai, China, for three years.
This is certainly an exciting way to take on this empty nest phase of your lives together.
DON: Once the kids are out of the house, there’s a certain freedom where you can quit your job and do something else. I don’t worry as much about finances. It’s easier not to worry and to leave it in the Lord’s hands. She’s (Marie) a good travel companion.
MARIE: I second that. It might be worrisome, entering a whole new culture and world, but it’s reassuring knowing you’re going with someone who you’ve been through a lot with together.
Your family upbringings are different in terms of missions work. How does that influence you now?
MARIE: I don’t come from a family where missions is descended from generations. It’s a little more unknown for me. I just feel like I’m in a place where this makes sense. Before the kids were actually finished with school, it would be hard for me to see myself as a mother being away from the younger ones who had just gotten out of high school and had gone to college.
DON: In my younger days, Grandpa and Grandma Brown, having served in China, we heard the stories. Mom told the stories, too, of growing up there. Grandpa wrote several books that were interesting accounts of their experiences in China. Maybe that’s where my interest in international work developed. Dad served four years in Germany with PAX, and he and my younger brother are active Gideons.
How do you see this mission assignment impacting your personal relationship?
MARIE: I think it’s really important that if you haven’t worked out your communication and you’re going to make a major life change like this, you’ve got to get on board with each other. If you haven’t, you’re going to have to learn pretty fast. There’s a lot of stress involved.
Why is it important for you to do mission work?
MARIE: It really enriches your life to be in a friendship relationship with people of another culture, and to share your faith.
DON: We’ve asked similar questions of ourselves trying to determine if this is the Lord’s leading and his will for us. In Ecuador, while staying at a guest house for missionaries, the question we put to them was, “How do you know God’s will and calling for your life?” Their advice was that you have to start taking those little steps. Sometimes, the doors close and you realize this is not the direction the Lord wants you to go, but things have a way of unfolding and developing. It’s interesting to me as people come up to us and congratulate us for doing something like this, that a lot of times they say, “I’m jealous” or “I envy you.” But they can do it, too. It’s a matter of putting your trust and faith in the Lord and seeing what he’s calling you to.
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Mennonite Mission Network, the mission agency of Mennonite Church USA, leads, mobilizes and equips the church to participate in holistic witness to Jesus Christ in a broken world. Media may contact Andrew Clouse at andrewc@mmnworld.net, 574-523-3024 or 866-866-2872, ext. 23024.
