Don’t Let Fear of Schooling Keep You from Going

When young families talk to me about going to the mission field, one of the first things they ask - sometimes with a trembling voice - is this:

“But what will we do about our kids’ education?”

And I get it.

I was a young mom once. I had the same fears. I was an educator by training, and even I was overwhelmed by the idea of teaching my kids in a village thousands of miles from home.

But looking back now, after more than three decades of raising our boys on three continents and going through nearly every form of schooling possible, I can tell you this:

Don’t let fear of schooling be the reason you say no to God.

When We First Said Yes

When Nick and I first moved overseas, there weren’t many options.

• Homeschooling.
• Local schools.
• Boarding school.

That was it.

We started with homeschooling in Malawi. I loved it. I had trained to teach, so the chance to teach my own children was a joy. There were only two major homeschool curriculum options at the time, and I picked the one that let me make my own lesson plans. That flexibility gave me life.

But for moms who aren’t teachers (or who hate the thought of teaching) it’s okay to choose a program that gives you structure and support. God doesn’t expect you to be superhuman. He just asks you to be obedient.

From Speedos to Slops: Real-Life Learning

Later, when we moved to South Africa for language school, the mission organization didn’t allow us to homeschool while studying. So our boys enrolled in a local South African school—and that was a crash course in cultural immersion for all of us.

They learned new words: Kokies were markers. Slops were flip-flops.

They learned to wear speedos for swimming class. (They weren’t thrilled.)

They learned that parents there were deeply involved in the school, something I wrote home about to my teacher friends.

Was it always smooth? No. But it was valuable. And more than that, it opened our family up to the world in a way books never could.

The Roundhouse Classroom

When we returned to rural life and ministry among the unreached, we built our own schoolhouse. It was a traditional round hut with a grass roof made by local craftsmen. That little room was sacred. It gave our boys a sense of rhythm and space. It helped me separate school from home, even when we were only steps away.

We homeschooled in garages. In villages. On the road. We packed up books and taught during the morning, then spent the afternoons playing with village kids, visiting homes, or doing training in the churches.

That flexibility was one of the biggest blessings of homeschooling in a ministry setting. It allowed us to live life deeply. Fully. Together.

Unexpected Challenges, Beautiful Rewards

There were bumps, of course.

During one stateside assignment, our middle son came home from school in tears. He had failed a math test about coins. Quarters, nickels, and dimes were foreign to him. We hadn’t taught American currency because we didn’t use it!

Our oldest, entering a U.S. classroom after years in Africa, didn’t respond well when a teacher corrected him. He went quiet, assuming he was in serious trouble. His teacher came to our house and said, “You’ve got to help me understand your son.”

That was a hard moment, but also a beautiful one. Because it reminded us that our kids were being shaped by more than just academics. They were becoming cultural bridges, cross-cultural citizens, and God was using even their awkwardness to open doors.

What Moms (and Dads) Really Need to Know

If you're wondering, “Can I do this?” - I want to tell you:

You can. And you won’t be doing it alone.

Here are a few things I’ve learned:

• There are more resources now than ever before.
  From online support to international testing services to hybrid models of education, you’re not isolated.
• You need a prayer team.
  Let people know your child’s name. Let them pray for the hard days. Ask them to pray for your patience and your child’s resilience.
• Ask for help.
  There are educators in your church, retired teachers who would love to Zoom with your child once a week, parents ahead of you on the journey. Find them. Reach out.
• Your child is not an obstacle to your calling.
  They are a part of your ministry. Their presence opens doors you can’t. Their learning becomes part of your witness.
  

Try It. Just Try It.

I want to say this clearly: You don’t have to have it all figured out before you go.

Try a short-term trip. Bring your child with you. Watch them adapt. See how God shows up.

You’ll be surprised by what they teach you. And you’ll be even more surprised by how God uses your obedience—yes, even in homeschooling—to advance His kingdom.