Top 5 Reasons Growing up on a Farm helps with mission work

I never  realized how lucky I was to grow up on a farm until many years after I moved away.  It is a blessing to know and experience the life that many of our forefathers lived.  Now that I have two distinctly different medical missions under my belt I am able to reflect on how my farm upbringing has helped and molded me into a better global provider.  Here goes.


#1 Well water- I'm not sure if this has helped protect my digestive tract, but I've always said I have a cast iron stomach.  I thank all the extra minerals and "wildlife" in our water at home for keeping me "well" on the road.

#2 Hard work in the elements-  Farming ain't your mammas pammsy desk job. There are no sick days, no snow days and no vacations not to mention that barns and hay lofts don't have a/c or heaters for the most part!!  

#3 Fix-it mentality- No one on a farm buys new...there is always a cycle of rebuilding, reworking and a general creativity that the mimics MacGyver Like skills.  I love the challenge to fix the problem with a given amount of supplies. Most mission opportunities will force you in a situation that is less than ideal with limited tools. I few of my favorite saying are: "where there is a will there is a way" an oldie but goodie;"if it doesn't work hit it harder" (my all time fav) and last but not least "all roads lead to Rome" we may not all take the same path, but so long as we all wind up at the final destination then all is good!

#4 Deep appreciation for livestock and crops- Fresh is Best and Meat is a wonderful thing! So many of the birth defects I have seen are caused from lack of Vitamins esp Folic Acid.

#5 Respect for nature and in turn the Planet- Remember these 3 words  RECYCLE- REUSE-REDUCE. More is not better it is just more.  I have fun telling my kids that "All I had to play with was a stick". They think I'm crazy, but really I turned out OK.