Lloyd & Naomi left Central California and lived in a Middle Eastern country for two years in order to be surrogate grandparents to children of missionaries.  Because they were retired school teachers, they also taught the children in their home part of the time.  Their visitor visas required them to leave the country every 90 days; so, they were forced to tour various spots around the Mediterranean.

     Barney & Esther, Conservative Baptists from Portland, OR served as Guest House Managers for the Conservative Baptist Foreign Mission Society in the Philippines for two years until their health forced them to return home.  When Barney was 72, they served at the U S Center for World Mission for three more years.  Barney managed the Mobilization division, instilling good work habits in the young staff under his direction.  Esther was the gracious receptionist and hostess.

     In recent years, Gorden & Joanie of La Crescenta, CA have spent their vacations as volunteers for mission agencies.  Last year, Gorden, a CPA, audited the financial accounts of HCJB World Radio in Quito, Ecuador and Joanie helped in various other ways.

     Warren & Marie, members of Crystal Evangelical Free Church in New Hope, MN, managed the EFC mission guest house in the Philippines on their first trip abroad.  With years of experience in both accounting and computers, Warren set up the financial records for the field missionaries and then computerized the record keeping function.  While they were there, they became acquainted with an orphanage run by another mission.  On subsequent trips, they volunteered at the orphanage and have since helped organize fund raising banquets for the orphanage.  In addition, every Wednesday, they join with other friends preparing mailings for International Christian Literature Distributors in Minneapolis.  At home in his spare time, Warren programmed the software for Senior Ambassadors for Christ.  To escape Minnesota winters, they snowbird at Bibleville in southern Texas and volunteer with a ministry focused on Mexico.

     Walt & Millie of Everett, WA are members of Wycliffe Associates, folks who help with construction and other projects for Wycliffe Bible Translators both in North America and around the world.  They spend part of the year with their children and grandchildren, but really look forward to their mission projects.  They have even taken friends with them to experience the joy and satisfaction of helping the work of missions and living among peoples of other cultures.

     Ed & Joyce, Dick & Lil, Oscar & Helen, and Roland & Cleona are just a few of the couples who volunteer with Mobile Missionary Assistance Program, a ministry of retired Christians who own RVs and travel to other ministries throughout North America to build or maintain facilities.

     So, what do these folks have in common?  They have all volunteered in missions.  They have all used skills and abilities gained in other settings.  They are all Christian seniors.  Gorden and Joanie are not retired; Warren and Marie retired at 55; Barney obtained a masters degree after he retired and before they started volunteering.

     If you are nearing retirement, start praying about and planning for the ministry God has for you when your schedule becomes more flexible.  If you are already retired, ask God what you should be doing with the time, talents and health he has given you.