By her own honest admission, Betty Draper, a missionary in Papua New Guinea, can’t do a lot of things.
She isn’t gifted in working with languages or in translating like some missionaries are. She readily admits to barely being able to speak the simple trade language of Pidgin.
Computer work and bookkeeping aren’t up her alley either. She cheerfully explains that this is why her husband, Ace, doesn’t ask her to help him in the office.
While the boarding school for missionary’s children is always in desperate need of teachers, Betty says that no one is chasing her down to teach. And that’s fine with her since she doesn’t have a teaching degree and wouldn’t know the first thing about it.
She also believes that preaching is a closed door to her as well.
But like the women of Exodus 35, Betty doesn’t focus on what she can’t do, but on what she can. They were willing to use whatever talents or abilities they had, like spinning goat hair into curtains for the tabernacle.
Since Betty can’t spin goat hair either, she asked the Lord to give her a ministry that would help the other missionaries working diligently to bring His message to the tribal people around her.
And the answer to her heartfelt prayer was “Betty’s Fried Chicken Ministry.”
Missionaries make the long trek out of the jungle for a variety of reasons. They may have long overdue medical needs, months of supplies to buy, or important paperwork to handle. Some just desperately need a rest.
But they all have one thing in common – the constant stress of living in a culture not their own.
And Betty is ready for them. With her trusty skillet in hand, she welcomes the missionaries with a touch of home – plenty of hot fried chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy and sweet tea.
And while she is busy filling their bellies, the laughter and fellowship is filling their weary hearts as well. They will leave her table warmed and filled and ready once again to bring the Gospel to the tribal people in the Madang region of Papua New Guinea.
Betty Draper is doing what she can do – frying chicken so people can hear about Jesus.
Pray that we will all focus on what we can do, instead of what we can’t. Pray that we will “think outside the box” when it comes to ways of getting involved in the exciting world of bringing others to Christ.
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