Email means connection to the outside world--connection with our family and friends and involvement of our family and friends in our ministry and lives.

When we first went out on the field (1992), email was just getting started. We didn’t really have good access to it until a couple of years later. When we first got reliable email at our home, it was such wonderful and amazing thing to have connection with others so quickly. But the importance and value of involving others in our day to day lives and ministry was brought home to us a few years later.

While still in Suriname, national missionaries (Gilbert and Nancy) were based in an Indian Village (Kwamala) that was a two hour flight one way from Paramaribo where we were based. The village was completely isolated from the outside world, deep in the rain forest. The only other way to get to the city aside from flying was a two to three week trip via river and overland trek. One day near sunset, they radioed MAF that they needed to fly out ASAP as their little toddler girl had ingested cockroach poison. She needed help immediately, but we were unable to fly until the morning due to the approaching darkness.

It was a long night. They weren’t sure their little girl was going to be alive in the morning. We sent out an urgent prayer request via email to our family, friends and supporters. We received many replies that people were praying and waiting with us through the night for news. When morning came, we found out via radio that the little girl was alive (and emailed that answer to prayer to others immediately). An MAF pilot did reach the family that morning and brought the little girl to a hospital in the city. She eventually fully recovered.

Email made it possible for others in the US to be directly involved in our ministry that night and day!

Now that we are in Russia, email has taken on another dimension for us—that of connecting us with long lost friends and acquaintances. More people seem to come to Russia than ever even thought about coming to Suriname. We have had several reunions with people who came across our email address and decided to let us know that they were going to be in Russia the next week or even next day. I don’t think they would have bothered to get in contact with us if they had to write a “snail mail” letter that they would not receive an answer to for at least a month.

A now that we have a daughter heading to college, email is becoming even more valuable. But some day you’ll probably have to ask what “instant messaging” means to us.

[submitted by Rebecca for the Emenaker family]