MISSIONER NEWSLETTER – Advent 2024

Kyle Johnson, Tanzania

More than any year before, it feels like our family is on a journey. … We are strangers in a strange land, and while I certainly don’t miss the hyper-consumerism of the U.S., I do miss some things.

MWANZA, TANZANIA—The theme for the 2025 Catholic jubilee year is “Pilgrims of Hope.” I would like to acknowledge that it can be difficult to feel hopeful sometimes. 

When we consider our divided society, the wars happening around the world, and the everyday challenges that accompany life (finances, health, relationships, etc.), the holiday season can feel more like an impending tsunami than something joyous to look forward to. We become even more conflicted as we judge ourselves harshly because of how we think we “should” feel compared to how we actually do.

Anyone that has experienced life for more than a few moments knows that every journey has its hardships and that in fact, the greater the journey, the greater the hardship.

The definition of a pilgrim is one who journeys to a sacred place. Anyone that has experienced life for more than a few moments knows that every journey has its hardships and that in fact, the greater the journey, the greater the hardship. To me, this is where I most look for God in my life. Not when things are going beautiful and well, but when life is challenging me in ways that are painful and confusing. Humility has brought me to God’s doorstep much more than success ever has.

I think it’s great when the Advent season fills one with joy and excitement. I love it when my kids play Christmas music 24/7 and race to open the miniature doors of their Advent calendars. I love the newly lit candles and new colors at Mass. It seems as if each day during Advent is an even larger crescendo of anticipation for the Christmas to come.

This year we have no treat-filled Advent calendar, and we won’t be seeing any family. More than any year before, it feels like our family is on a journey. There are some young children for whom we are trying to help get surgeries. There is a Maasai man who we are helping to start a business. And there is a disability conference coming up, which we are helping organize in the hope that it may be a significant step towards disability rights in Tanzania. We are strangers in a strange land, and while I certainly don’t miss the hyper-consumerism of the U.S., I do miss some things. 

It is in this season of Advent, when things have been difficult that I am looking to God. I am humbled by my inadequacies and failures and immensely grateful that despite myself, I am healthy, alive, and that I am loved. Our family has had some truly beautiful experiences on mission and some very ugly ones as well. But there is one thing I realize about being a Pilgrim of Hope: hope has much more value when things are difficult than when they are easy.

“Peace. It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart.” – Unknown

Please consider supporting our family’s mission work in Tanzania with a donation through the link below.

We invite you to walk with us as our “COMPANIONS IN MISSION.” Companions in Mission are friends and generous donors who give financial gifts on a regular (usually monthly) basis. For more information, visit Become a Companion in Mission. Thank you so much for your generosity!