Mozambique (MNN) – Whether at home or abroad, washing laundry or transporting medical supplies, Christians are called to trust and obey God.
Annabel and Ryan Koher have experienced this firsthand through their work in Mozambique with Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF). Their stories have taken unexpected turns causing both of them to lean into God’s plan. While Ryan is often the primary missionary out of the home, Annabel shares that her role is missional and requires this same trust and obedience as well.
“I thought I knew what it would look like,” she says. “I think many people think they know what it’s going to look like going to be missionaries, whether you’re the spouse or the primary missionary in the family. And we really just don’t know what God has in store for us.”
Steady Work to Support the Mission
Koher says that much of her daily work as a missionary in Mozambique looks the same as it would as a wife of a commercial pilot in the United States. She makes their meals, does the laundry, homeschools their children, and keeps the house running smoothly.
This work is crucial in any family, but Koher shares that sometimes it can be hard to connect it directly to the missions work in Mozambique. In those times the stories of God at work through her husband and others helps fuel her role.
“Hearing their stories, I remember my part in the kitchen, washing dishes, changing the dirty diapers, hanging the laundry on the line – those things allow for Ryan to be able to fly the planes,” Koher says. “Which allows for the Bible translator missionaries to be here. Which allows for the Bible to go out and the Gospel to be shared and for people’s hearts to be changed and come to know Christ.”
(Photo courtesy of Annabel Koher)
In addition to supporting her husband’s flights Koher is part of the spiritual enrichment team in Mozambique. She helps prepare for their monthly meetings as well as arranges conferences and retreats for their team and the national staff.
Koher also explains that her first role, and every parent’s primary mission field, is with their own children. “I would also say that any parent, in a way, is a missionary at least to their kids. The kids are not automatically saved and they need discipleship. And I think a lot of moms in particular, their home is their primary mission field, and then it goes out from there.”
Walking in Obedience
However, no matter what she is doing, Koher seeks to stay focused on God. For those considering a foreign mission field or those who feel called to stay where they are at, there is consistency – rely on God.
“I think our story is a great one, because we were committed to doing the work that we thought God had for us and turned out that that also included Ryan going to jail. And a lot of waiting in the US. And lot of interviews that we never thought we would be doing.
“So, we don’t always know what God has in store for us. We don’t know what He has in store for us if we go overseas. We don’t know what He has in store for us if we stay where we are currently at. So, I think the biggest things are not to be afraid of the unknown, because we know who is already there, and that is God. If He’s calling us to it, He will give us the grace and the peace to sustain us through whatever He calls us to. It doesn’t mean it’s not going to be hard, but if we continue to keep our eyes on Christ and on the work that He has done and on who He is, then we will be able to get through anything – even if it’s the dark valleys or celebrating the Gospel proclamation going out.”
To learn more about Mission Aviation Fellowship’s work in Mozambique or how you can get involved visit their website.
