Am I a missionary? Returning from the US to the Dominican Republic, I found myself seated next to a man who asked if I was on vacation. When I told him I’m serving at a church and learning Spanish, he said, “Oh, you’re a missionary.”

I immediately responded with, “No!”

But since then, I’ve been thinking and questioning, what do I categorize myself as?

Many times, I’ve come to the DR with my husband, David, for his work in baseball. I’ve categorized myself as a wife following her husband as he chased baseball. Basically, a tourist.

This time I’m coming because I feel the Lord has asked me to take time to learn Spanish so I can understand the women’s hearts when I’m here serving and speaking.

So, does that make me a missionary or a pilgrim?

Of course, being a little bit of a word nerd, I looked up the definition of both.

Missionary: a person undertaking a mission, and especially a religious mission.

Then I had to look up Mission.

Mission: organized missionary work.

A vicious cycle of words on top of words for meaning.

Then I found this definition by David Platt, an amazing man of God and missionary.

“A missionary is a disciple of Jesus set apart by the Holy Spirit, sent out from the church to cross geographic, cultural, and/or linguistic barriers as part of a missionary team focused on making disciples and planting a church with the goal of spreading the gospel among unreached peoples and places.”

Well, I haven’t been sent by my church, nor am I planting one, so I don’t qualify under this definition.

But then I read Matthew 28:19, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” this is what we are all called to do each and every day, but is this what I’m doing during my time in the Dominican?

Then, thinking about being a tourist. What is a tourist?

I found this explanation in an article by Matthew Kelly: Tourists want everything to go exactly as they have planned and imagined it. They rush around from one place to another making sure they cram everything in. They are constantly buying souvenirs and knickknacks, many of which they will look at when they get home and wonder, “What was I thinking?” Tourists get upset if there are delays. They demand prompt attention and service to their every need and desire. They focus on themselves, often shoving past others to get where they want to go. Tourists go sightseeing. Tourists count the cost. (Copied from we

He goes on to explain what a Pilgrim is: Pilgrims are very different. They look for signs. If a flight gets delayed or canceled, they ask, “What is God trying to say to me?” Pilgrims are not concerned with seeing and doing everything, they are concern the things they feel called to see and do. They are not obsessed with shopping. They are aware of the needs of others. Pilgrims go looking for meaning. Pilgrims count their blessings.

This! From the moment I began planning this adventure, I haven’t felt like a missionary, but I have definitely aligned with the life of a pilgrim.

Have you asked yourself if you are on a mission? Not all of us can go on an adventure, but we can all spread the love of Christ.

My pilgrimage is a sacred journey God has called me to, and I am willingly going on this adventure with open arms to serve, a strong mind to learn, and a steady walk to follow.

I’m so thankful you are along for the journey.