Roles Reversed

We never know the impact our words will have on others! This truth has been very much evident in the life of LuAnne Basney, for whom things have gone full circle relationally.

LuAnne has served in missions in South Africa, Haiti, South Central India, Indonesia, and Singapore. Years ago, LuAnne spoke in a little church in Minnesota. Little did LuAnne know at the time, but that day was a major game-changer in the life of a 10-year-old girl named Paula. As LuAnne spoke, an enthralled Paula hung on every word.

By the end of the service, Paula became determined that when she grew up, she, too, wanted to be a missionary. At the age of thirteen, she went on a short-term mission trip to Mexico. When Paula was eighteen, she joined a team teaching English at a Bible school in China. A few years later, she married, and she and her family are now in full-time missions together. John Paul and Paula Sprecher work on staff with SEAPC. As opportunities arise, they travel and serve on the mission field.

Recently LuAnne and Paula’s pasts dovetailed with the present when they reconnected through a Facebook post. After she happened to see LuAnne’s post, Paula was astounded to realize that this was the same person who had a profound effect on the direction of her life. She responded to LuAnne and told her what an inspiration she was (and is) to her. Paula invited LuAnne to join an SEAPC short-term mission trip to Myanmar.  

For the last several years, LuAnne has stepped out of the full-time missionary role. Currently, she works as a medical transcriptionist for a clinic. Going back to the mission field on this Myanmar trip energized LuAnne. In Myanmar, she ministered in a children’s home and taught in a local school. Although dealing with jetlag and a different time zone proved to be a challenge, the blessing of once again ministering cross-culturally to the children far outweighed any inconveniences.

LuAnne found her interaction with Paula, the team leader, to be a very gratifying switch in relational roles. Though LuAnne was the influencer initially, now she was the one being influenced as she submitted to leadership under Paula. “It was a huge blessing to reconnect with Paula. It really ministers to my heart to see what God has done unbeknownst to me. It is good to see the ‘grown-up’ Paula in a missions leadership role. We never know what God will do!”

Paula sums her friendship with LuAnne well as she says, “It was cool to be serving on foreign soil together with the very person who inspired me to do what I am doing with my life!”

God, in His great wisdom and perfect timing, has indeed orchestrated a meaningful full circle event between his beloved daughters!