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4. S W I T Z E R L A N D :
FLOWERS FOR "FAILURES" HELP HEAL MISSIONARIES "WOUNDED IN ACTION"
A FORMER HOTEL in some of Europe's best ski country has been turned into a stylish retreat house for missionaries "wounded in action".
Met at the airport with flowers, guests are greeted like heroes and treated like kings during their time at Le Rucher, a seven-acre property looking out over Mont Blanc.
Resident staff are on hand to talk and pray with visitors as they work through feelings like fear, anger, failure and guilt arising from serving in war zones, crisis areas and other adverse conditions.
Among those who have been helped by the Youth With A Mission center since it opened its doors a year ago are relief workers evacuated in emergencies, staff who faced death and rape threats, and others simply worn out by serving in areas of desperate need.
"Increasingly missionaries can find themselves in difficult situations, either facing violence or coping with extreme poverty and tremendous human need all around them," said director Erik Spruyt, who leads the counseling and debriefing team. "They need time and space to begin coming to terms with some of these things.
"Others are simply facing burnout and disappointment, perhaps from pressure or relationship conflicts, or a general sense of failure. A lot of Christians have a 'performance' mentality, including missionaries. They need the opportunity to overcome issues that can hinder them from functioning as well as they can."
In addition to group and individual debriefing and counseling sessions, visitors - who usually stay for a few days, up to two weeks - are encouraged to take time to rest and relax, and to enjoy local recreation opportunities and culture., "We believe that a nice meal, a boat trip, a walk in the mountains, a ski trip are all part of ministering to people."
Le Rucher - whose name means "bee farm" in French - has its own checkered history. Now "thoroughly redeemed", said Spruyt, at various times the center was used as a farm, a nudist colony, and a brothel for occupying forces during World War Two.
Staff serve other Christian organizations besides YWAM, with professional experts in debriefing and pastoral care from other parts of Europe able to be called in at short notice when needed.
Reducing the attrition rate of missionaries leaving because of personal problems is only part of the center's reason for existence. "We want to see more missionaries going out as we approach the next millennium," said Spruyt, "but how can we take a gospel of hope and love if we do not care properly for our very own people?
"It seems inadequate to tell people to 'get over it' when they face issues like conflict, failure and burnout. People need and have a right for a proper hearing."
Many times people arrive at Le Rucher feeling like failures, he added. "But we believe that they are heroes, and should be treated as such. It takes courage to admit that you need help."
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