A beautiful life story

By Dorothy Novak
September/October 2013

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Many of us today are living in the fast lane and busy seems to be a way of life. I can certainly relate to this. Before going to mission with Scarboro, I was a very busy woman. I would have told you it was called survival. I was raising three children alone and I owned and operated a few homes for special care. I had employees to look after and I worked a hundred hours a week. My life was about managing time.

Lay missioner Dorothy Novak, house mother at a home for young, single mothers in Thailand.

Once my children were grown and on their own, I was ready for mission. I wanted to fulfill a long held desire to give time to God through mission work. I joined Scarboro Missions and spent nearly five years in Thailand, mostly working in a home with young, single mothers. I was a house mother, sharing household duties, teaching them basic lifeskills including how to budget their earnings, and teaching them English. I was always open to helping out wherever the need.

These years were both challenging and blessed. To serve people when we cannot speak the language is to live knowing that our actions speak louder than words. You begin to understand the universal language called love. I lived a life of love in Thailand. I loved the people and received their love in return. I saw in action the power of love and the difference even a smile can make.

My experience in Thailand prepared me to live my life as mission, no matter where I am. Not being able to speak and understand the language for the first years gave me time to be silent and make room for God to speak. My mission became listening to God with an open heart. This continued when I returned home and I continue to ask God each day to lead me where I can best serve.

In the years since my return I have been privileged to accompany many friends, most with cancer, on their final journey. It is a humbling experience to walk with someone who is preparing to leave this life. I have been blessed to accompany people struggling with illness, or dealing with the loss of a loved one, or simply struggling to cope with everyday life.

I believe that we are all called to create a beautiful life story. Scarboro Missions gave me the opportunity to bring much beauty into my life through my journey with the people of Thailand. Today my life belongs to God and time management is about discovering how I can best serve in this present hour. The present moment is all that is real and it is God who manages my time. I will continue my mission each day, listening to God and moving forward as my heart or intuition directs.

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