2008 Woodie Awards
Freshman student tells of her experiences as a missionary kid
Nicole Heitmann
Issue date: 2/15/08 Section: In the Spotlight
Although Sarah Simmonds is just a freshman at Southwest Baptist University, she has experienced an international lifestyle.
Simmonds was raised along with her brother on the mission field in Papua, New Guinea. Her parents, also missionary kids, worked with New Tribes Mission.
New Tribes Mission is based in Camdenton and coordinates missionaries to plant churches. New Tribes is known for their translation work among unreached people groups.
"I loved being a MK," said Simmonds. "I love languages and translation work."
While Simmonds was on the mission field with her parents, she had the opportunity to visit Australia a few times, which she enjoyed.
Simmonds was home-schooled when she was little and then went to a missionary school. As she got older, her parents sent her to a boarding-style school.
When she was fourteen, Simmonds and her family moved back to the U.S.
"I miss the simple lifestyle," said Simmonds. "Everything seems extravagant here."
After graduating from a public high school, Simmonds took a year off of school.
"I went to Bible school in England," said Simmonds. "I really liked it."
When she decided to come to SBU, it was for reasons besides missions, but it soon became a focus for her.
"I heard that there was a good music program," said Simmonds. "It's only a hour from where my parents live Later I heard it was missions focused, which was important to me."
In Papua, New Guinea, Simmonds and her family lived outside the village in which they worked.
Since Simmonds was young and lived outside the village, she did not visit the nationals as much and decided to stay back many times with other missionary kids.
Simmonds wishes she would have made stronger bonds with the nationals but knew it would have been hard.
"Definitely leaving people [was hard]," said Simmonds. "I felt it was hard to reach out because I knew I would have to leave."
Simmonds is working toward getting a degree in general music with an emphasis in piano. She has recently decided to work on an Intercultural Studies degree as well.
She does not know exactly how she will use the piano degree but knows that God can use it to open doors when she ministers to people.
She continues to love mission work and will like to one day follow in her parents' footsteps.
"I want to be a missionary," said Simmonds. "I'm looking at Asia. There's such a need for people to hear about Christ. There are so many people who don't know who Jesus is."
Although Simmonds loves SBU and the friends she has made here, she continues to miss her home, Papua, New Guinea.
"I miss a lot of things," said Simmonds. "I miss saying a word in Pigeon English and knowing someone understood me. I miss the food, the staple food is sweet potatoes. I miss having friends from different
Simmonds was raised along with her brother on the mission field in Papua, New Guinea. Her parents, also missionary kids, worked with New Tribes Mission.
New Tribes Mission is based in Camdenton and coordinates missionaries to plant churches. New Tribes is known for their translation work among unreached people groups.
"I loved being a MK," said Simmonds. "I love languages and translation work."
While Simmonds was on the mission field with her parents, she had the opportunity to visit Australia a few times, which she enjoyed.
Simmonds was home-schooled when she was little and then went to a missionary school. As she got older, her parents sent her to a boarding-style school.
When she was fourteen, Simmonds and her family moved back to the U.S.
"I miss the simple lifestyle," said Simmonds. "Everything seems extravagant here."
After graduating from a public high school, Simmonds took a year off of school.
"I went to Bible school in England," said Simmonds. "I really liked it."
When she decided to come to SBU, it was for reasons besides missions, but it soon became a focus for her.
"I heard that there was a good music program," said Simmonds. "It's only a hour from where my parents live Later I heard it was missions focused, which was important to me."
In Papua, New Guinea, Simmonds and her family lived outside the village in which they worked.
Since Simmonds was young and lived outside the village, she did not visit the nationals as much and decided to stay back many times with other missionary kids.
Simmonds wishes she would have made stronger bonds with the nationals but knew it would have been hard.
"Definitely leaving people [was hard]," said Simmonds. "I felt it was hard to reach out because I knew I would have to leave."
Simmonds is working toward getting a degree in general music with an emphasis in piano. She has recently decided to work on an Intercultural Studies degree as well.
She does not know exactly how she will use the piano degree but knows that God can use it to open doors when she ministers to people.
She continues to love mission work and will like to one day follow in her parents' footsteps.
"I want to be a missionary," said Simmonds. "I'm looking at Asia. There's such a need for people to hear about Christ. There are so many people who don't know who Jesus is."
Although Simmonds loves SBU and the friends she has made here, she continues to miss her home, Papua, New Guinea.
"I miss a lot of things," said Simmonds. "I miss saying a word in Pigeon English and knowing someone understood me. I miss the food, the staple food is sweet potatoes. I miss having friends from different
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