Four years ago, the Bullock family left the familiarity and security of the UK to serve God cross-culturally in Zambia with Operation Mobilisation. Dan is Field Leader, responsible for all OM’s missionaries in Zambia, as well as its local workers. Ruth is a physiotherapist working to train people with disabilities.
Writer Ivy Chiu spoke to Dan and Ruth about why they took such a bold step.
Moving overseas with four young children is a huge undertaking! Why did you do it?
Dan: In a worldly sense, we were settled, with good jobs and happy kids. But I could not deny my spiritual restlessness.
Ruth: ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.’ Matthew 9 spoke to us often. Initially, we wondered whether this calling was for when the kids were older – our four boys were very young then! But God laid on our hearts the urgency of mission.
What were your worries?
Dan: We worried about whether the kids’ socialising and education would suffer, and whether we could raise the necessary financial support.
But we wanted to be led by the Lord, not by fear. If God calls your family, he will meet your needs. And He has provided for us and silenced so many fears.
How did you prepare your children?
Ruth: A common prayer in our household is: ‘God, lead us where you would want us to go, and help us to be obedient.’ We have always prayed this with the kids, so talking to them about following God to a new place was not a surprise! We also prepared them practically; making scrapbooks of what their surroundings would look like and talking to them about the differences, like wearing shorts and T-shirts on Christmas Day!
What are the joys of serving God as a family?
Dan: In the UK there tends to be a pattern to life – school, university, getting a job and so on. It is a joy to step out of that as a family and to think differently about how God wants to use our lives. The kids see this lived out.
What would you say to families considering God’s call and moving overseas?
Ruth: Trust that He has gone ahead of you, that He has prepared good works in advance for you to do. He will quiet your fears and gently lead you forward.
