Interview with a Missionary

Name: Sharon Carderelli

Mission Board: Interserve USA

Date/Location: Thursday, Feb. 11, 2016 at 9:52 A.M. in the Grand Lobby of DeMoss

1. How did you come to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior? She grew up in a Christian home and gave her life to Christ at an early age. Throughout her life, she has continued to experience deeper growth.
2. How did you know that you were being called to the mission field? Her and her husband were both open to it when they were in high school. They both participated in short-term mission trips through Liberty University, but didn’t feel a strong call to go into missions until they were in their 40s. Sharon’s desire started sooner than her husband’s. She began to pray, in her 30s, that the Lord would allow her to meet a Muslim and cultivate a friendship with them. A Kurdish-Iraqi family moved into the neighborhood where they lived and her and her church family began to minister to them. At this time, she felt content to stay put in the States, however, the Lord had been moving in her husband’s heart for overseas mission work. It was at this time that they became involved with Interserve USA because her husband is gifted in helps (technical skills and IT support), rather than the traditional preaching and teaching missionary work.
3. How did you adapt to the life change of the mission field? They spent four years in England, six years in Afghanistan and two years in Turkey. Each place accounted for a different life change. The English that they speak in England is 20% different then our English language, which was unexpected. In the beginning, Sharon was self-conscious about her American accent, until 9/11 happened. She was surprised by how many people, after hearing that she was American, sympathized and reached out to them. In Afghanistan they felt as if they’d landed on a different planet, but never fully left the “honeymoon stage” and really enjoyed her time there.
4. What is the main religion in the country and what specific barriers did you notice due to their beliefs? Islam is the main religion in Afghanistan. Afghans have preconceived notions from Hollywood about what a Westerner is like. They believe that women are loose and men carry guns. As a woman, Sharon dressed very modestly, wearing a scarf on her head and longer shirts to help remove the barrier and presuppositions that many Muslims carry. Many believe they know what Christians are like, but the Carderellis were able to live an authentic Christian life in front of them.
5. What was the hardest experience you’ve faced while being on the mission field? Five and a half years ago, her son died while serving in Afghanistan with them. He had a degree in digital media and went with a team of doctors to a remote area to film their work. It was there that the ten of them were ambushed and killed.
6. What did you miss the most about being away from home? Because of the timing of their mission work, she missed her children the most. Many missionaries go into the mission field when they’re first married and their kids are little and then return home as they grow up, however, the Carderellis did it in reverse and left two weeks after their oldest son started at Liberty University.
7. What did you miss the most about the mission field when you were home? The people they met became so precious to them. Sharon had a heavy burden for the persecuted church. Overall, being there for them and being able to help them through their sufferings are what she misses the most.
8. What is the most rewarding experience you had while being a missionary? Being able to see the power of the Word of God in action. This was especially apparent after the death of their son. A few days before they were getting ready to leave for the States, a woman knocked on their door. She was concerned that the Carderellis were turning away from the Lord and she wanted to minister to Sharon. She found it amazing to see this illiterate woman have such a great grasp on the Bible. Instead of Sharon ministering to her, as she had before, this woman ministered and prayed with Sharon.
9. What is one way that you can see Christ working in the country? She’s heard, recently, that the Afghan church is the second fastest growing church in the world. She believes that there’s a lot happening spiritually. They are hungry and seeking and ready to respond to the Gospel.
10. How long did you serve on the mission field? They have been home for a year and a half and she just recently (6 months ago) started going around to different places sharing about Interserve USA. They spent a total of 13 years overseas.
11. How can I be praying for you and the organization? She wants me to pray for the church and for their hearts to be softened towards the Arab world. She would love for Liberty students to have the desire to go these Muslim countries. Interserve USA has been around for 160 years and is the second oldest mission institution in the world. The part of the world they cover includes 2 billion people; a quarter of the world’s population. Only 3% of Christian workers reach these parts.