Anyone who really knows me understands that since my first mission trip a few years back, I’m not really content living my life for me. Yes, we all have moments where we prefer living for ourselves, but mostly because it’s more comfortable and less work. But I’m still not convinced I’ll live the rest of my life working for “the man”, as they say. I just can’t see it. I’m pretty certain Kathy and I would be more happy in missions.

However I don’t think the life I find myself in 10 years from now will not need an income. There are a few things I have wanted to do that I could see sustaining a life. Here are some things I’d like to do to provide an income while serving as a missionary.

1. Write a book or two
I’m not sure what about, but I think I’d love to learn how to be a good writer and then do it. A published book that people buy is a great way to have residual income after the fact. Maybe fiction, but I think I’d love to write some type of spiritual work. Quite possibly even something related to mission work.

2. Become a photographer
For a few years now I’ve found myself really interested in photography. I love the idea of capturing memories in a way that also serve as art. This isn’t the same as taking pictures. I think everyone can see the difference between a picture and a photograph. I want to do the latter more often than the former, and if I could make a bit on the side, that would be fantastic.

3. Record a CD
But that probably will never happen, so let’s move on.

4. Some type of professional internetter
Whether it’s a professional blogger (kind of like writing a book, I guess), or someone who does a web gig once in a while, this could be a fairly productive thing living outside of the US. It’s a great way to extend the usefulness of a North American income. I’m doing a job right now that if I could get two of them a year, I could live just fine in many countries. A big return on a month or so of work.

I want to be clear and say that I don’t want these things so I can be lazy. I want them to be able to sustain the expenses of life while I’m doing other work, more meaningful stuff. Plus each one is something I’d enjoy. It’s a fun thinking exercise I like to do, and I don’t know if any of them ever will, but it would be nice (and I’m actually praying about the book one). I suppose we’ll see in a few years how these could pan out!

-j