Living on a Mission: Faith, Finances, & Family Overseas

Episode 71: Pocket Change Podcast

The Pocket Change Podcast is presented by Leaders Credit Union. To learn more about Leaders, visit leaderscu.com.

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Full Transcript

Shea:

Hey, this is Shea.

Carrie:

And this is Carrie.

Shea:

Welcome to the Pocket Change Podcast.

Carrie:

Where you'll learn better ways to spend, save, and invest and take control of your financial journey.

Shea:

Carrie, so today's guests have lived and served across the globe. They've been in Russia, the Czech Republic, Costa Rica, and even Cuba.

Carrie:

That's right. And they've done it all while raising a family, building a church, and all with a purpose.

Shea:

Yeah. And so, we're going to hear how they've navigated faith, finances - because it is a financial podcast - and their community through their mission work.

Carrie:

I think it's going to be a great conversation. I'm excited. So, our guests today are Russell and Melinda Kyzar, retired missionaries who now teach ESL in Jackson, Tennessee. Welcome to Pocket Change!

Russell Kyzar:

Thank you. It's good to be with you. And thank you for the invitation.

Carrie:

Yes. So, we're excited to talk to you guys. But I would love to know what led you to missionary work.

Melinda Kyzar:

Well, actually, I grew up as a child of missionaries.

Carrie:

Okay.

Melinda Kyzar:

Grew up in South Korea, and then right before my senior year, we transferred to the Philippines. And so, I graduated high school there and then came back to the States for college on my own. And, just that was normal for me. I mean, I didn't know another life. So, in college we met, and Russell felt like he was called to a church related-vocation and, specifically music at that time, and worship. And so, we went to seminary in Fort Worth, at Southwestern Seminary, and then worked in a church in Texas for about ten years. And felt God calling us then to be missionaries ourselves.

Russell Kyzar:

And the idea of going as a missionary, you know, we knew that people did that. But oh, that wasn't for us. We were right here in the States and a local church. But then one day there was this really strong impression, and it was like, “You need to consider overseas.” And I'm thinking, “Oh, Lord. Okay, well, let's talk about this.” And it took a couple of years before we actually finally wound up overseas.

Shea:

Now, tell us some of the places y'all have lived and what are some of the highlights of those different countries?

Melinda Kyzar:

Okay, well, the first place we served was Costa Rica. And, if you've ever been there for vacation, you know, it's a wonderful place. And we really enjoyed living there. The people are wonderful. The food.

Shea:

You get to go in the rainforest?

Melinda Kyzar:

Of course. Many times.

Shea:

Beautiful scenery.

Melinda Kyzar:

Yes. Amazing. Yeah. And then, we really just felt led to go to a place that had really not had as much opportunity to hear about the Lord. And we went to Russia.

Carrie:

Okay.

Melinda Kyzar:

And those eight years there were very different from our ten years in Costa Rica. The climate, the language - we had to learn another language and it was very challenging but rewarding in ways.

Russell Kyzar:

We were in Russia during the time, right after communism had fallen. So, the country was rebuilding itself. And so, we were there during those years of kind of reconstruction of the country, things have even shifted again since we were there and, after Russia, we went to Cuba. Or we were working in Cuba. We actually couldn't live in Cuba because of the government regulations, but we were able to go back and forth into Cuba for a couple of years or more to do leadership training and humanitarian work and that kind of thing during those times. And then our last place was, in the Czech Republic and in the beautiful city of Prague. You know, our European office was located there. And I was helping and supervising and coordinating some things during that time in our life. And so we were in Prague for about six and a half years, and we came back to the States in 2015. So, we had about 28.5 years overseas.

Carrie:

So, Costa Rica, Russia, and Prague? Was there another place?

Russell Kyzar:

Cuba.

Carrie:

Cuba! That's right. So, all of those different languages, what was that like? Learning different languages.

Russell Kyzar:

Harder every time.

Carrie:

Yes.

Russell Kyzar:

First one was not so difficult because we were younger. The second one, we were older, and it was more difficult. And, then by the time we got to Czech Republic, we were in our mid 50s. And I don't recommend anybody learning a new language after age 50, but actually we, Melinda did really well in Czech. And we continued to work in Russian some also in Prague.

Carrie:

So, navigating through these countries before you even understand what you know, the signs are saying, like, I can't imagine how challenging that would be.

Melinda Kyzar:

Yeah, we did have a few lessons in Russian before we went so we could at least read the signs.

Shea:

Gotta ask where the bathroom is.

Melinda Kyzar:

And, yes, those important questions. So, it helped to know just a tiny bit before we went.

Shea:

And then, so you've spent 28 years in the mission work. And of course you have children, raised families. So, what was that like? Raising your kids internationally in these different countries?

Russell Kyzar:

Our boys were born in Texas, but our daughter was born in Costa Rica.

Shea:

Okay.

Russell Kyzar:

And so, every time we changed the country, we either gained a child or we lost a child who came back to the States to go to college.

Shea:

Okay.

Russell Kyzar:

So, when we went to Russia, we dropped off the oldest, he went off to college and went with those two. So, when we came back to Cuba, we dropped another one off in college, or when we went to Czech Republic, actually. But it was, so it was a constant change. It's very interesting, actually, that our kids have a predominant second language, and they all don't have the same one.

Shea:

Yeah, wow.

Carrie:

Wow.

Russell Kyzar:

For the oldest, Spanish is the predominant second language. And then for the youngest, Russian is probably hers, although she has a mixture of both. So, it's very interesting. We, of course, it's a different life than living in the same county or the same city, or even in the same state. And yet what we found out is that we received incredible blessings from interacting with other cultures. And that's actually why we continue to do that, even here in Jackson, teaching English to those who have come to the US, some who have been here for 15 or 20 years and still don't speak English well. And they want to improve their English so they can do better and have a better job wherever they're employed.

Carrie:

Yeah, that's great.

Shea:

And it really does just help. I mean, kids, I mean they're adaptable, very adaptable. But I mean, having that background of all these different cultures, I mean, there's really, I think it's just profound that they got to experience that.

Melinda Kyzar:

Changes your worldview completely.

Russell Kyzar:

It does.

Carrie:

I'm sure. I'm sure that makes your holiday and get-togethers a little different. Do you do y'all ever pull out your different languages to each other?

Melinda Kyzar:

Yeah. And, we were trying, you know, especially with the grandkids, if we didn't want them to understand something, we’d use Spanish. Well, they got wise so they’re all working on Spanish.

Russell Kyzar:

Duolingo.

Melinda Kyzar:

So well, then we switched to Russian. And then the one granddaughter, she's working on Russian, so, pretty soon we won’t be able to tell secrets.

Russell Kyzar:

That’s right, no secrets.

Carrie:

They’ll know where all their presents are. So, obviously moving around and, doing things, you know, mission work, the way that you guys have, I'm sure there has been lots of challenges. How did you manage your finances with all of those moves?

Russell Kyzar:

Wow. Early on, finances were a challenge. Well, always you try to maintain a bank account or some checking account in the States. But, at the very beginning, it was challenging because we were new missionaries and a new missionary salary is lower than experienced missionary salary.

Shea:

Kind of like a regular job! You start at entry level.

Russell Kyzar:

That's right. So, it was a challenge at the very beginning. I mean, for example, we went on vacation separately. We would send mom and one of the kids on vacation this year -

Melinda Kyzar:

Usually to the States to see grandparents.

Russell Kyzar:

Yeah. And then dad and one of the others would go on vacation the next year. And so, we did that at the very beginning. And then as they began to come back to the States for college, then we didn't have quite as many people, you know, that required tickets. So we were able to come back all together then. But, as far as changing coinage and all of those kinds of things, all of that was very fascinating to us, but also a challenge just learning how to budget with them. The money that you were now using in comparison to dollars and you frequently, every day you were saying, “Now, how many dollars is this? Can we afford this?” And so yeah, that's how it worked.

Shea:

And it's, I guess, getting experience living on like a fixed amount. Like, most people may do that at some point during their life, you know, or thinking about retirement. They have a fixed amount. But y'all had to do that kind of all throughout that, typically, you know, having a certain amount to work with and you’ve got to make it work and fit within the month and the budget, so.

Russell Kyzar:

That's right. And, for missionaries, one of the issues besides just how much you may receive from your supporters - because some people are supported by a mission organization or a whole denomination maybe, and others are supported by individuals or individual churches. So that that can really change literally according to the financial aspects of what of the people that are supporting you.

Shea:

Right.

Russell Kyzar:

So, that's a challenge. But another wrinkle in the whole missionary thinking is, your lifestyle compared to the people you're working with. And so, you want to live within the means of the people that are around you. You don't want to look like the rich American. Maybe there are other jobs where Americans go and that's not an issue. But for mission work, that's pretty significant issue, actually. So, we learned what we would call the “missionary mentality” about spending and what we would spend on and what we would not spend on, and just hold off till later or some other time.

Carrie:

Modest living.

Russell Kyzar:

Yeah, that's right, modest living. That's a good way to put it.

Carrie:

Well, I've never thought about it like that. That's interesting.

Shea:

And so, with all these different cultures and places you've lived, you've probably built a lot of different community. And that was probably important. So, talk a little bit about the community and why that was so important in the different places you've lived.

Melinda Kyzar:

I think our, our closest community and really our family became the other missionaries and their kids. They called us aunt and uncle. And, you know, we just had a very close bond with them. But then our community became our national friends as well. And it was in each country different. And the way to build relationships and all and community was different everywhere we lived, but always important.

Russell Kyzar:

And just like in the States where your church family, sometimes we call it church family, actually, you know, your church family becomes your, a close group that supports you and you support mutually. That's true also overseas. And so, you're working in their language, you're trying to learn their language. They're trying to be, you know, they're trying to be, patient with you. They're trying to help you learn their language and their culture, and that bonds you with them. It really does. And so, the churches that you're involved with overseas become very close to you, even much more than just the culture at large. But, that's really that was critical for us for our survival, actually.

Carrie:

Right. So, do you all keep in touch with the friends that you made overseas?

Russell Kyzar:

Very much so. In fact, next week, one of our friends from Costa Rica, who we've known all of these years are coming to visit us here in Jackson. Oh, that's great. And they're going to be with us for a couple of weeks. Yeah.

Carrie:

That's wonderful. So, we know you guys have retired from full time international mission work, but what are you involved in now?

Melinda Kyzar:

Well, I think we've already mentioned that we do teach English as a Second Language through, Englewood Baptist. And it's a constant in and out because some will come for a while, and then they get a job and they leave us or they move. And we've also had a pretty good turnover in different nationalities that have come, and all different languages and, really built some wonderful relationships with our students.

Russell Kyzar:

Of course, we're doing it, through our church. And there are various churches, actually, in Madison County and Gibson County that are doing this as well.

Shea:

Yeah.

Russell Kyzar:

And, of course, there are two reasons we want that. We want to share our language with them, but we also want to share some spiritual things with them. And so, we get that opportunity as well, to talk to them about things that are important to us in the faith category. So we do that. They are glad to hear. And many times, they actually come from faith communities in the country they were from. We find that actually, they're not afraid of coming to a church to get English lessons because they were a part of a church or something where they were before. But some aren’t. Some come without any experience. So that's a really good, it's a really good opening for us.

Shea:

Yeah.

Carrie:

How long does it typically take for them to learn English?

Melinda Kyzar:

When they first come, we give them an evaluation and we see are they just ranked beginner or do they know some? And, we have books on four levels.

Carrie:

Okay.

Melinda Kyzar:

From the very beginning to level four is getting to very conversant. How long does it take? It really depends on the student. I mean, they say 95% of language learning is motivation.

Carrie:

Wow.

Shea:

Oh.

Melinda Kyzar:

And so, when they feel like, “I've got to have it,” they're going to apply and they're going to study and they're going to come to as many classes as they can. On Monday, we have an 8:30 class and a 10:00 class. And lately, some of them have been asking, “Could we come to both and just stay the whole morning?” And I'm sure it's just fine with us. So, it really is about their motivation. And some come with a higher education, but if they really want to learn to speak the language, they will.

Carrie:

That's interesting.

Russell Kyzar:

They come to us, with their question of the week: “Oh, I heard this word. What does this word mean?” You know.

Melinda Kyzar:

“Oh, we don't say that word!”

Russell Kyzar:

That happens occasionally, yes.

Carrie:

So in other words, you get out of it what you put in it. So that goes for everything, even.

Shea:

You talked a little bit about this, you know, with people being able to share the impact of their learning English as a second language. How does that help our community? What would you say to that?

Russell Kyzar:

Wow, that's a good question. I think the ones who come to us, first of all, the job that they have now doesn't require English, but they know if they want that job, they must learn to speak English. So that helps the community. Now they are interacting with other people in the community, just like we did when we went to their countries.

Shea:

Yeah.

Russell Kyzar:

And we were trying our best to do it on just words until we could get phrases and then sentences. And now we're actually interacting in the community. So, when you meet somebody in Jackson who you can tell doesn't speak English, for you to say to them just a word or two, you know, means, “We want to help you to engage Jackson.” And I think that's a terrific thing because they're, we know exactly how they feel. Yeah, we know exactly how they feel, but it's not awkward. It shouldn't be awkward for us here in Jackson because we speak the language. And so, we should just we should embrace them like I know they embraced us in the countries where we are.

Shea:

Recently, a couple months ago, got to enjoy the Food and Arts Festival in Jackson that they have every year. And, you know, just so amazing the cultures represented, and the countries, and how many different, cultures are represented just in Jackson, not even counting outside, rural areas and everywhere. So, it's really cool to see all that here.

Russell Kyzar:

It really is amazing. And they're from all over the world. And of course they all bring their foods. Yeah, some of them open restaurants here and we are glad to go to those! You know, in fact, that's probably our first interaction with their cultures is through their food.

Shea:

Gathering around a table.

Russell Kyzar:

Yep, gathering around the table. And so, but that that event, I think, really shows us just how diverse we are. And maybe we don't realize it every day. When you see them all together, and they're doing their parade of flags and they're dressed up in their, you know, their traditional costumes, I guess we call them, it's just pretty amazing to say, “Wow, look what has come to our community and enriched us.” So that's good.

Carrie:

We often talk about food on this podcast. So out of all the countries that you've lived in, what was your favorite food?

Russell Kyzar:

Melinda makes a great dish from every country we’ve ever been in.

Carrie:

Oh wow!

Melinda Kyzar:

I do tend to adopt the other ones that were our favorites. And, I guess in general, I love Costa Rican food. It's very simple, like black beans and rice almost every meal. Very simple and the platano, you know, the fried plantains, and just -

Russell Kyzar:

But then really good chicken and rice. Arroz con pollo. That's an excellent dish that she does. And then beans and rice with a fried egg on top. I mean that's. And little chunks of meat on the side. Excellent.

Carrie:

So when can we come over for dinner?

Melinda Kyzar:

Well, we’ll have to plan Costa Rican.

Russell Kyzar:

Next Friday night.

Carrie:

Oh, he said next Friday!

Russell Kyzar:

Our friends will be here and we’ll be having Costa Rican food!

Melinda Kyzar:

Our Costa Rican friends will be here and I’ll have her fix the food.

Carrie:

Save a seat for me. So, this time of year, a lot of us have giving and thankfulness on our minds. Why do you feel giving is important to you?

Russell Kyzar:

The number one thing I would say is, we were the recipients of other people's giving for 28 years. We knew that people were wanting to support us, and we knew that we had a responsibility for them. So, it is, both time while we were overseas, we gave. But also now that we've come back, we're trying to sort of pay it forward, you know, to other people. And that's just, just a great rule for our culture is that we don't have to wait until somebody does for us to reciprocate and give them a gift or whatever.

Carrie:

Absolutely agree with you.

Russell Kyzar:

You know, but to help those that we see that really need help and then and then to join with others and doing something even bigger than what we could do alone.

Carrie:

Right. And maybe don't just do it this time of year.

Russell Kyzar:

Oh, yeah. Exactly, exactly.

Carrie:

It feels good to give. And it sounds like you guys have been very blessed with receiving. So, it's great to be able to give back.

Russell Kyzar:

We really, really have. Our kids know that; they saw it happen in their life. They know that that we wouldn't have been here except for the generosity of many, many, many other people. And so, yeah, we owe a lot. We owe a lot.

Shea:

So if someone's new to giving or generosity, you know, and they've never kind of put it to practice, what's some advice you would give somebody who's, you know, it's this time of year, “I want to start paying it forward or giving more.” What would you say to them?

Russell Kyzar:

I think you start out where you are. You don't wait until you think you're rich, and then you've got plenty of money to give away. You start out where you are. You don't wait. And so, there's always somebody who's going to be blessed by the small amount that you give. You know, the Bible talks about the widow who gave her two little coins, you know, and the comment that Jesus made about that was that she did she gave more than anybody else, and she gave because it was…

Melinda Kyzar:

It was a sacrifice.

Russell Kyzar:

It was her sacrifice. And so, if we sacrifice a small amount, God says he will he will bless us, you know, for our own sacrifice. But it, we don't need to wait until later in life. I would encourage all the young families to teach their kids - in fact, even give their kids a small amount of money and let them choose where they're going to give it. I've heard of families doing that. And that really, really produces a great result.

Shea:

It's like these piggy banks or this piggy bank on the table, you can use it. And sometimes they have ones divided into different compartments where there’s save, there’s spend, but there’s a giving. You know, this one's not, just one, but, you know, we've seen those different kinds of containers where it's kind of like, “Okay, this change is for giving, this is for saving, spending.” So that's a good thing just to keep in mind, parents or families that have kids you want to, or for yourself to say, “How am I going to budget this and separate this, that this is for giving, you know, paying it forward to somebody.” Or if you're involved in a faith community, doing it that way, whatever the case is. That's important to think about.

Carrie:

Yes. I also think it's important to note that if you don't have the money, you can also give time. It sounds like you guys have given time and money, so thank you for that.

Melinda Kyzar:

Well, we have a number of other volunteers helping us in this ESL program, and it just amazes me how much time they're willing to give and not expecting anything in return.

Russell Kyzar:

Well, I see people all over Madison County giving of their time in all kinds of ways. Some are, you know, spiritually related and some are just community related, and participating with young children and older adults and those with no economic means and those who desperately need a friend, you know, or somebody just to take on the doctor or whatever. And people are giving in so many, you know, wonderful different ways and Leaders kind of does this like you're doing right now, you know, prodding us all to get beyond ourselves and think about others. That's great.

Carrie:

That's great. Thank you for that. Okay, so since this is a financial podcast, I have to ask, what would be your best financial advice that you've ever been given?

Shea:

Who wants to start?

Russell Kyzar:

My best financial advice was to save from the beginning. I always have thought, you know, if you save, you will always have some. You will always - that will never be a bad decision. But if you overspend, it's likely to always be a bad decision. So don't overspend, but instead save.

Melinda Kyzar:

Yeah.

Carrie:

You'll thank yourself later for that.

Russell Kyzar:

You’ll thank yourself later.

Melinda Kyzar:

Yeah, don’t get into debt, that that's the other piece of advice. Because it just gets deeper and deeper if you're not careful.

Russell Kyzar:

That's one thing that we decided early on. And, you know, credit cards are a wonderful thing. And we all who use them, benefit from them on a daily basis. But we just decided that we would not put more on the credit card that we could than we could pay off at the end of the month.

And we've done that for, I don't know, 40 years, probably. And, you know, we're glad the credit card companies are there, and they make a little money on every purchase. And we're glad about that; everybody needs to make money, but we are trying not to -

Shea:

You can save on your interest.

Russell Kyzar:

That’s right. Save on our interest.

Shea:

Well, maybe get a free plane ticket.

Carrie:

I was just about to say that, too.

Russell Kyzar:

Yeah, that's - I think I've only got 1 or 2, but that's okay.

Carrie:

There you go. Visit one of your friends.

Shea:

All right, so that's big money. If you had just a little money, extra change in your pocket, what would you spend it on? Some pocket change.

Russell Kyzar:

Pocket change. Oh that's. Oh, that's.

Shea:

Yeah, that's the podcast. If you had some pocket change, what would you spend it on?

Melinda Kyzar:

Pocket change. What would we spend it on?

Russell Kyzar:

I know, I see what pocket change does. Like, I remember, at our church, they had our Vacation Bible School, and they challenged the boys against the girls. And every day, the girls and boys were bringing pocket change, so, I don't know, once they cleaned out dad's pocket on Tuesday, I don't know what they brought on Wednesday. But anyway.

Melinda Kyzar:

You know, moms!

Carrie:

Lint, that’s what they brought! Lint, that’s what was left at the end of it.

Russell Kyzar:

But at the end of the week, they had a couple of thousand dollars that they had collected together, you know, for some project that they had decided to do. Yeah. And, yeah, I mean, that just shows you pocket change can mount up, even within the family.

Carrie:

That’s true.

Shea:

Yeah. If you're going after Mom and dad and the couch and the car and, you know, it’ll all add up quick.

Russell Kyzar:

That's right.

Melinda Kyzar:

Or you could just, like you said, save it until it does amount to enough to do something with it.

Russell Kyzar:

Well, all of us, you know, I mean, we see we see change on the street. We see it, as you say, in the trunk of the car. I found $0.60 last week in the trunk of the car. I mean, you know, pocket change is everywhere, and it does mount up, but most of all, you can use it immediately. You know, you can put it in a tip jar, you can, you know, give it to somebody who’s in need, whose got their hand out, you know, and needs it. But there are all kinds of ways to even, you know, use your pocket change.

Shea:

You can give forward with it, I think.

Carrie:

All right, well, we appreciate you guys sharing your journey with your mission work and all the things that you're doing now for our community and taking some time to spend with us today.

Russell Kyzar:

Well, we're glad to be here. And thank you, Leaders, for asking us. We're honored.

Shea:

Yeah. Thank you.

Carrie:

Thank you.