350. From Missionaries to Mentors: Don and Mie Lee’s Journey

 

💡 Episode Summary

In this episode of The Rob Skinner Podcast, Don and Mie Lee share their inspiring journey of faith, love, and service. They talk about their conversions, cross-cultural marriage, and experiences as missionaries in Hong Kong and Japan.

After retirement, Don and Mie felt called to return to mission work—this time in Eastern Europe, where they now serve in Bulgaria alongside younger disciples. Their reflections on aging, the desire to stay useful in God’s kingdom, and the joy of serving others offer timeless wisdom for Christians seeking to make their lives count.

“We want to be useful again.” — Don and Mie Lee

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🔑 Key Takeaways

• Don was baptized in 1976 and has been a Christian for nearly 50 years.

• Mie became a disciple while working as a Japanese diplomat in Jamaica.

• The couple met through mutual friends who “arranged” their meeting.

• Don’s time in the Boston church during its explosive growth deeply shaped his faith.

• The Hong Kong mission team grew from 17 members to over 2,000 in just ten years.

• Mie faced early cultural and spiritual challenges while serving in Japan.

• After retirement, they felt a renewed call to serve in Eastern Europe.

• Their work in Bulgaria focuses on mentoring younger disciples and strengthening local churches.

• They emphasize that no matter your age or stage of life, you can still be useful in God’s kingdom.

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🕰️ Chapters

00:00 — Introduction to Don and Mie Lee
03:02 — Don’s Journey to Faith
04:24 — Mie’s Conversion in Jamaica
07:21 — Meeting and Marriage: A Cross-Cultural Love Story
11:37 — Mission to Hong Kong: Growth and Challenges
19:07 — Serving in Japan: Cultural Insights
28:45 — Life After Marriage: Seattle and Beyond
31:37 — Answering the Call to Return to Mission Work
35:28 — Why Eastern Europe?
38:25 — Life and Ministry in Bulgaria
47:30 — Encouragement for Future Missionaries
55:27 — Finishing Strong and Making Life Count

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🗣️ Sound Bites

• “I want to make my life count.”

• “We can be useful again.”

• “It’s never too late to make a difference.”

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🧭 Keywords

missionaries, faith journey, cross-cultural marriage, church growth, retirement, Eastern Europe, Bulgaria, discipleship, service, personal growth, spiritual purpose

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💬 Connect and Grow

For books, blogs, podcasts, and resources to help you make this life count, visit 👉 RobSkinner.com

If you’d like to support this program and help Rob continue his mission to multiply disciples, leaders, and churches, please consider buying him a coffee here:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/robskinner— Support the Rob Skinner Podcast

If you are interested in contacting Don or Mie about missionary work or anything related to the discussion, please email Don at [e-mail]

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📲 Tags

#FaithJourney #Missionaries #Inspiration #RetirementWithPurpose #Discipleship #EasternEurope #Bulgaria #ChristianLife #RobSkinnerPodcast #MakeYourLifeCount