helping women connect with their world
Serving outside your home culture is exciting . . . unless it isn’t.
In the early days on the field we run on dreams, ideals, apprehensions, and adrenaline. That intoxicating mix makes every day feel like a new adventure. Emotions run the gamut from energized and enthused to terrified and confused. But whatever the day holds, we are not bored. There are so many good things happening that we cannot imagine not feeling thrilled that we play a part in this divine drama.
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Who is safe anymore? No one! But international workers are exposed to many more dangers. We travel more. We live in sensitive and sometimes volatile places. We are often the first targets for violence.
It’s been almost 11 years since I wrote on international safety issues. At that time the World Trade Center bombings had just happened. In the intervening years our world has been rocked by any number of other terrorist attacks, tribal wars, and crazed shooters killing innocent people.
Where can we find safety? Do we hide in our houses and never venture out? That’s not possible. Do we go back home? We knew when we signed up for international service that we stood higher risks than those who remained home. Many of us signed papers releasing our organization from responsibility should we be kidnapped and held for ransom. [Read more…]
In May we honor mothers, but many of us living outside our home culture miss the usual Mother’s Day celebrations. That’s a perfect opportunity for homesickness and self pity.
One year we were on a short-term trip to Malaysia. We stayed in the college dormitory and taught courses. As Mother’s Day approached I was feeling a little sorry for myself. Though my sons usually don’t do a great deal for Mother’s Day or Father’s Day, they always remembered the day in some special way. Here I was half a world away from them, and might not even be able to arrange a phone call on the day.
This month I rediscovered a book on my shelf, Re-Entry by Peter Jordan. Ten years ago I wrote an article on Re-Entry dealing with the stages in the process of re-entry to your home culture. This article has more to do with the changes that have occurred during overseas service and how that effects returning home.
Peter Jordan writes, “Things have not been stagnant during your time away. It is imperative before you leave the mission field to take time to properly assess how much you have changed, and how much things have changed back home.
How do you think your supporters would react if you told them in your next newsletter that you have a pool in your back yard? Or what about taking a week’s working holiday at a tropical resort? Or that you have to pay school fees of twice their house payment for your children to attend an English language school? You really must consider their reaction.
Some of you have supporters who have come to visit you and know how you live, but most of you don’t. How do your parents or supporters, or even your sending organization think you live?
