Yesterday I read a blog post called "8 things I wish I'd known before moving back after living overseas" (http://www.rockyreentry.com/letter-returning-missionaries-wish-someone-told-first-moved-back-us/). To be perfectly honest with you, I cried the whole time I read it. Sobbed, really. It felt so good to have someone understand what it felt like to be back in the Western part of the world. It got me thinking though... what would I have wanted to know before I ever even went on the trip? So with more tears in my eyes, I sat down and wrote a list of things I wish someone would have told me. Here it is: 12 things I wish I would have known before I went on a mission trip.
1. Your life is about to be changed in ways you will not expect
All countries kind of have a different way of doing life. You're about to be thrown deep into a new country and culture. It will be exciting, confusing, exhausting, beautiful and frustrating... all at once. Which means it will also be overwhelming. Don't be afraid to try new things and to learn. God, if you allow Him, will use this to show you a new perspective on the world, which is something you can't get if you always stay in the same place.
2. Bring snacks
Food from different countries can be really hard to adjust to, and sometimes you'll just need something familiar. It's good to be able to have a little taste of home.
3. It is okay to be homesick
The summer before I went to Africa, I worked at a bible camp, which meant that I was hardly ever home. I figured i wouldn't miss it; after all, I'd hardly been in my house in two months anyways. Oh, was I ever wrong. Let me tell you, homesickness is real y'all. I'd never missed home before, but take me 11, 000 miles from anything familiar and BAM. And you know what? It's okay. It's okay to want your friends and family and your favourite chocolate bar. But don't let it overwhelm you. It will get better, easier. You will for new friendships and become familiar with what's around you. In the mean time, it's alright to cry. Let God comfort your heart. He is fantastic at that (Check out Matthew 11:28).
4. Take pictures
Okay, I'm sure many people have already told you this (as they told me), but... TAKE PICTURES. Take pictures of anything and everything you want. Take pictures of where you live, of your day to day life. Take pictures of your new friends- especially those that feel like family. "The only pictures you will regret are the ones you don't take." True. So true. When you get back to wherever you came from, you will want these pictures. Trust me. All of them.
5. Journal
It may not seem important at the time, but write about it. Believe it or not, our brains don't exactly remember every single thing. Someday you will want to look through pages of an old journal and smile about what you did.
6. We are only promised today
If you are in another country serving The LORD, remember that you are only promised today. You don't know what tomorrow will bring. Say 'yes' to every person that God puts in front of you. I knew a lady who didn't want to make friends because she didn't want to get attached and then have to leave. I get that. But you will regret it if you choose to live like this. Our time on earth is too short to live only for ourselves and our comforts. Be assured that leaving your friends will suck, but you will be okay. You're only promised today, so live. Say yes to everyone you meet.
7. Love with every ounce of your tiny heart
"God is love." How many times have we heard that? Well, it's true. The LORD is love in its purest form. And we, who are made in His image, have been given the ability to love and the responsibility to do it as best as we can.
8. You will fall in love
I'm not talking about romantically, though if that does happen, cheers to you. Chances are, if you are where God wants you, He will not let you be miserable. Before I went to Uganda, I figured I could just go, take care of babies, and leave. Which, admittedly, is what happened. But to be honest, I was sort of blind sided by all the stuff that went in between. About 2 months in, I woke up and realized that I was head of heels for everyone and everything God had put in my path. I did not expect to fall so in love with the culture, the kids, the country. And I'm willing to bet that neither will you. It's okay. Let it happen.
9. You will begin to question everything you knew before
You are going to change- it is inevitable. It is also sometimes frustrating. But beyond all that, it is wonderful. It is a process of re-finding yourself. Don't be afraid of your questions and how you feel. God has let you see life in a new light.
10. Leaving will suck
I'm not going to sugarcoat it, honey, because I don't think that will help. And because I wish someone would have told me. Leaving will hurt your heart in a million different ways. That's why I beg you to love and live as much as you can in every single moment. Having no regrets will make saying good bye a tad bit easier.
11. You will miss wherever you are not
I praise God for my friend Sara, who had been through all that I had (and more) and was there for me every step of the way (and still is). When I was in Africa, my heart felt split in 2- part of me so desperately wanting to be home, and part of me never wanting to leave my new home. Sara said this: "You will miss wherever you are not. If you are home, it will be super difficult at first and then you'll find your way, but this country will always have such a special place in your heart that you won't be able to ignore. If you stay, home will be calling you every day you feel lonesome."
12. You are not alone
Many people have gone through this culture-shock/ falling-in-love thing. It's okay to feel everything that you are. Just know that you are not the first and you will not be the last.
You are not alone.
If anyone reading this is going on their first mission trip, my heart is with you. I have so much love for you.
1. Your life is about to be changed in ways you will not expect
All countries kind of have a different way of doing life. You're about to be thrown deep into a new country and culture. It will be exciting, confusing, exhausting, beautiful and frustrating... all at once. Which means it will also be overwhelming. Don't be afraid to try new things and to learn. God, if you allow Him, will use this to show you a new perspective on the world, which is something you can't get if you always stay in the same place.
2. Bring snacks
Food from different countries can be really hard to adjust to, and sometimes you'll just need something familiar. It's good to be able to have a little taste of home.
3. It is okay to be homesick
The summer before I went to Africa, I worked at a bible camp, which meant that I was hardly ever home. I figured i wouldn't miss it; after all, I'd hardly been in my house in two months anyways. Oh, was I ever wrong. Let me tell you, homesickness is real y'all. I'd never missed home before, but take me 11, 000 miles from anything familiar and BAM. And you know what? It's okay. It's okay to want your friends and family and your favourite chocolate bar. But don't let it overwhelm you. It will get better, easier. You will for new friendships and become familiar with what's around you. In the mean time, it's alright to cry. Let God comfort your heart. He is fantastic at that (Check out Matthew 11:28).
4. Take pictures
Okay, I'm sure many people have already told you this (as they told me), but... TAKE PICTURES. Take pictures of anything and everything you want. Take pictures of where you live, of your day to day life. Take pictures of your new friends- especially those that feel like family. "The only pictures you will regret are the ones you don't take." True. So true. When you get back to wherever you came from, you will want these pictures. Trust me. All of them.
5. Journal
It may not seem important at the time, but write about it. Believe it or not, our brains don't exactly remember every single thing. Someday you will want to look through pages of an old journal and smile about what you did.
6. We are only promised today
If you are in another country serving The LORD, remember that you are only promised today. You don't know what tomorrow will bring. Say 'yes' to every person that God puts in front of you. I knew a lady who didn't want to make friends because she didn't want to get attached and then have to leave. I get that. But you will regret it if you choose to live like this. Our time on earth is too short to live only for ourselves and our comforts. Be assured that leaving your friends will suck, but you will be okay. You're only promised today, so live. Say yes to everyone you meet.
7. Love with every ounce of your tiny heart
"God is love." How many times have we heard that? Well, it's true. The LORD is love in its purest form. And we, who are made in His image, have been given the ability to love and the responsibility to do it as best as we can.
8. You will fall in love
I'm not talking about romantically, though if that does happen, cheers to you. Chances are, if you are where God wants you, He will not let you be miserable. Before I went to Uganda, I figured I could just go, take care of babies, and leave. Which, admittedly, is what happened. But to be honest, I was sort of blind sided by all the stuff that went in between. About 2 months in, I woke up and realized that I was head of heels for everyone and everything God had put in my path. I did not expect to fall so in love with the culture, the kids, the country. And I'm willing to bet that neither will you. It's okay. Let it happen.
9. You will begin to question everything you knew before
You are going to change- it is inevitable. It is also sometimes frustrating. But beyond all that, it is wonderful. It is a process of re-finding yourself. Don't be afraid of your questions and how you feel. God has let you see life in a new light.
10. Leaving will suck
I'm not going to sugarcoat it, honey, because I don't think that will help. And because I wish someone would have told me. Leaving will hurt your heart in a million different ways. That's why I beg you to love and live as much as you can in every single moment. Having no regrets will make saying good bye a tad bit easier.
11. You will miss wherever you are not
I praise God for my friend Sara, who had been through all that I had (and more) and was there for me every step of the way (and still is). When I was in Africa, my heart felt split in 2- part of me so desperately wanting to be home, and part of me never wanting to leave my new home. Sara said this: "You will miss wherever you are not. If you are home, it will be super difficult at first and then you'll find your way, but this country will always have such a special place in your heart that you won't be able to ignore. If you stay, home will be calling you every day you feel lonesome."
12. You are not alone
Many people have gone through this culture-shock/ falling-in-love thing. It's okay to feel everything that you are. Just know that you are not the first and you will not be the last.
You are not alone.
If anyone reading this is going on their first mission trip, my heart is with you. I have so much love for you.