Home is where the Heart is.
Most of us have either heard or seen this quote before.
But despite of this quote being so well known, I grew in understanding the weight behind these words while in Romania.
In Romania ministry assignments for me were different each day. We were assigned to move to different locations while partnering with long term missionaries and their varying ministries.
We moved a total of six times in one month. We unpacked and packed unable to settle in a village or city because we were anticipating the day we’d have to move again. At one point, I remember getting sad that a jar of honey that was given as a gift was accidentally left behind. We couldn’t even keep track of our food.
For the first time during the race, I really wanted to be home. I wanted a bed to call my own, a closet to store my things, a set schedule, and the comfort of my family.
But, at the same time I couldn’t imagine being home when the Lord was calling me to the nations. And, I didn’t recognize the community that I had in the States so this gave me a deeper longing for some sort of consistency and familiarity.
One evening while driving home from ministry one of the missionaries shared her testimony. She moved from Canada to Romania. She spent majority of her time driving to different ministries that she partners with. She would do home visits, serving widows and caring for their pets. She would help to teach Music and English. She would be the chauffeur to world race teams and other short term missionaries. She did a variety of different things and was “on the go”. By listening to her story, I got the impression that she spent more time in places that wasn’t where she actually lived.
As I reflected on her testimony it hit me.
There’s nothing natural about being a missionary. In truth this life is supernatural.
Our home is not in our surroundings. It’s not found in the natural comforts of a bed or kitchen space. It’s not even in the stability of having family and friends close by. Although these are all added blessings, the initial blessing is knowing that our stability and comfort is in the consistency of Jesus.
Home for a disciple is wherever Jesus leads. We are invited to live in His supernatural presence. And in this space we are able to feel at home even when we’re miles away from all the comforts we know.
To know this home is about being alert and ready to move when He moves. It’s operating from a place of Godly wisdom where you can rise above what’s normal and natural to function from the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. He uses you as a vessel to bring people into His arms.
I believe that at times I can be weary as a missionary and it’s ok because I’m human. But, I don’t have to stay in that weariness.
I can go home. Home is where the heart is and my heart is in the hands of Jesus who is always with me.
