I’m coming home! This means a lot of things to me. There are some things that coming home means to me which you may not know. That is what this blog is about. I would love to invite you into that for a better understanding. Especially my close friends, family, and church.
I have called many places home over the past 11 months; 17 to be exact…. Families have opened their doors to me and let me call their rooms my own. I’ve been given anything from a dirt floor to a bunk bed to rest my head in at night, and whether it was the first or the latter, it was always the best of what they had. If I didn’t know it before, I know now that there is no place like home for me. I’m talking real home. Smoky Mountain, North Carolina home. As I think of coming back in a few days I am vaguley aware of how this is going to go, and I think you should know.
Five years ago I left America to journey on a mission trip to Nepal for three months. I remember what it was like re-entering into the good ol’ US of A after that.
•I cried each time I took a shower for the first couple of weeks. All I could think of was the very few cold bucket showers I got to take on that trip, and the faces of the people I had met there.
•The new Super Wal-Mart had been built while I was gone. After 2 weeks of driving by it, I finally called a friend and had them go in with me to make a lap around the store.
•My car was so strange to drive after 3 months of village transport by either an ox-pulled cart or my own legs.
•It was really hard when people asked me questions and expected short answers. It was even harder when people asked no questions at all. The hardest thing was knowing that no matter how in depth I told my stories and experiences, it would never make someone completely understand what it was like over there.
All of that was okay and natural! That was me dealing with reverse culture shock and re-entry to a “normal” life…. And I know this time will be remotely the same, except I’m coming back after nearly a whole year and 11 different cultures. So here are nine things I would love the people around me to know when I come back home:
1) Coming back to my normal home will not be normal for me (at first). Much of my home will have remained the same while I have changed.
2) I have been living out of a 30 pound backpack for 11 months. My prospective of what ‘needs‘ are in life have lowered drastically. Don’t be afraid to encourage me to do special things and embrace the blessings of America without feeling guilty.
3) Even if you have read all 50 of my blogs, you haven’t heard the half of it. Ask me questions about my life this past year. I have experienced a TON. Curiosity, open minds, and listening ears will be the best possible way to love on me over the first couple months. Whether it is casually sitting on the couch or going out for coffee, I would love to have my brain picked by you and get to tell you stories and show you pictures. I want to hear about your year, too!
4) Reverse culture shock will happen to me, and that’s okay. Yes, I will be overwhelmed. Whether it happens in the car, grocery store, on a sidewalk, during my first Sunday back to church, or anywhere else. It. Will. Happen. You may not understand why and I may not be able to explain. In those moments you should know that a patient, embracing hug away from the crowd will suffice wonderfully for me. It will pass, and I know this.
5) I am going to be celebrating coming home and grieving at the same time. The group of people I have been living with for the past year have become family to me. I will have just said goodbye to many of them knowing that we may not cross paths in this life ever again. And it will have all just happened 6 hours prior to me touching down in the Atlanta airport.
6) This has not been a trip or a vacation to me. It has been the hardest, most stretching year of my life. I have lived in and out of tragedy. Extreme poverty, sex slavery, orphans, lepors, persecution, refugees, and witchcraft have been constant. It has also been the most wonderful and rewarding year for me. I have circled the world and seen unbelievable landscapes. I have seen God work miracles in the forms of physical healings, finances, deliverances, water provision, and the breakings of spiritual strong holds. This has been real life, not an escape from it.
7) What is weird for you may not be weird for me. Uncomfortability is not a thing for me to shy away from. You may get stuck waiting as I try to have a broken English conversation with a foreigner on the street. Because now even Hindu Indians are something familiar to me. Let me indulge in that and feel free to jump in!
8) I will never go back to how I was before this trip, but my culture shock will pass. While I am sad to leave this life and my world-traveling companions behind, I am more so thrilled to be coming home to all of you!! As you continue to support me with your love and understanding, I will be more grateful for you than ever. That quote, “Distance makes the heart grow fonder”, is no joke. I belong in those mountains with you people.
9) Lastly, if you have any biblical/spiritual questions or conversations you want to delve into, I promise to be a safe person for you to do that with. Ask the hard questions; let’s talk Jesus!
And that’s a wrap, folks! I am ending my time here in Colombia and will be packing my bag for the final time very soon. Thank you for your undying love and support. Your comments on my blogs, emails, prayers, and encouragements through this year have meant more to me than I can express. You will start seeing me pop up around places again in a week or so. It’s been a crazy ride; prepare your hugs…
I‘M COMING HOME!
