The Homesick Missionary

Yes, it happens. To me as well. And it happened to me right after my 3rd month in Thailand. When June came, I found myself missing all the people God had placed in my life back in America.

But I've learned that it's okay to ache for the people you love the most. There's a reason God gives us family and friends- our support system, and to keep us growing. So I've missed my family and desired to see them. And I've learned that you can be both homesick and content where God has placed you. It's true that as Christ-followers, we'll always ache and long for our future home with the Lord, our true place of belonging. So feeling homesick or misplaced isn't such a bad thing. It's natural.

But being homesick has taught me so much about myself. Coming here, I thought as a person who is more of an introvert (who recharges more easily when I can rest alone) that I would need more time by myself. But I've discovered that when I'm by myself too much, I get lonely, and depressed. No man really is an island. We need community. Sure, I do still need some time by myself to recharge each day, but it's not as much time as I thought, and I find I'm most edified when I'm with others, in community.

So for the future, one of my prayer requests is that God would provide a ministry partner- another gal around my age that I can work alongside in ministry. And one that I would work well with- that we would build each other up in the Lord and challenge each other in our walks with God and ministry, and in our love to the people we serve. And for someone who has a similar sense of humor- because laughter is such good medicine, especially when you live in a different culture where it's easy to get confused, and to feel depressed at times.

While it may be a while until I return to the mission field, I still ask for prayer for the future, and for the team and people I will join and work with. And I can say this...I am excited to see how God provides, and the different personalities He puts together. Because God has a great sense of humor as well :)