We interrupt your regularly scheduled programming to bring you this special update: I’m home in the States! After 17 months in South Africa, it's time for a visit home.
It’s funny, but time flies. I can completely understand why most missions organizations recommend at least a 2-year stay before your first visit back to the States. I definitely miss SA. Some days I feel like I’ve only just gotten to South Africa, and I always feel that we have just scratched the surface of the work to be done. I’m eager to get back at it, but I have to take care of the business of being a dual-citizen and maintaining a cross-continental lifestyle in the mean time.
In coming back to the States, culture shock hasn’t been as bad as I thought it would be. I’m loving having Starbucks at my fingertips, and there's just something about driving down a Tennessee highway with the windows rolled down and country music blaring that's good for my soul.
I’ve had a great time catching up with friends and family and have been blessed to be present for some big life events here in the States: baptisms, birthdays, Father’s Day, Memorial Day, engagements, and new babies, and July 4th is still to come around the corner!
My purpose in this season is varied: active rest; fundraising; paperwork; ministry updates and reports; life catch-up; reconnecting with old friends; making new friends; ensuring the sustainability of my ministry; and nurturing relationships that matter.
I have to keep telling myself that coming home to the States and everything I’m experiencing in these seven weeks isn’t an accurate picture of what “real” life is. If I’m ever tempted to move back to the States based upon how great this time has been, I tell myself, "In real life, people don’t drop everything, rearrange their schedules, and then travel long distances to see you. In real life, people have jobs, responsibilities, and life events that must continue on despite visits from old friends. In real life, I have a job and responsibilities that don’t allow me to drop everything."
I have to keep reminding myself that this type of long visit is what makes my “real” life in South Africa possible.
One of the big parts of furlough is connecting with my local church body. I’m a “sent” missionary, which automatically means that I represent a larger body of local believers in the States. As such, I actually have two ministries. The first ministry is that which I accomplish everyday as a nurse on the field. The second is the ministry I have to the people back home who support me and who are in my church. I owe them an explanation of the work that God is accomplishing through their partnership and support.
This is actually one of my favorite things to do. I love talking about the joy, hope, and change that Living Hope is breeding in my little part of the woods. It’s a privilege to encourage my church to keep up the good work they started in supporting the work that Living Hope is doing.
I’m also home fundraising for my next year at Living Hope. This has been easier than I thought and harder than I thought. It's been easier when the funds come without me asking and completely unexpected. It’s harder when I can’t see where the money will come from and God keeps telling me to trust Him.
I need about $300 more per month in funding to make ends meet, but I can say this with great confidence: God has been faithful and His people have been faithful in this 2-year journey toward Africa. It’s overwhelming and humbling. His constant trust in me begs me to continually trust in Him. And, ultimately, I know I'll be taken care of.
If you feel prompted to partner with me in this journey, you can follow the link on the side of this page to Brentwood Missions and give online there.
I'm grateful we serve a God who goes behind us, before us, and with us. I’m so thankful I didn’t have to leave Him in South Africa. I’m thankful He's the God of every continent, nation, and tribe. We serve a big God, and He's with us wherever we go in this world.
Love to all- Amy
