WHEN YOUR MISSIONARY COMES "HOME"
“Aren’t you so glad to be home?!”
“You must be super excited to be back in America!”
“Welcome back home!”
While all these comments are likely said from a good place, coming back to the States after living overseas for a while isn’t always easy. It doesn’t always feel like coming “home” because home has been redefined. Coming back to the States, whether for good or for just a short time, can be stressful, exhausting, and involve some reverse culture shock. Of course, we are happy to see you and our family. Of course, we’re excited to eat the food and do the things we have missed. Please don’t take this the wrong way. We love you. We missed you. And this is still hard.
I came across this article from Wycliffe Bible Translators called “5 Ways to Welcome Your Missionary Home.” After reading the introduction, I knew I had to share: “Whether your missionary friends are returning to the U.S. for a short time or taking a Stateside assignment, we have five ways you can help ease their transition from overseas. After all, they aren’t just ‘coming home’ — they’re leaving behind relationships and the familiar routines they’ve built in another area of the world.”
Per the article, here are the 5 ways you can welcome your missionary home well:
Give them space and grace - “Missionaries often return feeling depleted and need time to rest and heal. Allow them the space they need to recover before they fully reengage with life here, and extend them grace when they don’t meet your expectations.”
Ask questions and listen to their answers - “Your missionaries’ rehearsed presentations are likely just scratching the surface of their experiences over the past few years. Ask them about their daily life. Your attention and curiosity will show your missionary friends that they matter to you.”
Invite their questions and be an information resource - “Your missionary friends may need help finding good doctors, choosing the right cellphone plan or even understanding what’s now considered culturally offensive. But they may be uncomfortable reaching out with questions that feel silly or awkward. Let them know that you welcome all their questions no matter how minor, repetitive or delicate. “
Help provide for their practical needs - “Whether you’re able to assist your missionaries with big needs like housing or a vehicle or you can offer smaller gifts like gas or grocery gift cards, they’ll be deeply grateful for your practical care.”
Treat them to some fun! - “Wrapping up ministry commitments and preparing to travel can be intense and time consuming for your missionary friends and their families so they likely have had little opportunity for fun recently.”
These are just bullet points, so I definitely recommend you read the entire article. It was so good, and can help you love and support your missionaries well.