#lifeofamissionary
Traveling as a missionary is not at all like traveling as an American. It takes a lot to transition into life in Africa. Living in Africa is different in so many ways that while one feels comfortable there she is ruined for any other place. It takes so much of a person to live successfully in this different place that to leave it becomes a much bigger deal.
I am currently with a group of missionaries who have only been in their new African home for a few months and are experiencing leaving for the first time. Their reaction is to miss their African home terribly. Now, having left twice I know how them feel and am encouraged that my similar, reaction is normal. But, as I think about it, our reaction would not be normal for an American leaving their home to travel for a few weeks. Having gone on a few week-long trips, and even a three week long journey, I remember thinking about how different the new place was but not being homesick with the intensity that we seem to feel as new missionaries leaving our African homes.
I can only explain it as much as I have done above, by saying that the new place in which we live is so different that once we feel at home there it is so much harder to leave, even for “vacation” because of how “hard” it was to adjust in the first place. Now, I wouldn’t say it was really all that hard to adjust to my new life in Africa, but I think deep down my brain knows it was a major shift and so leaving is likewise a big deal.
There are a few other fascinating phenomenons that I have experience as a result of traveling as a missionary. Firstly, I have noticed that everything different about the place I have traveled to, in comparison to the place I was currently living, is amazingly exciting. If you want to experience gratefulness much more keenly live in an African culture for three months and then leave. It’s like I am experiencing American culture for the first time. (I say American culture even though we are in Kenya because it is so much closer to an American culture). Going along with this I have noticed that any comparison I make, or any differences I notice are related back to my new home and not to America. In fact, after being in this new place for a week I finally noticed myself comparing something to life in America. It’s like I have forgotten what it’s like in America and have replaced it with life in Africa. I would say this means that I feel that Africa is my new home, which sounds like a good thing, and it is to some extent, but I think this feeling points even more strongly to my point. In order to thrive in an African country you have to forget what your old life was like. It’s so different in Africa that if you remember what it’s like back in America you will not enjoy your new life to the same extent.
When they say missionaries have to leave "home" behind it’s true in so many ways. I didn’t think about what I would be giving up. A lot of it doesn’t matter, like microwaves and shower heads, but occasionally there will be things on a TV show that will cause me to miss my old life. Many people coming to be a missionary in Africa had to sell all of their processions, and while I didn't have a home to sell, I did get rid of most of what I owned but, that wasn't a big deal. I have found that giving up my way of life, like the ability to cook for myself, or leave a party on my own whenever I felt like it, has been a challenge to give up. I have realized that if I want to serve in my new African home I must give it all up, even my American independence and way of life.
All in all, it is worth it. That being said, I think I may be changed for life. I wonder what it will be like going back. I mean how many people in America will understand a girl who considers a whole in the ground a bathroom, speaks a language that literally no one else in their country speaks, and thinks a bucket and cup are enough for a shower. If you are one such understanding person, we can be friends.
I am currently with a group of missionaries who have only been in their new African home for a few months and are experiencing leaving for the first time. Their reaction is to miss their African home terribly. Now, having left twice I know how them feel and am encouraged that my similar, reaction is normal. But, as I think about it, our reaction would not be normal for an American leaving their home to travel for a few weeks. Having gone on a few week-long trips, and even a three week long journey, I remember thinking about how different the new place was but not being homesick with the intensity that we seem to feel as new missionaries leaving our African homes.
I can only explain it as much as I have done above, by saying that the new place in which we live is so different that once we feel at home there it is so much harder to leave, even for “vacation” because of how “hard” it was to adjust in the first place. Now, I wouldn’t say it was really all that hard to adjust to my new life in Africa, but I think deep down my brain knows it was a major shift and so leaving is likewise a big deal.
There are a few other fascinating phenomenons that I have experience as a result of traveling as a missionary. Firstly, I have noticed that everything different about the place I have traveled to, in comparison to the place I was currently living, is amazingly exciting. If you want to experience gratefulness much more keenly live in an African culture for three months and then leave. It’s like I am experiencing American culture for the first time. (I say American culture even though we are in Kenya because it is so much closer to an American culture). Going along with this I have noticed that any comparison I make, or any differences I notice are related back to my new home and not to America. In fact, after being in this new place for a week I finally noticed myself comparing something to life in America. It’s like I have forgotten what it’s like in America and have replaced it with life in Africa. I would say this means that I feel that Africa is my new home, which sounds like a good thing, and it is to some extent, but I think this feeling points even more strongly to my point. In order to thrive in an African country you have to forget what your old life was like. It’s so different in Africa that if you remember what it’s like back in America you will not enjoy your new life to the same extent.
When they say missionaries have to leave "home" behind it’s true in so many ways. I didn’t think about what I would be giving up. A lot of it doesn’t matter, like microwaves and shower heads, but occasionally there will be things on a TV show that will cause me to miss my old life. Many people coming to be a missionary in Africa had to sell all of their processions, and while I didn't have a home to sell, I did get rid of most of what I owned but, that wasn't a big deal. I have found that giving up my way of life, like the ability to cook for myself, or leave a party on my own whenever I felt like it, has been a challenge to give up. I have realized that if I want to serve in my new African home I must give it all up, even my American independence and way of life.
All in all, it is worth it. That being said, I think I may be changed for life. I wonder what it will be like going back. I mean how many people in America will understand a girl who considers a whole in the ground a bathroom, speaks a language that literally no one else in their country speaks, and thinks a bucket and cup are enough for a shower. If you are one such understanding person, we can be friends.
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