We heard stories from many veteran missionaries about “reverse culture shock”, and difficulties they experienced re-adjusting to life back the U.S., but in the back of our minds we thought “until three years ago, the U.S. is all we’ve known. It’s home, and there’s no way home can feel weird.) Not until we had spent a few days recovering from jet-lag, did we realize how much we had really become accustomed to life and culture in the Philippines. Simple things like going grocery shopping, then opening the refrigerator a few days later to discover that I had bought sugar-free strawberry jelly and strawberry whipped cream by mistake! In the Philippines, we are thankful to have strawberry jelly at all, and there is rarely more than one choice of brand or type, so it never even dawned on me to make sure I was buying normal jelly instead of sugar-free jelly. Whipped cream is a rare thing indeed on our island, and I never even thought about there being flavored whipped cream!
The song “This World is Not My Home” has come to mind repeatedly as we have tried to get used to being back in the States. It has new meaning for me now, as I realize how transient and relative the things that make us comfortable truly are. Our home is eternal, and I pray that God works in our family a “heavenly culture” that gives us an identity and security that cannot be taken away regardless of what other culture we find ourselves immersed in. I am excited at the unique opportunity that we have as family to live our lives understanding how to relate to and minister to multiple cultures, but not being bound to a particular one.
The last three months have been a wonderful time of catching up with friends and family, and gaining some much-needed family time and rest. It is hard to believe that we are already 1/3rd of the way through our stay in the U.S.! We are now feeling rested and ready to get back to work, and we would love to spend time with as many of you as possible. Please send us an email or give us a call if you are able to get together with us. The Lord is doing amazing things in the Philippines, and we are looking for opportunities to share and for people who want to be a part!
-Josh
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