Culture Shocked...BUT Beyond Blessed!

WOW!  This is all that I can say to sum up what our summer furlough has been like so far.  I am amazed at how loved and  blessed we are by our family, friends and our church body. It is hard to believe that we have been in the States for two months and will be heading back home to Belize in just three weeks! 

Culture Shock?                     

Absolutely!!!     

You would think that being a missionary and hearing stories of fellow missionary friends that we would be prepared for this shock.  I am here to tell you friends, that this does not just happen when you move or travel to a foreign country, but  it can also hit you when you visit your own country after living abroad! 

A friend once sent me an explanation of how we are affected.  It basically stated that we are circles trying to live in a square society but are transformed into triangles, as we try to adjust and make ourselves from circles to squares.  Once you are a triangle...You are always a triangle, changed forever.

Don't get me wrong, this is NOT a bad thing.  In fact now that I have experienced this and had time to really chew on it, it  is truth. Not only to the person going back and forth between countries, but also  to Believers. It brings pure joy, NOT awkwardness to my life of living as a triangle!  As a believer, this is exactly what happens to us when we choose to follow Christ!  We are to be....

"NOT OF THIS WORLD"

John 17:16



When others see us as "Not of this world" we are labeled "WEIRD."  According to Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary....

weird = "of strange or extraordinary character"



SO... I am okay with being a triangle, being weird, and being not of this world.  Because I am a believer, engulfed by the Holy Spirit!

It is okay that my son forgot what a sprinkler was, and was concerned about the water spraying from the ground.  It is okay that my daughter is fascinated with automatic flushing toilets. It is okay that we feel like foreigners in our home country. It is okay because we know and see that God is at work!



                                                           

We are SO blessed and thankful for everyone who prays, and supports us.  Our friends, family, and church body are amazing and it blows me away to see the love and support that they shower our family with!  Our time here has been fun and we have really enjoyed spending time with everyone who is dear to us and have been blessed to be able to share what God is doing in Belize.

Please continue to pray  for us as we prepare to return to Belize on August 25th!