Thoughts to Ponder Upon Our Return Home

In continuation of the book I have been reading I think this is a very important to talk about and that is what to expect when we return home.

Well the trip is over. After months of preparation and prayer, the trip will now become a memory --- a brief flash before your eyes. The thing you really wanted to, that was always the thing that put that lump in your throat when you saw it on television or you heard about it from many others that had experienced it before you, you have finally had that experience for your self. And now that we are home we will experience the loss of reentering back to the life we are so very comfortable with.

The book suggest that we might experience what they call PHD (Post -Hiatus Depression). We have been away of our regular duties and responsibilities of real life. We placed our selves in unusual circumstances, unusual cultural experiences and life styles. Although we we of service to God and others it has changes our lives and views.

Most of us will start to build resents and weird emotionsfrom the guilt of all the things we have and take for granted in comparisom to the people we just spent time with in that strange country we just visited. We may feel guilty and ashamed because of the way we have just seen children living their lives. Then after the guilt we might start into fault finding. We do this by looking at the way we do thing compared to the country we just came from, and we start building resentments especially when people around us do not change the way we feel they should.

It then becomes very important that we remember that "We go to help others, but usually come away with greater understanding of ourselves"

I am going to quote this word for word cause I feel it is so very important for us all to remember and as we read this it is also very important I feel that debriefing is so very important upon return to Canada.

"STUFF TO CONSIDER BEFORE YOU RETURN"

1) Be aware that you may experience some depression, loneliness, fatigue, and illness as a reentry symptoms of stress. Remember, you can experience stress from both and sad events. You may go through a grieving process.

2) Be alert to your own expectations and the expectations of others. Sometimes conflicts in value will occur, but remember that values are the outcome of an individual's understanding of life. If you understand that, then you're headed down the right path.

3) Be reflective. Allow for rest, reflection, and rejoicing in what you saw God do. Reflect on your experiences and ask the Lord to show you the various aspects of your trip from which you can grow. Evaluate all that you have been through.

4) Be active. Talk about the differences in lifestyles that stood out to you (like seeing chickens in a tree), but try not to be judgmental or pass crticisms, even to fellow-short-termers.

5) Be patient. Take time to readjust. Be patient when others don't understand what you have experienced.

They suggest the following as well.

We will be experienceing these things right away so we should find a spot to put these reminders where we can see them daily and where we can review the list often and exercise patience--with ourselves. Talk to each other from the team often and talk often about your experiences and feelings you are haveing since you returned home.

Have others watching you and let ya know if they think you are having difficulties with reentry so you can get any help you may need to put everything into perspective so you can experience the changes in your life but can move forward to the next area God is leading you.

Well hope that this will prove to be helpful for you all.