Welcome home World Traveler!

Your recent internship experience with Operation Mobilization has likely been one of the most unique and significant experiences of your life.  You are no longer the same person who walked off of that plane, and into a foreign land, not so very long ago.  In a short amount of time, you have likely experienced a relatively large amount of life change, and it is our prayer for you that the same Lord Jesus, who walked beside you throughout your internship, will also show you His guiding hand and care for you as He walks alongside you throughout your adjustment back home. 

re-entry

/ˌrēˈentrē /

noun

1. the return from outer space into the earth's atmosphere of a satellite, spacecraft, rocket, or the like.

Whether you have been gone for a long six months, or a short six weeks, re-entering into your home culture can be a somewhat messy and uncertain experience. You didn't really get on a space shuttle, and spend the last six weeks on Mars...but it might feel like that as you readjust to your life back home. You may be feeling physically wore down from travel, jet-lag, and the rigors of living, eating, and sleeping in a culture different than your own. You may be missing some of the people you worked alongside and ministered to, while on your internship, and wondering if you will ever even see them again.  You might even be spiritually and emotionally weary because, in spite of the amazing high that missions can be, it is not without its hard moments as well. And you may be feeling somewhat isolated and lonely, as you try to adjust back to a people and a place who just experienced many weeks of your daily life...without you.  

In their introduction to their “Re-entry Guidebook,” Agape International- offers a helpful look at the realities facing a missionary upon re-entry: 

“Soon you will be returning to your country of birth. As you contemplate going home, you should mentally prepare yourself to expect things to be different from when you left. When you anticipated your present assignment, you were taught to expect differences and to have to make adjustments. When returning home, your initial assumption might be that readjustment will be automatic and natural. However, this assumption can be misleading.

Your home culture has been changing and so have you. Expect to be some­what out of touch with what is going on, and be ready to make some adjust­ments. Experience has shown that your re-entry will be smoother if you begin to prepare yourself ahead of time. The following material is designed to make you aware of some of the factors that contribute to stress when you return home. It also offers some helpful hints and suggestions on readjustment. This information should help you eliminate some of the common “stum­bling blocks” during re-entry and also encourage a smooth transition. One of the very satisfying and encouraging aspects of your return comes when you look back and realize that God has produced growth and maturity in your life because of your experience abroad. He has also produced “remaining fruit” in the lives of those you have touched through your ministry. With your focus on Him, you can look forward to a rich and rewarding time at home."

Defining Re-entry Stress

“Re-entry stress is like culture stress in many ways—only in reverse. While culture stress is associated with a sense of disorientation brought on by a new and unfamiliar environment, re-entry stress is precipitated by returning to a setting you presume to be familiar, but which in reality is no longer the same.  It is the unexpected nature and subtlety of such change that will cause stress for you and returning missionaries. Your once familiar and comfortable environment no longer appears the same. Something definitely has changed. But you don’t easily recognize just what has been altered.  Suddenly, you find yourself out of phase with your own culture. Your reaction may come in the form of bewilderment, dismay, disillu­sionment and perhaps even irritation or anger. Somehow, “things are just not the way they used to be,”  “nobody seems to care…,” “nobody really understands...”

There are several contributing factors to re-entry stress. One is that you are being caught by surprise—you do not anticipate change and consequently are unprepared to cope. Another factor is value conflict. Your values, once taken for granted, and even highly cherished, now seem of lesser significance or of little importance at all. Your way of thinking, your manner and your responses to many situations have been changing. Often these changes are not apparent until you are back in your own culture.

Common Symptoms of Re-entry Stress

What are some of the common symptoms and effects of re-entry stress? How can they be recognized?  Some common symptoms include:

• Disorientation - feeling out of place, not fitting in, or like you are a guest in a foreign land.

• Uncertainty in interpersonal relationships - unsure of proper mannerisms, greetings, social etiquette, dress.

• Feelings of loneliness, isolation, or being lost in the crowd.

• Restlessness - a desire to "get away" or to return as soon as possible to the host country.

• Feeling that nobody understands your experience or that nobody cares.

• Critical attitude toward home country - its waste, extravagance, wrong way of doing things, etc.

• Inability to communicate new ideas and concepts freely.

• Feeling of superiority - standing aloof from others because of your overseas experience.

• Retreat, withdrawal, lack of concern.

• Unnatural, uncomfortable responses to "ordinary" situations.

• Rejection of overseas experiences or a desire to forget and not talk about them

As you read through this list of common symptoms and effects of re-entry stress- what fears may have surfaced in your heart as you read through or even perhaps experienced some of these symptoms? Which of these symptoms are having the greatest impact on your heart, and who is someone you might ask to come alongside you- to pray for you as you make the transition of re-entry?

Hints to help you prepare for re-entry

• Anticipate a positive and fruitful experience.

• Ask the Holy Spirit to rule over every situation, your attitude and responses, both now and after your return.

• Realize that some stress during re-entry is normal. It is an indication that your body, mind, and emotions are attempting to readjust.

• Expect the effects of re-entry stress to be temporary.

• Not all missionaries will experience re-entry stress in the same way or to the same degree.

• Do not assume that your successful adjustment to working with nationals abroad will increase your chances of easy adjustment at home. Often the opposite is true.

• Due to your experience abroad, it is easy to become more discerning and, therefore,more critical of your own culture upon return. Be alert of this fact. Guard against making hasty judgments and comments about situations, circumstances, and relationships that may strike you as "wrong" (James 1:19).

• Remember that frequently the "little things" can be quite disquieting. For example, trying to cope with traffic that flows "the wrong way" may temporarily throw you off balance.

• Be honest with people. Allow them to help you readjust by letting them know the stress you are experiencing. Be discreet, sharing in a positive and loving manner. They will understand.

• Ask yourself some questions:

  • In what ways have my values, assumptions, outlook, and lifestyle changed since I left home? Am I not aware that such changes have taken place? Will the outlook of people at home have changed as much as mine? How will these changes affect my response to situations that I previously accepted or took for granted?

  • Do I expect those back home to hold similar viewpoints and opinions on the ministry, the world, lifestyle, etc., as I do now?

  • Should I expect friends and family to comprehend what I have seen and done these past few months? Will they relate to the "life changing" experiences which are so real to me?

  • How will I respond? Will others' indifference or lack of comprehension cause me withdraw make me feel hurt or angry, or raise feelings of superiority because of my experience abroad?

  • What will be my response when I arrive and am reunited with my family, fiends, and co-workers? Can I assume that others will be aware of who I am and what I have been doing these past few months?

Questions for Reflection:

As you read through these list of reflection questions, how can you be sensitive towards the response of other, and even gracious when/if they disappoint you in the midst of re-entry? Who might you be able to share the "five minute version" of your Internship experience with, simply because you value that person and their place in your life, regardless of the capacity of their response?  

What is one thing you can do right now to take steps towards living your life for God’s highest purpose and glory? What can you do to bring the love and light of Christ into the darkness of your present culture and places of influence? And where might God be inviting you to bring your skills and passions to new peoples and places in the future?

In this final section of your training experience we wanted to Create space for you.  Space to reflect on the state of your soul as you begin the re-entry process. Space to sit in wonder of the Lord, and all that He did to reveal His glory through your life, as you served Him during your internship abroad.  And most of all- space to reflect upon all that God taught you about Himself and His love for you throughout your internship experience.  Please spend some time in prayer and reflection, and then answer each of these questions before our upcoming re-entry phone call together.    

What are some words I would use to describe the current state of my soul?

• What has God been teaching me about Himself?

• What has God been teaching me about myself?

• Where are the places in my soul where I feel strengthened or "whole" and where are the places where I feel broken or messy right now?

• What have I learned in the last few weeks that has caused me to repent?

• What is God asking me to yield or surrender to Him?

• What is one thing that I have taken away from this experience that has changed me forever?

• What are one or two of my favorite memories from my internship?

• What are some of the things that were difficult to experience that I am trusting God with?

• What did I learn about the unique culture there and God's heart for the country I visited?

• How is the church and faith different in this culture?

• Did I see forms of suffering and/or injustice on this trip?

• When/where/how did I see God's answers to prayer during this experience?

• What role did faith play in my life there? And in the lives of the local Christians's there?

• Where am I going? What is God calling me to be or do as a result of this trip?

• How do I see this experience fitting into the greater story God is writing through my life?

We are so proud of you, and the endless steps of faith you have taken throughout your internship experience with OM. And we believe that God has great things in store for you as you walk with Him now through these steps of faith on your return home.  May you never forget the incredible truth that the great Author and perfector of your faith is not yet finished with the epic story being written through every line and page of your life.  Though one, very significant chapter has just closed, a new, equally important one is about to begin as you continue on Mission with the Lord Jesus…long after the trip.  

“Faithful is He who calls you, and He will bring it to pass."  -I Thessalonians 5:24"