Where is Home?
Most cross-cultural workers find it difficult to answer this question. “Where is home?” Quite honestly, the longer one is away from their “former home” the more difficult it is to really feel “at home” when they return to what “used to be home”.
The more people pours themselves into the lives of others in a foreign culture, the more that culture becomes theirs. So, when they return to “home" it is no longer “home”. (I hope that all made sense to you!)
Though we have been back in Canada for over 3 months, we have found it very difficult to settle in and feel at home. Several deputation trips have given opportunity to visit a lot of people, but have also kept us from settling down and getting some rest.
At the same time, God has given us a number of friends who have lighten the burden in various gracious ways. We praise God for everyone He has used to help us in our transition back to Canada for this Home Assignment.
“Where is Home?” is also the title of a power point presentation that we have put together, to help both missionaries and their supporters to understand the challenges of living and ministering in a foreign culture. As more people begin to understand the issues at stake, hopefully more missionaries will feel “understood” by their friends and family.
We are thankful for:
- Friends who continue to support us in prayer and finances
- Friends who have encouraged us in various ways and lightened our load financially
- Provision of a car for the months we are in Manitoba
- Several weeks of accident- free deputation trips
- An extended summer and a warm fall
We need prayer for:
- Some time to get a rest
- Provision of finances for our return to Singapore
- Provision of affordable housing to rent in Singapore
- CYNDA – on the Logos Hope, that she will adjust well to the new circumstances and challenges of living with other culture on board ship
- RICHARD and ADAM, the two Singaporean business men who are helping us set up World Team in Singapore
Kalimantan Church commissions 1st Overseas Missionary!
We praise God for His grace to our indigenous church denomination in Kalimantan.
In September they commissioned 20-year old CYNDA KAYOCI to a 2-year assignment on the Logos-Hope, a ministry ship of Operation Mobilization.
In 2010, we helped Cynda (pronounced: Chin-da) come to Singapore for schooling and we were encouraged to see the maturity of this 3rd generation believer. Her grandfather was one of the first believers in the village where Janet was born, and her father is a pastor.
As we explored options for her future she became interested in OM’s ship ministry and working cross-culturally. Seeing her love for and the way she worked with people, we were excited about this development.
Especially encouraging is to see the PPIK denomination eager to help her with some of her financial support. You can be part of this special endeavor by praying for Cynda. Also, if you would like to take part in helping financially, gifts can be sent to OM. (See www.om.org)
Looking ahead....
As we go through this transition between our ministries at ACTI (2000-2011) and
the new ones coming up, we are reminded that this is God’s ministry, not ours.
While ACTI will continue on with others at the helm, that chapter is now closed for
us. Our future roles will be similar, but will most likely take us to other World Team
Asia fields, to help train new recruits as they begin their ministries. We will continue
to work with Indonesian Domestic Workers, but more in the area of creating awareness
of needs, and helping several churches get ministries started. As well, we will
continue to visit our church leaders in Kalimantan. We are thankful that they still
want us to visit, give leadership training, and exchange ideas with them.
We praise God that an initiative to facilitate ministry to cross-cultural workers in
South East Asia has begun with the recent establishment of World Team Singapore
Ltd. Two Singaporean businessmen have offered to sit on our Board of Directors
and are eager to have us return to continue training cross-cultural workers, give
member care help to workers on several fields, and to help Singapore churches in
their understanding of missions-related initiatives. We anticipate returning to South
East Asia in March 2012.
As we look back at 30 years in S. E. Asia we thank God for His faithfulness to us in so many ways. Looking ahead, we know He will continue to be faithful and our prayer is that we will
remain faithful to Him. We also give Him thanks for each one who has partnered with us at various stages of this journey.
Thank you for your love and concern.
Our Calendar:
November: a few days of rest, ...in some churches
December 3–January 15: In B.C. to visit supporters & celebrate Christmas with our children and Janet’s extended family.
January – end February: In Manitoba
March: Back to Singapore
