Life After Furlough

Three months ago we returned from our ten month furlough. (For those wondering what 'furlough' looks like, this article explains it well.)

At the start of this time I was excited to live life in the UK, visiting new places and meeting people who I don't normally get to see. 

We had a great time finding snow in the Lake District along the Hardknott Pass, one of Britain's steepest roads.

However, by the end of last year I was very ready to return to the country where we serve overseas and was longing for the familiar.  I couldn't wait to leave behind all the stresses of furlough.  

The adjustment back to life in our host country wasn't the easiest thing ever though.  This was what it looked like for me:

Day 1:
So, so thankful to be home.  When we got close to our final destination I felt a burden lift as I let go of the travel-related questions:  Are our bags the right weight and size?  Will our suitcases fall apart?  Are we leaving enough time to get to the airport?  How will the transfer between terminals go in Australia?  Will our baggage make it?  Are we allowed to carry cheese into the country?  Which batteries do I need to keep in my carry-on?  Are we going to miss our connecting flight? 

Days 2 - 3:
It's been wonderful to spend the weekend with friends, some of whom we haven't seen for over two years.  I'm delighted to be home, and in a place where I have so many good friends living a few minutes' walk from my house. 

Week 1:
I'm reminded of the harder aspects of living here: People wanting financial help for legitimate causes; a cold virus caught while travelling; repairs that are needed in the house; walking up and down the hill in the hot sun or pouring rain; having a lot of musty belongings to take out of storage and find a home for.   But I'm still so happy to be home and so grateful to God that we were able to return.

Weeks 2 -3
Time to ease back into work.  Well, perhaps it would be better to focus on getting my house straight, but going to work is much more fun.  I'm glad to be getting back to my role here, and am looking forward to putting into practice the training I took on furlough.  I think I'm feeling settled...or at least that I'm almost there.

Weeks 4 - 5
Life is back to normal...sort of.  I'm still not feeling quite right emotionally.  The thought of paperwork that I still need to do can cause anxiety to rise in me fast; especially with financially-related topics.  I remind myself that God provided for us incredibly on furlough in sending the provision that we needed to return to the field and that he's not about to abandon us now.

A couple of friends have reminded me that it takes a while to fully adjust after an international move.  That's the kind of advice I would give to someone else; I forget to apply it to myself though!

I'm still so relieved to be back here.

Week 6:
I really am feeling better this week!  Although our furlough went well overall, with some wonderful moments spent with people we love, it was still tiring and stressful; part of this could have been avoided if I'd made different choices.  But the fact is that I didn't return to our country of service in the most refreshed state; it's really not surprising that my body and mind have taken a while to recover and feel normal again.  

I think I now have the capacity to start typing the blog posts that I've been writing in my head!

Month Four:
I'm finally getting around to sorting out the cupboards that I threw items into when we first got back.  It certainly makes daily life easier when I know where to find and put things.  I don't think I've yet managed to have the whole living area tidy at one time yet, but that goal is now looking realistic rather than overwhelming.  I think I'll get there before our next furlough ;-)

A Break, But Not A Rest

We're away from Papua New Guinea (PNG) for 10 months, with no 9-5 job during that time.  I understand why we sometimes get asked whether this is a holiday (or 'vacation', here in the US). 

It certainly is good to have a break from living overseas.  When we're on Home Leave we leave behind (to a large extent) cross-cultural difficulties, security concerns, and limited resources.  We get to visit new places and enjoy the advantages of being in our home cultures. 

We are encouraged to take some holiday/vacation time during our home leave:  Andrew and I were delighted to escape to Edinburgh for a few nights in celebration of our tenth anniversary.  We've loved spending time relaxing with friends and family members.  But I certainly wouldn't describe the whole Home Leave experience as restful.

 
In my experience, Home Leave, mostly, is hard work; there's a lot to figure out.  Here are some of the questions I've been busy pondering this year:

*What will we do about our children's education?
*Who will we get together with, and when?
*What location will we meet these people in?*Which churches are we speaking at?
*What will we say in those churches?         
*What meals will we cook in this country?
*Which visa do I need?
*What clothes shall I wear for speaking in church?
*What kind of clothes do people even wear in this decade?         
*Where do I put my bank card if I want to pay for groceries?         
*What do I do when my child is too anxious to leave my side?         
*What shall we write in our next newsletter?
*What vehicle will we drive?
*How long will it take to get to the place we're going to?
*How many road trips is it realistic for us to make?         
*Is the amount of financial giving to our Wycliffe ministry enough for us to return to PNG?         
*What happens if we are still lacking in financial partnerships when my US visa runs out?
*Why aren't my children falling asleep at night here?
*Where can we go to get medical attention at the weekend?
*How can I best respond when my children are struggling with transition?
*How do I encourage my child to interact politely with new people?
*What clothes and shoes do I need to take with us for our next three-year field term?
*What size shoes might my son be wearing at the age of 12?
*How much should I bid on Ebay for a pair of Crocs?         
*What else should we ship to PNG, that we can't obtain overseas?         
*How do I use this 'Swiffer' mop?
*What's a GIF?
*How do I explain 'nine months' to a three year old who just wants to be back in her own house?         
*What can I do if I forget to take my cash from the cash machine?
*Do I want Cortana to help me?
*Is my UK driving licence valid in this country/state?
*Am I insured to drive this vehicle?         
*Which immunisations do we each need?
*Where will we get vaccinated?
*Where should I meet the person picking me up from the airport?         
*How many photo magnets shall I get printed?
*Which coins do I need to make 85c?
*How do I fill in this form when I don't fit any of the categories mentioned?         
*What is the law concerning child car seats in this country/state?
*Which mobile/cell phone plan do I want?
*When shall we travel back to PNG?
*How many hours should we leave between flights?
*What suitcases will we use in our travel?
*Which toys should we ship/take back/give away?
*How long will it take to pack up and clean our house?

As we've lived in two different countries on home leave, many of these questions have had to be answered at least twice!

Home Leave has been good, but it hasn't been easy.  It's been great to have a break from our work overseas.  But now I'm looking forward to being back in our own house, and settling into a normal routine.

The uncertainty raised by some of these questions has been a huge challenge for me, but God's provision has been incredible.  Time and time again I've had to surrender my desires and plans to God, rather than trying to control circumstances myself.  This has been especially true with regard to financial matters.  The increase that we needed to see in our financial partnerships was way beyond anything I could achieve in my own efforts.  I had to admit that our future plans, whether or not they involved a return to PNG, are completely in God's hands. 

But he does seem to be leading us back there.  It's amazing to see God provide all that we need to go back to PNG.   The stories of how he has brought us together with those who were looking to give monthly towards a Wycliffe ministry are so much more creative than anything I could have come up with! 

Just because we have nearly reached our financial goal, it doesn't mean I can stop surrendering control to God; there are so many areas where I still need to do this.  Especially with travel coming up, I need to continue to trust God in the details.  I can't do anything to guarantee that our trip will go smoothly but I know that we're in the best hands.  I'm not in control; and that's a good thing.

(Thanks to my Mum, Jenny Noble, for the pictures)

Living In The UK: Things I Love

It was great to spend five months back in the UK this Spring.  Here are some of my favourite things:

1) Seeing the friends and family who live there.  I might get in trouble if I didn't put this as number one; but it really does come first for me!

2) Complete strangers understand my accent and vocabulary.

3) Being anonymous when I go out in public.

4) Almost anything I need is within walking distance.

5) Being able to walk to the shops at 10.30pm.

6) I can buy pasta for 30p, baked beans for 25p and crisps for 7p; I even found some 17p toothpaste reduced to 3p!

7) Meat comes with instructions for how long to cook it.

8) I can travel alone to places I've never been to before (yes, I realise this one may sound strange).

9) I can catch a train to almost any place I'd want to go (unfortunately it costs more than 30p though).

10) We live next door to a library.

11) We live opposite a fish and chip shop.

12) Our church has a fantastic children's programme during the service.

13) I don't have to cook from scratch.

14) Hearing my children speaking more like me :-)

15) English villages are beautiful.

16) Clean tap water.

17) It's never too hot or too cold to go outside (though I may have contested this back in March, when I was quickly reminded what 'cold' feels like).

18) Free medical care.

19) Fresh milk.

20) The enthusiastic welcome of friends, family, small groups and churches.

21) The Puzzling Place Museum.