Testimonials
Transition into Community (By current YWAM Nexia Staff Member - Name Withheld)
After spending some years in ministry in Asia, one of my greatest personal challenges, as a single woman, in transitioning back into life in N. America has been to find “community”. It definitely has not helped that I was a newcomer to this part of the country and was starting “from scratch” to find a church and to build a network of friends! I also recognize that the transition has been further intensified by me moving from “community-living” into a decentralized ministry situation.
Two years later, I can say that I am beginning to feel “at home” (transition takes longer for some people than others)! God has given me a network of friends and ways that I can contribute to my community. Some things that have helped me:
- Recognizing that much of what I have been experiencing has been “reverse culture shock”
- Asking God to help me lay aside the comparisons between Asia and N. America – and my judgments!
- Lowering my expectations of people at church
- Going to church with the attitude that I will be the one to initiate friendship
- Getting involved at church – in small groups; thinking of ways that I can give to others, use my gifts
- Finding like-minded friends (adult missionary kids, people who have lived outside the country)
- Participating in classes of personal interest/taking courses (areas I'm passionate about)
- Spending time with Asians in my community continues to be life-giving!
- Trusting that the Holy Spirit is showing me the way – and then responding to His nudges/divine appointments that come along
In this “wilderness season” of my life, I've discovered that God is still WITH me and that He knows all about my need for “community”. Recognizing afresh that I was made to be in relationship (being created in the image of God), has given me both permission to ask God to build community into my life and also a willingness to engage in the relationships He brings my way!
Living With The Guilt of Returning (By current YWAM Nexia Staff Member - Name Withheld)
After 20 years of adventure-filled, fruitful ministry in South East Asia, my wife and I felt we should return to Canada to help care for her aging mother. Sadly, following several months of preparations for leaving our post, literally while we were on route back to Canada, Mom passed away. Once we had taken some time with family to grieve our loss, it seemed the obvious thing to do would be to return to Asia and take up where we left off. Strangely however, that was not what God had in mind. As we took time to wait on Him, we sensed that we were to stay in Canada. We were confused by this at first. But gradually, after a series of unmistakable confirmations, we were convinced that this was the right decision.
Meanwhile, though, our co-workers on the field were beckoning us back. Although we had done our best to make sure the responsibilities we left behind were covered, there was still a gap. I agonized over this. The last thing I wanted them to feel was that we were somehow abandoning them. The needs there were so great and on top of that we still didn’t have any clear understanding of what we were doing in Canada.
Added to that, I had to return to my old trade of being an electrician. And it just didn’t seem to make sense that I should be wiring massive houses that only two or maybe three people were going to live in when we just came from a place where poverty was regularly staring us in the face. How do you reconcile that? I struggled with guilt with these things tugging at my heart.
Gradually, however, things began to fall into place. We are still in YWAM, having been graciously welcomed into the Nexia team, and opportunities have opened up in our local church. We have found a fruitful role in encouraging, equipping and mobilizing others into missions. We are also helping others who are making the transition from life in missions to life back home.
As for the needs on the field, the Lord is raising up others to meet them. We have sensed a real release from our coworkers there, which has helped us to be more settled. And as for the tension of living in a wasteful, affluent society; we never want to be comfortable with that.
if you want to chat with one of our YWAM Nexia staff, drop us a note here.
