The seven deadly fears of a missionary

Missionaries in West Africa fear neither disease nor isolation, neither persecution nor loneliness, neither poverty nor heartache. But they are really scared about returning home to Australia.

During the past 12 months, we've spent a lot of time speaking to our brothers and sisters serving for extended periods overseas. One elderly Canadian was into her 50th year of service.

I would have thought that their trips to their native homes (usually once every 3 or 4 years), would be a time of great joy and respite. But instead, more than a handful of those we spoke to found coming home very difficult.

[As a sidepoint, we've had the best group of supporters we could have ever hoped for (or prayed for)...and I've learnt through them how we can then go and support other missionaries more faithfully.]

Here are 'seven deadly fears' long-term missionaries face when they return home, either at the end of their overseas service, or for periodic home assignments. My hope is that we can help serve them better by understanding their hardships. Please add some more comments if you've had some insight into this area.

* (1) I used to be a trained accountant/doctor/engineer. But after 20 years of service on the mission field all my qualifications have lapsed. (From the missionary's point of view, they've just gone from conducting exciting and influential work overseas, and found themselves with no apparent employable skills back home. Aside from the financial implications, the impact on that person's feeling of selfworth is extreme.)

* (2) I've planted churches, sat on councils and have a lot to offer my home church...but there's no role for me. (This is especially difficult for women serving on the mission field who may not be able to find a suitable position at their home church, or related churches, to use their amazing gifts to continue their service.)

* (3) No-one knows, or cares, what I've been doing these last 25 years. (There is actually a ministry among mission agencies to visit retired missionaries and just sit and listen...although I'm not sure this shouldn't be the responsibility of the local church.)

* (4) Friends in Australia just talk about home extensions, investment property and superannuation. (It was probably just a random remark at a BBQ...but a missionary I once spoke to came back to the field very depressed because he was made to feel like he wasn't a good husband or father because he hadn't accumulated a house, nor substantial superannuation.)

* (5) My supporters think I'm lazy when I'm on home assignment? (I previously had many misconceptions about home assignments. I thought that a missionary spends 3 or 4 years overseas, and then receives a 1 year supported holiday back home, before going back over. I think it's helpful to think of home assignment as a continuation of the mission work...just that it takes place in the home country. Usually we, as outsiders, are unaware of all the work they are actually doing during this time.)

* (6) I'll scream if one more person says "How was your trip?/How was your holiday?" (It can take missionaries returning home several months to lose the bags under their eyes after a tough month/six months/year/three years...so the notion that it was a 'holiday' stings.)

* (7) Even my Christian friends think I'm a bad parent for having kids on the mission field? (We've met some of the most delightful and switched on missionary kids during our stay...it's hard to think of a better upbringing than being exposed to the languages, cultures and social structures evident in the field, not to mention their spiritual refinement that takes place.)

Jon