Furlough, or Home Assignment, is a tragically overlooked and undervalued part of the cross-cultural worker's long-term thriving. So often, we give in to the urgency of the moment and grind as though the next year is all that matters. One of the best pieces of advice we could offer any international worker is to think with ten years in mind, asking, "what do I need to do now so that I can thrive ten years from now?" Nothing embodies this ethos better than planning well, setting healthy expectations, and embracing your home assignment.
Why Home Assignment Matters
At the end of Acts 14, after Paul and Barnabas had completed their first missionary journey, they returned to the church in Antioch that had sent them out. Verse 27 says, “And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. And they remained no little time with the disciples.” This was essentially the first home assignment: a time when Paul and Barnabas returned home from their work to report on what God had done amongst the gentiles, were encouraged and refreshed by the community of faith, and intentionally built up and strengthened the local church.
Your home assignment, when properly understood and planned for, can breathe new life, courage, and conviction into your soul, enabling years of fruitful work. On the flip side, many Goers - out of poor expectations (by either dreading it or imagining America will be some new creation utopia) - are disappointed, frustrated, and often worn out by several months away from home, living like nomads, and disoriented by how their friends and churches have changed. We desire you to begin fashioning realistic, biblical expectations for how you will steward your time in the States.
The first step and perhaps the most essential truth to embed in your soul is this: do not feel guilty about HMA because it sounds like one long vacation. Whether it’s baggage from encounters with other Goers or just plain misinformation, this is not the case. Instead, we want you to view your home assignment as a critical part of your role as a cross-cultural worker. Here are three truths to hold on to.
Practical Questions to Ask
Now let's get practical. Whether preparing for your first home assignment or having been on the field for many years, it is wise to start thinking through your goals and expectations for HMA in advance. Use these questions to think through what you hope to accomplish or gain from this time, and begin making plans accordingly.
