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Home Assignment is called a lot of different things (furlough, stateside time, HMA) but they all mean the same thing. This is an extended period of time when you are reporting back to your sending church, connecting with your MTD partners, and receiving care from your network of people. You might take a trip to the US for other reasons, such as a wedding or family event, but these are not considered an official Home Assignment (although they can certainly be attended during a home assignment).

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You accrue 6 weeks of stateside time per year on the field. Most people take 12 weeks every 2 years, but we encourage you to talk with your supervisor to determine a good rhythm for both you and your ministry.

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You should start planning your HMA around 6 months before you get on the plane. Our HMA Checklist guides you through what to do in each month leading up to your trip.

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Home Assignment is not a long vacation. The reverse culture shock, living out of a suitcase, and trying to see everyone may leave you pretty tired. We encourage you to schedule down times, or perhaps a retreat/vacation at the end of your HMA.

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Home Assignment is considered part of your work responsibilities. You can reimburse any related expenses.

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You might be surprised how expensive things are in the US. Per Diem is a great way to access extra non-taxable funds without needing to submit a lot of receipts and forms.

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There could be tax implications. All states are different in how they handle temporary relocation. Please fill out the Home Assignment Notifcation Form to let us know where you'll be and for how long. We'll make any necessary changes on our end. 

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You do have a deductible when you use your insurance in the US and that in-network providers will be less expensive. If needed, you can apply for a hardship bonus to cover your deductible.

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We'd like to check-in with you while you are stateside. Schedule a Reliant Debrief during the first 2-4 weeks on HMA.

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Many people combine HMA with other transitions or major events, such as a sabbatical or having a baby. It's fine to extend your HMA as needed, as long as you've worked it out with your field supervisor.

Reliant's general policy for international missionaries employed by Reliant includes taking a furlough Stateside every 2 years.  The goal of a furlough is for rest and relaxation for the missionary in addition to shoring up of missionary funding and generally lasts 3 months.  Other furlough arrangements are allowable with approval from field leadership and HR. 

The furlough form and the travel notification form must be completed with all expected travel. 

See also: Travel Assistance insurance for ACE International Travel Assistance information. 

Info
Are you a part of a country that has a totalization agreement? If you are a missionary in one of the countries listed in the Furlough Request, you may need to plan a 6 month exit from the host country every 5 years to comply with the agreement, Please contact hr@reliant.org if you have questions. 

In preparation for my furlough below are a list of questions that may help prepare you as you return to the States:

MTD

  • Do I have a plan to spend at least 1 month prior to leaving making calls to schedule MTD appointments?
  • What is my MTD goal while Stateside? How much do I hope to raise in (ex. recurring gifts?)
  • Are there MTD supplies I need to order prior to my arriving in the US?  See Returning to Full-Time MTD Resources

Personal

  • Have I scheduled time for relaxation and refreshment (not including time with family in the States)? 
  • Are there any specific areas I need to be praying through while on furlough?
  • What are your expectations when you come back with family and friends?
  • What is realistic?

Reliant Office

Do I have specific questions for the Reliant office to bring up during my professional debrief? 

  • Insurance Questions
  • Support goal worksheet questions
  • MTD questions
  • Policy questions
  • Reimbursement questions

Sending Church

  • Are there any areas of concern that I need to discuss with my sending pastor/church?
  • What tools or support might I need from my sending church?
  • Do I feel I have a good level of support and/or communication from my sending church? 
  • What other support would I like to see? 

Tips

For MTD:

  • Begin thinking about MTD and your furlough about 6 months prior.  Take those 6 months to "scrub" your Reliant donor data.
  • About 2 months prior begin planning and making contact to schedule appointments with Stateside. 
  • Consider multiple communication tools such as Skype, Facebook, Twitter, Texting, Email, etc. 
  • Consider asking existing donors to increase their giving. 

General Tips:

  • Some Retreat Centers are free to missionaries if you reserve them in advance.  
  • This is a great opportunity for your family to get away and do something relaxing for free.  
  • Schedule a call with the Reliant Office prior to your furlough. 

 

 



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