Why June is hard!

A reminder - This blog is written as a record of our live and ministry in the Dominican Republic.  We want our readers to gain more insight into life here.  We also want to remember and this blog journals many highlights of our life here.  This entry, isn't so enjoyable but it's real and something that we have dealt with each June.  It's possible that what I am about to share is typical on the mission field but we can only share our experiences here.

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Every year, June is a hard month for us.  Why?  It's simple.  We watch friends leave.  It's painful.  It's discouraging.  And it makes June a hard month.

Becky recently found an article that talks about this.  It's written for missionaries and is called "Staying Well:  10 Tips for Expats Who are Left Behind."  It's not long and I recommend you read it as it gives some good insights into challenges missionaries face.

Before being a missionary, I didn't realize how close a missionary community becomes.  I suppose in a larger city this may not happen but here in Jarabacoa, the missionary community is pretty close.  By close, I don't mean that we are spending all our time with one another.  We all have different jobs and are busy in our ministries.  But there is a bond in the community and when we are together, we are quick to talk about personal things - joys and challenges.  These conversations create some deep relationships.  

Of course, we are quick to help when someone is going through a challenge.  There is a feeling of "we are in this together."  We all know what it is like to leave family.  We know what it is like to struggle with language and make embarrassing mistakes, over and over again.  We know what is like to leave a place where we knew how to live and be dropped in a land where we have to learn a totally new lifestyle.  We all remember the adjustment of living without conveniences and where ghechos, cockroaches (hopefully not), and at times mice seek to share the same living space.  All of these things tend to draw us together.

When we meet a new missionary in town, it's common to ask "How long have you been here?" and if it's less than a year, the veteran missionary will nod with that knowing look and ask "How has it going?  Do you need help with anything?"  Relationships are formed and they deepen as the veteran missionary shows the incoming how to pay his bills, where to buy this and that, which restaurants can you trust, etc.  

Our desire is that many would come and stay but the truth is that many missionaries only end up staying for 2-3 years.  We have been working here since 2007 and it's amazing the number of people who have come and left during our stay.  And because of school schedules (among other things), June seems to be the departure month.

The article above is a help to us.  We are staying until the Lord calls us on to something else.  Sometimes people comment about our original calling to come and two years and as you know after our first year God made it clear that we should continue.  I like to say, the two years haven't ended yet!  And as stayers, we do feel a loss each June.  

But while it is hard to see people go, we are thankful.  We have had the privilege to meet some wonderful people.  Some have been in Bible studies with us, been accountable.  Some have walked with us through some tough times and we have done the same for them.  And for each one, we are thankful that God gave us this time.

It's a little late for this year but please remember your missionaries in June.  Often it is a time when the local support has been fractured and they maybe be feeling this loss.  It might be a good time for you who are far to send notes to encourage.  I can't speak for other missionaries but suspect they may experience the same.

Thanks for reading and understanding more of the life overseas!