Home again…kinda…

Before we left America, a lot of people commented on how easy it must be for me to be coming “home” to Japan and how hard it must be for Eric. Well, it would seem that that would be the case. I have lived more years of my life in Japan than in the States, I love so many things about Japan – the people, the food, the way of life. I have missed Japan like crazy over the last six years since I lived here. And, especially in this last 2 years since we have been called to serve here in Japan, I have grown in my desire for this to be a nation that would turn to Christ for the Salvation that only He can bring. How thrilled I am that God would allow us to be a part of that in some small way in our time here!
But I have to be honest, it has been a HARD 5 days of being back. It has been said that absence makes the heart grow fonder. Isn’t it true that in absence we forget the difficulties, the things that rub wrong, and just think of the good things we are missing? More than that, I think its the tendency of our hearts to be malcontent with where we are and what we have now and instead long for what was or will be. In my years in America, there was a part of my mind that idealized everything about living in Japan and all the things that would make it better or easier than living there. There was probably even a subconcious lie going through my brain that told me life would be better, that I would be better, by living somewhere else, namely Japan. Well, I hate to break it to any of you who may be believing the same kind of thing about something in your future; but that same heart that tends towards discontent still exists in best of places. And what’s worse, my ability to complain (especially in my heart) seems to have found never-ending material to work with in my “promised land”. Its as though for every one thing that I missed and couldn’t wait to experience again, I find ten things that are different, uncomfortable, annoying, or just perplexing about this place.
So I am having a hard time being home in Japan. I know that probably next week (as we get completely over jet lag) it will feel a little bit more like home and less foreign. Hopefully, at least that will start to set in before that novelty of this new and different place wears off for Eric (Truly, I have never been more thankful for my husband than I have been these last few days. He is actually doing so well, both in adjusting and enjoying life, but also in loving and serving me and being a rock for our family.) Please pray for me. Pray for my heart, that I would look to Christ to find contentment and fulfillment, not to earthly things or places or even people. Please pray that I would be joyful in these very momentary and light afflictions of culture shock (or some form of it) and that being in yet another place that does not satisfy would only make me look more expectantly toward heaven, our true home.

On another note, I wanted to share a photo of three dear friends and their little ones that we left in America, and who I miss dreadfully. Tabitha (and her soon-to-arrive son “baby look”, Carly (and baby Liam), and Sarah (and Phoebe) have been true blessings in my life. I think part of the struggle the last few days has been missing the fellowship of close friends. Please pray that the Lord would build similar frienships for both Eric and I here in Japan.

Tags: Friends, Japan, Thoughts