Our family has been living in Japan since April of this year, and even though we had just arrived, Loren and I decided to take a trip back to Michigan this past August. We wanted a rest from the heat and the effort of living in Japan. We wanted to eat familiar foods and have conversations with strangers and friends in English—to go back to a place where we could read the signs and swim in fresh lake water. I can say I am grateful for the growth and learning the trip brought, as we took on the challenge of traveling 30+ hours to Michigan and back again. I really built up my mom muscles on the trip back, taking the return flight solo with our four daughters. We also had to rewind our internal clocks back 13 hours and forward again upon our return. Despite our expectations, I think we only managed a few hours of R & R, most days finding ourselves double and triple booked. I felt equally overwhelmed with all of our obligations and with the fact that we had so many people wanting to visit with us. We feel so grateful for our ever-expanding network of friends and family, which we continue to cultivate now abroad. I am also grateful for the insight and forethought you get when you uproot your home base and then return for a visit. The way changing perspectives gives you a fresh evaluation. How leaving your network of familiar faces in such a dramatic way (like moving out of the country) and then return, causes your heart to jerk and twitch. You see each person for the first time and share a hug or a handshake, feeling the chemistry you have with each of those people, knowing they are in your life for a reason. For those closest to me, my heart had a sort of reminiscent flash back of how our lives have mingled. I was given the gift of reflection and learned that I was most deeply connected with those who I intimately walked through life with, with those who I was vulnerable with, no matter how difficult or time consuming…and it was worth it. How wonderful and unexpected.
Often, we are asked what we miss the most about America and if we enjoy Japan life. Loren was nervous that when we went back to Michigan, I would remember how easy it was and not want to go back to Japan. But it was almost the opposite and I have such a peace about being back here. I think partly because we are so invested, we have begun to build relationships and are connected to a great church and work family.
Although I do miss tacos.
And oooohhhh how I missed American church! We love our church here in Japan, but it is all in Japanese and we sing from hymn books. I was so overcome with God’s presence on those three Sundays in America, feeling so grateful to hear a sermon in English and to sing worship songs to God in tears with my hands in the air…to feel God so deeply as He whispered in my ear and filled my heart back up to the top. All I could think about was how good we have it in America, to have so many strong churches with so many talented people and we take it for granted. We don’t go, we make excuses. And you know what? We were preached the same message at our church in Japan, then at our church in Plainwell, and again in Battle Creek at my mom’s church. They all said this…we are members of one body. We are eternal brothers and sisters and we are better together. In the body of Christ, our individuality is not lost, you make it better and add to the whole which is incomplete without you.
Hebrews 10:25
“And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near”
A last thought, this whole journey has been a little bittersweet for us, leaving our “home” and not feeling too sentimental about it. Because the truth is, our family proclaims Jesus died so we can live and we are not citizens of this world, but of heaven. And when we grasped that idea, and realized that the things we held onto for peace and purpose and comfort no longer bring fulfillment and no longer matter, then it was easier to let go. We function and thrive here because we said yes to God and His plan for our family. It was easy to let go of the house, our comforts and familiarity, our money, our time. We are nomads on this Earth, no place here is our home. We are simply camping, temporarily residing until Jesus brings us home to heaven. So for us, living in a foreign country doesn’t seem so crazy and we are simply the Sanders family, camping through this life together.
Picks from the trip and did not even capture all of it or everyone!:(
Well shoot I’m bummed I didn’t know you were back in town, but it sounds like it was hard enough to carve out time to see everyone so I totally get it. What a great reminder, though, about how we’re travelers. In America it’s all too easy to get sucked into the comfortable lifestyle and forget that something so much better awaits us. Richie and I just bought a house and while it’s been a huge blessing it’s also had its own complications, expenses, and a lot of work required. I think about you and your family often and constantly check your blog to see if there is a new post. Love you guys and praying for you!!
Thanks for keeping up with us and for the prayers! I know alot of people are praying for us and it makes a huge difference. It is a balance too, because I know God also wants us to be blessed, so enjoy that house!
Oh we are!! The pool was a MAJOR blessing towards the end of my pregnancy. Helped with water retention and took the load off while I was in it!