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In this parable, Tom and Joan viewed their forthcoming home assignment (formerly known as missionary furlough) with considerable trepidation and much prayer. They worried about reverse culture shock. What changes would they notice in the States after four years? How would their two children adjust to American schools? How could they possibly squeeze into their schedule everyone they wanted to see?

When they thought about their visits to supporting churches, their stomachs churned. How would they come across to these people? Because this was not their first furlough, they knew some of the pitfalls to expect—and some of them they dreaded. They had looked at their plans and decided to spend the usual week or two at each church.

Unless things had dramatically changed, Tom and Joan knew the usual routine: a couple of minutes in the morning service, a Sunday school class, perhaps an open house somewhere and a couple of dinners in various homes. They knew they were expected to renew ties with the people who had kept in touch over their four-year absence and had prayed for them. They knew they were supposed to build friendships with new people, give exciting reports, recruit new missionaries, and above all prove that they merited continued financial support.

As they pounded west on I-80, Tom said, “Wouldn’t it be great if people asked us some really well-informed questions about our work?” Joan agreed and then added, “What would you like them to ask us?”

“Well, after they ask about our kids and our health, I wish they would ask not just about us, but about the believers and pastors,” Tom said.

“Why don’t you make a list of suggested questions?” Joan prodded him.

“All right, I will,” Tom said. This is what he produced:

Tell us something about your country. First of all, where is it? What’s the population? The percentage of Christians?

What’s the climate like? What do most of the people do for a living? Is yours a predominantly rural or urban population?

Is your government relatively stable? Have you had any droughts, civil wars, earthquakes, floods or other disasters that have affected your work? What are the strengths and weaknesses of your churches? Are you seeing much growth? Tell us about your pastor and his family.

Do you feel out of place as an American, or are you fairly well accepted? Are there a lot of other missionaries in your area? Any US business or diplomatic families?

Where have you seen growth in your ministries? Tell us about some of your setbacks. What’s been the high point of your last four years? The low point?

How do you think you have grown in your understanding of how your role fits into the big picture of world missions?

What resources do you have to help you in your ministries? In your personal and family lives? Do you feel a sense of connectedness with your mission board? With your supporting churches?

If you had one thing to do over again, what would it be? What ministry lessons have you learned? What lessons in your walk with God?

Tell us about your good days and bad days. What successes have you seen in your children? What’s been the hardest for them? What activities do you share with believers? How have they helped you and your family? How have they drained you?

What are your goals for your home ministry assignment? How can we help you to achieve them?

When they reached South Bend, Tom and Joan were satisfied with the start they had made. They hoped that their answers to questions like these would broaden the understanding of people who partner with them in the gospel.

July 5, 2002