Home Assignment is for missionaries one of those in between times. We are home for a year to share our ministry with other ABC churches. We are supposed to rest and be renewed for our next four years of service. Yet this being our first home assignment, I can share some of my impressions.

As many of you know, we live on the border between Mexico and California. Our town is called El Centro, CA. We are now on home assignment but we have not actually moved. Instead of going south across the border we usually go west to the airport to fly somewhere during the World Mission Offering blitz. Home for me would be Puerto Rico or would it be Massachusetts where we had our last church, would it be Maine where Rick was raised, would it be New Hampshire where his grandparents live or would it be Greenville, IL where his parents actually live.

Many missionaries have this confusion of determining where is home. Is home the place where we ministered the last three years? Mexicali feels a lot like home in many ways. Its familiar, I love the people, I feel connected to them.

This summer we met with other returning missionaries and their kids at the American Baptist Assembly at Green Lake. Many of the kids had this re-entry anxiety. Why do I have to leave the Philippines, Costa Rica, Haiti, or wherever home has been?It is a difficult in between time for the kids.

We come back because it is time to share what we are doing, and what we feel God is continuing to call us to do in our places of ministry. As I visit different regions and churches and try to make a connection during the 20 minutes of worship or 40 minutes of an informal presentation, I pray that you may also connect with us. Ask us regular questions; pray with us and for our families as many of us are frequently separated because of the tasks at hand.

This past Sunday, I had a very unique and wonderful experience. I was worshipping at a local Methodist church and it was pastor appreciation day. They spent some time reading notes of appreciation to the pastor Suzi and it was a wonderful love fest. As the time for the benediction came which is usually a circle of prayer, the side doors flew open and a group of mariachis came in singing festively. They were young girls and young men playing their guitars, and other instruments and they thoroughly surprised the pastor and others at the "traditional" service. I was so touched by this wonderful and creative show of appreciation and by the willingness of the congregation to think out of the box. I was also reminded how homesick I was for Mexico and my eyes filled with tears.

Pray for the World Mission Offering. Give generously to the World Mission Offering. Consider placing a missionary family on your monthly church budget or your monthly family budget. Pray for our families on home assignment. Pray for our support staff at Valley Forge, Visit the mission field. Get involved in your community and find out where the needs are in your mission field.