After anyone goes on a missions trip, short or long, there is always the ‘reenty’ component. This is a letter explaining how parents should be preparing for the short-termer’s return home.
A Singaporean student referred to her readjustment back home as “re-caging a freed bird.” This picture captures her own understanding of what life will be like when she returns home. It anticipates the places of difficulties and challenges, as well as potential places of personal growth.
Have you ever wondered what a missionary actually thinks about before getting ready to return to the field? What last-minute thoughts race through her mind before flying off again? This is one missionary’s thoughts as she prepared to re-enter the mission field.
After we return from a trip, we may have lingering questions. These questions are meant to help us gather an understanding and meaning behind our experiences.
What is re-entry culture shock? It is simply the transition into one’s home culture after having lived for a time in another culture. It is often characterized by an accentuation of confrontation with the person’s own identity and just how culturally bound he or she is.
