A friend asked me recently how the kids are doing on processing all that they saw and experienced. I thought that was a great question and one that should be answered here on this blog.
I anticipated a little more culture shock when we went over to Bangladesh. Oh, I was confident that they would do well but I think I was a little surprised at how well they really did. Things are so different in Bangladesh that I thought they would ask more questions, be more hesitant about trying new things, and miss the comforts of home a lot more. They surprised me by adapting quickly and easily with little to no complaining! Even in the most difficult situations, our kids showed us that they are capable of adjusting and coping to just about anything that world travel can bring. For example, sleeping in airports, riding on a death-defying bus with a crazed driver, watching adorable little goats be killed for your lunch, carrying TP everywhere you go, etc. They took all these things and more in stride. The red ants, spiders, cockroaches, mosquitoes…all dealt with like pros (probably better than the adults!). The eastern toilets took some getting used to but not so much for reasons of awkwardness as it was the lack of cleanliness.
I also anticipated an adjustment back to American way of life. We were hardly gone long enough to make this something that we should have to worry about, but I was more or less thinking that the materialism and consumerism here in the USA would be difficult to swallow once we returned from observing tremendous poverty. Nope. Not an issue for any of us. We are blessed with so much more than my Bengali friends but I am ashamed to say that I still nurture discontentment by browsing the Pottery Barn catalog.
So while we have adjusted very well to what we saw and experienced, here are some of my observations on how we are all processing or what we came away with:
Mike loved, loved his time in Bangladesh. He fell in love with the people and culture. He gained a burden for the missionaries and Bengali leaders. I think it opened his eyes to the unique needs that missionaries have for support from their churches that is much, much more than financial.
Michael seems to be more sensitive to others and more appreciative. Of everything. It just seems as though he has learned to be more thankful for family and alert to God’s abundant provisions. He is also in tune to how easy we have it when it comes to worshiping publicly. He had the opportunity to do a Bible study with a family in the hill tracts of Bangladesh who had recently come to Christ and had been experiencing persecution from their community. The power of that reality combined with the truths of Matthew 5 really impacted his heart.
Morgan – She is the most discontent here in the US. She has asked on more than one occasion if we could move to Malumghat. As we talk about her reasons for wanting to do so, we learn that she longs for the family time and slower pace of life. Once you get a taste of that it’s hard to give up. I am working on making life here a little bit slower for her. I don’t know how we’ll do it while school is still in, but summer is just around the corner!
Bryn is the hardest to figure out. She talks a lot about the time she had at the hospital with the newborn baby she called Peanut. She thoroughly enjoyed that ministry! She asks about Donna from time-to-time, which is sweet. I believe she is processing, but she is already a girl who keeps her thoughts to herself and it requires careful work to draw them out.
Kenlee is so funny because she can’t even think of one thing she learned while on the trip. We asked her to share one thing God taught her or one thing she learned about God…and she can’t do it! As far processing…I honestly can’t tell you if she needs to or not!
Josiah – now this boy is changed. He is so much more thoughtful and sensitive now (both of which he already was before the trip). He seems more spiritual, too. He is always wanting to pray and talk about God. I think the Holy Spirit really worked in his heart but he hasn’t necessarily found the words to share the specifics about it. (He is only 7.) Josiah also now longs to be right by daddy’s side whenever he isn’t in school.
As for me, well – I’m committed more than ever to focusing on my family and keeping our life and schedule at a healthy pace. I have been working hard to say “no” to things I really cannot find time to fit in, especially if they will take away from that number one priority of family. I am also praying earnestly that God would send laborers to Bangladesh to help my friends and loved ones share the truth of His Word. He hasn’t called us, and we are so happy serving Him at Valley Community here in Colorado, but there is a desperate need for harvest workers on that ripe, ripe field. I came home very burdened that there are not enough people there for the work load. Like it or not, I am praying that someone from our church will be called, someone from our school will be called, and that many more someones from around the world will be called to help take the gospel of Jesus to the beautiful people of Bangladesh.
