I once asked a veteran missionary who had worked in Africa since the ‘50s what was the hardest thing he ever faced? (I thought he might tell a story about one the three wars he witnessed or the five government changes, or the car jacking or something along those lines.) He thought for moment and said my first, second, third furlough and everyone since are a tie!

What would make this seasoned missionary say such a thing?

Well, I know from my own experiences that Furloughs are tough!

First there is the preparation.

For us we have to remove all of the pictures and photos off the walls because of mildew and moisture. All of our clothes have to be taken out of the closets and set on the bed because if we don’t they will be covered in dust when we get home. So all of the pictures get taken down and all the clothes put on the bed and then we cover them with sheets. Don’t forget to put anything with leather on the bed and away from the walls or they will mold. Shoes, coats, purses, boots, belts, wallets, key rings, watch bands, Bibles, etc... (We have had all of these ruined by mold on furlough)

Anything of value outside must be put away and locked up.  That task alone takes about a day of heavy lifting.

This year we had things at the church that needed to be secured. Items at the airstrip

Camp etc..

Then the animals must be cared for... we have three dogs. Food must be arranged and stored. Charcoal for cooking the dog food must be purchased and stored. etc.

I have over a dozen people who work for me and then we have people at our home. Their salaries must be arranged for and how they will be paid must be worked out.

Rent is usually paid in advance so that must be arranged and taken care of before leaving.

All of the passports must have more than six month of validation to be allowed to return into the country so the passports must me updated. That required a trip to Kampala. (twice)

Work permits/ visas must be good after your return date or you will pay money for each passport. For our family that is an extra $300. just for visas, not special pass or work permits.

What will we do with our keys? Who will we leave them with?

Since we live six hours for the airport ... how should we get there?

Should we hired a driver to come from Kampala and bring us back. Where should we stay when we get there? It needs to have a shuttle to airport since we won’t have out car.

We need to make arrangements for our bills to be paid while we are gone. (our power was turned off last furlough- which ruined a freezer full of meat and food.)

The cows, the camp, the airstrip, the sewing ministry, the church, the preaching, the village churches, the lake property, the pickup, the dump truck,the tractor, the mowing of the airstrip.... it makes me dizzy!

There are many things to do for ministry preperations as well as good byes.

Before we leave we need to decide about home school...

Do we take the books or not?

Where are we going? What clothes do we pack?

What to take can cause real stress. I feel that every single time.

There are many expenses that the missionary faces as they prepare for furlough. The financial pinch before even leaving can cause stress.

We need to get the cars ready and put away under the carport.

We need to contact the visa card company so they won’t cut our cards off while we are traveling like they have done the last several furloughs.

Say good by to your friends, say good by to your ministry, say goodbye to your dogs.

Now you drive out the gate.

Do you have the passports, tickets, money etc?

If you don’t remember now ... it is too late.

Just getting ready to leave is exhausting!

(Now add back trouble and two cases of malaria and you can see that it is not an easy thing to do)

Furlough is funny word to use but that is what missionaries called it long before I came along. Some groups call it “Home ministry assignment”.

There is excitement to taste those favorite foods, see those familiar sights, drive on those smooth roads and to have a break from sticking out all the time.

Where we live white people are called by one name... Muzungu.

We stick out everywhere we go.

You know the song... one of these things is not like the others? That’s us.

We are different.

We are freaks in Africa and we are freaks in America.

We are lost in some uncharted limbo land of uncertainty.

We have left our home in Africa and for the next four to six month will be living homeless. Spiritual vagabons. borrowing cars, borrowing beds. eating from tables not our own,

Of course we won’t be on the street we have parents and family who will take us in.

We won’t be an inconvenience to anybody there are only six of us!

(Last furlough we flooded the Chamber’s home and wrecked a rental car!)

The change in diet also is hard on our system. The food is different from what we are used to. The portions are enormous. I end up eating like a bear getting ready to hybernate for the winter. The food in America tastes sooooooo good! After a few months skinny Jeff begins to feel FAT. My clothes don’t fit properly.

When should I buy new clothes? at the beginning of furlough or the end?

Stress...

Missionaries also face stress from the abundance of choices and the shear magnitude of the mountains of food and things available.

I have broken down in uncontrollable tears in Safeway trying to pick out cereal. This has happened once when I saw an American flag at a burger king. The wonderful combination was too much to handle!

The missionary goes on an emotional rollercoaster ride that start long before the tickets to the states are bought and it doesn’t quit until after returning home. Then Schreeeeech Bam the ride is over!

When the tickets are bought there is the tick, tick, tick sound of the roller coaster...

then over the top of the hill is the ride to states with a fun stop over some where.  Then down at the bottom is..jet lag...

Day is night and night is day. I’m starving at night and half sick when I do eat. What is wrong with me?

I can’t sleep but I am so tired.

At three in the afternoon my head gains weight and feels like someone tied a bowling ball to it!

And that is just the first day in the states of what some like to call furlough.