By Claudia
Where is “home”?
This is a hard question for me to answer.
As a child, I struggled to answer. I moved alot and went to 10 different schools before graduating from high school. It seemed that I was always the “new” girl at school. I was always asked where are you from? Even this question was hard to answer. Do you want the place I was born, or where did I move from, or the numerous place I have called “home”?
As an adult, I struggle to answer. We lived in 3 different houses in one town, and refer to them by the street name. The past 5 years Jeremy and I have considered “home” wherever we laid our head at night. As missionaries, we have slept in so many beds. I couldn’t even try to guess the number.
As a mom, I don’t know how to tell my daughter where “home” is? We will say, “we are going “home” to Miss Kitty (our cat)”. Or we are going to Charles and Pepper house. Or we are going to stay at the butterfly room.
Where do you consider “home”?
I am coming to a place in life where I consider “home” around friends and family. But even then I am divided. I have American family and friends and African family and friends. How can “home” be on two different continents?
Ultimately, my “home” is in Heaven with God. Jesus is preparing it for me there.
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
John 14:1-7 ESV
I haven’t written much over the past year plus. I have struggled with many aspects of life. My heart has been troubled. I am still walking with Lord to find peace, joy, love, and hope in life on a daily basis. The tension in life seems to be less some days and overwhelming on other days. How do I find balance? How do I ride the waves of life without being pulled by the undertow?
I have been wrestling with the word “home” recently. I long to come “home”. I am tired of the endless cycle of moving, settling, planting, and then be uprooted to move again.
Maybe “home” is in the forefront of my mind as we help our African family establish a new village to call “home”. They are tired of living in Tsumkwe town. They long to live in the bush and live off the land. The biggest obstacle right now is water. They need a borehole but there is no money at this time.
Right now I am also working through Beth Moore bible study Believing God. Yes, we have our “Promise Land” in Heaven. Beth talks about our “Promise Land” here on earth.
Where is your “Promise Land” flowing with milk and honey here on earth?
Living here in Namibia among the San Bushmen, we have found the desire to live off the land too. Americans call this homesteading. God has shown us a vision for our future “Promise Land” a place to call “home” here on earth.
Where is “home”?
Currently, we are “home” here in the Kalahari desert. We have a future “home” in America. And ultimately, we have “home” in Heaven.
Ha3els in Africa 
Dear Ones, Thanks for your newsletter about “home.” As it is with you, Claudia, home is very powerful for me. I was a military brat, dragged all over the country. We were always moving and it was tough. As an adult I worked very hard to establish a home for my family and myself. I failed. My marriage ended in divorce and I lost my home physically and emotionally. But God never let me down. I built a homestead with my new wife and we were blessed. We had a home. Then Marilou got sick and we moved into town. She loves it in town – me, not so much, but it’s okay.
Now Marilou is preparing for her promised home in Heaven. She is ready to go. My home will be pretty lonely when she leaves. But I’ll be following her soon. I can’t wait to be in my final, real home, prepared for me by Jesus.
I so appreciate your honesty when you describe your struggles. Just want you to know that we all get weary. This place is not our home, but we have a wonderful home waiting. I look forward to meeting you there. Thanks for the hard work that you and Jeremy are doing so that others will also find their way to Heaven.
Your servant in Christ, Jack
>
LikeLiked by 2 people
Grace, peace and mercy to you Mrs. Claudia, I can so relate to what you speak about.
In my lifetime moving and changing schools was part of my life. When reading your story about home it made me reflect. What is home? Where is it? You have incredibly good questions and thoughts. It made me think; what I thought of is love. The love of Christ how wherever He takes you and plants you to pick you up again and plant you again are home, until.
In all the prior moves all through life, mixing with others, going to different schools allowing engagement with different people from different places. You were home and, in the field, back then and now look at where He has your home, in a different field.
It took me back to scriptures on all the people who moved and traveled around in different places, fields and dwellings, the disciples on their journeys and where they stayed. You are so right when you say ultimately your home is in heaven. It is!
Thanks for your story and your heart for Jesus. I think my new saying is that I am home, until. This may open the door for me to share Christ when someone says what do you mean by this is home until…
May the Lord continue to bless you and your family wherever the Lord leads for your home to be, until!
Your sister in Christ Jesus
Sherrene
LikeLiked by 1 person
When we have shared our testimonies as missionaries with others, one of the things I’ve heard that has encouraged me the most is, “Thank you for being transparent. I can relate to your struggles.” I say the same thing to you, Claudia, knowing God has you in His hand and He loves you. He will use these struggles to mold and shape you into something even more beautiful than you already are. Sending our love, our prayers, and our thanks to you all!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Excellent writing. Makes one stop and think!!!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hi Claudia,
Thank you for sharing your heart with us. As I read your piece, it reminded me of Matthew 28:19-20 “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
As we obey this command to “GO” wherever He allows us to land is home for the present time and the assurance that He is with us brings fulfillment, joy and peace.
If I may, I would like to borrow Sherrene’s thought “We are home, until…”
Sister in Christ, Romanie
LikeLiked by 1 person