A mind-boggler to me is how Peace Corps volunteers suffer from homesickness. It's not like we didn't know what we were getting ourselves into. 27 months, in a poor country, alone in a small community. Are we naive? Are we too proud? Or are we simply human?
Well, I don't know the answer because I've never been homesick during my Peace Corps service. Actually, never in my life. Weird.
I mean, what is "homesick"? Crying for your king sized bed with the down feather mattress top back home? Or wishing you could be at your best friend's birthday party? I'm probably the completely wrong person to be commenting on an illness I've never had, but I feel it's necessary to give the other side of the story. How it feels for the people who feel sick when they have to go "home".
Is it my fault that I haven't caught this sad disease? That I kept myself healthy with an open mind to my surroundings and new experiences? No, I think when it really comes down to it, some of us are meant for a life abroad and others are meant to just barely survive it. And that's ok.
But please, take it easy on us who suffer from reverse-homesickness. Don't cry and beg us to come home; don't you realize how much we will suffer? Don't spend 30 minutes telling us all about what's going on in American politics; we don't care. And please, above all, be accepting when we fall in love with a foreigner; no, they don't speak much English but neither do we anymore!
Hello MaryBeth,
ReplyDeleteThis is Cheryl, your aunt. I feel compelled to comment on this post. Did you bring your Bible with you to Panama? If so, do you ever read it anymore? I mean, aren't you a Christian woman? If so, then act like one. If you aren't homesick, then ok, but you are being disrespectful to your parents. The Fifth Commandment says to "Honor your father and your mother." Also, Ephesians 6:1: "Obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right." And Colossians 3:20: "Obey your parents in ALL things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord." Your parents aren't perfect, but the Lord requires you to obey and respect your parents your whole life. He will hold you accountable for that. Parents aren't perfect, they make mistakes, and you'll discover that when you have your own children one day. Your mom and dad may live to be old...in their 80's or 90's...but they may not too. If something were to happen to them sooner rather than later, don't have regrets for cutting them out of your life like you seem determined to do. Would you like your own child to treat you the way you are treating your parents? Remember the Golden Rule?
Secondly, is your fiance a Christian? If not, you should not be unequally yoked with an unbeliever. You know this. Is he a godly man? Is he going to treat you like Jesus treats His Bride? Is he capable of being the spiritual leader of the home? Go back and read Ephesians 5.
Your mom and dad aren't perfect. No parent is. I'm sure they've made mistakes, but you have too. You should never turn your back on your family. One day they won't be there. I would sincerely hate to see you live a life of regret because once they are gone, it's too late to say "I'm sorry."
It is my prayer that you would truly seek and pray to the Lord and ask His guidance on how to live your life going forward. And there's nothing wrong with falling in love with a foreigner, as long as he's the man God has planned for you to spend your life with. Have you asked God "is this the man?" Make sure you have an open heart to hear what God has to say to you.