Thank you, friend, for coming with us this year as we pray our way through the life cycle of cross-cultural workers! All prayer matters; informed, specific prayer on behalf of others is an especially beautiful thing to get to be a part of. This month we turn our hearts toward praying for workers during stateside assignment.

The timing works out really well; most workers tend to return stateside either right now while their kids are on school break (most international schools start and end summer later than here in the States) or during the Thanksgiving-Christmas-New Year’s window. As someone who provides care for workers, I love summer in part because I get to be in person with some of the people I normally see on Zoom.

Let’s start with a common misconception about stateside assignment. I can’t remember how many times I was asked during our 13 years on the field if I was enjoying my vacation. Yes, the two-three months of time away from the field is a break from that work, but it’s diving headfirst into a different kind of work, one that is in many ways more exhausting than “regular” life cross-culturally. Most workers will tell you that they return home more tired than when they left their country of service. That’s why we at MRN have generally moved away from referring to furlough (which has a vacation-y ring to it) to phrases like home assignment or stateside assignment. It’s still work; just a different kind.

Please pray with me for the following:

• Sweet moments of connection. Cross-cultural workers normally have family and friends countries or even oceans away. Pray that they will discover joyful, easy moments of connection with people they miss. In particular, pray for kids connecting with grandparents and for families connecting with former teammates who now live stateside.

• Clear communication with supporters. Whether a church or an individual family, workers rely on stateside assignments to strengthen bonds with those who send them. However, those conversations can feel rushed or inadequate. Pray for the workers to have the words to clearly communicate what God has been doing through them and for supporters to take the time to listen well and deeply.

• Rest. It takes a miracle for a worker family to return home refreshed and energized rather than poured out and sick of being on the road. Pray for that miracle!

• Growth in their absence. Stateside assignments provide a unique opportunity for national leaders to step up and into new roles normally occupied by the workers. Pray for the Father to move in powerful, surprising ways while they are gone – and for the grace to rejoice in what God did during their absence.

• Provision. Stateside assignment is expensive. Bills keep coming overseas, while gas, food, and lodging are costly here. Pray for generous supporters. Pray that God would move You to be generous toward a worker in your life!

Thank you for praying.

Peace.

Are you interested in sharing Jesus with unreached people of the world? Or do you know someone who you think God is calling?

We can help!

Email startthejourney@mrnet.org to talk about it.