Frank Sinatra crooned the words of “I’ll Be Home for Christmas.” Twinkle lights sparkled red and green in the darkness. The scent of woodsmoke swirled around me. Home. I savored the sound, the look, the smell, the feel of home around the holidays.
Then a motorbike swerved in front of me, and the spell was broken.
Sinatra was just playing through my headphones. The faux woodsmoke was the scent of burning joss paper (an offering to departed ancestors). The twinkle lights were real—a Taiwanese appropriation of the American custom. I was nowhere near home. Instead, I was 7,665 miles away from my family because I serve as a cross-cultural worker.
Far from Home for the Holidays
In Christmas stories, it’s a common trope that a person is away from home for the holidays. And yet, he or she magically finds light, love, and community in a place that instantly becomes a home away from home. Anyone who has actually spent a holiday away from his or her family knows it doesn’t feel like a rom-com. There are typically tears at inopportune moments. Homesickness can be triggered by an image, a smell, or a memory, which means that imagery-rich holidays are minefields.
There are typically tears at inopportune moments. Homesickness can be triggered by an image, a smell, or a memory.
In addition to missing our families, it can be hard to celebrate Western traditions when living abroad. This year, we celebrated Thanksgiving without turkey because it couldn’t be imported. During my first year in Asia, four of us ladies piled into three and a half taxi seats to find a store that had Christmas decorations. When we found the shop, most of the merchandise was too ugly to buy. I have a lot of friends who are tentmakers and have to work during Western holidays. Holidays overseas are challenging.
How to Help
Since holidays are hard for cross-cultural workers and missionaries, it’s pretty easy to encourage us during these seasons. Here are some ways you can help.
1. Pray for missionaries.
We serve a loving God who knows us intimately. Pray for us to see God’s love in personal ways. Pray for him to provide little touches of home on a foreign field.
2. Share your holiday events with them.
Is there a Christmas program your church is recording or streaming? Are you doing an Advent reading as a church? Share links with us.
3. Send a Christmas card.
It’s a delight to receive mail overseas. Even if you’re not close friends with a missionary, she’ll be thrilled to receive mail from you. International mail can take longer than domestic mail, but that doesn’t minimize the joy of receiving a Christmas card. I once received a Christmas card around Valentine’s Day and was so excited.
4. Send a box.
International shipping is pricey, but there’s nothing quite as magical as receiving a box of surprises. Common Western grocery store items like candy canes, Reese’s Cups, and taco seasoning are worth their weight in gold when you can’t get them on the field. Holiday decorations are also a blessing. Check with the missionaries about which items are worth sending and what shipping option works best where they are. You may want to collaborate with other families at your church to split the expense.
5. Arrange a Zoom prayer call.
Last year, my prayer team from my sending church surprised me by having the elders and their families join our call. I got to share with them about my ministry and feel a part of their homes for those 45 minutes. That call brought me immeasurable renewal in a hard season of ministry. You can arrange a group from your church or use social media to pull together a group of the missionary’s friends.
6. Bless families financially.
Missionaries typically have very tight budgets which can make holidays hard, especially for missionary kids. You may already be supporting them financially, but that money is allotted for ministry and necessities. Sending missionaries a little extra money via a cash transfer app can allow them to take their kids on a trip, buy a special gift, or go out to eat at a restaurant that tastes like home.
7. Bless singles relationally.
Missionary families tend to create new traditions on the field, but singles can struggle to make holidays special because there’s a lack of continuity from year to year. Reach out to those who are single and let them know you remember them. Even a quick message on Christmas Day can be a delightful blessing. You can also record a video of your kids telling them “Merry Christmas!” or schedule a time for a video chat.
8. Pray for gospel conversations.
Nationals are often curious about Western holidays, which means these challenging seasons are gospel opportunities. Pray for grace and alertness to make the most of invitations to share the reason for the season.
It doesn’t take a lot to remind us of the familiarity, safety, and coziness of home. By encouraging us, you can help us stay faithful to our callings and give us a little more joy to share with people who have never heard of Christ. We may only be home for Christmas in our dreams, but at least we’ll be reminded we’re part of God’s family as we reach out across cultures.