10 Ways to Love a Missionary on Home Assignment

Have you ever wondered how to love and care for missionaries during their Home Assignment?

Six months into our year-long Home Ministry Assignment (HMA), we've been feeling really well loved and cared for.  As I have talked with other friends, also on HMA, I've realized that not every missionary experiences what we have, and it's likely due to a lack of knowing how rather than a lack of desire.

So today, in no particular order, I share 10 Ways to Love a Missionary on Home Assignment - not because we are looking for something but because these are things that people have done for us that have made us feel so loved!

1. Help them.

Do they need someone to visit a potential house for them before they arrive?  Do they need someone to be present to set up their internet?  Do they need help collecting things to furnish their house?  

2. Loan them things.

Bring some toys over for their kids to play with when they arrive; most of their toys are likely in storage.  Do you have an extra car?  Most missionaries are in need of a reliable vehicle for all or part of their HMA in order to meet with people and visit churches, or even just to run errands around town.  Do you have extra pots and pans, dishes, furniture?  Ask what they might need and offer to loan them yours.  In most situations, missionaries aren't looking to accumulate too much stuff - they already have it, just not in this particular location. 

3. Take them a meal.

Who doesn't like a hot meal delivered to their door?  And with all of the chaos of re-settling in their passport country, grocery shopping and cooking a meal for their hungry family is sometimes a bit overwhelming.

4. Invite, include and initiate.

Even if you don't think they will come, even if you don't know them well, even if you think they are too busy or too tired, even if.... just do it.  Invite them to dinner.  Invite them to small group.  Invite them to a Bible study.  Invite them to a movie with friends.  Invite them to a party.  Invite them to your church.  Invite young moms to MOPS.  Invite them to the park.  Don't wait for them to ask; don't assume that they know what's going on.  Missionaries often have to initiate contact with people which can be exhausting, so having someone else initiate is a welcomed change.

5. Connect them with others.

Do you know someone who would be interested in learning about or supporting their ministry?  Do you know someone who they'd get along with well?  Do you know someone else who is new to the area and looking for friends?  Make those connections!

6.  Stock their fridge.

Home Assignment often means lots of traveling.  What a blessing to return from a long trip to a refrigerator stocked with the essentials - milk, eggs, lunch meat and cheese, bread, juice, and some produce.

7. Clean their house.

Maybe it needs to be cleaned before they arrive.  Maybe they need help cleaning before they leave again.  Maybe their house has simply fallen low on the priority list.

8. Send them on a date.

We were told at pre-field training that the missionary life is full of constant, unrelenting stress.  We've felt that over the last 5 years in France, and, though the stressors are different, it continues while on HMA.  We were encouraged to create healthy ways to bring stress levels down on a daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual basis.  What better way to encourage this than to provide a kid-free date for the missionary couple?  A few weeks ago we received a personal check in the mail from a Sunday School class that told us it was to be spent on a couples-only date.  We were blown away by their generosity and thoughtfulness!

9.  Babysit their kids.

Babysitting in other cultures isn't always a thing.  And living abroad usually means living far from family.  And Target.  So offer to have the kids so that Mom can have a solo trip to the store or to get some work done.

10.  Check in with them regularly and share life together.

Send a quick text message letting them know you're thinking of them.  Ask how you can pray for them; share how they can pray for you.  It's nice to be included in the everyday stuff, even if it's somewhat temporary.  

This is by no means a complete list of how we've been loved well in the recent months.  I'd love to hear from others, too.  

How have you been loved well recently?