Sacramento greeted me with rain, then it turned sunny and now fog and drizzle seems content to stick around. All the trees are undressed in typical winter fashion and the Sacramento river looks cold and grey but the sky still lights up pink at night and the reflections in the water pools on the fields around my parents home still is beautiful in its own way. Although always a bit surreal, it is nice to be home.
In the past 48 hours I have greeted my mom, dad and brother, done some laundry, started to unpack, slept two nights in my own bed, bought a cell phone (want the number? email me!), visited with my Grandparents, driven a car (this is a big one for me), taken our dog for a walk when it was still dark outside (another big one) and generally began the settling in process.
I still have to buy a car, buy a computer, really unpack and organize my room in order to start feeling like this might be normal but it is all baby steps.
Today the appointments start. Chiropractor, dentist and a pedicure (maybe I will let them remove some callouses or maybe I will keep them as a personal souvenir for awhile). Then tomorrow a hair cut and maybe a trip to the doctor to find out about my G6PD blood test (malaria eradication is still at the back of my mind).
Last night my brother and I went out to eat and we asked for something that hadn’t been on the menu for a long time and this lead somehow into us chatting with our server about PNG. She asked me what the hardest thing about it was and I responded that while living in the village and being on one hand very integrated but on the other hand feeling and knowing you will always be an outsider was very hard. I think in America for me it is difficult coming back because I probably look and act most of the time pretty integrated and normal but somehow inside. how I think and feel is not the same anymore. It will be a continual adjustment but I am thankful for conversations like this and the little opportunities to share with people who are interested.
Dear Joy,
Your post here sounded similar to experiences of our ‘kids’ coming home for ‘furlough’ – and also a little how I felt after a month in Thailand; and two months in Cairns and Ukarumpa.
You’ll be in my prayers as you adjust to America again – you and your family
I remember our daughter in law Darlene’s response to people asking them, “what did you miss most when you were in PNG?” and their list of ‘fast food’? driving? opportunities to GO somewhere whenever you want? … etc. were not even on her list! She and Christopher both said, unequivically and unanimously, emphatically – “FAMILY!” SKYPE and email are two of my most favorite things, but they don’t compare to warm bodies to snuggle and read to – talking grandchildren here
I so appreciate those two opportunities to travel outside the USA, and wish it were feasible for all American high school seniors to have to spend a month in a third world country before being allowed to graduate
ha! (Even Thailand,(a 2nd? world country?) was an eye opener for me, and I was 40 something when I was there, living with a wealthy family and taken very good care of along with my Mom.
Sorry for the long reply, I just wanted you to know I’m still praying for you and am enjoying your journey ‘home’, and looking forward with you to what God has in store for you next
Dear Joy Ellen:
Welcome back home to Sacramento and Fair Oaks Presbyterian Church. We are glad that you are finally home safely.
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We are grateful for the rain that fell on Friday and Saturday. Recall that Jesus told us that “the rains falls on the just and unjust.” We have had no rain since October, and we are in the midst of a severe drought that will cause severe hardship for 37 million Californians. (This comes from a fellow who is licensed by the State of California as California Certified Hydrogeologist.) So we geologists are very grateful for the two days of moderate rain. It was a sustained blessing. Coming from the tropical jungle of PNG, you are used to rain nearly every day on a year around basis, so it will be quite a change here at home. We geologists are hoping for lots more rain throughout February and March to help erase the drought.
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Let us know when the memorial service for your cousin is scheduled. This is a difficult time for your aunt and uncle, and I am very grateful that you are home to help out in this.
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Now that you have a home computer, you can check-out Facebook on a daily basis, just like all the college girls from UC Santa Barbara do each day. Now you will be really dialed-in.
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I rode my gray Arabian horse yesterday along the shoreline of Folsom Lake. It started out gray and foggy, but in the afternoon we had some rays of winter sunshine amidst the rainclouds. Horses have to be ridden year-around to keep them in shape for future 50-mile rides. My rental stables are in Granite Bay, but I live in Fair Oaks.
Blessings to you (and your brother Ben)
from all the Deacons and Members of Fair Oaks Presbyterian Church
and Robert H. Sydnor, Deacon
RHSydnor@aol.com
cell phone 916-335-1441